Missiological Reflection

DOING THEOLOGY IN COMMUNITY

After reading the chapter, respond to the follow discussion questions with your small group, house church, or leadership team.

• How have you seen your own growth with God mimic academic study versus a passionate, missiologically theocentric driven journey? How do you feel you have made your “Sunday morning experience” about you and not about God’s glory?

• Where do you feel you are lacking most: understanding God’s story, understanding your culture’s story, or the ability to connect the two? Why?

• How could looking at Paul like a model for your life as opposed to a “hero” change the way you approached your ministry?

• What beliefs would you have the hardest time temporarily setting aside (bracketing) to minister to someone outside of your culture/belief system? Are these hesitations more biblical or cultural?

• What active role do you give the Holy Spirit when reading his word/seeking his wisdom?

• How would you quickly summarize God’s mission in the world across the pages of Scripture? What do you feel you adding or omitting if you shared this summary with a non-believer?

• What’s your process to understanding God’s Word when you read it? How does “theology in community” play into this process?

• How do the Vincentian Canon and Christological boundaries challenge the way you presently land on your theological opinions? 

• How would you state a) God’s mission in the world across Scripture and b) your theological boundaries to a six-year-old?

Spend a moment before moving on and pray that the Holy Spirit speaks clearly to you/you all as you reengage with Ephesiology.

Back to Introducing Ephesiology

Gregory the Theologian said in effect that theology should be conducted between people who are serious and it should be characterized by pure and peaceful collaboration. We invite you into this collaboration as you reflect on the following questions. Join the discussion by posting comments below. As fellow learners, please be respectful and gracious in your interactions with others.