The call to Intimacy with God One Mans

The call to Intimacy with God One Man’s Story Gateway Church Sunday 18 th January 2015 TONY HORSFALL

The journey begins • Conversion • Call to ministry and to mission • Church planting in Borneo. . . • . . . and West Yorkshire • From pastoral focus to training, and Bawtry Hall

A period of revelation • The problem of burnout - there must be a better way to live than this? • A deepening desire to know God more intimately • The discovery of ‘retreat’ and the contemplative tradition • The start of a whole new way of being and a new adventure of faith

Evangelical Spirituality • An emphasis on Scripture • Centrality of the cross - salvation and forgiveness • Personal conversion and assurance • The call to service • Evangelism and mission • Holiness of life

Charismatic Spirituality • Baptism in the Holy Spirit • Gifts of the Spirit • Praise and worship • Power evangelism, church growth and ministry gifts • Spiritual warfare • Dreaming dreams!

Contemplative Spirituality • Priority of being (and becoming) over doing • Identity as God’s beloved child • The inner life as the basis for the outer life • Working with God not for God • Spiritual disciplines as a way to receive God’s life

An integrated approach Evangelical (Pardon) Charismatic (Power) Contemplative (Presence)

Lessons from Bethany Luke 10: 38 -42 • Sibling rivalry, personality clashes and more • Martha - outgoing, friendly, hospitable, busy • Mary - reflective, reserved, devoted, relaxed • Two expressions of Christian discipleship: the life of busy activism and the life of quiet contemplation

Martha’s misery! • She is annoyed with Jesus • She is angry with her sister • She is frustrated with herself • All the signs of ‘hurry sickness’: - distracted - worried - upset

Mary’s wisdom! • She is concerned to be with Jesus • She is relaxed in her relationship with him - to sit and to listen - to listen and to hear - to hear and to do • This is her choice • She will not lose what she has gained

The perspective of Jesus • He loved them both (John 11: 5) • Listening comes before serving; being with him before doing things for him • ‘One thing is needed’ - we have to establish priorities, and know which comes first • ‘It will not be taken from her’ - formation of character, shaping of attitudes, internalising of values.

Summing up • Contemplative listening is the basis for a life of busy servanthood and personal transformation. • Without it we run the risk of burnout, have no time to enjoy God or people, and will have nothing signifcant to say. • With it we will be closer to God, be able to sustain and enjoy ministry, and be more effective.

A threefold cord