Paradoxy Study Guide

8/8/2019 Paradoxy Study Guide

1/28

ThisParadoxy Study

Guide and its accompanying

Paradoxy Facilitators

Guide are intended to pro-

vide additional guidance and

structure that will make itpossible even for groups

with very diverse theological

opinions to explore the im-

plications and possibilities of

Paradoxy together.

TheParadoxy Facilita-

tors Guide provides pro-

spective group discussion

leaders with guidelines,

ground rules, and other prac-

tical information to help

them plan, adapt, and carry

out their groups successfully.

TheParadoxy StudyGuide is designed to help

individual participants more

effectively collect, organize,

and share their thoughts with

the other members of the

group, as well as to reflect

on their learnings and record

their insights between gath-

erings.

I hope you find these ma-

terials helpful to you in put-

ting the concepts ofPara-

doxy to work in your congre-gation, your ecumenical

community, or your denomi-

nation. And I welcome your

feedback at my website:

practicingparadoxy.com.

Ken+

I wroteParadoxy: Creat-

ing Christian Community

Beyond Us and Them to

help individuals, congrega-

tions, and denominations

understand why many of theold familiar ways of being

Church are no longer work-

ing and to join together in

exploring the outlines of a

new way of being Church

that does not require a

Them in order to create an

Us a radical new mid-

dle way that transcends cate-

gories like conservative

and liberal and all the

other divisive labels we have

used to slice and dice the

body of Christ into the manynarcissistic tribal groupings

in which we find ourselves

today.

Changing paradigms is no

picnic. Even in fields like

Science, whose job is to con-

tinually refine our paradigms

about the nature of reality

and the functioning of the

world around us, paradigm

shifts have more often taken

the form of revolutions

against an entrenched statusquo than that of dispassion-

ate consensus building. Is it

any wonder that when major

paradigm shifts have con-

fronted the church, the re-

sulting turmoil has often

been angry, fierce, and

sometimes violent?

Reading a book likePara-

doxy, which describes the

nature of the multiple para-

digm shifts we are currently

experiencing and suggests a

pathway through them, is agood first step toward suc-

cessfully navigating these

turbulent times. But knowl-

edge alone, while necessary,

is not sufficient. Because of

our very human tendency to

react anxiously and defen-

sively to change, most of usneed a bit more guidance and

structure in order to adapt.

Thats why I designed

Paradoxy the way I did: with

structured biblical reflections

and suggested discussion

questions.

Paradoxy: Creating Christian

Community Beyond Us and Them

P a r a d o x y S t u d y M a t e r i a l sE A C H

S E C T I O N

C O N T A I N S :

Purpose of the

Chapter

Bible Readings

Bible Reflection

Questions

Questions for

Group Discussion

Your Notes

S E C T I O N S

Introduction 2

Chapter 1 4

Chapter 2 6

Chapter 3 8

Chapter 4 10

Chapter 5 12

Chapter 6 14

Chapter 7 24

Inventory 26

PRACTICINGPARADOXY.COMParadoxy Study Guide
http://www.practicingparadoxy.com/http://www.practicingparadoxy.com/


2/28

John 17:2223The glory that you have givenme I have given them, so that

they may be one, as we are

one, I in them and you in me,

that they may become com-

pletely one, so that the world

may know that you have sent

me and have loved them

even as you have loved me.

Jesus called us to be one in

the same way that he (God

the Son) and God the Father

are one. In what manner are

God the Father and God the

Son One? What then are the

implications for how we, as

the followers of Christ, are to

be one?

I n t r o d u c t i o n :

M a y Y o u L i v e I n I n t e r e s t i n g T i m e s

P a g e 2

This chapter

is intended to helpparticipants understand

how the dangers facing

Western Christianity

today also present

the Church with

an epochal opportunity.

P a r a d o x y S t u d y G u i d e

Bible Reading 1 Reflection Your Notes

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________


1 Corinthians 13:12For now we see in a mirror,

dimly, but then we will see

face to face. Now I know only

in part; then I will know fully,

even as I have been fully

known.

How confident can we be

that our knowledge of Gods

will is complete and correct?

What does this say about the

attitude we should hold to-

ward those who disagree

with us?

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________


______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

Luke 24:3033When [Jesus] was at the table

with them, he took bread, blessed

and broke it, and gave it to them.Then their eyes were opened, and

they recognized him; and he van-

ished from their sight. They said

to each other, "Were not our

hearts burning within us while he

was talking to us on the road,

while he was opening the scrip-

tures to us?"

On the road to Emmaus,

Jesus taught the disciples

from the Scriptures, but it

was not until he communed

with them in the breaking of

bread that they recognized

him. What does this say

about the relationship of

doctrine and common wor-

ship to our recognizing that

Christ is among us?


3/28

P a g e 3Q u e s t i o n s f o r G r o u p D i s c u s s i o n

WHATWASYOURIMAGEOF GODASACHILD? . . . ASATEEN? . . . ASAYOUNGADULT? ATTHEAGEYOUARENOW? HOWHASYOURIMAGEOF GOD

CHANGED?

