Word on the Wind

Morgan Alison

Description

The average age of churchgoers in Britain is now 47. Almost every denomination is experiencing steady decline. How sure can we be that we are still offering something people want to hear? Alison Morgan identifies four clear reasons to be confident: 1. The gospel still speaks to confused teens and weary sceptics. By embracing doubts and welcoming questions it remains open to us to present something which answers people's real needs. 2. The word of truth and the Spirit of power still exercise authority and compel attention. Alison's own experience of ministry in the UK and abroad provides illustrations. 3. Spiritual gifts, given not to excite individuals but in order to renew the church for its core task of mission, are powerfully present and widely recognised and practised. 4. In a time of rapid cultural change, new expressions of church are constantly emerging: this is necessary to guard against vital spirituality sliding into drab religion.

Sujets

• Christianity
• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Lion Hudson
• Date de parution: 07 mars 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780857211491
• Langue: English

Extrait

Copyright © 2011 by Alison Morgan
The right of Alison Morgan to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published by Monarch Books an imprint of Lion Hudson plc Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Road, Oxford OX2 8DR, England Email: [e-mail] www.lionhudson.com/monarch
ISBN 978 0 85721 015 9 (print) ISBN 978 0 85721 149 1 (epub) ISBN 978 0 85721 148 4 (Kindle)
First edition 2011.
Published in conjunction with ReSource, 13 Sadler Street, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2RR
Email: [e-mail]
Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise stated, scripture quotations are from The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked CEV are from the Contemporary English Version New Testament © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used with permission. Scripture quotations marked TM taken from The Message . Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan and Hodder & Stoughton Limited. All rights reserved. The ‘NIV’ and ‘New International Version’ trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society. UK trademark number 1448790.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Cover images: Corbis (background) and Getty (eagle)
‘Brilliant! Alison’s book addresses the present reality of the power and effectiveness of the gospel in the lives of ordinary people in today’s world. A great stimulator and confidence booster.’
– J OHN N OBLE , P IONEER
‘Alison Morgan’s writing is so winsome that it’s easy to be caught up in the beauty of what she’s saying before you realise she’s just smacked you between the eyes with a piece of two-by-four. Like her previous book, The Wild Gospel , which was a great inspiration to me, this new book presents a deeply radical message in the most eloquent and seductive manner. You’ve been warned!’
– M ICHAEL F ROST , author, T HE S HAPING OF T HINGS TO C OME
‘An excellent analytical summary of our contemporary cultural climate and a sane yet enthralling account of the reasons we have for confidence in the gospel. As an apologist for the Christian faith she does for her generation what C. S. Lewis did for his. I loved it. So will you.’
– R T R EVD J AMES N EWCOME , B ISHOP OF C ARLISLE
‘This book is hugely important, weaving together powerful stories of people’s experience of faith with deep reflection about culture, the Bible and faith in the 21st century. It is encouraging, uplifting and inspiring.’
– D R P AULA G OODER , WRITER AND LECTURER IN BIBLICAL STUDIES
‘Timely, helpful and prophetic in starting the work of building confident disciples who can really engage in God’s world.’
– R EVD I AN B UNCE , Head of Mission Department, B APTIST U NION OF G REAT B RITAIN
‘The Church is shrinking and wrinkling because we have taught people to be Christians and not disciples. Alison Morgan is a disciple who loves Jesus and loves people. Peppered with stories of changed lives, this book will inspire and challenge. You gotta read it!’
– M ARK R USSELL , CEO C HURCH A RMY AND MEMBER OF THE A RCHBISHOPS’ C OUNCIL OF THE C HURCH OF E NGLAND
‘The chapter on the Word of God is brilliant. Only a linguist could have written it!’
– R ODNEY G REEN , P RIOR OF S T JOHN , C HAIRMAN OF S T J OHN A MBULANCE AND FORMER C HIEF E XECUTIVE OF L EICESTER C ITY COUNCIL
‘Important and timely. I believe it will enable us to communicate in more relevant and powerful ways.’
– L AURENCE S INGLEHURST , D IRECTOR, C ELL UK M INISTRIES, AUTHOR OF S OWING R EAPING K EEPING
‘Her integration of science and theology, of Word and Spirit, of England and Africa, of church and individual, is remarkable and engaging. She writes brilliantly. This is a book to buy, ponder, and share.’
– R EVD D R M ICHAEL G REEN
‘This powerful book will help Christians to find new faith and vision in our common call to mission and provides an immense range of resources, rooted in theology and practical experience, to enable us to proclaim the Gospel in new and compelling ways today.’
– T HE M OST R EVD D R J OHN S ENTAMU , A RCHBISHOP OF Y ORK
‘Alison Morgan has seen the world and the truth of God with clear eyes. Never abstract and never shallow, The Word on the Wind brings the fountain-fresh water of the Spirit to an age that’s dry, and sick of dusty answers.’
– R T R EVD P AUL B AYES , B ISHOP OF H ERTFORD
‘Another inspiring book from Alison Morgan, combining insightful analysis, lucid argument, moving testimony, and a much needed gift of insight from the African church. An encouragement to live confidently for the God revealed in the gospel of Jesus.’
– R T R EVD G RAHAM C RAY , A RCHBISHOPS’ M ISSIONER AND L EADER OF THE FRESH E XPRESSIONS T EAM
‘An eminently readable, timely, and radical exploration of the power of THE WORD. Alison Morgan draws on a scholarly knowledge of the richness and breadth of meaning of THE WORD in both Hebrew and Greek understanding, as well as a wealth of contemporary experience of people who have known the power of THE LIVING WORD. An exciting and challenging read.’
– A BBOT S TUART B URNS OSB
To Roger, Ed, Bethy and Katy
Contents
Cover Title Page Copyright Page Praise Dedication About the Author Acknowledgments Foreword Introduction Part I: A Confident Gospel 1. Understanding the issues 2. Two world views 3. A gilded cage 4. The search for more 5. Telling a different story 6. The response of the Church 7. Thinking a new world Part II: The Tools of Our Trade 8. The Word of God 9. Entering into conversation 10. The Spirit of God 11. The Word on the wind – confidence in creation Part III: Doing Things Differently 12. Living beautiful lives 13. Reimagining church Appendix: Further resources Notes Bibliography Index
About the Author
A linguist and medievalist by background, the Revd Dr Alison Morgan has written a number of books, including an internationally recognised work on the poet Dante. She is best known for The Wild Gospel , now in its third printing. She is the editor of Rooted in Jesus , a discipleship course for Africa currently in use in thirteen countries, co-author (with John Woolmer) of the ReSource healing course In His Name and (with Bill Goodman) of the Lent course Season of Renewal. A contributor to Mission-Shaped Questions , Alison is also a member of the Archbishops’ College of Evangelists. After many years spent with her husband in parish ministry, Alison now works for ReSource as a thinker and writer.
ReSource is an independent charity based in Wells, Somerset. Its vision is to help build a church which is diverse, local, renewed in the Spirit, and effective in mission. It works with local churches of all types and traditions, with deaneries, dioceses, and other denominational groupings.
ReSource is based at 13, Sadler Street, Wells, Somerset BA5 2RR. Its website is www.resource-arm.net and its patron is Archbishop John Sentamu. Please do contact ReSource at [e-mail] or on 01749 672860 if you think we may be able to help you.
Acknowledgments
My thanks are due to many people. I have been encouraged, inspired, and challenged by the people I’ve met and the places I’ve visited in the course of my work with ReSource and with Rooted in Jesus , and I have read many helpful books and web articles. But my particular thanks are due to the other members of the ReSource team based in Wells – Martin and Cesca Cavender, Paula Smit, Richard Thomas, and Roger Morgan – for their constant support and encouragement; and to my son Ed and daughters Bethy and Katy, for their patience. Finally I acknowledge the unstinting interference of my parrot, Alfie.
Most of the stories in this book come directly from those who have experienced them, and every attempt has been made to ensure their accuracy; some of the names have been changed to preserve the privacy of those concerned. Any errors of fact are mine alone.
 
