Gospel Planting

Our little church in Rocky River is hoping to do what Fitch is talking about ...

2012-02-02T07:12:00.001-08:00

... here.

David Fitch strikes again

2011-10-04T05:17:00.001-07:00

... with another post to make you go, hmmmmm. This one is about not prematurely "launching" a church.

Renew Gathering

2011-09-23T06:55:00.000-07:00

A bunch of us in our local community are adding a monthly gathering to our schedule. Details about the Renew Gathering (HT: J.R. Briggs for the name) can be found here.

Review of Fitch's "The End of Evangelicalism?"

2011-05-25T04:13:00.000-07:00

A very good review, in fact. Why should you read it [the review and then the book]? Because it proposes a way forward in faithful mission for Christ's church. A huge emphasis of the book is posture (read: humility), for those who profess to follow Jesus in their approach to the Christian life and toward those who don't believe in the same way. Our faith community has been discussing this quite a bit from multiple texts - especially in the Gospels (i.e. the woman caught in adultery; wee-little-tax-collector-man Zaccheus; Mary annointing Jesus' feet ...). Fitch's book isn't about abandoning convictions, but rather embracing convictions with humility in order to be shaped by them [or something like that] ...

A Different Kind of Leadership

2011-04-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

David Fitch (who I had the privilege of meeting for breakfast the other day in Chi-town-ish with Dawne Piotrowski) has a proposal for a different kind of leadership than we normally see in local church life. I like.

Pastors' Wives Problems

2011-03-17T04:07:00.000-07:00

This post shows how the wives of pastors often feel and think regarding the way they are treated in churches.

The pastors' wives who have to say all this should often blame their husbands (and the rest of the leadership team at the church) as much as the congregation for creating a top-down, top-dog church culture in which pastors (and by extension their wives) are often placed on a strange pedestals. That's my opinion. I'm willing to dialogue about it even though I've just come off as dogmatic.

Why isn't my life being transformed? I study the Bible!

2011-02-17T07:33:00.000-08:00

Ever notice how just studying or listening Scripture doesn't always lead to life transformation?
A good friend of mine, Matt Tebbe (okay, so he's a great friend of a friend, but I've met him once) has a great post about this subject on his new blog. It will likely turn into a series. You can see the first post here. Here's a taste of it:
"How we study the Bible significantly impairs our theological and biblical literacy. Thus, getting MORE serious about “Bible study” may not be the solution…and it may be part of the problem."

Church Planting vs. Seeding Missional Communities

2011-01-12T08:47:00.001-08:00

At the beginning of last year I read this David Fitch post and thought it was excellente. He further reflects on it here in light of a recent "failed" church plant he read about. Great stuff.

Colbert

2010-12-17T13:53:00.000-08:00

Wow. Um ... wow. I do not endorse all of what Colbert says in this video (hopefully clearly). But I think it could make for some interesting dialog ...

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Jesus Is a Liberal Democrat

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog

March to Keep Fear Alive

Whaddya Think?

2010-12-17T05:25:00.000-08:00

"I don't get upset when salesclerks don't say 'Merry Christmas' because I'm a fan of the 3rd commandment." - @jaredcwilson via Twitter.

Here's commandment number three in an old school version (King James): Deuteronomy 5:11 "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold [him] guiltless that taketh his name in vain."

O Come to the Mall

2010-12-10T05:50:00.000-08:00

Speaking of anticipating the coming of Emmanuel, here's my friend Ryan anticipating his coming at the mall in Indiana.

How to Have a Happy Relationship

2010-12-10T05:15:00.001-08:00

HT: Matt Tebbe via Twitter

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

2010-12-10T05:12:00.001-08:00

Behold! The Little Baby ... TV!?!?

2010-12-07T05:08:00.000-08:00

Post about it here.

Soma School Quotes

2010-12-03T05:25:00.001-08:00

These twitter-y quotes are encouraging, cahllenging, and helpful.

Teaching them to OBEY

2010-10-24T08:16:00.001-07:00

Great break-out session at the Verge from February.

The Verge Network

2010-10-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

The website has launched with videos from their February 2010 conference, including this one by Hugh Halter. I'd also watch the ones by Vandersteldt, Chan ... and perhaps I'll recommend more once I've watched them ...