INYOUROPINION,WHICHDOYOUBELIEVEISMOREIMPORTANTTOTHECHURCH: CORRECTNESSOFBELIEFORTHEUNITYOFTHEBODY?

HOWARETHEYRELATED?

DIVIDEINTOTWOGROUPS: PEOPLEWHOIDENTIFYTHEMSELVESASTHEOLOGI-CALLYLIBERALANDPEOPLEWHOIDENTIFYTHEMSELVESASTHEOLOGICALLY

CONSERVATIVE. IDENTIFYTHETHINGSUPONWHICHYOUAGREEANDTHETHINGSABOUTWHICHYOUDISAGREE. ARETHEREOTHERCIRCLES?

WHATDIDYOULEARN?

THE

OLOGI C

ALLY

LIB

ER

AL

THEOLOGIC

ALLY

CONSERVATIV

E


4/28

Deuteronomy 8:2Remember the long way that

the Lord your God has led

you these forty years in the

wilderness, in order to hum-

ble you, testing you to know

what was in your heart,

whether or not you would

keep his commandments.

As the old saying goes: it took

God a day to get the Israelites

out of Egypt, but it took God

forty years to get Egypt out of

the Israelites. Why is it so diffi-

cult to leave behind even a

paradigm that has ceased to be

healthy? A whole generation of

Israelites had to pass on before

the Israelites were prepared to

enter the Promised Land. What

has to die before we are able to

enter a new paradigm?

C h a p t e r 1 :

C o l l a p s i n g p a r a d i g m s

P a g e 4

This chapter

is intended to help

participants recognizehow many of the

challenges facing our

churches today are natural

and expected results of the

fact that we are in the

midst of a major

paradigm collapse.



____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________


Acts 10:1116[In a dream, Peter] saw the heaven opened and

something like a large sheet coming down, being

lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it

were all kinds of four-footed creatures and rep-

tiles and birds of the air. Then he heard a voice

saying, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter

said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten

anything that is profane or unclean." The voicesaid to him again, a second time, "What God has

made clean, you must not call profane." This

happened three times, and the thing was sud-

denly taken up to heaven.

In a dream, God revealed to

Peter a new paradigm for a

community of faith, yet Peter

was resistant to giving up the

old way. If God were to reveal

to us a new way of being a

Christian community, what

might hold us back from liv-

ing into that revelation?

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________


______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

Matthew 7:35Why do you see the speck in your

neighbor's eye, but do not notice

the log in your own eye? Or howcan you say to your neighbor, "Let

me take the speck out of your

eye, while the log is in your own

eye? You hypocrite, first take the

log out of your own eye, and then

you will see clearly to take the

speck out of your neighbor's eye.

Imagine a conflict that you

have experienced in church.

To what extent was each

side criticizing the other for

things they are overlooking

in themselves? In what ways

do we engage in this dy-

namic on a routine basis?


5/28


WHICHPARTOFYOURCHURCHSLITURGYWOULDYOUBEMOSTRESISTANTTOCHANGING? WHICHITEMOFLITURGICALFURNITURE

(ALTAR, BAPTISMALFONT, ETC.)WOULDYOUBEMOSTRESISTANTTOMOVING?WHATDOESTHISSAYABOUTTHESPIRITUALMEANINGYOUINVESTINTHEAC-

TIONORITEMINQUESTION?

LISTSEVERALTHINGSYOUVALUEABOUTTHENATUREOFSPIRITUALCOMMUNITYINYOURCONGREGATION. WHICHTHINGONYOURLIST

DOYOUCONSIDERTHEMOSTIMPORTANT? THELEASTIMPORTANT?

WHICHOFTHEABOVEWOULDYOUBEWILLINGTOGIVEUPFORTHESAKEOFCHRISTIANUNITY? EXPLAIN. ANSWERTHESAMEQUESTIONFORYOUR

CONGREGATIONAND/ORDENOMINATION.


6/28

Mark 12:17Give to the emperor the

things that are the emperors

and to God the things that

are Gods.

What belongs to the em-

peror? What belongs to God?

How do we discern the differ-

ence?

C h a p t e r 2 :

C h r i s t e n d o m

P a g e 6

In the next three

chapters we explore howthree paradigms of

Christian unity

came to dominate

Western Christianity for

centuries, how they are

failing us now, and what

may rise from their ashes.



______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________


John 18:36Jesus answered, "My king-

dom is not from this world. If

my kingdom were from this

world, my followers would be

fighting to keep me from

being handed over to the

Jews. But as it is, my king-

dom is not from here."

Where is our kingdom? How

does this influence our rela-

tionship with this world?

