In our third session before the second Shared Learning Morning we will start to explore some models of evangelism and will introduce the Mixed Ecology of Church, including the place of Fresh Expressions within that. This will set the stage for Session Five. 

In this session we will be recapping some of the material from the exploration of our contemporary mission field, and we’ll then be looking at ways of responding to these cultural paradigm shifts (ways in which our culture has changed). How could we think of people's journey to faith? Is there a 'right' or a 'wrong' way? Should we be rejecting traditional models of church in favour of Fresh Expressions or more contemporary church plants? We will also hear more from a guest speaker about Fresh Expressions, Greenhouse, and the Mixed Ecology Trellis. We’re not necessarily going to find definitive answers to theses questions, but we are going to consider the implications for our local contexts.

In this session we'll be exploring the concept of  church growth and what it means to grow. Is it all about getting more bums on seats? We'll explore some strategies for church growth at a local level, including the work of Bob Jackson and his strategy based around embracing being small. We will also look at two resources which are designed to help time-honoured/traditional churches think about growth. 

In this session we’ll be exploring the concept of church as a gift. We will think about what good gift giving is, what we can learn from it, and how this can be applied to mission and evangelism in our contemporary contexts. We will also consider mindsets of scarcity and abundance, and the difference each of them make to the way we approach mission and evangelism. 

In this session we shall focus on the importance of confidence in our everyday faith, and the impact this has on our mission and evangelism. We will think about some ways to develop our confidence, including sharing our faith story. We will spend time looking at The Quiet Revival, and what we can learn from the report about confident discipleship. We shall also touch on apologetics, its place in contemporary Britain, and what we can learn from it.

In this session we’ll explore how we as individuals and as local churches can engage in mission and evangelism through community engagement and healthy relationships, considering how we identify the networks around us and that we are part of. Finally we will look at some recommendations for engaging in pioneer ministry and consider their wider application.  

In our closing session we’ll be recapping the module material mostly in discussion and activities. We’ll reflect together on some of the key points through the module and share some of what we’ve discovered and learned with one another.

 

There is one ssignment for this module. You can find instructions and guidance by clicking on the picture to the left. Your engagement with module through Learning Support Group Sessions, Shared Learning Mornings and Forum engagement will also form a part of your overall module mark.