The New Parish Quotes

“mission is defined as what you do to join in God’s world-renewing project.”
― Paul Sparks, The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches Are Transforming Mission, Discipleship and Community

“Loving without agenda: Often our neighborhoods are filled with special interest groups. The church is not a special interest group; rather we have a reconciling mission that seeks unity, that all might flourish. Consider how your faith community can champion what others are already doing.”
― Paul Sparks, The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches Are Transforming Mission, Discipleship and Community

“To be patient in an emergency is a terrible trial.”
― Paul Sparks, The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches Are Transforming Mission, Discipleship and Community

“We all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. . . . The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part. . . . You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. (1 Corinthians 12 The Message)”
― Paul Sparks, The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches Are Transforming Mission, Discipleship and Community

“Sometimes the best catalyst for local responsibility is actually taking pilgrimages to other local places.”
― Paul Sparks, The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches Are Transforming Mission, Discipleship and Community

“Partnering across neighborhoods in the city or county exposes areas of insularity and opens the door for reconciliation, collaboration and innovation.”
― Paul Sparks, The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches Are Transforming Mission, Discipleship and Community

“What if we stopped attending community groups and became groups of communities?”
― Paul Sparks, The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches Are Transforming Mission, Discipleship and Community