Gems from India

 

The following are some thought-provoking one liners from the pre-conference sessions at the World House Church Conference in India.  They are from talks given by the leader of a church planting movement that baptized more than 300,000 on the Day of Pentecost in 2009.  Worth taking note!

Jesus never said, "Be baptized."  He said, "You baptize." 

You disciple--you baptize.

Jesus baptized Peter--but only his feet.

You will not see a movement without signs and wonders.  Ninety five percent of our house churches have signs and wonders.

Apostolic teaching is the teaching to GO.

There are 19 commands of Jesus to be found in the New Testament.  All lead to the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Hospitality is the secret to precipitating a movement.

Sit and soak, and you stagnate.  Eat and chat and you will multiply.

Goat prayers are "meeee" prayers.  They focus on me and my needs, my family and my situation.

Use the newspaper headlines as your prayer list.

Theologians think, not from Genesis to Revelation but from genetics to evolution.

We need a problem-based theology.  In our house churches we solve problems--finances, sickness etc.

Comments

[Jack Allen]

Really like the last one. "We need a problem-based theology.  In our house churches we solve problems--finances, sickness etc." What a refreshing thought.

[Finddeepermeanings.blogspot.com]

"Theologians think, not from Genesis to Revelation but from genetics to evolution"

that is quite a generalising statement...

many many theologians [in practice even if not named as such], glean theology from the bible

with us evangelicals there is an unecessary suspicion of theology, and that is such a shame, as deeper study can help us communicate better with those outside of the faith...rather than just sweeping some of their questions under the table....it can also deepen and enrich our own faith, and bring greater thankfulness for the wisdom of Greatness of God because of what He has done.

[Felicity Dale]

You're right in your comments about theologians. I probably should not have included that sentence. I'm very grateful for the work of theologians in many different areas.

I think that some of the suspicion, especially the person who made this remark, is that most seminaries get their students debating theology rather than teaching them how to reach out to people and bring them into the Kingdom, and then have them train others to do the same.