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Preaching Christ Where No One Listens

Preaching Christ Where No One Listens. Crossings in the Pacific Northwest. Psalm 104. Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! 3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!

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Preaching Christ Where No One Listens

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  1. Preaching ChristWhere No One Listens Crossingsin the Pacific Northwest

  2. Psalm 104 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens;praise him in the heights! 2Praise him, all his angels;praise him, all his host! 3Praise him, sun and moon;praise him, all you shining stars! 4Praise him, you highest heavens,and you waters above the heavens!

  3. Psalm 104 5Let them praise the name of the LORD,for he commanded and they were created. 6He established them forever and ever;he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. 7Praise the LORD from the earth,you sea monsters and all deeps,

  4. Psalm 104 8fire and hail, snow and frost,stormy wind fulfilling his command! 9Mountains and all hills,fruit trees and all cedars! 10Wild animals and all cattle,creeping things and flying birds!

  5. Psalm 104 11Kings of the earth and all peoples,princes and all rulers of the earth! 12Young men and women alike,old and young together! 13Let them praise the name of the LORD,for his name alone is exalted;his glory is above earth and heaven.

  6. Religious Landscape of PNW

  7. The “Nones” in the PNW Characteristics: • “Spiritually inclined” despite lack of ties • Mostly white • Slightly more than half married and 40+ years old • Their children are over 17 years old • Majority men, employed full-time • 7 in 10 own a home

  8. The “Nones” in the PNW More characteristics: • 9 out of 10 have high school degree • 4 out of 5 registered to vote (79%) • Politically liberal (may mean libertarian) • Republic, 14% • Democrat, 31% • Independent, 46%

  9. Composite “None” Well educated, white, middle-class, male baby -boomer living in metropolitan area with wife and no young kids. ()

  10. Spiritual Culture in the PNW • Spiritual but not religious • Rugged individualism • Land of new beginnings and imagination • Non-institutional or anti-institutional • Open and ambiguous religious culture leads to religious extremes (not moderation) • Entrepeneurial and enterprising religious experiments can thrive

  11. PNW Spiritual Culture & Lutherans FOR DISCUSSION: • Which characteristic surprises you? • Which characteristic do you personally exhibit? • Which do you not understand, if any? • If you have traveled in the Pacific Northwest what do you notice is different (in church, in malls, in the way people dress, carry themselves, etc.) ? • How might these characteristics intersect with church life?

  12. PNW Spiritual vs. Lutherans • Spiritual but not religious • Rugged individualism • Land of new beginnings and imagination • Non-institutional or anti-institutional • Open and ambiguous religious culture leads to religious extremes (not moderation) • Entrepeneurial and enterprising religious experiments can thrive • Lutheran worship is a ritualized expression of spirituality; organized institution • Emphasis on group and relationship • Belief in new beginnings; experienced in ritual, dramatic • Pro-institution (local, regional, national)—the “devil we know” • Confessional/creedal; but willing to live with and recognize ambiguity • Entrepeneurship not discouraged, but not necessarily nurtured either

  13. Diagnosis: PNW & Crossings Romans 10:14 14But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?

  14. Diagnosis: PNW & Crossings • NONES • Step 1: External Problem • Nones aren’t connected to the Church • Priorities are with mountains, sea, and all the creatures that dwell therein CROSSERS Step 1: External Problem Other people don’t believe in Christ, let alone call on him.

  15. Diagnosis: PNW & Crossings • NONES • Step 2: Internal Problem • Inherent distrust of institutions = rejection of hearing the Word (Romans 10: They don’t believe because they haven’t heard) • CROSSERS • Step 2: Internal Problem • God has called us to proclaim Christ to Nones, but we aren’t listening • Worse: We know we’re supposed to, but we’re too uncomfortable to cross that boundary • We don’t trust Christ more than we fear our culture’s rejection

  16. PNW Spiritual Culture & Crossings NONES Step 3: Eternal Problem No faith= Damned if you don’t (trust Christ) • CROSSERS • Step 3: Eternal Problem • No trust = no Christ for us (we drown with the Nones we haven’t taught to swim) • Left alone in the silence (where a Word had been spoken before)

  17. PNW Spiritual Culture & Crossings • CROSSERS • Step 4: Eternal Solution • Silence of the Cross borne by Jesus; hiddenness of God endured by Christ there • Breaking the silence: Jesus speaks our names (like he spoke Peter’s and Mary’s from beside the grave), reminding us to whom we belong. • Jesus has already proven his dedication to Peter, who fell silent his own relationship to Christ • NONES • Step 4: Eternal Solution • Christ is for the damned; “descends into the abyss” of death (10:7)--willing to walk with damned through hell • Father is pleased with a Son who is so dedicated to his creation; gives Jesus the “beautiful resurrection feet” to bring good news, by walking out of the grave and bring new friends with him

  18. PNW Spiritual Culture & Crossings NONES Step 5: Internal Solution Any God who is willing to go to hell and back for you is worthy of your attention; so you listen; when you listen you hear more about Christ who walks with you—and not just you—through hell CROSSERS Step 5: Internal Solution When you’ve heard the Word, and then experienced the silence of God (as it echoes through your pews), you long for and treasure the beautiful feet that bring good news; and the reality that others can’t believe unless they hear, becomes your calling

  19. PNW Spiritual Culture & Crossings NONES Step 6: Eternal Solution Once you’ve heard, it’s hard not to be noticed; and it’s hard not to notice the people around you who haven’t heard CROSSERS Step 6: External Solution You speak the good news, not because if you don’t “this church will die,” but because you’ve been given beautiful feet—by virtue of having them washed by Christ

  20. Reading • Making Sense of Religion in the Pacific Northwest • Religion and Public Life in the Pacific Northwest • Bridging the Gap with Young Adults • Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation • They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations • Surprising Insights from the Unchurched • After the Baby Boomers: How Twenty- and Thirty-Somethings are Shaping the Future of American Religion

  21. Spiritual Biography: Adults who Come to Christ • How did they meet Jesus? • What do they love about Jesus? • How does the church help (or hinder) them as they seek to follow Christ? • What can Calvary do to make room for this fresh experience?

  22. Psalm 71 5You, O LORD, are my hope,my trust, O LORD, from my youth. 6Upon you I have leaned from my birth;it was you who took me from my mother's womb.My praise is continually of you. 7I have been like a portent to many,but you are my strong refuge.

  23. Psalm 71 8My mouth is filled with your praise,and with your glory all day long. 17O God, from my youth you have taught me,and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 18So even to old age and gray hairs,O God, do not forsake me,until I proclaim your mightto all the generations to come.

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