For example I have looked at Adventures in Giving with Cain & Abel and then at the character of Abraham and being Adventurous in Obedience! (Click here for the various Podcasts and Notes)
But a number of people have asked me - what if we are encouraging people to simply take risks without any divine direction? Who is responsible if someone in the church decides to jack in their job and go for something else and it doesn't work out? Good Question.
John Wimber once said Faith is spelt R.I.S.K. but conversely that doesn't mean that all risks taken are steps of faith!
I have tried to use the word 'adventure' rather than 'risk' as this is probably more accurate to what I believe God is calling us to be - Adventurous! Jesus said he came to give us 'life in all its abundance', but still pastorally I would not want anyone to simply take risks without praying it through carefully or taking wise counsel...
Frustratingly the flip side to the discussion is that sometimes people are called to take a step of faith and because they share it with someone who is naturally more cautious they are encouraged not to press on with what they had believed they should do - this is a tough one!
Is the church meant to be a place of safety for the saved or a training centre for mission to those who are lost? (totally recommend Mark Battersons book "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day", which tackles some of this...)
that is why our Churches need to have strong communities so that when our people step out and take a risk and it goes wrong we are there to support them, if it goes right we celebrate their success and even if they choose to take a safer option and regret their lack of adventure in future years we love them regardless... (Maybe the parable of the talents is helpful here?)
not sure I can answer the valid concerns raised, but personally I am keen to develop an exciting, adventurous Church that is up for the challenge of changing our world...
and that might require a risk or two...
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