Ripe for Harvest

50 • R IPE FOR H ARVEST

C. The Nicene Creed summarizes God’s story

1. The Father creates (maker of all things).

2. The Son saves ( Christus Victor ).

3. The Spirit perfects (bringer of the life to come into the present age).

4. The Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

III. The Church’s Story Has Both Objective and Subjective Components

A. The objective side of the story: The missio Dei (the mission of God):

1. The Father as Author of the Story (The Story’s Director)

2. The Son as Champion of the Story (The Story’s Lead Actor)

3. The Holy Spirit as Interpreter of the Story (The Story’s Narrator)

4. The Scripture as the Testimony of the Story (The Story’s Script)

B. The subjective side of the story: The response of the Church and her participation in God’s unfolding drama

1. Orthodox Theology: we are the people of the Story (Saints confessing the ancient Faith)

2. Priestly Worship: we re-enact the Story (Priestly worshippers and ministers to the Lord)

3. Spiritual Formation: we embody the Story (Congregational Disciples as followers and sojourners in the world)

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

4. Kingdom Witness: we are the continuation of the Story (God’s servants and ambassadors)