Discipleship is a lost love in our culture of “Go Big or Go Home.” At Praxis Gathering 2016, however, we are gathering to recover the act and art of discipleship, and we want you to join us. This unique annual church planting experience combines real-time practice with rich theology and deep reflection. Participants of all backgrounds, denominations and ecclesial styles will join …
Reflections on the End of Tradition
It’s tempting to want to take control, especially as church planters and leaders with passion, vision and commitment. Right? We want to get things moving and push our agendas forward according to our systems and to tradition. But I recently re-watched the film, Whale Rider and was reminded of the power, beauty and effectiveness of a contrarian way. Koro, the …
How to be a Movemental Church Planting Community
As you all know, here at the V3 Movement we are deeply passionate about helping men and women plant churches that reflect the viral, grassroots work of movement. We are not interested in merely starting new worship services. We want to join God in seeding Jesus-centered communities and serve those who plant those communities with resources that make the church …
How to Spot an Immature Pastor and What To Do About It
“How to Spot an Immature Pastor” is the fourth in a series of five articles on recognizing immaturity in fivefold ministry and what to do about it. If you have no idea what fivefold ministry is, check out Alan Hirsch’s brief descriptions here, or JR Woodward’s video introduction here. If you’ve ever planted a missional church, you know it isn’t exactly a walk …
Praxis Gathering '16: Shaping Disciples for Movement: David Fitch
Discipleship is a lost love in our culture of “Go Big or Go Home.” At Praxis Gathering 2016, however, we will gather to recover the act and art of discipleship. This unique, annual church planting experience combines real-time practice with rich theology and deep reflection. Participants of all backgrounds, denominations and ecclesial styles will join together to plummet deep into the …
A First-Time Church Planter Not Going It Alone
One of the main ways we are building a movement here at V3 is through our learning cohorts. Because we are a communal movement, we’re glad to bring you more personal interviews with other church planters who love what is happening in the church today, are engaging it in a fruitful manner, and are utilizing V3 Learning Cohorts to ground …
How to Deal With Our Pain
If we want a future as church planters and pastors where we not only survive, but actually thrive, become more free, become more alive, and where we live with a growing sense of vibrancy and joy, then we have to learn what to do with our pain. The Franciscan priest and leading voice in the field of contemplation, Richard Rohr, …
3 Ways To Celebrate Pentecost This Year
Pentecost is coming. This celebration (May 15th) marks the end of the Easter season, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the infilling of Jesus’ disciples with the power to go out and change the world. Traditionally, many churches pray for the peace of our world at this time. In a world divided by culture, race, and social strata, Pentecost …
A Practical Guide to Having Missional Vision
Bill couldn’t wait to share the good news. He had just received word that a donor had offered five acres of beautiful, wooded land along with seed money for building a new church campus just outside the city. He would share the news at the elders’ meeting that night. As pastor of the downtown, inner-city church, Bill had struggled with …
How to Build Community: What the Real Cost Is
Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you. -Romans 15:7 Building community is hard work. It takes intentionality and risk; requires energy and planning. And there is always the possibility of rejection as we put ourselves out there. However, making room for others in our lives is an essential practice for those in the community of faith. A Difference Between …