Focussing on the Future of the Church
A series of four Bible studies
by Revd Dr Jason Bray ©
Lord God, renew your Church
and begin with me.
Heal our wounds,
give us joy in our faith,
draw many to share in your life,
and use us all in your service.
For Jesus Christ's sake:
Lord of the Church,
make us the Church of the Lord.
Amen.
Why?
These Bible studies are offered as a means of helping people in the pew (and the person in the pulpit) think about the future of the Church. It may come as a surprise to some people that to focus on the future of the Church, we need to go back to the Bible. But that is what the Church has always done: New movements and ventures in the Church (at least, successful ones) have always been inspired by the Scriptures. But this is something the contemporary Church forgets at its peril.
The Church can be very often seduced into thinking that it is a secular organisation, and that what works in business will work in the Church too. This is not necessarily always the case.
One of the great insights of early theology was that human beings do not get themselves to heaven by their own efforts but by the grace of God. And so in today's world, if the Church is going to be renewed, if it has any future at all, that future must be founded on prayer and reflection on our inheritance of faith, primarily in the Scriptures through which God has always spoken to his Church.
So the Scriptures can help us. But, be warned: you may not want to hear what they are telling you. The Scriptures offer us all a challenge. They are not comfortable, mainly because the God who speaks through them is not comfortable, so a meaningful encounter with the Bible can be a disturbing experience. But perhaps we need to be disturbed before it is too late.
Who?
The immediate background is the situation in the Diocese of Monmouth, but there is no reason why the material could not be used ecumenically.
When?
Many Churches find that if they don't have a regular Bible study group through the year, they manage to run one in Advent, or perhaps during the less hectic Kingdom Season in November.
How?
You will, of course, all need a Bible. Each session starts with a suggested prayer which you can use or not as you prefer. But it is important to start each session with a prayer.
You will then find a paragraph which tries to put the story into context. This could be read out by the leader before the passage itself is read out.
After that, each session is divided into two parts. The first tries to help us think our way into the Bible story itself, and the second part focuses on the 'message' for today's Church, and is broken down into smaller sections.
At the end of each section there is a series of questions. There are no right and wrong answers.
Each session finishes with prayer. It is important to allow people space to face any difficult issues, and to bring them to God in prayer, whether publicly or privately. Bear in mind that some people may want to talk it through afterwards. During the prayers, you could use the Diocesan Prayer printed on the cover, and then finish the prayer time with the Lord's Prayer.
A final reading will give people something to think about on the way home.