Chapter 3: Stability
The story of an apple tree and what it provides as a result of its stability.
HOW GOD’S MISSION OF RECONCILIATION UNFOLDS. A vow of stability. Stability is necessary to truly work on God’s reconciling task for us.
HYPERMOBILITY AND INDIVIDUALISM. The dangers of moving too much or being too focused on our individual success.
DISPLACED, DISEMBODIED CHRISTIANITY. “When we give preeminence to our own stories over the story of God’s work in the church, we love first the motivation and then the capacity work through difficult situations.
THE MOBILITY OF CHURCHES. How important is location to the church? If it were moved, would the congregation notice the difference. One solution is to plant other churches, much like FECC did
CULTIVATING KNOWLEDGE OF A PLACE. To find stability you need knowledge of the place you are. That means understanding and observing the natural rhythms of the place, its history, and its peccadillos.
CATALYZING LOCAL CULTURE. The church can be a catalyst for culture.
HOSPITALITY AND GENEROSITY. The dangers of stability for a sense of superiority over those who are transient and using it to accumulate wealth and power. Hence the need for hospitality and generosity.