The Tangible Kingdom Primer

2010-10-13T17:03:00.001-07:00

Update: The video was messing with the appearance of the blog. So you can link to the video externally here.

The Tangible Kingdom

2010-09-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

I have found "The Tangible Kingdom" to be one of the best resources on living the Gospel life that I have ever read. Overstated? I dare you to decide for yourself. It's a book as much about our own tranformation together as believers and followers of Jesus Christ as it is a book about the mission of God to extend his kingdom through his people. And it's mostly through stories!

"So, Burly, if you were to suggest the best resources for helping communities of believers plant the Gospel, what would they be?"

Well, I'd probably recommend starting with "Total Church" as a foundational resource for that type of mission. Then I might work through "The Gospel-Centred Church" with a small group of people. Then if you (and the group) are "trackin'" with what you've read together, I'd move on to "The Tangible Kingdom." After having read it independently (and others in your group have read it independently), I'd go through "The Tangible Kingdom Primer" in smaller groups, as the homework is heavy-duty (in a good way). By the way, this suggestion (re: "The Tangible Kingdom" and the "... Primer" are not based on actually having done this).

Regarding "The Tangible Kingdom Primer," Hugh Halter (one of the authors) said the following over on Ed Stetzer's blog:

"The biggest thing you'll probably notice is that the 8 weeks feel like you're starting over with Jesus. Because we have so many stories of conversion, people often use it as evangelism training for small groups, but we actually wrote it as a spiritual formation exercise. We have found that what truly gets in the way of becoming a disciple is "individualism, consumerism, and materialism." Everyone says they would love to live missionally BUT, BUT, BUT and then we get a list of all the reasons we don't. In actuality, all the aforementioned 'isms' are rooted in sin and Galatians teaches that the ways of the flesh are in direct opposition to the ways of the spirit and you end up not doing what you want. We've learned therefore that you can preach missional living all you want and call people to be disciples, but it goes absolutely nowhere unless you create a spiritual formation pathway that actually challenges our self orientation. The Primer does this."

"Hey, Burly, who made you the expert on what I should read and do."

Why are you being so confrontational? You know that I know what's best for you and everyone else ;o) ...

On Gifted Teachers

2010-09-17T05:13:00.001-07:00

Bring it, Neil Cole. He brings it here.

Francis Chan

2010-09-08T09:29:00.000-07:00

Francis Chan is a man who follows Jesus Christ. Earlier this year, he left his post as Senior Pastor of the church he founded. This update was encouraging and challenging to me.

Worth the Drive?

2010-09-08T04:46:00.000-07:00

Brent Thomas asks whether it's worth the drive to your non-local church.

Screwtape's Latest

2010-06-21T08:42:00.003-07:00

The latest letter can be found here.

Not Enough Pastor Jobs

2010-06-09T04:57:00.000-07:00

USA Today had an article posted online two days ago regarding the fact that there just aren't very many jobs out there for Protestant pastors. The article is talking about the lack of full-time, professional, pastoral positions.

I remember back in my seminary days being annoyed by the fact that seminary students were not told by the administration that pastoral positions are few and far between.

Let me ask a barrage of questions:

*Why do people who are gifted to minister the Gospel solely look for full-time positions in order to minister? *What if the economy doesn't recover?
*What if you [hypothetical reader in the category of one looking for a place to minister full-time in a professional pastoral position] never find the ministry "job" you're looking for?
*Will that prevent you from functioning as a pastor/shepherd/minister?

Please discuss.

Constitution of the Upside-Down Kingdom

2010-05-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

Keith Dow, husband to Darcie Dow who is the good friend of my sister-in-law Heidi (got that?) wrote the following Constitution of the Kingdom of Jesus. I hope it stirs you:

Constitution of the Upside-Down Kingdom

We the people of the upside-down Kingdom proclaim a revolution of repentance. We will no longer be conformed to the counterfeit-power of politics but will stand transformed in the resurrection-power of the Prince of Peace. We bear witness to His strength made perfect in weakness and the joy that is perfected in suffering. His Kingdom dwells among the dead and the dying, the wounded and the helpless; for it is not the healthy that need a doctor and not it is not the living that need new life.

