They say a picture is worth a thousand words. When it comes to seeing what is occurring within churches, that is creating our current mission malaise, it takes an illustration to stick in our minds and stir our imaginations.
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On Ambition: Johnny Depp’s Depth
In one of my training classes a college student inquired about how to reach his highly ambitious friend. How could he talk to a person who is driven for success? Does the gospel have appeal to someone like him? So, we sat and deliberated for a time about his dream-driven mentality. Soon, ideas began to percolate about where conversations could go. Though there is nothing wrong with the benefits of hard work, or the blessings that accompany success; and we have many biblical examples of people possessing status, fame and wealth; the fact is, there is something inherently elusive about ambitions and dreams.
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Where the Wind Blows – Catch His Wind Part 2
The question of seeing God’s ultimate leading in our lives has profound ramifications. This second part (Part 1) espouses on the weathervane words of Jesus in John 3: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).
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Catch His Wind – 3 Lesson on God’s Leading Part 1
When your plans fail, God’s wind will blow! For me, the new chart began with going back to school. Of course we had a little problem: no job or money to pay for it. Would mom and dad float a loan? It was a bad idea. But before I could retract to sidestep the financial abyss, my parents called to say they wanted to pick up the costs, all of them. No arm-twist needed. Just wind. Off to class I went.
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The Church’s Tipping Point for Change
Ever since the first shock waves hit the church in the mid 60s, when the yearly anticipated attendance bump that all churches routinely counted on— came to a sudden halt, the religious climate of North America has been changing.
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How a Small Group Out-Missioned a Whole Church
Recently, I have had three pastors convey how unfruitful their church has been evangelistically. One was candid enough to admit that their 120 plus church had not reached even one person with the gospel—all year. The other two scenarios were not much better. When you see inclose what is actually happening (or not happening), the tale that I […]
Continue readingMore TagFaith-Sharing: How Do We Understand the Role of the Spirit?
While posting the Soul Whisperer YouTube series, one routine comment that we have gotten prompted this blog. At times, Christians on Facebook will see our appeal for mission training and reply: “We just need to follow the Spirit.” Let me be quick to affirm that following the Spirit’s lead is a biblical concept and applies to all conversations, and it appears to […]
Continue readingMore TagAslan’s Jesus Revision: My Critical Thoughts
Not to be confused with the God figure of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, Reza Aslan is the author of the 2014 New York Times bestselling book on Jesus called Zealot. Through his revisionist eyes, readers will be led to believe that the New Testament writers with full-hearted intention got the story all wrong. Jesus is […]
Continue readingMore TagFive Perspective Shifts That Win Souls
Blog recipients: To supplement one of our YouTube videos, we linked this chapter from Soul Whisperer. Enjoy! — Chapter 18 — PERSPECTIVE SHIFTS The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see. —WINSTON CHURCHILL I don’t know if this reflects a masochistic desire for pain, or sheer stupidity, but I […]
Continue readingMore TagBe a Picture for God
Paul and the Gospel: There are so many things to learn from God’s chosen “instrument” to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15). What a calling! When God looked down from heaven, it might seem like he chose the wrong guy. Yet we know in God’s infinite wisdom, this was no mistake. God saw in Paul many things that […]
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