1. If there is any validity in the story we have just told, we will need to accept that we have not yet seen God’s purposes for a fully renewed and faithful church.

Stage Six and Stage Seven - and who knows what more? - will need to be revealed before any of us will be able to look out across the promised land.

2. If, when you sample opinion among your fellow worshippers, it seems that in your church you have a long way to go on the path of renewal - there is no need to be depressed!

We are being very foolish if, while crossing the Red Sea, we grumble about the patches of mud underfoot and ignore the miraculous wall of water either side of us!

3. The refreshing mystery in all this is that God is in there with us at every stage, and it is his Holy Spirit (properly understood) which enables the renewal or shift in perspective that we need at each stage to take us forward on our journey.

The renewing and life-giving work of the Holy Spirit is very far from being limited to ‘charismatic’ experiences - as we shall see.