We refuse to legislate life and death but instead join in the death-to-life renewal that begins with poverty of spirit and ends in richness of faith. It is not we who decide where the sun shines or the rain falls, nor do we bless or curse. The gavel of judgment is too heavy for our feeble human hands to hold.

We renounce the world as it has been told to us, the world of kings and princes, and look instead to the world of slaves and paupers, of widows and orphans. Here the least are the greatest and these are our masters, our monarchs. From the eyes of the one without a home a palace is commissioned. From the whisper of a muted voice, a herald is ordained. As I look into the soul of my neighbour-other, my response signs my soul. It is at this moment that I proclaim or betray my allegiance to the Kingdom of repentance.

We reclaim the back alleys, the crack houses, and the minefields as holy ground. We sanctify the shelters, the ghettos, and the street-corner grates. Our war is not with flesh-and-blood, but within each kingdom-citizen. We obliterate indifference and apathy. We attack hatred, spite, and judgement. Even the will to justice succumbs to its fulfillment in mercy, and other-love submerges a legion of sins.

We mourn together the loss of the garden, the birth of god-lust, and the claiming of the power of good and evil. It is only the fruit of life that fills famished souls, not knowledge-power wielded over one another. As Adams and as Eves together we stumble back to the gardens of humankind, tending to the withering and dying and tearing out the weed of desire to be divine found festering in each soul.

We demand no earthly King and call for no holy war. We ourselves are the infidels and the pagans, who know not what we do. Were we even to recognize an enemy, we seek not victory but the martyrs death: To be witness, to proclaim the King's death, to hear "Well done." This is our battle cry.

We dictate no foreign policy or trade embargo; The choices we make are of conscience not control. We refuse to condone the violence of economic oppression or knowingly enslave our global neighbours for the sake of passing popularity or the latest lust. In each transaction we relate not to an 'it' but to a 'you,' not to a brand but to a brother, and each dollar is either a helping hand to bring one to their feet or another drop in an ocean of indifferent economic subjugation.

We believe that giving our children good gifts means not comfort but creative compassion, not fortification but the strength to forgive. It is not weakness that prevents our hands from lifting the sword to protect those we love or ourselves, but the assurance that the victory lies in having fought the good fight and finished the race. Defeat lies not in death but in words betrayed by actions, for each enemy we encounter is both a stranger and a friend, a foe and a brother to whom we are bound. Uncompromising love is what we have witnessed and unrelenting mercy is our prototype. To abandon our Saviour-King at the call of His cross is to be found unworthy of His Name.

We are the few and the foolish. We will never be the majority, the crowd, or the many. Narrow is the path we walk, a path not of practicality but of passion, not of wisdom but of weakness. It is the foolishness of the cross to which we cling; the madness that to suffer is better than to sin; the absurdity of relinquishing rights rather than resisting. To watching eyes we bewilder and confuse, but we are a sight that will not be quickly forgotten. Our dying prayer is that every adversary's eyes will eventually rest upon the crucified Christ.

We the people of the upside-down kingdom work expectantly through the night, confident that the dawn of a new day will soon be upon us.
Reposted with permission.

Jesus is Lord and King

2010-05-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

My friend Tim has become a broken record. On his twitter feed he keeps writing things like "The Lord Reigns," or "The King is on the throne." Then we have a prayer meeting and the first prayer out of his mouth is the acknowledgement of Jesus as king. Then we partake of communion and he wants to propose a toast: "To the King."

Proposing a toast over the Lord's supper? How ... appropriate!

I was on the bus this morning thinking about the fact that Jesus is Lord and King. It excited me, because I know that as I frame my life around this reality (which, by the way, Jesus did the initial framing for me), I will experience such freedom and joy. Sharing that reality with others is becoming increasingly easier, more natural, and just-plain-gets-me-riled-up in a good way as I experience that freedom and joy.

Of course it's a process, but as I'm increasingly sensing the freedom that comes from living under the reign of Jesus, I long to share that joy with others. That's what the Gospel does. It helps us live in freedom and joy under the reign of Jesus.

