Sunday Musings I was at it again Saturday, asking embarrassing questions of restaurant personnel while with a friend. JimmyJohns in Big Rapids, MI was the site this time and my somewhat shocked friend was the son of my pastor friend in Michigan who I am filling in for while he is away on a much … More What Will You Do with Today?
Church Planter: Here’s what I know about you … You want to change the world. You want to serve Jesus. You want to see his name exalted. You want to see the lost get found. You want to see lives transformed from darkness to light. I’m praying for you. I’m praying that the flame of … More Church Planter Character Quality: You have to Love Non-Christians
“Using what you have, where you are, whom you are among, to make a difference for Christ.” Here’s a series of exercises to help your small group or house church begin to develop an Intensely Local texture to their ministry. Principle: The home and the ‘hood rather than the church building and programs, are the primary … More Intensely Local: God gave you that house, how will you use it for His glory?
Thursday is for Discipleship Part 1 Emphasis on Justice and City-Transformation is Not Enough Part 2 Below The difference between outreach and evangelism is essentially this—outreach will almost universally get you pats on the back while evangelism will eventually get you persecuted. (see yesterday’s post) This is precisely why most people don’t do evangelism. They … More Why We Love Outreach and Hate Evangelism
Monday Discussion (Fay: Part 4) On Thursday of last week, my good friend and fellow blogger, Matt Stephens, made some thoughtful comments on the first post in what has become a four part series on the five questions that start the evangelistic process of Bill Fay. Bill’s book is called Sharing Jesus Without Fear, and … More Overt Hostility to the Gospel’s Proclamation is No Excuse for Not Proclaiming the Gospel
As promised, Bill Fay’s five questions: Bill Fay wrote a remarkable book some years ago titled, Share Jesus Without Fear. In it, he shares his testimony and the way that he goes about moving conversation to the gospel. We always want balance between sensitivity, warmth, and compassion on the one hand and bold, authoritative, clarity … More Train Everyone to Proclaim the Gospel (Fay: Part 1)
“Chance” Meetings on a Greyhound Bus”* In front of me, one seat up, I could touch his head without stretching my arm, sleeps a round and gentle Hispanic man with jet black hair and a blue and white stripped dress shirt. He is out. Serenely dreaming of what only God knows, the sounds erupting from … More Snoring Bus-Mates, and a Grandmother
Saturday Musings My son and I had just finished playing a game of horse on our driveway. My shots where all of the immobile variety for a reason I will save until the end of this post. Down the street an ambulance, three police cars, and a fire truck arrived at my neighbor’s house six … More The Voice of God: “Just Show Up”
Not Much Basketball going on outside in Illinois right now, but this will all melt and it won’t be long before driveways are free for play again. Here’s an idea that costs you no more than some time and maybe some sore muscles. Here’s a story from my neighborhood three years ago in Bolingbrook. So … More Living Missionally in a Multi-ethnic ‘Hood
Indisputable 21st Century Facts: Relationships in our neighborhoods with our neighbors are characterized by three things, They are not natural They are not normal They are not necessary The first two items are a product of the third. Because our relationships with our neighbors are not necessary to our lives or our neighbors, almost all … More Necessary, Normal and Natural–NOT!
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