LIving by the Indirect Discourse

It has been a while since I've lived life in the indirect discourse. Ministry to me, over the past several years, has been an active profession that has occurred directly in manner of speech and interaction with others. It has been a while since I've thought about the indirect discourse of our lives, the ministry that occurs whether we want it to or not.

Tonight I realized, rather remembered what a testimony our daily lives are to the gospel message that we hold so dear. Whether we like it or not our lives reflect our theology and our theology creates a message that others see and observe. Some will not like this theology, it may make them uncomfortable and thus they will create space between persons, whereas others might find this theology curious and draw nearer in order to find out what makes the theology tick and if there are any loop-holes in it. Others may choose to ignore it and just maintain that relationship of regular acquaintances, whereas others may align with it or recognized its differences and still choose friendship over acquaintance.

Thus, our existence, our reality, the substance to our being, and our worldview radiate from us as we live our lives among others. What will your indirect discourse be?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Palm Sunday School Lesson for Teenagers

Scripture: Luke 22:17-20 Topic: When Jesus ate with his Disciples Background: This lesson would be taught during a Sunday morning breakfast club for teenagers. Once a month the youth meet to cook breakfast and then we try to relate the lesson to food. Last time the Middle School breakfast club met a middle school student led his peers in a devotional that went through the various stories of Jesus sharing food with his disciples. This Sunday we are going to focus on one of those stories and how it relates to Easter. Opening: 1. Ask, “Have you ever helped plan a party?” a. Ask the students to share about the various things they did to prepare (send invites, decorate, blow up balloons, set the table, plan games, order food). 2. Say, “For some families, Easter is a time of celebration, a party of sorts.” a. Ask, “What does your family do to celebrate Easter?” (family gets together, we eat dinner together, Easter egg hunt, attend church se
Read more

They touched Jesus, but then, how did they pray?

I'm sitting in my room praying and thinking, "After the resurrection did the disciples pray to Jesus?" Just imagine this with me for a moment. You have spent the past 2 - 3 years of your life following this intriguing man around, your feet are calloused, your memory is overflowing with moments around the campfire or dinner table, and you've been challenged to completely shift your Jewish worldview. And then he is gone. Just as quick as he came, just as brief as the moment he walked the shoreline past your fishing boat and called out to you, he is gone. And you are left knowing you've met an incredible man who was more than a man -- a man who was somehow divine. Now there is no one around you analyzing deep fulfilled Christological theological concepts, but there are plenty of Greek voices and new philosophical ways of contemplating life's happenings, there are Jewish commentaries, and there are the conversations that have happened along the roadside. An
Read more

Question: Multi-generational ministry

What do you think is good about churches that focus on reaching a specific age group? What do you think some of the disadvantages are? Would you rather be part of a multi-generational interactive community or a community of peers? (Assuming both are in the context of Christian fellowship.)
Read more