As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother …
Purpose of Community When we consider community, what are some things that come to mind in terms of the purpose of community? While many of us can think of the benefits of community in both providing a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose within a neighborhood and actual place, the unspoken hardship is that, most of us, if …
In light of what the pandemic has exposed – exposed and not created – it’s been apparent that the public space that Jesus used in proclaiming the nearness of the Kingdom of God, the rule and reign of the very presence of God, has been brought closer to us. Let me explain. Here in North America, the pandemic has exposed …
If you took a tally on what Jesus talked most about, we would see that his conversations were oriented around one thing: the Kingdom of God. He connected how the Son of Man is connected to the Kingdom of God, who is a part of the Kingdom of God, and what the Kingdom of God is like. And he told …
Glory. It’s a word in the Christian tradition that most of us, if we’re honest with ourselves, skip right over. We sort of have a framework for what it means to “give glory to God,” which is akin to praise, honor, and worth, but apart from sing-song words, we don’t really know what to do with it — particularly when …
As church planters, we may easily get bogged down from the nitty gritty of shaping organizational structures and managing the great work of investing deeply into the individuals in our communities, but there is a key way of pausing in the midst of the work that actually aids in providing wisdom and insight into both our organizational structures and the …
What happened at the cross? When we think of the crucifixion and Jesus’ work on the cross, a common picture we see is of the “Roman Road”: we are sinners, in need of a Savior, and Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sin. It’s not a bad start, but it begs us to define properly what …
As church planters and church leaders, as we’re busy carrying the weight of leadership in these times, trying to bring clarity in the midst of confusion while being confused ourselves, trying to help those who have suffered great loss even while we are facing our own personal loss, and navigating wisdom for our communities when righteousness seems so polarized. It …
“Who am I and what on earth am I doing here?” “What is my identity and what is my purpose or calling?” “What is God’s will for my life?” These are just some of the many questions most of us have at some point in our lives. Most of us, and particularly those of us who have been in church …
In the life of church planting, communication is so key. Especially in a time like we’re in – in the midst of COVID-19. I’m sure we’re all in the same boat, making decisions for our local spaces and gatherings, changing events and plans, but in the middle of all of this, we have a unique opportunity to invite those we …