oratory could be the means by which the barbarian was transformed. The claims
of this thesis are not as bold, and yet they are significant. The nudge of a
sceptic towards the way of Jesus, rather than a transformation of the
barbarian, has been the focus. It has been established that there is a role for intrigue in the
communication with sceptics.
mere words and images. The intriguing communication must flow from intriguing
communities, living distinctive lives with distinction. Good words operate best
when they are in unison with good works. A pluralist society offers the
opportunity to step forward, rather than to step back, to be more outgoing, not
less. To initiate a community-wide conversation through billboards which
intrigue is one such way to step forward.
more than mere human skills. It will require a sustained, prayerful dependence
upon God, the one who opens eyes and softens hearts. The blindness and the
hardness in the sceptic are real but this can change under the influence of the
Spirit of God. To design a series of billboards which intrigue is to supply the
Spirit with some tools with which he may choose to go to work.
who is more than a mere project. The sceptic is to be respected, to be
understood and loved. Disputes can be delayed, preferring to loiter to
intrigue, rather than rushing to persuade. Of Timothy Keller it is observed
that he offers the sceptic the same respect he offers to a member of his
church [see here]. Kinnaman and Lyons conclude that followers of Jesus must respond to people the
way he did [see UnChristian, 213, 217]. These are the examples to follow.
thesis is a mission one. There are large numbers of ‘skeptics, critics, and
cynics’ and hostile UnChristians who resist what the Christian community
represents. Are they to be left alone, just ignored? No. The small nudge of
intrigue may lead to the big change of entanglement in the way of Jesus.”
nice chatting
Paul
About Me
the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
Just when I thought that it could not be possible to have another first-hand account of the impact of John Stott’s life (d. 2011), along comes this book by his close friend, John Wyatt. I am always ready to learn more about John Stott, but also about friendship. It fascinates me. It keeps coming up…
Reading stories to grandchildren over Christmas reminded me again of how powerful they can be. They are so compact and simple in presentation, and yet so clever in construction. There are just so many features at work in an effective story. It is some years since I taught narrative preaching, but when I did I’d…
Apart from the eight years in which we were based overseas, Barby has been working at the Refugee Resettlement Center in Auckland since 2002. This year she is a ‘release teacher’, spending one day each week in three different classrooms, with three different age groups. Impressive—and demanding. One day is spent with 11-13 year olds—from…
Beautiful. Now we just need to get this out to the "Jesus is the rizzle in the sizzle" signwriters.