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________


______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

Matthew 5:4345You have heard that it was said,

You shall love your neighbor and

hate your enemy. But I say toyou, love your enemies and pray

for those who persecute you, so

that you may be children of your

Father in heaven; for he makes

his sun rise on the evil and on the

good, and sends rain on the right-

eous and on the unrighteous.

If this is how Jesus asks us

to treat those who are ene-

mies of the gospel, how then

should we deal with brothers

and sisters with whom we

disagree?


7/28


TOWHATDEGREEDOESYOURCHURCHORDENOMINATIONDEMANDUNIFORMITYASTHEPRICEOFADMISSIONINTOITSSPIRITUALCOMMUNITY? LIST

THEAREASOFYOURCHURCHSORDENOMINATIONSCORPORATELIFEINWHICHCOMPLETEAGREEMENTSEEMSIMPORTANT.WHICHDOYOUMOSTWANTTOBE

ENFORCED? LEASTWANTTOBEENFORCED? HOWMUCHUNIFORMITYCANYOUENFORCEWITHOUTPRODUCINGDISUNITY? HOWMUCHUNITYCANYOU

TOLERATEBEFOREYOUSTANDFORNOTHING? WHEREISTHEBALANCEPOINT?

DESCRIBEFORYOURCHURCHORDENOMINATION:WHOISUSANDWHOISTHEM. ISTHEREMORETHANONECATEGORYOFTHEM?

WHICHOFTHESEGROUPSWOULDBETHEHARDESTTOINCLUDE?ISITNECESSARYFORTHERETOBEATHEM FORTHERETOBEANUS?

WHATSOCIALORMORALISSUESDOYOU,YOURCHURCH, ORYOURDENOMINATIONFEELSTRONGLYENOUGHABOUTTHATYOUWANTTO

DIRECTLYEXERTPOWERORINFLUENCEINORDERTOEFFECTCHANGE? INWHATWAYSHAVEYOUATTEMPTEDTOEXERCISETHISKINDOFINFLUENCE?

WHATHAVEBEENTHERESULTS? ISITPOSSIBLETOINFLUENCETHECULTUREWITHOUTRESORTINGTOPOWERANDCOERCIVEMETHODS?


8/28

Exodus 33:1823Moses said, Show me your glory, I pray. And[God] said, I will make all my goodness pass

before you, and will proclaim before you the

name, The Lord [Heb. YHVH (with no vowel

points, making it unpronounceable)]. . . .

But, he said, you cannot see my face; for

no one shall see me and live . . . See, there is

a place by me where you shall stand on the

rock; and while my glory passes by I will put

you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you

with my hand until I have passed by; then I

will take away my hand, and you shall see my

back; but my face shall not be seen.

God tells Moses his name,

which is not humanly pro-

nounceable, and allows

Moses to see only a small

part of Gods glory, because

no human being can see

Gods face and live. To

what extent can finite human

reason comprehend ultimate

reality? How confident can

we be in our certainties

about God?

C h a p t e r 3 :

F o u n d a t i o n a l i s m

P a g e 8

In this chapter

we explore

the rise and fallof a second

paradigm of

Christian unity

and how its loss

may open the

door to

a different way.



____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________


John 14:56Thomas said to [Jesus],

Lord, we do not know where

you are going. How can we

know the way? Jesus said to

him, I am the way, and the

truth, and the life. . . .

What does it mean for a per-

son to be the Way, the Truth,

and the Life? How do your

answers to this question

inform and influence the way

you understand truth? The

way you live out your faith?

The way you relate to Christ?

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________


______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

Matthew 18:20Jesus said, For where two or

three are gathered in my

name, I am there amongthem.

What is the significance of

Jesus promising to be pre-

sent AMONG two or more

gathered in his name, as

opposed to being present

WITHIN an individual be-

liever?


9/28


INWHATAREASOFYOURSPIRITUALLIFEDOYOUFEELTHENEEDFORCERTAINTY? HOWDOESTHATNEEDFORCERTAINTYEXPRESSITSELF?WHENDECIDINGWHATISTRUE,TOWHATDOYOUTENDTOGIVETHE

MOSTWEIGHT: SCRIPTURE,TRADITION, REASON, PRAYER, OTHER?

HOWDOESYOURNEEDFORCERTAINTYINTERFEREWITHYOURFAITH?

GIVENTHATTHEBESTWECANHOPEFORISVERISIMILITUDE (ACLOSEAP-PROXIMATIONOFTRUTH), HOWMIGHTINTERACTINGWITHSOMEONEWHOSE

POINTOFVIEWISDIFFERENTFROMOURSHELPUSTOGAINAMORECOMPLETEUNDERSTANDINGOFREALITY?


10/28

Matthew 5:1718Do not think that I havecome to abolish the law or

the prophets; I have come

not to abolish but to fulfill.

For truly I tell you, until

heaven and earth pass away,

not one letter, not one stroke

of a letter, will pass from the

law until all is accom-

plished.

If Jesus never intended to

start a new religion, what

does it mean to follow Jesus

Christ?

