Ripe for Harvest

S ESSION 1: S EEING THE B IG P ICTURE • 47

S EMINAR 1 What Is a Church? Rev. Drs. Don Davis and Hank Voss

On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ~ Jesus, The Church Planter (Matthew 16.18)

This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church . . . ~ Paul, a Church Planter (Ephesians 5.32)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

~ Peter, a Church Planter (1 Peter 2.9)

Objectives

As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify the rich breadth of images for the Church in the New Testament and the relationship of those images to Jesus, his Father, and the Holy Spirit. • Articulate the local church’s relationship to the Kingdom of God. • Recognize that the Church cannot be understood apart from His-story. • Name the four specific components of both the objective side of the Triune God’s Unfolding Drama and the four corresponding elements of the Church’s subjective response. • Describe three expressions of the church especially relevant to the urban poor. • Reflect on seven practices essential to a healthy church.

Context Values/Vision Prepare Launch Assemble Nurture Transition Schedule/Charter