My good mate Dave Miers posted this summary of Driscoll’s talk at Moore -

Mark Driscoll spoke yesterday afternoon at Moore Theological College. He spoke on Gospel Proclamation (1 Corinthains 9:16-18) and Gospel Contextualisation (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). It was GOLD! He didn’t pull any punches in his critique of Sydney Anglican/ Moore College culture, yet he was forthright in his praise of the commitment the College and Diocese has to the Bible.

He spoke about two main teams in contemporary churches: Really Cool Heretics and Boring Bible Guys. He said there’s a third option: The not-quite-so-boring Bible Guys. Here are 3 things he said about how to be the third option in thinking through gospel contextualisation:

- It’s not about making the gospel relevant but showing the relevance of the gospel.
- It’s not about being seeker-sensitive but seeker sensible.
- Know the culture better than others in the culture (eg. businesses and leaders)

Here are 3 ways to do #3:

i) Watch TV - it’s a missiological window into the world.
ii) Take alternative routes and schedules - see what is happening in your city
iii) Magazine covers are people’s view of heaven.

I was challenged and encouraged in thinking about future plans and preaching Jesus to our culture.

(posted with permission)

What are your thoughts?

Here are 3 ways to do #3:

i) Watch TV - it’s a missiological window into the world.
ii) Take alternative routes and schedules - see what is happening in your city
iii) Magazine covers are people’s view of heaven.

Hi Craig,

I think it’s important to be aware of our ‘culture’ at large - and be informed about what is really happening in people’s lives around us. These simple 3 points can be done by any of us. ( Except a few pious folk that I’ve known who refused to have a TV in their house - in case they became polluted and their children defiled by what they saw. They were apparently unaware of the ability to use the ‘off’ switch [ pardon my ‘soap box’ ] - but they were also unable to respond informatively to what their non-Christian neighbors were experiencing in the media and their everyday lives. )

Was the Moore talk recorded and available on CD at all ?

Cheers, Kevin

thanks craig.

kevin, is there an off switch on tv’s now??? we might consider getting one!

it was recorded… not sure if it will be made available or not.

here’s the original link

Here’s an interesting question which I think is the Driscoll advice litmus test: If Mark Driscoll pulled up stumps in Seattle and moved to Sydney, would he reproduce the same success as he’s had with Mars Hill here? And would he do it within the Anglican system here, or outside of it?

Answering those two questions I think gives a fairly good basis for how his advice should be weighed.

Luke Stevens - 29 August 2008 06:42 PM

Here’s an interesting question which I think is the Driscoll advice litmus test: If Mark Driscoll pulled up stumps in Seattle and moved to Sydney, would he reproduce the same success as he’s had with Mars Hill here? And would he do it within the Anglican system here, or outside of it?

Answering those two questions I think gives a fairly good basis for how his advice should be weighed.

How can you possibly know? Who could say whether he would be successful or not?

My guess is that he would be pretty popular in Sydney. But it’s just a guess…

Hi,

Coming back to the thread topic, rather than the hypotheticals....8-)

It seems to me that it is important for a wide range of lay Christian leaders to think seriously about how we share and live out the gospel in this culture, not just leave that thinking to the trainee professionals. [No disrepect intended.]

So I certainly hope that Mark D.’s presentation at Moore College will be available for others to listen to.

Grace & peace,
Terry

@Craig, it’s a hypothetical obviously, but as far as I can tell Driscoll is the anti-Moore (personality/identity wise) and anti-church establishment guy. What institution helped propel him to where he is now? What would people inside an inherently risk-adverse institution (which is not necessarily a bad thing) do with the strategies of someone who got to where they are with no institution (and a pretty haphazard plan)?

Also, having read the blogs on Driscoll’s comments at Moore, I look forward to the Syd Ang headline: “Driscoll to Moore students: You’re dorks - watch TV, get out more” heh.

but as far as I can tell Driscoll is the anti-Moore (personality/identity wise) and anti-church establishment guy.

if it wasn’t clear from the blog post… mark driscoll spoke very highly of moore college… he loves the place and is thankful to God for it… he just wants to show there’s a 3rd option!!

he said if there were only 2 options he’d (obviously) choose to be the ‘boring Bible guy’ over the ‘really cool heretic’.

Also, having read the blogs on Driscoll’s comments at Moore, I look forward to the Syd Ang headline: “Driscoll to Moore students: You’re dorks - watch TV, get out more” heh.

is this really new to anyone? ;)

This reminds me of the slogan I wanted for SMBC

SMBC We’re like Moore, but we smile!