Marc's Minute #8
The bi-weekly quick "K.I.T." equipping you with Knowledge for your Head, Inspiration for your Heart, and Tools for your Hands {10/28/23}
Feature Focus
Here is PART TWO of my conversation with Lindsay. She helps me understand another perspective on how young adults are finding their voice, how they have been affected by the school system and church along their journey, and what they believe about God’s voice.
Please send me your feedback on Substack or any of our media platforms and let me know what you think of these interviews.
If you missed part 1, you can find it at the link below.
You can also go to YouTube and watch the entire interview in one episode.
Much appreciation and gratitude to Lindsay for participating in this interview!
Keep It Simple Strategy
If you are meeting with friends, in small groups, or just working on your own faith journey, then check out this week’s simple and reproducible practice tip that you can try anytime. Remember, you can always find many more FREE materials at Grace In Motion.
The D.N.A. of the Church
Today, we are doing something a little different. Instead of sharing a specific strategy, I want to share a principle that is the foundation for many of the strategies we do share here. The credit for this concept goes to Neil Cole who originally fleshed it out about 20 years ago in his book, Organic Church, which is really one of the best and most basic introductions to church being done simply.
The idea is that the church, meaning the body of Christ, as Jesus developed and explained it, is made up of essential “DNA.” These three elements are present in any genuine faith community, and you don’t need other components added on to make it “real church.”
DIVINE TRUTH: It is important and necessary for people to interact with the Word (Jesus) and word (Bible) directly themselves. Additional curriculum or resources may be beneficial supplements at times, but should never replace direct engagement with the "curriculum" already divinely provided.
NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS: Face-to-face fellowship where everyone has an opportunity to interact and participate is important so that all members of the group can build up, learn from, and minister to one another.
APOSTOLIC (ACTIVE) MISSION: Our identity as the church comes from the fact that we are empowered and sent by God to bring a specific message to the world around us. The purpose of any true church does not end with how they treat the people in their group but also includes how they are representing God to those outside of the group.
If you read or hear these aspects and think to yourself, Wait a minute! I have these already with my family or friends. These don’t require me to “go to church.”, then you get it! Services and structures that we have made may be supplemental at times to our faith, but they are not necessary to produce it like this DNA.
Recommended Resource
One of the hot-button issues that gets a strong reaction from most people is DEI, or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. A major component of DEI initiatives is often an effort to promote anti-racism. Some people hear these words and are immediately triggered (another word we like to use a lot these days), but there is a way to engage in civil, honest, productive dialogue around these issues. Believe it or not! The key is finding the right people who are willing to listen to diverse voices and perspectives, and who also have the platform to influence many others.
One of those people is Chloe Valdary, and my recommended resource is her Theory of Enchantment. If this is a topic of interest for you, or if you are skeptical of programs that address this topic, I suggest checking out some of her work. I have a thorough write-up about the Theory of Enchantment and Chloe’s approach here.
What I will briefly share here is that I have been exposed to a variety of DEI programs and equity initiatives over the past few years, which I outline here, and Ms. Valdary’s work is unique in this field. The philosophy, if you will, behind the Theory of Enchantment is based on three principles.
Principle 1: Remember that We are human beings, not political abstractions.
Principle 2: Criticize to uplift and empower, never to tear down or to destroy.
Principle 3: Root everything you do in love and compassion.
What’s Up?
PRAYERS FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
I share one of my “Prayers for Everyday Life” in the audio recording of this issue.
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