The discernment process marks the initial step towards rejuvenating the church. Rather than overlooking the existing strengths in the church’s cultural framework, the renovation process celebrates these sturdy foundations, propelling us towards a future brimming with hope and divine purpose.
In this journey, we not only cherish the enduring strengths of the church but also envision the direction in which God is guiding us. The renovation effort is not about discarding the past but about creatively adapting our cultural roots to align seamlessly with the demands and opportunities of the present moment.
Our approach goes beyond preservation; it involves actively reimagining how these enduring strengths, akin to the “good bones” of a structure, can be woven into the tapestry of today’s culture. Through this deliberate process, we aim to realign our ministry and mission with the contemporary realities of our community, ensuring that the church remains dynamic, relevant, and purposeful.
In the Old Testament the Sabbatical Year and the Year of Jubilee restored Israel’s culture.
Jesus takes the good bones of the Old Testament Jubilee and reimagines them for his time. He ways in Luke 4
“The Spirit of she Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18–19 NIV11)
The rest of his ministry reveals how he lives out his interpretation of the year of the Lord’s favor. As we live out God’s call to us we also discern how to live faithfully in the time God has put us in.
