what do we do? the power of imagining the future

What do we do?What do we do?

The power of The power of imagining imagining the futurethe future

A missional A missional re-engagementre-engagement

with societywith society

A re-imaginationA re-imaginationof what church isof what church is

(and could become) (and could become)

A re-orientation A re-orientation towards whole lifetowards whole life

discipleship.discipleship.

‘‘apostolic creativity of quantumapostolic creativity of quantum leap proportions.’leap proportions.’

Gerald Arbuckle, Refounding the ChurchGerald Arbuckle, Refounding the Church

‘‘not just about the church , but hownot just about the church , but howthe gospel engages the generation ofthe gospel engages the generation ofmen and women who no longer seemen and women who no longer see

the Christian life as having any the Christian life as having any reference for their lives.’reference for their lives.’

Alan Roxburgh, Missional Map MakingAlan Roxburgh, Missional Map Making

Keep in the slipstream of GodKeep in the slipstream of God

‘‘Mission is often described as if it wereMission is often described as if it werea planned extension of an old building.a planned extension of an old building.But it fact it has usually been more likeBut it fact it has usually been more like

an unexpected explosion.’an unexpected explosion.’

John V Taylor John V Taylor

‘‘how did the Spirit lead them to how did the Spirit lead them to respond creatively & continually in respond creatively & continually in

new and surprising situationsnew and surprising situationsas they preached the gospel.’as they preached the gospel.’

Stephen Bevans & Roger Schroeder, Prophetic DialogueStephen Bevans & Roger Schroeder, Prophetic Dialogue

Think without a banisterThink without a banister

‘‘we require radically different and as we require radically different and as yet unimagined ways to relate the yet unimagined ways to relate the

Good News to the pastoralGood News to the pastoralchallenges of the world.’challenges of the world.’

Gerald Arbuckle, Refounding the ChurchGerald Arbuckle, Refounding the Church

‘ ‘ letting your imagination soar and then letting your imagination soar and then engineering it down to earth.’engineering it down to earth.’

“We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking

we used when we created them.”

Albert Einstein

Think of an idea/project/plant etcThink of an idea/project/plant etcyou are working on.you are working on.

Picture how you see the end resultPicture how you see the end resultand then describe how it would beand then describe how it would be

look it was filmed by Spielberg. look it was filmed by Spielberg.

‘‘Our truest life is when we are Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake.’in our dreams awake.’

School of ideas

1.Forget everything you know

2.Remember everything you know

3.Re-arrange everything you know

1.What is our core identity?

2.How is our environment changing ?

3.What is the Spirit up to ?

‘‘Traveller, there is no road, the road is made Traveller, there is no road, the road is made by walking.’by walking.’

Know how to seeKnow how to see

‘ ‘ To look at something as though we To look at something as though we have never seen it before requireshave never seen it before requires

great courage.’ great courage.’

Henri MatisseHenri Matisse

‘ ‘ Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying,good news of God, and saying,

“ “ The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has come near, repent ,of God has come near, repent ,and believe in the good news.’and believe in the good news.’

Mark 1 v14-15Mark 1 v14-15

“The real voyage of discovery consistsnot in seeking new landscapes

but in having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust

Sing the old lyrics with a new tuneSing the old lyrics with a new tune

‘ ‘ If you want to preserve traditionIf you want to preserve traditiondon’t wear your grandfathers hat,don’t wear your grandfathers hat,

have grandchildren.’ have grandchildren.’

Pablo PicassoPablo Picasso

‘ ‘ Imagination must be formed Imagination must be formed and understood from the insideand understood from the inside

of its experience and confession of its experience and confession of faith and not by borrowingof faith and not by borrowing

from external sources.’from external sources.’

Walter Bruggemann, Prophetic ImaginationWalter Bruggemann, Prophetic Imagination

‘‘not leaving the traditionnot leaving the traditionbut driving to it’s heart’but driving to it’s heart’