Anyone who knows me knows that I have been experiencing one physical malady after another. It just keeps piling up. So I have grown to hate this body. But what’s the alternative? Some Christians pine away for a future existence in a disembodied “heaven.” They are just biding their time, hoping that their passage to that better life will come sooner than later. Maybe, I thought, I should be one of them. But mysteriously and oh so graciously, God led... Read more
The best way to do evangelism is simply to ask questions. Spiritual conversations are best when we are genuinely interested in other people enough to ask them questions. How can you offer something that meets a need without asking them what is going on in their life? POSSIBLE STARTER QUESTIONS: Do you have much of a spiritual background? Where would you say you are in your spiritual pilgrimage? What is your concept of God? Is He a reality to you... Read more
Drew Dyck, whose day job is as editor at Moody Publishers (and was once editor for CT’s Leadership Journal), has written a book that provides the foundation for the most difficult thing for most of us: Getting ourselves to overcome temptations and setting good habits so that our lives can be more what God wants for us: A life of freedom and flourishing. That’s a huge claim. I know. Having been a Christian for nearly 30 years, I can say... Read more
Best Practices for Pastors (Part 4). For my doctoral dissertation, my research discovered how pastors lead congregants to participate in the mission God through their vocations. Based on that research, I’ve identified some best practices for pastors who would like to see their congregants live as whole-life disciples, where every aspect of their lives are participating in the mission of God in our world. The Fall is what many people experience every day in their lives and vocations. Work is... Read more
Best Practices for Pastors (Part 3). For my doctoral dissertation, my research discovered how pastors lead congregants to participate in the mission God through their vocations. Based on that research, I’ve identified some best practices for pastors who would like to see their congregants live as whole-life disciples, where every aspect of their lives are participating in the mission of God in our world. The four-chapter gospel story (Creation / Fall / Redemption / Consummation) explains that humans, in our... Read more
Best Practices for Pastors (Part 2). For my doctoral dissertation, my research discovered how pastors lead congregants to participate in the mission God through their vocations. Based on that research, I’ve identified some best practices for pastors who would like to see their congregants live as whole-life disciples, where every aspect of their lives are participating in the mission of God in our world. Many evangelical churches have looked to two passages in the New Testament for guidance as to... Read more
Best Practices for Pastors For my doctoral dissertation, my research discovered how pastors lead congregants to participate in the mission God through their vocations. What did the pastors do in their discipleship paradigms? What challenges did they face? What were the results of their efforts? I interviewed pastors from around the country who were dedicated to seeing people reintegrate their faith with all of life, especially their various vocations. Based on that research, I’ve identified some best practices for pastors... Read more
Much debate has been had in the church about the Kingdom of God, which is one of the most important theological topics, since this is what Jesus identified as the “good news” or gospel. Whole new denominations have formed because of these debates. Three tensions that cause the debate are these: (1) Is the kingdom present or future? (2) Is the kingdom individual or social? (3) Is the kingdom particular for those under the reign of God (that is, Christians)... Read more
Very often, evangelicals confidently point to a certain passage to define the gospel. They point to 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, saying that this one passage tells us what the gospel is. According to most evangelicals, the “gospel” that Paul had preached to the Corinthians and now wants to remind them of, the gospel by which we are saved, the message that he received and passed on to them as of first importance can be summarized in the next few verses (verses... Read more
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