I've often defaulted to thinking about the Gospel as "the-thing-I-share-with-other-people-so-that-they-can-get-saved-and-get-on-with-life." Deep down, I've known it's more than this, but I have functionally lived my life with a Gospel that is less than the Gospel of the King and his kingdom. I have lived with a Gospel that is less than all-encompassing. I've lived with a Gospel that is less than Gospel, really. It's less than Gospel if it doesn't start with Jesus as Lord and King of everything.

Am I right? Am I stating the obvious here? Maybe so, but I'll take that kind of obvious for the sake of experiencing the freedom and joy that King Jesus paid with his life for me to experience.

Mere Churchianity

2010-05-18T04:26:00.000-07:00

The late Michael Spencer finished his first and only book. Here's an excerpt. Having been an avid Internet Monk fan (the website of Michael Spencer), I am looking forward to reading this book. Pre-order it if you're interested. If you read it, I guarantee that you'll be glad and irritated that you did.

The Holy What?

2010-05-18T03:47:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Dodson clearly explains the need for a reliance on the Holy Spirit in church planting. Call me crazy, but I do believe this applies to all of life. I resonate deeply with what he says here. As someone who has been trained to think strategically, professionally and academically regarding church planting and ministry in general, this transition in my own thinking has not only been deeply helpful, but deeply freeing.

Slow Church

2010-05-17T05:43:00.000-07:00

Here's the deal. You may just want to de-subscribe from my blog and just regularly visit Tim Chester's, including this latest post. I think that's becoming abundantly clear to me.

Chester on Shared Life

2010-05-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

I feel a little silly sometimes posting things like this that make me feel a bit dense (is that the right word?) after I read them, but it's just so good and refreshing and helpful.

Proactive and Reactive Gospel Intentionality

2010-05-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

Tim Chester has a helpful post on proactive and reactive Gospel intentionality. I recommend making his blog a part of your regular reading diet so that I don't have to link to everything good he writes.

Screwtape's Church Planting Advice to Church Planter "Wormwood"

2010-05-11T06:45:00.000-07:00

David Garrison wrote this. More than just "church planters" or "pastors" should read it. Included is a very good description of the "Great Commision" and its parts.

HT: Jonathan Dodson

Who's Goin' to This?

2010-05-10T18:59:00.001-07:00

Can't promise I will be, but I wanna go to this conferenc e. Maybe if 10 or 15 of us rent a 10 or 15 passenger van and all share a room at a Motel 6.

Meet Bill Kinnon

2010-05-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

I never have met him, but I'd like to. He's got the same writing "vibe" as the late Michael Spencer (the "Internet Monk") whose blog I loved to read. I'm guessing he would not feel that he should be counted worthy to be in the same category as the Internet Monk. But, whatever. Check out Bill Kinnon's latest honest, thoughtful, prophetic, scathing, etc. (you figure out the best adjective) thoughts on discipleship, leadership and "being the church" (among other things) here. Let me know what you think.

If I make it up to Toronto sometime, I might try to get coffee and/or the world's best hot dog with him here.

#1, #3, #7, #8

2010-05-05T05:06:00.001-07:00

Those are the numbered "quotes" I especially liked at David Fitch's post here. The "quotes" is in quotation marks on purpose, as not all are truly quotes.

A Pastor is a Disciple

2010-05-04T07:52:00.000-07:00

Reminders like this one are so refreshing, challenging and motivating.

How's about Calling it Biblical Community?

2010-05-01T05:48:00.000-07:00

Tim Chester has another excellent post re: community where he beats the dead horse that won't die. He talks about the fact that we as Christians need to live in community for the reasons given in his post. That used to be plain-ol'-Christianity, now it's called missional community so that it will get a hearing. I commend Tim Chester for doing so. I hope he keeps beating that dead horse 'til it really dies and biblical community comes to life in the lives of Jesus' people.

"Abide" by Jared C. Wilson

2010-04-30T06:57:00.000-07:00

I got a copy yesterday and perused it. Looks like a good read on five disciplines of the Christian life, including service and community. You can buy it here, if you wish. This intensive review was conducted of my own accord without any payment made to me by the author or the publisher. Once I actually read it, perhaps I'll say more about it.

Love Thy Neighborhood

2010-04-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

Jen Janis told me the night before I preached that she found this shirt at the Gap and was going to buy it for me to wear while I preached. I would have, but $24 for t-shirt? C'mon!

