Vital Congregations, Mark #1

And where are we now?

"Committed to the institution"

budgets and committees and duties and...

Isn't Jesus about changing the world?

A strained and possibly inappropriate metaphor

"to be with him, and to be sent out" (Mk 3:14)

"heart...soul...mind...strength...neighbor" (Mk. 12:30-31)

There is no core. Just layers.

Honestly, who can you get to implement it?

A relationship means spending time together

Living the onion is totally counter-cultural

the center is lost

Life finds its way.

Speak. Listen. Be.

What is your practice of prayer?

Martin Luther's take on the Lord's Prayer

Ignatius of Loyola's "examen" and "prayer of the senses"

The "Jesus Prayer"

Try one on, evaluate, try another

Vital congregations start with the living God