In the previous post in this series, I wrote about a state of mind that is helpful for the ongoing work of sermon preparation. I talked about the need to Attend, to pay attention to what was happening in soul, text and culture. This time around, things get more practical, moving from an abstract posture to a tangible activity. I’m …
Lord of the Flies, William Golding’s novel about a group of boys stuck on an uninhabited island, remains a classic. What at first seemed like an ideal situation for a bunch of kids away from their parents soon became a rather harrowing experience. Stranded all by themselves, they were suddenly forced to entertain an entirely new set of challenges. One of …
I’m glad to announce that Asbury Theological Seminary, one of V3’s partners, is introducing a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies with a specialization in Church Planting degree in the fall of 2014. The beauty of this degree is that it allows you, the practitioner, to remain in your city where you are planting, while you pursue your Master’s Degree. …
Several years ago when I started asking people What makes you feel close to God? The responses astounded me. Most people did not mention prayer or bible study. Their intimate encounters with God occurred not through reading the scripture or going to church, but through the ordinary every day activities that fill their days. Of course this is not an …
As Paul crafts the first known letter to the Corinthian church, it becomes clear he is addressing a great swirl of problems within the community. A group of church members, for one, have begun to elevate their experience of the Holy Spirit above others’ experience; what Ronald Knox once called “enthusiasts.” In chapters twelve through fourteen, one can clearly hear …
Do you already know exactly what it is going to look like when you plant a church? Then maybe a V3 Movement Learning Cohort isn’t for you. That was a lesson learned by Matthew Watson, Church Planting Resident at the District Church and a participant in a recent Learning Cohort. According to Matthew, the experience has caused him to think deeper and …
This post is part two in the series Preparing to Preach in the Missional Church. You can read part one here. For a missional church planter, sermon preparation as a way of living within the larger set of responsibilities. It’s not just a list of steps to work through as much as it is a cycle of actions and postures — a …
Justin Fung is an Associate Pastor at the young and thriving District Church in Washington, D.C. He recently participated in a V3 Movement Learning Cohort. We asked him to share about his experience. V3: Why did you choose to participate in a V3 cohort? JF: When it comes to starting a new church, I knew I was way over my …
On my small, short block in San Francisco, there are people who represent various races, ethnicities and nationalities. They are Chinese, Burmese, Vietnamese, Caucasian, Armenian, Japanese, and African American. My city, like many of your cities, has a high foreign-born population. Our neighborhoods, like yours, are filled with people who not only do not know Christ, but who are adherents …