Thursday is for Discipleship “Churches grow best not when they aim at church growth as much as when they serve the peace/shalom of the whole city.”[1] Why? Two reasons: one, it is the biblical model of ministry. Jesus, Paul and the early church all seemed to give significant attention to the poor and the downcast … More Required: Serving the Peace (The Shalom) of the City
Monday is for Discussion A day after Easter is a good time to think not just about resurrection joy, but Christian faithfulness in light of the extraordinary lavishness of God’s grace and love for us. Evangelism is not only done by individuals, but is a function of the body working together to show the beauty … More Loving People Enough to be Hated
Monday Discussion [Revised and updated from 2010] Developing an “intensely local” vision for church planters and others who just want to make a difference. Thesis: To really get to know a community, you have to “press the flesh.” You need to develop real relationships with real people. This will involve changing both our mindset and … More How to Do Reconnaissance into the Neighborhood’s Soul
Friday is for Heart Songs Do your soul a favor. Go online and find Keith Green’s song from 1978. Listen to it. Listen to it again. Listen to it and read Matthew 25:31-46 like Keith suggests in the liner notes below. It has been 32 years since brother Keith wrote this song but it is more … More The Church is Still Asleep in the Light. When Will She Wake Up?
Weekend Musings I was reading my friend Ann Voskamp’s blog about her trip to Guatemala and the forever-imprint it made on her heart. I want to urge you to go to her blog by clicking on the link I provided. Her words are so much more eloquent than mine. Read hers. Read hers outloud. Let … More The Forever Imprint of a Short Term Mission
Thursday is for Discipleship No living person has had a greater impact on my life and theology than Dr. John Piper. Eight years ago, I had the privilege of being the speaker at the Bethlehem Baptist Church Men’s retreat and meeting Dr. Piper in a setting where he was just one of the guys. It was … More Portrait of a Disciple
Tuesday is for Preaching According to a LifeWay Research survey: Only 6% of pastors explain the gospel clearly on a regular basis. “Lifeway Research surveyed 450 sermons delivered in churches across the country–churches large and small, denominational and non-denominational–to see how often the Bad News and the Good News were being explained in a meaningful … More Bootcamp for Shaping Up the Gospel Preaching of Pastors
Tuesday is for Preaching Tought Primer: Is it likely that in any church service, there are some present who have not had a life-changing conversion experience. They may carry Bibles; they may call themselves Christ followers; they may believe they are ‘saved’; they may speak fluent “Christianese”, but they have never truly placed their trust in … More Preachers are Failing their Congregations
Meditating on 1 John 1 John 1:8-10 (ESV) 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have … More The Transformative Greatness of Forgiveness
I have very limited time to post because of an intensive seminar in which I am participating in Georgia. So I am re-posting from the archives of my old blog, this one, from September 29, 2009: OK, I Promised a U2 Review By the grace of God and the generosity of a friend I was … More Review of Soldier Field U2 concert
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