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The Divine – Human Dance of Cooperation. Congregations advancing the Kingdom of God. Some examples of local churches The common denominator
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Congregations advancing the Kingdom of God • Some examples of local churches • The common denominator • The dynamic of cooperating with the Holy Spirit is the common denominator for all churches that are growing in expressing the reality of the Kingdom of God
Regarding the church as being only a human organization • Management techniques are God-given tools, available for the church's use. But far more basic are the God-given characteristics of the church itself - its unique nature as the people of God and its unique gift, the Holy Spirit. The fatal error for the church is to employ management techniques as if it were just another human organization in pursuit of human goals. The fatal error is to focus on oiling the organizational wheel, without attention to the wheel within the wheel [the Holy Spirit who] is the basic power source. • Richard G Hutcheson, Wheel Within the Wheel: Confronting the Management Crisis of the Pluralistic Church p.155
The “fatal error” – due to human self-sufficiency • In difficult situations confidence may be placed… • Not in Christ’s sufficiency and race • But in our own capabilities and control
The “fatal error” – due to loving the Bride more than the Bridegroom • Memories, traditions and activities take priority • Worshipping worship itself • Organising for the sake of busyness • Meeting only for socializing • Tradition for tradition’s sake
The “fatal error” – due to ignorance of the Holy Spirit • A spiritual ‘blind spot’ • Ignorance because nobody has taught us • Often overlooked in ministry training programs • Consequently often omitted from the life of congregations
The promise is for you • The restoration of God’s purposes begins, not with someone else, but with each of us as individuals • “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” • Acts 2:38-39