C h a p t e r 4 :

C h r i s t i a n i t y A s R e l i g i o n

P a g e 1 0

In this chapter

we explore the third

and perhaps

the oldest paradigm of

Christian unity

organized religion

and how a different

organizing principle

may be arising.



______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________


Luke 9:4950John answered, Master, we

saw someone casting out

demons in your name, and

we tried to stop him, be-

cause he does not follow

with us. But Jesus said to

him, Do not stop him; for

whoever is not against you isfor you.

What are the implications of

this text (and others like it)

for defining Christianity?

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________


______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

1 Corinthians 13:13And now faith, hope, and

love abide, these three; and

the greatest of these is love.

In what ways do faith, hope,

and love order your life as an

individual believer? How

would your church be differ-

ent if it ordered its life

around these three atti-

tudes/qualities?


11/28

P a g e 1 1Q u e s t i o n s f o r G r o u p D i s c u s s i o n

INWHATWAYSISTHESTRUCTUREOFYOURCHURCHMORELIKEANORGANIZATION? INWHATWAYSISITMORELIKEANORGANISM? INWHATWAYS

CANTHESTRUCTUREBEEITHERASTRENGTHORAPOTENTIALWEAKNESS?

ASAGROUP, DECIDEUPONTHETENMOSTIMPORTANTBELIEFSOFYOURFAITH.DIVIDETHEMBETWEENTHETHREECOLUMNSBELOW.

DISCUSSWHYYOUPLACEDTHEBELIEFSWHEREYOUDID. ATTEMPTTOCOMETOACONSENSUSABOUTTHEPLACEMENTS. DISCUSSTHEIMPLICATIONSFOR

YOURSELVES,YOURCONGREGATION,ANDYOURDENOMINATION.

D O G M AThe Churchs Core

Mostly Paradoxical Beliefs

D O C T R I N EThe Churchs Creeds

D I D A C H EThe Churchs Traditions and Teaching


12/28

Philippians 3:10I want to know Christ and thepower of his resurrection and

the sharing of his sufferings

by becoming like him in his

death.

If this were the single most

important and defining char-

acteristic of Christian com-

munity, what difference

would it make?

C h a p t e r 5 :

C h r i s t i a n i t i e s T h a t M i g h t H a v e B e e n

P a g e 1 2

In this chapter

we explore several

flourishing movements inthe Churchs past whose

very vitality led to their

suppression by the

dominant religious

authorities of their day,

and what lessons they

might have for us today.



______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________


Galatians 3:28There is no longer Jew or

Greek, there is no longer

slave or free, there is no

longer male and female; for

all of you are one in Christ

Jesus.





would it make?

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________


______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither

circumcision nor uncircumci-

sion counts for anything; theonly thing that counts is faith

working through love.

(The terms circumcision

and uncircumcision refer

not to physical characteris-

tics but to two different ap-

proaches to Christian com-

munity. )





would it make?


13/28


ONEADVANTAGEOFSTUDYINGTHESEMOVEMENTSISTOOPENOUREYESTOTHEEXTENTTOWHICHOURPRESENTDOCTRINES,THEOLOGY,

ANDPRACTICESARECULTURALLYCONDITIONED.USINGWHATYOUHAVELEARNEDFROMTHISCHAPTER, IDENTIFYONEOR

MOREOFYOUROWNCHURCHSTEACHINGSORPRACTICESTHATSEEMTOBEAPRODUCTOFTHECULTUREINWHICHITDEVELOPED. DISCUSS.

WHATCANWELEARNFROMTHESEMOVEMENTS? WHATISTHEAPPROPRIATEBALANCEBETWEENTHECHURCHASMOVEMENTORORGANISM

ANDTHECHURCHASINSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION?

IFRELATIONSHIPWITH CHRIST (THATIS, BEINGLOVEDBYCHRIST)WERETHESINGLEMOSTIMPORTANTASPECTOF CHRISTIANCOMMUNITY,ANDALLOTHER

ASPECTSWERESECONDARY, HOWWOULD CHRISTIANCOMMUNITYBEDIFFERENT?


14/28

John 6:35I am the bread of life. Who-ever comes to me will never

be hungry, and whoever be-

lieves in me will never be

thirst.

John 8:12I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me will

never walk in darkness but

will have the light of life.

C h a p t e r 6 :

P r i n c i p l e s f o r a n e w w a y o f c h u r c h

P a g e 1 4

In this chapter,

which we will discuss

over several sessions,

we explore a number of

emerging principles

which might form

the boundaries of a

mew paradigm of

Christian unity.


Bible Reading 1 Bible Reading 2 Bible reading 3

John 10:7, 9bI am the gate for the sheep .. . Whoever enters by me will

be saved, and will come in

and go out and find pasture.

