Winning the World

Ses s i on 3: Al ternat i ve Forms of Sp i r i tua l i t y and Chur ch 49

b. It’s not about church (little “c”), but about the Church (big C), p. 38.

5. Revolutionaries cover the entire spectrum of involvement and commitment to the local church, p. 38 (i.e., “Our research indicates that Revolutionaries fill all points on the continuum of church involvement,” p. 38 [including everything from leadership to nominal, tangential involvement]).

6. Out of extreme frustration or disillusionment Revolutionaries have developed alternative means of growing and serving that are distinct from local church efforts , p. 39.

7. “The Revolution is about recognizing that we are not called to go to church. We are called to be the Church.”, p. 39. (What on earth does this mean?)

II. Dialogue on Barna’s View of the Local Church and its Forms

John 8.31-32 (ESV) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

How does Barna’s view regarding the local church coincide with both the New Testament and Nicene theology of the Church as one (biblical identity), holy (shared spirituality), catholic (historic roots and connectivity), and apostolic (representative authority)?

A. Clarification between the facts and the claims

B. Evaluation of the evidence supporting the claims

1. The facts of the matter

2. The teachings of Scripture