Some excerpts to indicate the development of the theme, Passionate Spirituality.
Presidential Address – Synod 2011 – Passionate Spirituality
INTRODUCTION
Are you passionate about Synod? What about your church? What about your own walk with God?
According to our Natural Church Development surveys the area in which the Anglican Church in Tasmania is habitually weak is Passionate Spirituality.
For the Church to grow in health and vitality as well as numbers, we must grow in passionate spirituality.
According to our Natural Church Development surveys the area in which the Anglican Church in Tasmania is habitually weak is Passionate Spirituality.
For the Church to grow in health and vitality as well as numbers, we must grow in passionate spirituality.
WHAT IS PASSIONATE SPIRITUALITY?
Natural Church Development defines passionate spirituality as the energy source that fuels every church, providing the energy and momentum to move forward toward mission. … (Passionate spirituality) continues reproducing itself when we tap into the source and stay connected to it.
Passionate spirituality goes beyond our personal devotional times to our encounters with God in moments of daily life, and the various ways we experience and engage with his presence. The outpouring of passionate spirituality is an integration of our inner life with God into every aspect of our outward lives as well, resulting in stories of changed lives and transformation.
WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF OUR PASSIONATE SPIRITUALITY?
Our passion for God is founded in God. God is the creator, sustainer and end of our life.
In God lies the source of our passion for him and his world.
The Letter to the Hebrews is described as an exhortation (13:22), it is a call to live out the faith, to run the race before us (12:1-3).
What is the source of this exhortation?
Is it not God? Our “God (who) is a consuming fire”; who has a passion for purity, for holiness? (12:29)
In bringing the first twelve chapters to a close the Writer of Hebrews highlights the person of God,
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (12:28,29)
Thankfulness and awe before ‘our “God (who) is a consuming fire”’ are the source of Chapter 13’s call to a passionate spirituality, to dedicated discipleship.
Our passion for God is founded in God. God is the initiator of our relationship.
Note also that the word translated worship in 12:28 (TNIV and NRSV) holds both worship and service in its meaning. Thus in the Amplified Bible,
Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; For our God [is indeed] a consuming fire.
Knowledge of God’s character leads to ‘pleasing service and acceptable worship’.
Our passion for God is founded in God.
Consider our Anglican heritage. Where is our passion for God?
What aspect of God’s character inspires our passionate spirituality?
What does the Book of Common Prayer tell us?
A BIBLICAL EXAMPLE OF PASSIONATE SPIRITUALITY
What does Passionate Spirituality look like in practice?
The writer to the Hebrews leaves the readers in no doubt!
Disciples of Christ are to live lives that befit their calling as sons and daughters of the living God.
If you have your Bibles with you please open them to Hebrews chapter 13.
CONCLUSION
Our challenge is to deepen our passion, our commitment, our dedication to Christlike living.
Our passion for God is founded in God. God is the initiator of our relationship.
Passions fuel life. Our passions are shown in word and deed.
Holy Spirit,
deepen our knowledge and experience of God;
fuel our passion to live for God; and
build a healthy church … transforming life .
And the blessing from Hebrews: (13:20,21)
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Complete Synod Address, Passionate Spirituality.
Also from Synod 2011: Synod: required reading! and Prayer for Synod and Synod “Thank you” to Russell Morton.
