Comments on: The Tough Sayings of Jesus II …an interview with author Michael Kelley http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/05/the-tough-sayin.html A conversation on faith & culture for creatives, leaders & influencers Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:00:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rich Kirkpatrick http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/05/the-tough-sayin.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1804 Rich Kirkpatrick Fri, 09 May 2008 22:33:42 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/05/the-tough-sayings-of-jesus-ii-an-interview-with-author-michael-kelley/ #comment-1804 Mike...I would agree. However, I think if deep is defined as "academic" then I think that is not what people are looking for. A lot of evangelical faith is about teaching people how to ask Jesus in your heart and about justification so that you can go to heaven. People want to wrestle with what it means to follow Jesus. They do not want the shallow "come forward and be saved" thing or pop-culture-influenced how to manage the hangups we have as people. There is surely many very understandable things to wrestle with. The difference is that people want to work through this without the pulpit being the source. People out here are either Catholic or non-church people. Biblical literacy is very low and the culture is void of even basic knowledge of things like Jesus being a historical figure are not known. So, there is indeed a need to introduce our faith with that in mind. Mike…I would agree. However, I think if deep is defined as “academic” then I think that is not what people are looking for. A lot of evangelical faith is about teaching people how to ask Jesus in your heart and about justification so that you can go to heaven. People want to wrestle with what it means to follow Jesus. They do not want the shallow “come forward and be saved” thing or pop-culture-influenced how to manage the hangups we have as people. There is surely many very understandable things to wrestle with. The difference is that people want to work through this without the pulpit being the source.

People out here are either Catholic or non-church people. Biblical literacy is very low and the culture is void of even basic knowledge of things like Jesus being a historical figure are not known. So, there is indeed a need to introduce our faith with that in mind.

]]> By: Michael Kelley http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/05/the-tough-sayin.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1803 Michael Kelley Fri, 09 May 2008 10:38:35 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/05/the-tough-sayings-of-jesus-ii-an-interview-with-author-michael-kelley/ #comment-1803 I'm curious to know if the people in your context on the West Coast resonate with one of the ideas I talked about above. I'm sort of seeing a trend that people both inside and outside the church are really interested in studying the Bible in a deep way. If that's true, then I sort of am beginning to think that maybe evangelism and discipleship aren't quite as different as we once thought they were. Any thoughts? I’m curious to know if the people in your context on the West Coast resonate with one of the ideas I talked about above. I’m sort of seeing a trend that people both inside and outside the church are really interested in studying the Bible in a deep way. If that’s true, then I sort of am beginning to think that maybe evangelism and discipleship aren’t quite as different as we once thought they were.

Any thoughts?

]]> By: Rich Kirkpatrick http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/05/the-tough-sayin.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1802 Rich Kirkpatrick Fri, 09 May 2008 09:23:10 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/05/the-tough-sayings-of-jesus-ii-an-interview-with-author-michael-kelley/ #comment-1802 I love it that through this medium was can have an actual conversation... IRL it could happen, too, but go figure. I love it that through this medium was can have an actual conversation… IRL it could happen, too, but go figure.

]]> By: Michael Kelley http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/05/the-tough-sayin.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1801 Michael Kelley Fri, 09 May 2008 08:41:06 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/05/the-tough-sayings-of-jesus-ii-an-interview-with-author-michael-kelley/ #comment-1801 I agree with Paul - great questions, and it was challenging and thought-provoking to answer them. Thanks for posting this, Rich, glad you enjoyed the read. Michael I agree with Paul – great questions, and it was challenging and thought-provoking to answer them. Thanks for posting this, Rich, glad you enjoyed the read.

Michael

]]> By: paul fowler http://www.richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/05/the-tough-sayin.html/comment-page-1/#comment-1800 paul fowler Fri, 09 May 2008 03:29:19 +0000 http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/05/the-tough-sayings-of-jesus-ii-an-interview-with-author-michael-kelley/ #comment-1800 I look forward to following this conversation. Excellent and very relevant Q's Rich! I look forward to following this conversation. Excellent and very relevant Q’s Rich!

]]>