"Christ sweated blood for them ..."

2010-04-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

Thank you Tim Chester for this helpful reminder of the centrality of the cross in making community work.

Church Planting?

2010-04-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

"I am becoming increasingly persuaded that the term 'church planting' is a significant hindrance to church planting." - Steve Timmis of the Crowded House (not the band)

I agree. Do you? Check out what Neil Cole said on the same topic (if I'm understanding Steve Timmis correctly) at the Verge conference:

"Stop planting churches. Plant Jesus and churches will be the by product." - Neil Cole

"It is possible to plant churches and never make disciples. Church is to be the outgrowth of the message." - Neil Cole

And check out the last paragraph of Tim Chester's article here.

Doing the Dishes and Preaching a Sermon

2010-04-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

Two Sundays ago, I preached my first "behind-a-pulpit" sermon in three years at my church. The sermon can be found here. Anyway, during my sermon I made the comment that when I go out at night with the guys at Herb's or Starbucks to talk about life and the Gospel, etc., we wait until 8:30 pm so we can help our wives with the dishes before leaving. That comment generated incredibly positive feedback from a few women and I got a few "my wife apppreciated the part where you talked about doing the dishes ..." comments. Not what I expected as the biggest takeaway from my sermon.

Anyway, the sermon describes how we got here (Cleveland-ish) and what we're doing in terms of ministry in our town. In a pre-sermon interview (not recorded), I cleared up a couple misconceptions:

1.) The national Evangelical Free Church Planting (EFCA) branch has a saying: "All kinds of churches for all kinds of people."
2.) This means that the Free Church generally and Providence Church specifically supports this idea.
3.) Therefore, Jason and Janeen Oesterling (who preached at the church a couple years ago - I met him once) is planting one kind of church in Medina, Ohio, John and Kristine Meaux are planning to plant a church in the next year or so somewhere in the greater Cuyahoga county area, and Naomi and I have "landed" in our neighborhood to do Gospel ministry (more on that in the sermon or by perusing this blog).
4.) This clarification was necessary due to a.) plans changing and b.) people getting confused as to who was planting a church with who!

In any case, enjoy the semon, if you wish to do so.

Tim Keller Gets It

2010-02-11T05:44:00.000-08:00

For me to declare that isn't exactly humble. It implies that I think I get it. Anyway, read this and decide for yourself if you think he gets it.

Created to Reproduce

2010-02-11T05:38:00.001-08:00

The more I read Neil Cole's blog, the more I think maybe he actually trusts God. Like in this post.

Simply Profound

2010-02-09T05:29:00.000-08:00

Steve Timmis via Twitter:

"Radical mission strategy - groups of people, indwelt by HS, loving God passionately, others sacrificially, commending Christ in word & deed. I suspect it's too simple to really work but we could take a risk and give it a go. What have we got to lose?"

I'm pleased to say that this might mean we have to stop asking the "but what abouts" and endless "strategy" and talk of "vision" (that amounts to nothing more than talking about the term "vision").

I Like this Guy

2010-02-01T08:33:00.001-08:00

From what I've heard about him and read by him (having never met him), I like this guy's thinking.

S.A.F.E. vs. D.E.A.T.H.

2010-01-28T05:58:00.001-08:00

Neil Cole brings it.

House Groups vs. Missional Communities

2010-01-04T06:31:00.000-08:00

Tim Chester describes the tendency (not the total reality) of house groups vs. missional communities here.

Mission: Result of the Gospel or Part of the Gospel?

2009-12-30T10:06:00.000-08:00

I have thought this for a while now, just haven't fully been able to verbalize it. I think that Jonathan Dodson is on the money.

So, what do you think? Is mission a result of the Gospel or part of the Gospel?

The Gospel Story - The Story of Community

2009-12-21T04:09:00.000-08:00

Read it here.

Criticism

2009-12-17T03:45:00.001-08:00

How do you deal with it? I deal with it poorly in my heart. I think this is good and godly advice.

Partnership instead of Dependence

2009-12-08T05:19:00.000-08:00

Here. It's an article by the mostly-always-worth-reading, Tim Chester. I can't think of an instance where he's not worth listening to, but I don't "hang out" with him.

