::specialized trainings - theology::

Theology. There are key foundational concepts that provide the foundation for our values that we include in our intro/core workshop Discovering God's Heart for Your City. We also provide individual workshops/training on the following theological concepts:

• Shalom: This is a comprehensive concept that expresses society as God intends it to be including a sense of wholeness, harmony and justice. When you are praying for the Shalom of the city you are asking for God's peace for the entirety of people's individual lives and for the overall wellbeing of the place (the entirety of society) where they live as well (Rev 21). What might Shalom look like in your City?
• Kingdom of God: The Kingdom of God/Heaven is the dynamic and active rule of God over all creation through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is any place over which God has operative dominion. "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it" (Psalm 24:1). That is true but until the end of time (Rev. 21) the Kingdom of God only extends to those sections of geography and/or chambers in the hearts of people where God is honored as sovereign and His values are operative. What Jesus means by the Kingdom of God can properly be understood as the full living out of shalom upon the earth!
• Church of the City: Church of the City is the common identity of the Christians in a city/geographic region. It is the presence of Jesus among His people called out as a spiritual family to pursue his mission on this planet.
• Power of Presence: God now dwells not in temples made of human hands but in His people (The Church; 2 Corinthians 6:16). We are called to live in such a way that we represent God's love to our communities. People of good faith can partner with people of good will to work for the good of the whole community. We are agents of transformation but God is the one who makes our presence significant, not us. We represent His Presence and Kingdom in the City.
• Power of Place: Cities are mentioned over 1,200 times in the Bible. God's Kingdom agenda seeks the personal salvation of all persons AND the societal transformation of all places. Theology of place helps us to commit to our geography (“parish”). A city is an urban settlement is made up of political, societal, educational, etc. structures that dictate and regulate the activities that go on within. God’s people are to provide leadership in the places (cities) they live, work and worship in (Jeremiah 29:7).