Winning the World

20 Wi nn i ng the Wor l d: Fac i l i tat i ng Urban Chur ch P l ant i ng Movement s

1. Gospel proclamation: in word

2. Kingdom demonstration: in deed

3. Spirit inspiration: in power

VII. Conclusion: Is a Purely Existential, Individualized Notion of Church Truly a Revolution, Reductive, or Just Plain Heresy?

A. Our subject matter: church planting movements, past, present, and future (with an eye toward understanding spirituality in light of the Church)

B. Our hermeneutic strategy: to rediscover the role of the Church in light of the classic biblical paradigm summarized by the Nicene marks of the Church

C. Implications of this method: to test together in open dialogue the validity of current calls to redefine church, and thus rethink models of church planting and mission

Conclusion and Review of the Major Concepts of Session One

• Dramatic shifts in understanding and practice about the local church are underway • The Nicene interpretation of the Church (i.e., classic paradigm) highlights the unity, holiness, universality, and apostolicity of the Church. • All current perspectives of the Church must be weighed over against the biblical vision of the Church, as well as all church growth and planting models.