Counterfeit Gods is Ripping My Face Off

2009-11-20T08:21:00.000-08:00

And I mean that in a good way. I'd recommend picking it up (linked in the sidebar), take off your protective mask and let it rip your face off, too. It'll hurt, but it'll be worth it. Trust me.

More Than A Command

2009-11-06T07:10:00.001-08:00

Mission, that is. See what I'm talking about here.

What Would You Do With $130,000,000.00

2009-11-05T04:40:00.000-08:00

I don't mean to be a "hater" and point out all-that's-wrong-in-the-world (because I can certainly be a contributor to what's wrong with the world), but c'mon! I'm with Jared Wilson on this.

Acrobats or Brothers?

2009-11-04T05:36:00.001-08:00

Jonathan Dodson expresses exactly how I think and feel here.

Check out the last sentence of his article:

Don't give up on the church. Instead, start giving things away, sharing your life, and see what happens. Stop going to church, and start being the church. You'll be glad you did.

The Church on Mission

2009-11-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

Tony Stiff, in a post over at Jesus Creed has been invited to write blog posts on the missional church. I prefer to say “the church on mission”, but that’s neither here nor there. A couple good quotes from his first post:

The missional church is the overflow of fresh considerations regarding the nature of God as one who sends.

Regarding the contention that the missional church is a passing fad, Tony writes:

The missional church is not a cliche .... here today and gone tomorrow, because the situational shift it comes from - the shift from a Christian to a Post-Christian setting for the church in the West - has brought about a lasting dynamic that will shape and inform how Christians speak of the mission and nature of the church.

Read the whole thing here.

Fight Clubs

2009-11-02T07:48:00.000-08:00

A review of Fight Clubs is here with links to it. I haven't looked at it yet, but already agree with the concept. It's not rocket science, but for that reason, it's doable.

Deep Church - Deep Culture

2009-11-02T06:07:00.000-08:00

In Jim Belcher’s book, Deep Church, he has a chapter (10) on “Deep Culture”. In it he says regarding his church’s embrace of the church as institution and organism:

We recognize that we will have no impact on the culture if the institution is not strong. This means preaching the Word and administering the sacraments faithfully and consistently. It means taking discipleship … seriously. We have regular discipleship classes on the foundations of the faith. We teach, exhort and organize for community in our weekly community groups that discuss the sermon, pray for one another and carry one another’s burdens. We strive to be a church of mercy to our community through a myriad of avenues. And all of these wonderful core commitments are undergirded by a mature, mission-oriented elder board and deaconate. These institutional priorities go a long way in engerdering a distinct people who think, act and live differently from our surrounding culture, but at the same time remain deeply hospitable to the stranger in their midst.

He then goes on to discuss the church as organism and discusses “training secret agents.” In this section on organism he says:

So if the Sunday-morning sanctuary is mainly about the church as “institution,” the weekday basement is about the church as “organism”: training its members to be secret agents in the world creating and renewing culture for the glory of God …

I will start by saying one thing: I do not think “secret agents” is a good term at all for discussing the call of mission on followers of Jesus. Especially here in the U.S. of A. We don’t need to be “secretive” (or even speak of being secretive) in any way toward those around us who are already suspicious of people’s motives because everyone is trying to sell something.

I should also state what I already emphasized in a prior post: I really like this book, I just don’t agree at every application point like this one.

I can’t figure out why Belcher regards everything in the first paragraph I quoted as being institutional. I am a firm believer in doing church in as organic a way as possible (read: be faithful to God and the Gospel and his Word and leave it in the hands of God himself to “cause the growth” – that’s my abbreviated version of what “organic” means [feel free to disagree on my definition]) and don’t understand why everything in this paragraph is institutional? I believe that he is discussing some structural things that need to be in place for organic growth to occur. I’m no scientist, but when it comes to talking about organicness (that’s not a word, is it?), we’re not talking about “wild, unstructured growth”. There are structures/rules that nature “plays by”. I would contend that the same is true in the church organic – structures/rules apply.

