Session 2 (part 2): Rob Bell - The Story We're Telling

Ok, so I’m quite a bit behind. I’ve just been having too much fun connecting with people during our free time, thus no time to blog. But I might have time right now to finish up the notes from session 2. Quotes equal Rob (or just paraphrase of Rob) and the rest is me.
“Business is an essential part of all this. Not a secondary task. Business as ministry. The triple-bottom line - how business impacts profit, environment, and people.”
“People are hurting, wounded, and trying to make sense of the world. Interacting with these people is part of being right in the action. No need to be a minister to be in the action.” I don’t know…that’s easy for a bunch of ministers to affirm.
“Art takes an important role when you start with Gen 1 and 2”
I’m coming at this as a skeptic for some reason…because I desire to identify with those who do not connect with this. That’s just where I am.
“Problem of using music to get somewhere else.” But isn’t that what Mars Hill does?
“Justice also matters when you begin with Gen 1 and 2”
Rob needs to be heart. Absolutely. I don’t question that at all. He is a hugely important voice right now in the Christian world - especially the Evangelical world.
“A sermon then is the continuing insistence that through the resur of Jesus a whole new world is bursting forth right here in the midst of this one and everybody everywhere can be part of it”
“A sermon then is about helping people see this new creation with their own eyes.”
“A sermon then brings hope rooted not in escape but engagement not in evacuation but reclamation not in leaving but in staying and overcoming.”
Why do we have to connect this to Jesus and the resur? Don’t many people do the same thing just as well w/o these things? How do we address that?
“A sermon then is never surprised when grace, beauty, meaning, order, compassion, truth, and love show up in all sorts of unexpected people and places because it always has been God’s world and it is God’s world and it always will be God’s world.”
This frees you. Yes, but doesn’t it also take away the need for Jesus and resur? And Christianity altogether? I like it, but I’m just thinking…
“So and so is not part of a church. In some towns that might be good.” Love it!
“A big generous view of God. This is what we must teach people.”
Good. Good. Good. This is a Christian story that can make a difference and live on in this world.
I love this stuff but I struggle with the universalizing nature of Christianity. I see how this story can make a difference but why must we elevate our story as most important - even if it is true!
Couldn’t someone live this and not even believe in God? Not about belief.
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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