Bible Reading 4 Bible reading 5 Bible reading 6

John 10:11, 1416"I am the good shepherd. The

good shepherd lays down his life

for the sheep . . . I am the good

shepherd. I know my own and

my own know me, just as the

Father knows me and I know the

Father. And I lay down my life for

the sheep. I have other sheepthat do not belong to this fold. I

must bring them also, and they

will listen to my voice. So there

will be one flock, one shepherd.

John 11:2526aI am the resurrection

and the life. Those who

believe in me, even

though they die, will live,

and everyone who lives

and believes in me will

never die.

John 14:6-7aI am the way, and the truth,

and the life. No one comes to

the Father except through

me. If you know me, you will

know my Father also.

Reflection Your Notes

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Recalling that I AM (Heb. YHVH), is

the name for God that God told

Moses, consider each of the above I

AM statements of Jesus as a lens

through which to view both Jesus

Christ and the rest of Scripture.

Which of these lenses feel most invit-

ing to you? Which feel most challeng-

ing? Which feel both inviting and

challenging? What tensions do you

experience as you consider these

things? What are the implications?

Bible reading 7

John 15:1, 5bI am the true vine, and my

Father is the vinegrower . . .

Those who abide in me and I

in them bear much fruit, be-

cause apart from me you can

do nothing.


15/28


WHATFORCES/ISSUES/CONSIDERATIONSSUPPORT

CHRISTIANCOMMUNITIESBEINGKNOWNPRIMARILYFORHAVINGLOVEFORONEANOTHER?

WHATFORCES/ISSUES/CONSIDERATIONSHOLDTHEMBACK? LISTTHEMBELOW:

CONSIDERANYCONTROVERSIALISSUEINYOURCHURCH.HOWMIGHTYOURINDIVIDUALAPPROACHTOTHEISSUESHIFT

IFYOUSTARTEDWITHTHEASSUMPTIONTHATBOTHSIDESSHAREDANORGANIC, LIVINGCONNECTIONWITH CHRISTTHATCOULDNOTBESEVERED?

HOWWOULDTHEINTERPERSONALPROCESSSHIFTIFBOTHSIDESSTARTEDWITHTHATASSUMPTION?

Bible reading

John 13:35By this everyone will know that you are

my disciples, if you have love for one

another."

S u p p o r t i n g f o r c e s

R e s t r a i n i n g f o r c e s


16/28


IF JESUSCAMETOYOURCHURCH,WHATEVIDENCEWOULDHESEETHATYOULOVEONEANOTHER? WHATEVIDENCEWOULDHESEETHATYOUDONOT?

HOWISHAVINGLOVEFORONEANOTHERMADEMANIFEST? HOWIS GODCALLINGYOUANDYOURCONGREGATIONTOLOVEONEANOTHER

MOREOBVIOUSLY?


17/28


THEREARETWOWAYSOFINTERPRETINGTHISTEXT: PAULISWARNINGAGAINSTDOCTRINESDIFFERENTTHANHISOWN. PAULISWARNINGAGAINSTANEXCESSIVEFOCUSONDOCTRINE, BECAUSEITISA

HUMANATTEMPTTODESCRIBEDIVINEREALITY,ANDISTHEREFOREIMPERFECTANDSUBJECTTOCHANGE.

WHATARETHEIMPLICATIONSOFTHESEVERYDIFFERENTINTERPRETATIONS?

E p h e s i a n s 4 : 1 4 a

We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown

about by every wind of doctrine. . . .


18/28


WHATDOYOUFINDATTRACTIVEABOUTTHEIDEAOFCURBINGYOURDOGMA?WHATABOUTITMAKESYOUFEELUNEASY?

WHATATTRACTSYOUTOTHEIDEAOFEMBRACINGTHEMYSTERYANDLIVINGASTHOUGHTHECORE, PARADOXICALBELIEFSOF CHRISTIANITYWERETRUE?

WHATABOUTITMAKESYOUFEELUNEASY?

WHATWOULDBETHEIMPACTOFIMPLEMENTINGTHESEIDEASINYOURLIFE?INTHELIFEOFYOURFAITHCOMMUNITY?


19/28


J o h n 1 5 : 7 1 2

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever youwish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, thatyou bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved

me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my command-ments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's com-mandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so

that my joy may be inyou, and that your joy may be complete. This is my

commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

WHATISTHEDIFFERENCEBETWEENBELIEVING (ASINDOCTRINEABOUTCHRIST)ANDABIDING (ASINBEINGINRELATIONSHIPWITH CHRIST)?

WHATDIFFERENCEWOULDTHISDISTINCTIONMAKEINYOURFAITHJOURNEY?INTHELIFEOFYOURCONGREGATION?


20/28


WHATISTHEDIFFERENCEBETWEENBELIEVINGWITHOUTPROOFANDTRUSTINGWITHOUTRESERVATION?

HOWDOBELIEFANDTRUSTINFLUENCEEACHOTHERINYOURFAITHJOURNEY?HOWDOESBELIEFMOVEYOUFORWARDONYOURJOURNEY? HOWDOESFAITH

MOVEYOUFORWARDONYOURJOURNEY?


