the poor wise man who saved a city

The Poor Wise Man (Woman) Who Saved the City: 

The Poor Wise Man (Woman) Who Saved the City Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

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+ Proclamation (of the Kingdom, Luke 4:18) Incarnation (individual then communal, John 1:14) brings Transformation (The Kingdom Of God transforming Society) An Evangelical Theology for Reaching the Urban Poor

A Final Story The Poor Wise Man (Woman) Who Saved a City : 

A Final Story The Poor Wise Man (Woman) Who Saved a City Once upon a time there was a little city, with few people in it. And a great king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siegeworks against it. But there was found in that city a poor wise man. He by his wisdom saved that city. But no-one remembered that poor man. But I still say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is not heeded and his words are soon forgotten. Ecc 9:14-16.

1. Poor: 

1. Poor Choice of poverty shows his wisdom - he could have been rich. The cares of the world, the delight in riches, the desire for other things enter in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Repentance: Sacrificial Simple Lifestyle in U.S.: 

Repentance: Sacrificial Simple Lifestyle in U.S. Earn Much Consume Little Hoard Nothing Give Generously Celebrate Life Let the cares of the world, the delight in riches, the desire for other things go so the word might not be choked in your life (Mark 4:19).

2. Wise: 

2. Wise Christ is our wisdom (1 Cor 1:30). The wisdom of the streets is the starting point for defining the academic agenda. Action-based learning communities. Knowing the God of continuous creativity, the God of doing, results in an action-reflection approach to doing theology. The knowledge of God begins in obedience, not books. Academia helps interpret the obedience.

Jesus is the Answer: 

Jesus is the Answer

Wise in the Knowledge of God: 

Wise in the Knowledge of God 3 Main Streams of the Knowledge of God Way of Devotion Classic Wesleyan Disciplines Way of Obedience Way of love (1 John 4:16) Way of doing justice (Jer 22:15,16) Way of Wisdom Protestant Apostolic Orders Action-based Learning Communities Networks of devotional communities among the poor. Living by faith, and dependence on God to provide

3. Besieged Cities: 

3. Besieged Cities 66% of Kolkuta live one family per room 600,000 prostitutes in Bangkok, 600,000 drug addicts, 4 churches in 1024 slums 300,000 prostitutes in Mumbai 1000 new Chinese cities Cities Springing up in the Sahara desert from nothing. Nouakchott, city of the Moors, from 5000 to 800,000 in 20 years

Movements at Home: 

Movements at Home Second Order Prayer movements Third Order Earn much, consume little, hoard nothing, give generously, celebrate life Live simply that others may simply live

4. Saved the City: 

4. Saved the City One person, one grain, one movement…. Wesley - Give me a hundred men (or women) who fear nothing but God and hate nothing but sin. Asissi (4000 evangelists among the poor in 10 yrs) Xavier Jackie in Hong Kong Cory and the Manila Urban Poor Network Viju and Ivan in Mumbai What will you believe God for? 1500, 15,000 converted, discipled, churched, a Bible School? Hearts aflame, delight in work, sacrifice and suffering, lifestyles of simplicity.

Five Phases to Global Urban Evangelization: 

Five Phases to Global Urban Evangelization Phase 5: Transformation of the cities Phase 1: Mobilization of teams of cross cultural missionaries to the slums of the 200 mega-cities and 1700 least evangelized cities 40 cities, 400 workers, perhaps 1200 globally Phase 2: Pioneering initial churches in the slums of each city Manila, Lima, Mumbai, Delhi, etc Phase 3: Indigenous leadership and movements of 5000-15,000 in each city Latin movements, movements in some African cities 677 in Manila’s slums Phase 4: Transformation of some slums

5. But no-one remembered…: 

5. But no-one remembered… His words were not heeded He was soon forgotten But, well done, good and faithful servant, come rule over a city A call, a choice, a destiny Come walk with us behind Jesus