Comments on: mdna - Approaches to disciple-making (continued) http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/01/27/mdna-approaches-to-disciple-making-continued/ musings from those on the journey Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:17:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: just_nigel http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/01/27/mdna-approaches-to-disciple-making-continued/#comment-127854 just_nigel Wed, 15 Feb 2006 01:33:09 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/01/27/mdna-approaches-to-disciple-making-continued/#comment-127854 What Alpha may lack in theological complexity it still has strengths. Phil says "Alpha’s genius in my opinion is its simple format" I would agree and add two other factors to Alpha's strengths. Its intentionality (I have seen implementing Alpha give churches a missional focus that was otherwise missing) and related to this is how it empowers the laity (implementing Alpha is for some people their first experience of a missional experiment). I wonder if the ecclesial conservatism in Alpha (eg it is coming to a church building for a program where you train people to sing songs together so they will be able to fit into 'church' once they are converted) is more culturally relevant in England than here. The Church of England is still a State Church there and the TV show Songs of Praise rates well. Also I wonder what would happen if for end of Alpha camp instead of retreating to pray for the Spirit to give someone the gift of speaking in tongues, an Alpha group went to feed asylum seekers and pray for the Spirit to give the gift of reconciliation. (who knows someone may have already tried it) What Alpha may lack in theological complexity it still has strengths.

Phil says “Alpha’s genius in my opinion is its simple format” I would agree and add two other factors to Alpha’s strengths. Its intentionality (I have seen implementing Alpha give churches a missional focus that was otherwise missing) and related to this is how it empowers the laity (implementing Alpha is for some people their first experience of a missional experiment).

I wonder if the ecclesial conservatism in Alpha (eg it is coming to a church building for a program where you train people to sing songs together so they will be able to fit into ‘church’ once they are converted) is more culturally relevant in England than here. The Church of England is still a State Church there and the TV show Songs of Praise rates well.

Also I wonder what would happen if for end of Alpha camp instead of retreating to pray for the Spirit to give someone the gift of speaking in tongues, an Alpha group went to feed asylum seekers and pray for the Spirit to give the gift of reconciliation. (who knows someone may have already tried it)

]]> By: alan http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/01/27/mdna-approaches-to-disciple-making-continued/#comment-125096 alan Sat, 28 Jan 2006 10:54:18 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/01/27/mdna-approaches-to-disciple-making-continued/#comment-125096 I'm not sure how far you are going to take the ALPHA issue,but one of the interesting aspects of much of imported ministry ideas,including ALPHA, into Australia is how quickly they are picked up with little scrutiny. During the heyday of ALPHA in Australia it was difficult to find any critical analysis in the church press.I saw an odd article in the Anglican press( "From Alpha to lover:christianity for grown ups" - Market place dec 2003) but not much about anywhere else.Stephen Hunt's "Anyone for Alpha?Evangelism in a post christian society"(DLT 2001) was one of the few British studies I saw.Tim Chapman's "The Alpha course examined" can be found I’m not sure how far you are going to take the ALPHA issue,but one of the interesting aspects of much of imported ministry ideas,including ALPHA, into Australia is how quickly they are picked up with little scrutiny. During the heyday of ALPHA in Australia it was difficult to find any critical analysis in the church press.I saw an odd article in the Anglican press( “From Alpha to lover:christianity for grown ups” - Market place dec 2003) but not much about anywhere else.Stephen Hunt’s “Anyone for Alpha?Evangelism in a post christian society”(DLT 2001) was one of the few British studies I saw.Tim Chapman’s “The Alpha course examined” can be found

]]> By: Andrew http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/01/27/mdna-approaches-to-disciple-making-continued/#comment-124197 Andrew Fri, 27 Jan 2006 04:04:19 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/01/27/mdna-approaches-to-disciple-making-continued/#comment-124197 "As I read the official Alpha web site’s description of the format, I was struck by how similar it was to many of the new emerging church formats for worship gatherings." Good point! “As I read the official Alpha web site’s description of the format, I was struck by how similar it was to many of the new emerging church formats for worship gatherings.”

Good point!

]]> By: Subversive Influence http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/01/27/mdna-approaches-to-disciple-making-continued/#comment-124133 Subversive Influence Fri, 27 Jan 2006 01:28:41 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/01/27/mdna-approaches-to-disciple-making-continued/#comment-124133 <strong>More M-DNA: Disciple-Making</strong> Over at Signposts, Phil has been adding to the mDNA series with a couple of recent posts on approaches to disciple-making. The whole recurring series is a good one on (in case you didn’t catch it) Missional DNA. ... More M-DNA: Disciple-Making

Over at Signposts, Phil has been adding to the mDNA series with a couple of recent posts on approaches to disciple-making. The whole recurring series is a good one on (in case you didn’t catch it) Missional DNA.

…

]]>