21/28


C o r i n t h i a n s 1 2 : 2 2 2 5 , n i v

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker areindispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treatwith special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated

with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no specialtreatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has

given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,so that there should be no division in the body,

but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

HOWISYOURCHRISTIANCOMMUNITYLIVINGINTOTHESPIRITOFTHIS SCRIPTURE?


22/28


WHATPRINCIPLESANDCONSIDERATIONSHAVEGUIDEDYOURCONGREGATIONSORGANIZATION? WHICH, IFANY, OFTHESEPRINCIPLESANDCONSIDERATIONS

WOULDYOUCONSIDERTHEPRIMARYORGANIZATIONALPRINCIPLE?

IFTHEGIFTSANDCALLINGSOFTHEMEMBERSOFYOURCONGREGATIONWEREELEVATEDTOBEITSPRIMARYORGANIZATIONALPRINCIPLE, HOWMIGHTTHATCHANGEYOURORGANIZATION?

WHATISYOURCONGREGATIONSVISION? HOWDIDITEMERGE? HOWDOESITINFLUENCEYOURCONGREGATIONSDIRECTION?


23/28


WHATRULESORTRADITIONSCREATEDISTINCTIONSBETWEENINSIDERSANDOUTSIDERSINYOURCONGREGATION? INYOURDENOMINATION?

WHATBELIEFSORATTITUDES?

WHATWOULDHAVETOCHANGEINORDERTOELIMINATETHEDISTINCTIONSBETWEENINSIDERSANDOUTSIDERSINYOURDENOMINATION?

INYOURCONGREGATION? INYOUROWNLIFE?

IFTHISCHANGEHAPPENS,WHATWOULDYOUAPPRECIATEABOUTIT?

WHATABOUTITWOULDBEHARDFORYOU?

Bible Reading

John 12:32And I, when I am lifted up

from the earth, will draw all

people to myself.

Reflection

Consider the implications of

Jesus use of the word all.

Your Notes

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________


24/28

John 16:1213(The Message)I still have many things to tell

you, but you cannot handle them

now. But when the Friend

comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he

will take you by the hand and

guide you into all the truth there

is. He won't draw attention to

himself, but will make sense out

of what is about to happen and,

indeed, out of all that I have

done and said.

Might Christ have some-

thing to say to your

church that he has not

already said? In what

ways can the Spirit of

Truth be your friend as

you explore the difficult

or unfamiliar?

C h a p t e r 7 :

A N e w M i d d l e W a y

P a g e 2 4

In this chapter

we take the next stepin our journey:

exploring the

implications of this

New Middle Way

on how we carry out

our day-to-day lives as

communities of faith.


Bible Reading Reflection

GROUPDISCUSSIONACTIVITY

REVIEWTHESUMMARYTABLEONTHEFOLLOWINGPAGE,ANDTHENCOMPLETETHE CHURCH PARADIGM INVENTORYTHATFOLLOWS. DISCUSSITSIMPLICATIONSFORYOU,YOURCHURCH,

YOURDENOMINATION,ANDTHECHURCHATLARGE.

CHOOSEANITEMFROMTHEINVENTORYONWHICHYOUWOULDLIKETOSEEYOURCHURCHCHANGEFROMWHEREITCURRENTLYIS. CONSIDERWHATMIGHTHAVETOCHANGEFORYOURCHURCH

TOMOVEINTHATDIRECTION. DISCUSSTHISWITHTHERESTOFTHEGROUP.

Your Notes

______________________

____________________________________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________


25/28

Key differences in theology, ecclessiology, and missional strategyCharacteristic Propositional Orthodoxy (Orthoproxy) Incarnational Orthodoxy (Paradoxy) Ethical Orthodoxy (Orthopr

View of

Religion Ultimate Truth is found in one

religion.

Christianity is THE WAY to that

Truth

Religion is Irrelevant

Christ IS Way and Truth and Life

Deepest Truth is shared by a

religions

Christianity is THE BEST W

to that Truth

Approach to

Orthodoxy Assent to broad spectrum of doctrine

Kerygma / Didache given equal

weight

Individually confessional Truth is propositional and exclusive

(The Truth ON Jesus Christ)

Kerygmatic (core paradoxical

dogmas)

Kerygma overDidache

Communally creedal Truth is relational and collective

(The Truth IS Jesus Christ)

Ethical action

Acting in love

Communally creedal

Truth is universal and inclus(The Truth OF Jesus Christ)

Theological

Basis for

Christian

Community

Doctrinal agreement/uniformity of

belief

Conformity to Churchs teachings

Bound by Christs Love in common

worship

Being transformed by Gods power/

mystery

Ethical agreement / uniform

purpose

Conformity to Jesus Christ

of love

Approach to

Conflict Conflict is evidence of dysfunction

One side must be wrong

No compromise

Resolve by conversion or exclusion

Conflict is natural result of

authenticity

All of us are a little wrong

Resolve by prayerful engagement

and openness to transformation by

Christs love

Conflict is evidence of

dysfunction

At the deepest level were sa

If possible, change the subje

Focus on agreement, ignoredisagreement

Understanding

of Conversion

Proseleo / aparche (externally encouraged

change of allegiance)