Text acknowledgments: Poem p.75–76 ‘Cracks’ taken from Planetwise by Dave Bookless © Dave Bookless, used with permission of IVP. Poem p.98 ‘The Abandoned Valley’ from Refusing Heaven: Poems by Jack Gilbert, copyright © 2005 by Jack Gilbert. Used by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. Any third party use of this material, outside of this publication, is prohibited. Interested parties must apply directly to Random House, Inc, for permission. Poem p.119 ‘The Uninvited Guest’ by Thelma Laycock, used by permission of the author. Poem p.138–39 ‘Guests’ taken from Trouble with Church? Provocative Poems for Thoughtful Christians by Lucy Berry, published by Kevin Mayhew Ltd. Used by permission of Kevin Mayhew Ltd. Poem p.154 ‘In Broken Images’ by Robert Graves, taken from Robert Graves, Complete Poems . Used by permission of Carcenet Press Limited. Poem p.213 by John Leax, used by permission of the author. Poem p.237 ‘The Other’ by R. S. Thomas, © Kunjana Thomas 2001, used with permission.
Cartoon acknowledgments: Cartoon p.28 by Noel Ford, used with permission; cartoon p.80 by Dave Walker, www.cartoonchurch.com, used with permission; cartoon p.123 by Darren Harvey Regan, reproduced from Michae