Planting Churches Among the City's Poor - Volume 2

234 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 2

A. David and Michael: examples of a new revolutionary Christian faith

1 Tim. 3.15 (ESV) – If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth.

1. Steps of disengagement with the traditional local church, p. 2

2. Why the exit from the traditional church: “Neither found a ministry that was sufficiently stimulating and having an impact on the surrounding community,” p. 2.

3. Similar spiritual journey, now experiencing the “Church on the Green,” a biweekly rendezvous, p. 3.

B. Elements of this new revolutionary journey

1. Desire to be involved in missions support and burden for the needy, p. 4

2. Challenges to personal improvement (book on biblical leadership), pp. 4-5

3. Focused self-referential understanding of the Bible , p. 5

4. Friendship and relationship among families, pp. 6-7

C. Barna’s commentary on David and Michael

1. David is a revolutionary Christian, Michael is a backsliding one. What is the difference?

2. David’s life reflects the principles and ideals of Jesus Christ, p. 7.

3. “[David’s] life reflects the very ideals and principles that characterized the life and purpose of Jesus Christ and that advance the Kingdom of God – despite the fact that David rarely attends church services. He is typical of a new breed of disciples of Jesus Christ. They are not willing to play religious games and aren’t interested in being part of a reli gious community that is not intentionally and aggressively advancing God’s Kingdom. They are people who want more of God – much more – in their lives. And they are doing whatever it takes to get it” ( Revolution , p. 7).