Theology of Play

TODAY: THEOLOGY OF PLAY

CONNECT “I AM” to Theology of Play

John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus is the embodiment of the way to God…Jesus is the way because he is the truth and the life.(EGGNT)

Jesus then sends the from the Father the Spirit (John 14:16–17 “16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” )

Jesus declaring himself as the Way to God doesn’t end there but continues through the promise of the Spirit of truth coming to be with and indwell those who believe.

Do you enjoy God?

· STORY:

A) DAD’S PLAYING WITH THEIR KIDS

B) COMING TO MEDITATE ON THEOLOGY OF PLAY as presented by Wolfgang Vondey who teaches at University of Birmingham in the UK

Theology is the belief about God (i.e. God talk)

· Read WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:

o Peter reading from Joel 2…Acts 2:17–21 (ESV) 17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

An overview of Theology of Play

1. Theology of Play is rooted in the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2

• It comes from the experience of the Spirit coming upon all flesh (v. 2:17)

• From Acts 2 we also see the proclamation and experience of salvation (along with sanctification), baptism in the Spirit, divine healing, and the expectation of the return of King Jesus.

2. Theology of Play is also pictured by the altar

• One is LEAD TO THE ALTAR by the full Gospel message (salvation, sanctification, baptism in the Spirit, divine healing, and the return of King Jesus)

• One is TRANSFORMED AT THE ALTAR

• One leaves the ALTAR WITH A TESTIMONY

• We then return again to the Altar.

3. Theology of Play always leads to practice

• Belief must be practiced

• Belief must be embodied

4. Theology of Play is participation in the enjoyment of God

• The Church as a people is described as the temple of God. The altar having been connected to the Temple of God in Jerusalem helps one see that at the Day of Pentecost the experience of the outpouring of the Spirit was God moving from what had become a fixed ritual system to people experiencing Him at an altar that was no longer going to be in a fixed location and certainly no longer a ritual event. The Church as God’s Temple or dwelling place becomes a reality whenever God’s people gather together in worship to experience Him. These gatherings of God’s people create an altar not to simply share rituals or beliefs but where people come and ultimately enjoy God.

• The Church as the family, body, and temple of God engages the world so that The Church and the world can experience the joy of God.

CONCLUSION:

The Theology of Play is “the joy of God in which we participate.”

Not amusement

Personally feeling a fresh calling of God to experience Him in such a way that I am emboldened to go into those everyday places so that others too may experience God and get to know His ways

Illustration: A Father Enjoying Time with their Kids!

Do you enjoy God?