Perhaps Jim Belcher’s interaction in his book with a “house church” that eschewed all notions of leadership and regarded all the members of the group as equals in their roles in the group is what he may be reacting/responding to here. I would agree that it is not helpful to eschew all notions of leadership and structure, but I don’t believe it requires embracing the institutional church - hook, line and sinker (which I don’t think Belcher intends to do here – it just looks like it). I am grateful for the traditional/institutional church. I don’t have a desire to disrespect the traditional/institutional church, because I have gained (and am still gaining) much from it (including my growth as a believer and it’s where I came to follow Jesus). I just don’t believe I need to (like Belcher) join a denomination like the PCA. I’m not “throwing off the shackles of authority”, but I am saying that I favor “organic structures” over “set programs”. Is this all a matter of semantics (that’s rhetorical, but feel free to answer it)? Perhaps partially – but I would contend not fully. Perhaps someone else can weigh in on this?

My bottom line is that I do not personally wish to keep the notion of “institutional church” in my methodology of being the church. I agree with Belcher’s contention that there is a need for every gathered church body to be “preaching the Word and administering the sacraments faithfully and consistently. It means taking discipleship … seriously.” I’d simply rather affirm the notion that “organic church” requires structures for healthy dynamic growth rather than institutionalization (who really wants to be instutionalized? ;o) ).

George Patterson Quote (Whoever He Is)

2009-10-31T12:31:00.000-07:00

This is from Neil Cole's blog:

Every time we eat, we eat the fruit of God ’ s
tremendous reproduction power given to plants
and animals. Look around out of doors; it ’ s
everywhere — grass, trees, birds, bees, babies and
flowers. All creation is shouting it! This is the way
God works! . . . We ourselves don ’ t make the church
grow or reproduce, any more than pulling on a stalk
of corn would make it grow.
— George Patterson

Good stuff.

Equipping for Mission

2009-10-29T04:49:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Dodson is a church leader in Austin, Texas who describes how a follower of Jesus can do "everyday things with gospel intentionality." Here 'tis. It's good stuff.

Why I'm Not a Professional Pastor

2009-10-28T05:35:00.000-07:00

This doesn't outline it fully or fully capture all of my own thoughts on the matter, but I "resonate" with what David Fitch says here.

Deep Church

2009-10-27T05:06:00.000-07:00

For those who have a passion for “doing church” a different way, this book may be (“may be” not “is for sure”) for you.

There’s been debates raging in the past 10 years or so regarding whether the “traditional” church does church right or whether the “emerging” church does things right. I will write the rest of this mini-review without defining “traditional” or “emerging”, so you may need to ask questions or go research it. For a good starting point, you can go here.

I personally have benefited from both churches – “traditional” and “emerging”. I’ve never been part of an “emerging” church,* but resonate with many of the critiques (not the caricatures) of traditional churches (as if they can all be lumped together). On the flip side, I have also resonated with the “traditional” church’s critique (not the caricatures) of “emerging” churches (as if they can all be lumped together).

Jim Belcher in his book “Deep Church” does a great job, in my view, of showing some of the contributions and flaws of both types of churches. He doesn’t build “straw man” arguments and I can sense that he truly appreciates the contributions of the “emerging” folks and the “traditional” folks. He then goes on to propose a third way (emphasis on the article “a” as he is not proposing “the” third way – thank goodness). I found myself not always resonating with his proposed “third way”, but that’s okay it’s “a” third way not “my” third way.

So, before doing a few posts on the book, I thought I’d introduce this book to you (and commend it to you – if you’re interested in this sort of thing).

For a couple good reviews of it you can go here and here.

*Though I've never been part of an "emerging" church, I am currently involved in the small group of a "traditional" church where we have had the freedom to be on mission in our community for the sake of the Gospel (good news). I don't call that "emerging" necessarily. I call it in the words of Tim Chester "ordinary life with Gospel intentionality".

LEAD 09

2009-10-23T05:53:00.000-07:00

I haven't watched or listened to these, but I would gladly listen all day to fellow Gospel-man, Tim Chester.

I don't think there's any follower of Jesus who would say that we're not supposed to be on mission with God. Tim Chester is great at identifying barriers to mission and offering positive solutions. Watch out! They are simple but radical.*

*If you find yourself saying, "but that would never work in America" regarding Tim Chester's suggestions/exhortations, make sure you answer the question "why not?" I find that the answers to my own "why not?" questions aren't often all that compelling.

