Comments on: Recognizing the City Church that Already Exists http://www.whointheworldarewe.com/2009/11/16/recognizing-the-city-church-that-already-exists/ Wondering Toward the New Humanity Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:41:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Larry Peabody http://www.whointheworldarewe.com/2009/11/16/recognizing-the-city-church-that-already-exists/comment-page-1/#comment-1146 Larry Peabody Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:29:49 +0000 http://www.whointheworldarewe.com/?p=665#comment-1146 Yes, that’s a question I’ve wrestled with for quite a while. Christian Overman (author of GOD’S PLEASURE AT WORK: Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide) and I are partnering in an effort to communicate to pastors the importance of equipping believers for their workplace roles. We recently presented a workshop for pastors in Beaverton, Oregon, and are studying how best to proceed with reaching many more pastors. The book, GOD AT WORK, by David W. Miller, demonstrates how little interest churches and seminaries have shown in preparing Christians to serve in those places where they spend most of their best hours. Yes, that’s a question I’ve wrestled with for quite a while. Christian Overman (author of GOD’S PLEASURE AT WORK: Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide) and I are partnering in an effort to communicate to pastors the importance of equipping believers for their workplace roles. We recently presented a workshop for pastors in Beaverton, Oregon, and are studying how best to proceed with reaching many more pastors. The book, GOD AT WORK, by David W. Miller, demonstrates how little interest churches and seminaries have shown in preparing Christians to serve in those places where they spend most of their best hours.

]]> By: Laura http://www.whointheworldarewe.com/2009/11/16/recognizing-the-city-church-that-already-exists/comment-page-1/#comment-1144 Laura Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:49:06 +0000 http://www.whointheworldarewe.com/?p=665#comment-1144 Larry, Connecting in the workplace captures a better cross section of the church in the city, encourages following Christ in ordinary life, and helps create a network of neighborhoods (I've pondered this before). Now I'm wondering what type of training needs to take place in the local church to encourage these connections. Hmmm. Larry,

Connecting in the workplace captures a better cross section of the church in the city, encourages following Christ in ordinary life, and helps create a network of neighborhoods (I’ve pondered this before).

Now I’m wondering what type of training needs to take place in the local church to encourage these connections. Hmmm.

]]> By: Larry Peabody http://www.whointheworldarewe.com/2009/11/16/recognizing-the-city-church-that-already-exists/comment-page-1/#comment-1143 Larry Peabody Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:03:33 +0000 http://www.whointheworldarewe.com/?p=665#comment-1143 You asked, "...what's my first step?" It seems to me that one first step is to encourage believers in the work world to identify and serve each other in their workplace networks. Os Hillman has said, “The church in the workplace is the purest form of the body of Christ today due to its diversity." On the job, Christians form relationships with co-workers, supervisors, subordinates, customers, clients, students, and so on--without regard to denominational differences. The first step, then, would be to learn to identify the Christ-followers in my workplace network. I should look for them as Jesus instructed, using the fruit test. Step Two would be to let the Spirit of God direct me to find creative ways to serve/encourage/pray for/spur on those other members of Christ's body in my workplace context. This alone would not solve all the problems associated with seeking the unity of the church in the city. But I believe it would be a valuable first step. You asked, “…what’s my first step?” It seems to me that one first step is to encourage believers in the work world to identify and serve each other in their workplace networks.

Os Hillman has said, “The church in the workplace is the purest form of the body of Christ today due to its diversity.” On the job, Christians form relationships with co-workers, supervisors, subordinates, customers, clients, students, and so on–without regard to denominational differences.

The first step, then, would be to learn to identify the Christ-followers in my workplace network. I should look for them as Jesus instructed, using the fruit test. Step Two would be to let the Spirit of God direct me to find creative ways to serve/encourage/pray for/spur on those other members of Christ’s body in my workplace context.

This alone would not solve all the problems associated with seeking the unity of the church in the city. But I believe it would be a valuable first step.

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