Metamorphoo (transformation brought

about by relationship with Christ) Metanoeo (change of mind /

direction)

Aversion to conversion, per

Relationship of

Conversion to

Community

(koinonia)

FirstProseleo / aparche, then koinonia(full fellowship)

First koinonia (full fellowship)

Then fellowship catalyzes

metamorphoo

Koinonia offered w/out con

Inner faith experience leads

metanoeo

Evangelism

Approach Conversional / Proselytizing (inviting

to convert to Christianity or

orthodoxy)

Making converts

Relational (inviting to relationship

with Christ and the Body of Christ)

Making (and being) disciples (lit.

learners)

Conversational (inviting to

conversation about the spirit

life)

Making friends

Evangelists

Role Tell the story

Require a Yes/No Decision

Tell the story

Invite into community

Tell the story

Call to repentance from inju

Approach to

Relevance

Worship is bait; teaching is hook Neither bait nor hook; make friends with

the fish

Teaching is bait; worship is hook

Ecumenical

Stance

Opportunity to defend/convert Opportunity to engage in relationship Opportunity to seek common gro

Leadership

Approach

Keeping people doctrinally unified Keeping the people engaged in

discernment

Keeping people engaged in servi

God

Discipleship

Approach

Obedience Call Service

Role of Leader Authority Visionary Catalyst

Exegetical

Approach Seeking answers from the text

What does the Bible say about _____?

What does it tell me to do?

In dialogue with the text (like

Midrash)

What questions do I have of the

text?

What questions does it ask of me?

Seeking the universal meani

the text

What questions do I have of

text?

How is it relevant to my life

Bible Emphasis Pastoral Epistles (to learn the doctrines) Gospels (to tell the story) Gospels (learn from Jesus exam

Dominant Mode

of Preaching/

Teaching

Deductive (outside-in)

1. Identify principles in Scripture/

Tradition

2. How do these principles apply to ourlives?

Narrative / Transformative (two-way)

1. Identify common issues: Salvation

Story / us

2. What is God calling us to be/become?

Inductive (inside-out)

1. Identify our deepest needs

2. How do Bible/Church teach

meet them?


26/28

C h a p t e r 8 :

C h u r c h P a r a d i g m I n v e n t o r y

P a g e 2 6 P a r a d o x y S t u d y G u i d e

Instructions:Step 1: For each of the fourteen questions below, circle the

response that best describes your church. Give your first glance

response (do not think too long about any question).

Step 2: Transfer your answers to the scoring guide and tally the

number of answers in each column.

Step 3: Respond to the Scripture Reflection and Discussion

Questions at the end of Chapter 5.

1. Which statement best describes your churchs view of religion? A. Ultimate truth is found in one religion

(Christianity is the only way).

B. Deepest truth is shared by all religions(Christianity is the only way for me).

C. Religion is irrelevant for following Christ(Christ is the way, the truth, and the life).

2. Which statement best describes your churchs understandingof truth? A. Truth is universal and inclusive.

B. Truth is relational and collective.

C. Truth is propositional and exclusive.

3. Which statement best describes your churchs approach toorthodoxy? A. Orthodoxy is right opinion: of Christ, of God,

of the churchs traditional teachings.

B. Orthodoxy is right response: appropriate tothe incarnation of Christ.

C. Orthodoxy is right practice: of the love ethicof Christ.

4. Which statement best describes your churchs understandingof the theological basis for Christian community? A. Christian community is grounded on the experience of

Christs love in common worship and the experience ofmutual transformation brought about by that love.

B. Christian community is grounded on ethical agreement,uniformity of purpose, and obedience/conformity to

Jesus Christs ethic of love.

C. Christian community is grounded on doctrinal agreement,uniformity of belief, and obedience/conformity to the

churchs teachings.

5. How does your church interpret the existence of conflictwithin a congregation? A. Conflict is the result of error

(one side must be wrong).

B. Conflict is the result of human nature(we are all a little bit wrong).

C. Conflict is the result of misperception(at the deepest level we all are the same).

6. When conflict exists, how does your church respond to it? A. Change the subject: downplay disagreement,

focus on areas of agreement, agree to disagree,

exclude the conflict from conversation.

B. Change the person (or the venue): correct the errant

party (or parties), if the person wont change,exclude them from fellowship.

C. Change the context: correct the interpretation of conflict,explore areas of agreement and disagreement,

exclude exclusion as an option for resolution.

7. Which statement best describes your churchsunderstanding of conversion? A. Conversion is an internal change of heart and mind,

that catalyzes profound changes of the direction in

the persons life.

