Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
1
LOVING THE CITY
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT TORONTO?
This much is clear -- the cities are where the people are....If the Christian church does not learn new modes of urban ministry, we will find ourselves on the outside looking in. The Gospel of Jesus Christ must call a new generation of committed Christians into these teeming cities....[T]here really is no choice.
-- Al Mohler
AGENDA
We use the city
HOW DO WE
OFTEN THINK?
HOW DO WE THINK OF THE CITY?
We disdain the city
We're indifferent to the city
NEW GOALS
HOW DO WE LOVE THE CITY?
NEW
GOALS
WE ARE RESIDENT ALIENS ON MISSION
We are sojourners -- "people who learn from [Jesus] how to live with him and advance his mission" (Matthew Arbo)
IDENTITY
TACTICS
WE MUST DO GOOD IN THE FACE OF HOSTILITY
Tactics 1
Are Christians victims of this post-Christian world? No. Sadly, Christians are coconspirators. We embrace modernism's perks when they serve our own lusts and selfish ambitions. We despise modernism when it crosses lines of our precious moralism. Our cold and hard hearts; our failure to love the stranger; our selfishness with our money, our time, and our home; and our privileged back turned against widows, orphans, prisoners, and refugees means we are guilty in the face of God of withholding love and Christian witness. (Rosaria Butterfield)
Tactics 2
WE MUST ENGAGE IN "QUESTIONABLE BEHAVIOR"
-- living attractive lives by the power of the Holy Spirit that make people want to know what makes us so kind
Tactics 3
act in view of Jesus'return
Whether people believe or not, they will glorify God.
God is glorified in both salvation and judgment.
Picture the possibilities
WE MUST FULFILL OUR CIVIC DUTIES AS GOD'S SLAVES
Project 1
We submit to government for the Lord's sake
We seek the welfare of the city to silence false accusations and pave the way for gospel proclamation.
Project 2
Project 2
As God's slaves, we use our freedom to do good!
Project 3
Project 3
- we respect people as image-bearers of God
- we love our brethren so we can serve in community
- we honor public officials
- all this we do out of reverence for God
ACTION PLAN
We can't do this on our own!
ACTION
PLAN
1
We repent of our failure
2
We rest in Christ's unfailing love
3
We submit to the Spirit's leading and work