Session 2 (part 1): Rob Bell - The Story We're Telling
This is going to be a real quick copying of my notes, just to get them out there. I’ll probably be commenting more about my own thoughts/reflections in a later post. This was a great talk by Rob Bell. Again, everything in quotes is from Rob, either direct or paraphrased. Everything not in quotes is me.
Theological underpinings of the sermon
Does Rob Bell have a closet full of the same black shirt? Worth examining further…
“Where and how you end and begin the story shape and determine what story you’re telling.”
Gen 1 - “progressive generativity,” “creation going somewhere”
It’s fun to use Hebrew words.
“In the beg the action isn’t somewhere else, the action is right here. All belessed, holy, and sacred.”
“Everything we love about life is already right here in Gen 1 and 2”
“Rev 21 - end of the story - all things made new”
“Physical and participatory - all the descriptions of the story.”
“The story ends and begins here - not somewhere else”
“Gen 3 - the disruption of shalom” Hebrew words are fun!
I wonder how tall Rob Bell is…maybe 6 4 or 6 5…another question to pursue further…
“Gen 3 is not how the story ends or begins - so we shouldn’t start the story there! But the sin story must be told within the story.”
“The story is about God…renewing, restoring, and reconciling all things.”
Greek words are fun too!
“If you start in Gen 3, then the drive of the story is removal of sin. If you start in Gen 1, the central issue is restoration of shalom.”
“If you start in 3, people will pick up this as your central issue”
“3-what you aren’t, 1-what you are”
I like how Rob uses PowerPoint.
But if you start in Gen 3, why do people need the story? What problem are we addressing?
“3-disembodied evacuation, 1-participatory physicality”
“Materiality is not the issue, rebellion is the issue”
“I don’t need to hear once a week how terrible I am”
Why do happy fulfilled people need this story? How are we still not only addressing those feeling a lack?
Rob uses “she” to refer to preacher examples quite a bit. I appreciate this - makes a difference - speaks to his story.
“I’m concerned there will be people going up somewhere, when God is going down, and they’ll pass in the air.” I love it!
Is this the story or a story? What about how other stories/religions fit in this story? Again, why is this necessary? What is the problem?
“The story is about Jesus’ resur beg a new creation right here in the midst of this one.” Is this the answer to my question?
“Resur is about God reaffirming the goodness of creation”
“God is looking for partners”
“Heaven is where God is storing the Earth’s future”
It’s a great story, but what about those who say, “that’s great” and then just move on and don’t define their life by it?
Rob tells a great story, but what about those who don’t already live in this story? Do they care?
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I’ve gotta go - there will be a part two for this post. But isn’t what I already posted really great? More to come.
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Reflections on Poets, Prophets, & Preachers
- Sunday Morning at Mars Hill
- Session 1: Rob Bell - The Original Guerilla Theatre
- A list of who is blogging at PPP
- Session 2 (part 1): Rob Bell - The Story We’re Telling
- Session 2 (part 2): Rob Bell - The Story We’re Telling
- Session 3: Peter Rollins - Introduction to Transformance Art
- Session 4: Shane Hipps - How Technology Shapes the Sermon
- Session 5: Rob Bell - The Fig Tree and the Failure of Language
- Session 6: Rob Bell - Fumbling Around With Your Radar
- Session 7: Peter Rollins - Parables and the Lost Art of Provocation
- Concluding Sessions (when I completely abandon my duties)
- Poets, Prophets, & Preachers: Twitter Highlights
- Poets, Prophets, & Preachers: Final Thoughts