B. Conversion is a process of change that works fromthe outside in and from the inside out transforming

the whole person.

C. Conversion is an externally encouraged commitmentof life and belief that catalyzes profound changes

of heart and mind.

8. Which statement best describes your churchsunderstanding of the process of including newcomers? A. First conversion, then fellowship.

B. First full fellowship, then fellowship catalyzestransformation.

C. Community offered with few conditions, then the innerfaith experience leads to the persons change of heart.

9. Which statement best describes your churchs approach torelevance? A. Teaching is bait, worship is hook

B. Worship is bait, teaching is hook.

C. Neither worship nor teaching are bait or hook.


27/28

C h a p t e r 8 : C h u r c h P a r a d i g m I n v e n t o r y

P a g e 2 7 P a r a d o x y S t u d y G u i d e

10. Which statement best describes your churchsecumenical/interfaith stance? A. Ecumenical/interfaith relationships are an opportunity

to engage in relationship.

B. Ecumenical/interfaith relationships are an opportunity

to seek common ground.

C. Ecumenical/interfaith relationships are an opportunityto defend orthodoxy.

11. Which statement best describes your churchs approach toleadership? A. Leader as catalyst: engage people in serving God.

B. Leader as authority: keep people doctrinally unified.

C. Leader as midwife: engage people in discerning/following

a shared vision.

12. Which statement best describes your churchs understandingof the goal of discipleship? A. The goal of discipleship is learning to obey.

B. The goal of discipleship is learning to hear and obeyones unique call to serve.

C. The goal of discipleship is learning to serve.

13. Which statement best describes your churchs understandingof biblical exegesis? A. Seeking to search and be searched by the text.

B. Seeking the deeper, universal meaning of the text.

C. Seeking answers from the text.

14. What statement best describes the questions your churchbrings to the Scripture? A. What issues are present both in the salvation story

and in us? What is God calling us to be/become through

our interaction with the salvation story?

B. What principles are established by the Scripture,as understood by the churchs traditional teaching?

And how do these principles apply to life?

C. What are our deepest needs? How does our understandingof the Scriptures help us to meet them?

SCORING GUIDE

Total the number circled in each column. Use these numbers to

answer the questions below.

1. Write your column 1 score here: _____

(This is your preference for Orthopraxy)


(This is your preference for Paradoxy)


(This is your preference for Orthopraxy)

REFLECT ON YOURRESULTS_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Question Column 1 Column 2 Column 3

1 A C B

2 C B A

3 A B C

4 C A B

5 A B C

6 B C A

7 C B A

8 A B C

9 B C A

10 C A B

11 B C A

12 A B C

13 C A B

14 B A C

TOTAL


28/28

groups with opposing theologicaland political views, Ken has been

called upon to facilitate dialogs

on issues ranging from human

sexuality to interfaith relations.

When not occupied with the busi-

ness of pastoring and growing the

theologically diverse congregation

he helped plant, Ken is available

for presentations, workshops,

and coaching on the concepts

outlined in Paradoxy: Creating

Christian Community beyond Us

and Them.

A Christian of Jewish origins, KenHoward has been an ordained

priest in the Episcopal Church

since 1993, focusing on church

planting and congregational vital-

ity. Prior to ordination Ken was a

consultant in organizational

development, strategic planning,

and conflict resolution. Ken holds

a Master of Divinity degree from

Virginia Theological Seminary,

with honors in Church History forhis ground-breaking research into

the Jewish origins of early Christi-

anity, published in Jewish Christi-

anity in the Early Church.

Respected and trusted for his

expertise in conflict resolution

and consensus building among

Thank you for consideringParadoxy: Creating

Christian Community Beyond Us and Them

for your study group!

Paradoxyis intentionally structured to beused in this type of group, and were happy to

be able to provide you with this study guide.

When purchasingParadoxyfor your group,

bulk discounts are available through the

books publisher, Paraclete Press.

A b o u t T h e A u t h o r

P a r a d o x y

Rev. Ken Howard

Author ofParadoxy: Creating Christian Community

Beyond Us and Them

Ken Howard is current the rector of Saint

Nicholas Episcopal Church in Darnestown, MD,

a suburb of Washington, DC.

To find out more about his home church, visit

www.saintnicks.com.

Visitwww.paracletepress.com

for bulk discounts!

For more information or

to order the book

visitwww.practicingparadoxy.com

PUBLICATION DETAILS

TITLE: Paradoxy: Creating Christian CommunityBeyond Us and Them

AUTHOR: Ken HowardFOREWORD: Brian McLaren

AFTERWORD: The Very Rev. Dr. Paul ZahlPUBLISHER: Paraclete Press, Boston, MA

PUBLICATION DATE: September 1, 2010PAGES: 180 (Paperback)LIST PRICE: $16.99 (USA)ISBN: 978-1-55725-775-8

S T U D Y G U I D E D E S I G N B Y

M A R Y B E T H H O W A R D

Paradoxy Study Guide

Documents