Transforming Conversation Friday's

Bev Smerdon will be facilitating a separate, in-person, Transforming Conversation group on Friday afternoons1.30-3.30pm beginning on Friday 14th March at Crownhill Methodist Church.  People are welcome to attend either or both. The theme will be the same for both groups. 

Each week participants are asked to do some “homework” using 2 or 3 provided questions, which are linked to that week’s theme.   We are encouraged to have a conversation each week with the same friend or family member, - someone who is not a regular churchgoer but preferably not a convinced atheist either.  The aim is to truly listen and collect their views on God, Christianity and the church - not to tell them things about God or talk about Jesus and faith. 

This may feel challenging, but research shows that most people outside church are pleased to be asked what they really think, as long as they feel listened to, and it isn’t just an excuse to tell them what you think they need to know – or that they are wrong, and you have all the right answers!  (There are plenty of right ways and times for evangelism and sharing your faith, but this is not one of them!)  You can tell them they are helping with some research and that their answers will feed into a wider picture the group is being asked to build up together and assure them that their answers will be kept anonymous – and please ensure they are, that means not sharing with others any details about who you are having your conversation with. 

The themes and bible texts are below.   If you would like any further information, please contact Brenton brentonprigge@icloud.com or Bev bev@transformingconversation.org

Week 1 : The Hunger for God - How people still seek for the spiritual life

Bible Study: How the Spirit is essential to the life of the church [1 Corinthians 2]

Week 2: The Caricature Christian - Why 'Christians ' are viewed so negatively today
Bible Study: Living a radical lifestyle in a hostile world [1 Peter 2:9-25]

Week 3: The Shift in Credibility - How what is ‘reasonable’ to believe has changed

Bible Study: Helping the gospel make sense in a new context [Acts 17:16-32]

Week 4: The Eclipse of the Church - Why the church now seems so unnecessary
Bible Study: Being the people of God’s Kingdom [Acts 2:42-47]

Week 5: Reconnecting with our Communities - Expressing Christian faith in fresh ways today

Bible Study: Cornelius, the man God drew in from the outside [Acts 10]