Behave or Believe?

2009-10-23T05:40:00.000-07:00

"... the message of the gospel is not "Behave!" but "Believe!" - Jared Wilson

This is a vital (VITAL!) point to make. The rest of his post is here.

Reforming the Discipleship Culture

2009-10-23T05:36:00.000-07:00

Gospel-man, Jared Wilson was recently intereviewed by the Internet Monk. Here was an exchange at the end of the interview:

Internet Monk: You’ve described one of your personal missions as “reforming the discipleship culture” of the church. Can we produce disciples just by preaching and good books? If not, what else is needed that we still need to take seriously?

Jared Wilson: Well, I think preaching can create a disciple because I take Romans 10 seriously. But you can’t disciple anybody with preaching alone. Disciples follow Jesus. I look at what Jesus did to disciple, and I see he basically taught, went, and taught as he went. So I imagine we’ve got to do the same.

But we’re idiots, so we like one or the other. Guys in my tribe emphasize the teaching, not the going. In other tribes they’re huge on going but not on teaching.

I like to call this a two-fisted gospel. If you aren’t articulating the gospel of the kingdom regularly and also seeking to live the kingdom out, you aren’t discipling anyone in the way of Jesus.
The danger for most folks of my sort is that we really become admirers of the gospel, not treasurers of it. And admiring it is not really centering on it. When it’s got you forgiving your cheating spouse or serving people in the ghetto or even mowing your neighbor’s yard, it’s changed you.

Thoughts?

What is the Good News?

2009-10-22T12:13:00.000-07:00

In the words of Julie Andrews' character from "The Sound of Music" - let's "start [this blog] at the beginning, it's a very good place to start". Gotta work at defining the good news before going forward. I really like this long-ish article regarding the good news. I'm posting it here for your consideration. We can discuss it if you wish.

Free Redeemer Sermons

2009-10-22T04:41:00.000-07:00

If you love the good news of Jesus and would like to see it planted more deeply in your own life, Redeemer Church of NYC is now making a bunch of their sermons available online here.

I would highly recommend checking it out.

Purpose of this Blog

2009-10-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

"The blessing of mission is ours while the burden of mission is God’s." - Jonathan Dodson

As a follower of Jesus Christ, a trained pastor, and a guy who works (and plans to continue working)a "regular"* job, the idea of church planting has long intrigued me. To say it has intrigued me is really a huge understatement, as I've been training and thinking and praying for years about planting a church or being part of a church plant.

I've recently shifted in my thinking about church planting and Gospel ministry, as I've dialogued with friends and perused the pages of various books and blogs on the subject. Now I'm thinking and praying more about Gospel planting - and actively joining others in doing so. What I mean by Gospel planting is to spread (or sow) the good news of Jesus and his kingdom wherever I go. That includes spreading the good news to myself and especially within my own home.

For me, I think it's more than semantics to shift from the language of "church planting" to "Gosepl planting". It's been a fundamental shift in my own thinking and heart. I don't think it's wrong for others to use the language of church planting, but I've personally found it helpful to rightly acknowledge the burden of planting churches rests squarely on the shoulders and in the hands of Jesus himself.  Did he not say "I will build my church"?** It places the blessing of joining God in his mission -of sowing the good news of Jesus Christ with his followers. Can we in any way carry the burden of Jesus' mission? Certainly! To the degree that we understand that he carries the bulk of the burden; to the degree that we sense this burden to be a blessing; to the degree that we understand that Jesus' yoke is easy and his burden is light.***

Here's the ol' bottom line: we, his followers, don't have to "make things happen".  We simply get to follow Jesus and join him in his Great Mission. We can focus on "being the church" rather than "doing church".

So, come along and join me in exploring what it means to Gospel plant - what it means to sow seeds of the good news of Jesus and his kingdom.  We'll look at different resources, ideas and ways to plant the Gospel in our communities and in our spheres of influence.

*I don't plan to be a vocational pastor. I am grateful for the opportunity to work a "regular job" like most of you.
**That's a rhetorical question. He did say that.
***Matthew 11:30.