| Interview with Mike |
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An interview with Mike Woodruff about FencePosts
Q: Mike how is the FencePosts series different from a sermon series?
Mike: The FencePosts curriculum that I've been developing has seven sections which follow the seven articles in our statement of faith. Each will include sermons, small group curriculum, daily devotional guides, supplemental workshops and lectures. We start the first six-week series by looking at our current world situation and discussing the differing worldviews we confront every day. We then quickly go to the truth of Scripture and learn why we can trust God's supernatural revelation to us.
Q: Why are you approaching this series differently?
Mike: As I have shared in several venues my thinking about ministry has changed recently. I now believe that I've not been as clear as I should be about what walking with Christ actually looks like. To that end I've been working on a more holistic approach to help us build a Christian life/worldview.
Q: Why did you name it FencePosts?
Mike: The title – FencePosts – was chosen to suggest that it’s not necessary for us all to believe exactly the same things. That has never been the goal in the church. Rather, from the very first days there have been creeds that have been developed to highlight the major aspects of the faith. The most important beliefs, the most essential and foundational truths. We are calling these “most important truths” FencePosts in an effort of creating the image of a big fenced in area. A safe zone that has been fenced off by the boards that connect the FencePosts.
Q: Tell us more about this series.
Mike: This series is designed to help us understand the Christian life. What it is based on. What it looks like. What a Christian believes. How they are supposed to live. The series of studies will start at the very beginning and build over time. The goal is to pull something together that: Starts at square one – not with a bunch of unstated assumptions – but with the most foundational questions. I am not assuming that you believe the Bible is true. I do hope that if you do not currently believe that God is real and that He loves you and that your best next step is towards him – that you will. But I do not start by assuming that do.
Q: So is this directed toward someone who is investigating the Christian faith?
Mike: Yes and no, although we start at square one. I’ve written these studies with the understanding that we all are at different levels – especially in terms of what we know. Some of you are a bit nervous that a study on the basics is going to bore you to tears, perhaps this will. I hope not. For starters, while the basics in most disciplines are very simple, you learn 2 + 2 = 4 before moving on to calculus. You learn your ABCs before you learn to read. An introduction to the Christian faith doesn’t start with the ABCs, it starts with some very big ideas that should never be boring.
While I’ve tried to make the main articles easy to follow I’ve included a lot of footnotes for those who want to go one step deeper. I’ve set out to develop studies that are not only biblical and devotional but also historical and philosophical. It’s my hope that there is something here for everyone. Q: Mike, walk us through what we can expect? Mike: As I’ve said the series is systematic, that is, it lays a careful foundation and then builds over time. It is written for people who are willing to invest a little time. You are where you are right now – for better or worse – because of the things you’ve done and are doing. If you want to change, and I am talking right now for those of you who would describe yourself as a Christian but are not particularly happy with the depth of your life and the nature of your soul. You are not where you want to be. Well, you are where you are because of what you’ve done. And if you want to grow it will take a bit of effort. There are people who will promise you that you can get in shape, have wash board abs all in 30 seconds a day. I don’t have to tell you they don’t work. The same thing is true in your spiritual life.
If you want to grow – to change, to be more like the person God created you to be – it will take a bit of work. I’ve written these studies with the hope that you’ll be willing to reach just a bit. I’m not assuming that you are a Bible scholar – just someone who is willing to invest a bit of time over the six weeks to learn about God.
We will be working your way through six studies and coming at them from several different vantage points.
I will be preaching on these topics on Sunday morning—You’ll been given something to read—There are a few supplemental lectures and one workshop. These are designed to help you think about the same things we are looking at only from a slightly different vantage point. The lectures I’m giving will trace Western worldviews from the Greeks, Romans, Jews and Christians through the present designed to help you understand the many different worldviews that are in the air we are breathing today. These are the views that are silently shaping the way you think. I think its important that we understand what they are so there are few Sunday night lectures devoted to them. The workshop will be led by Dr. Walt Liefeld and is on how to study the Bible. Finally we also have prepared some daily devotional readings that are on the topic of Scripture itself. These have been written by leaders here at Christ Church to help you think about The Book.
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 May 2010 16:59 |
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