INTERVIEW WITH DR. BETH STOVELL

Dr. Stovell talks about the end informing how we think now and refers to worshipping across cultural divides. Many churches in culturally diverse communities are working hard to embrace that model. Does this describe your group or church? If not, why is that? If so, what are the greatest gifts and challenges of becoming this kind of community?
Beth describes the difference between how a community focused on the “already” of eschatology would think and the one focused on the “not yet.” Do you recognize the thinking she describes? How would you describe your own thinking? Or your thinking now as compared to your thinking in the past? Have you noticed a shift in the church’s approach on this?
Why is the realistic hope Beth describes so important to a healthy community?
Can you think of a difficult time when the already/not yet approach played out for you or your church? What would have been different if you had chosen only already (we are victorious) or only not yet (we’re just waiting for the future)?

Already - Not Yet