The Emerging Church 2: Why Should We Care?

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Text: Revelation 3:20; I Thess. 5:12-22

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This is the second message of a series looking at the Emerging Church Movement:

I. Definition - is a controversial 21st century Christian movement whose participants seek to engage postmodern people, especially those not already in the church. Their target age appears to be 18-35 year olds. Proponents call the movement an emerging "conversation" to emphasize its developing and decentralized nature. They tend to radically contextualize their methods and __message__ to impact a postmodern culture.

II. Values and Characteristics

A. They have a __Flexable__ approach to and continual reexamination of theology.
B. They rely on open dialogue rather than__dogmatic__proclamation of Scripture.
C. They have a __non-authoritative__ stance on the gospel of Jesus Christ.  don't believe making disciples must equal making adherents to the Christian religion.

"I do hope all who feel so called will become Buddhist followers of Jesus. I don't hope all Jews or Hindus will become members of the Christian religion." - Brian McLaren

D. They depend more on methodology than __Theology__.
E. They do not emphasize the importance of __leadership__within the church.
F. They suggest that Scripture is not clear enough to allow for clarity.

III. A Biblical Response for the Church

A. __Heed__the Warnings from Scripture (James 5:19-20; II John) we should "test all things" and we should "examine and cling".

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