District In-Service Training Seminar is for all pastors and spouses. All workers, whether Senior Pastor, Youth Pastor, Children's Worker or any other role, will benefit from this training opportunity. Please mark the nearest DITS seminar on your calendar and plan to be there!
DITS 2010
Preaching the Sanctified Life
Pastors in every generation have been concerned about the lack of personal holiness in the people they shepherd. In our particular generation, the lines between being "in the world" but not "of the world" seem blurred or non-existent. Adding to this concern, the present emphasis on being missional has many of us wondering if this movement is sustainable without a renewed emphasis and experience of sanctification. The unique distinctive of the early Alliance was to keep "Deeper life" and "Mission" in tandem, each one mutually dependant on the other. The way to do this, stated Simpson, was through a gospel-centered or Christ-centered ministry. How many times did we sing "Jesus Only!" in CBC chapel? The argument went: if our preaching, discipleship, and liturgy pointed to Christ and re-enacted the gospel, the power of Christ's Spirit would both transform and empower the church into mission. The question is, do we still believe this? My hunch is that following the failure of two decades of a dominantly attractional model of church, we are more desperate than ever for a Christ-saturated ministry, not only for our congregations, but for our own souls.
The role of preaching plays a vital role in this discussion. The recent survey results from our District indicate a strong commitment to preach the deeper life proactively (76%). Yet, surprisingly, only 6% of us reported spiritual vibrancy in our congregations. And only 9& witnessed sanctification as a shaping value in our church culture. Undoubtingly, there are numerous factors which have lead to these results, but though it may be difficult to admit, could there be something or perhaps Someone lacking in our preaching?
Because preaching continues to be such a central part of our pastoral role, and sanctification such a pressing concern, we've chosen to focus on "Preaching the Sanctified Life" as our DITS theme for this Fall. Brian Buhler will provide both devotional and practical instruction on the subject with an emphasis on preaching Gospel as Deeper Life, Redemptive-Focused Preaching, and Preaching Christ from the Whole Bible. "The goal is to reclaim preaching as the Christ Event".
The Locations:
Monday September 27, 2010
Prince George Area - Lakewood Alliance Church
**note the time adjustment: starts at 8:00 with coffee and will end at 11:30am.
Tuesday September 28, 2010
Cranbrook Area - Cranbrook Alliance Church
Wednesday September 29, 2010
Okanagan Area - Mission Creek Alliance Church
Thursday September 30, 2010
Vancouver Island Area - Shawnigan Alliance Church
Monday November 1, 2010
Lower Mainland Area - Peace Portal Alliance Church
Each DITS will run from 8:30am and will finish with a lunch provided by the Host church.
Mark your calendars now, so we can see you there!