Jesus-Centered?
January 26, 2022
Here’s a peace by Kurt Willems on a topic that I’m passionate about. What does it mean to be a Jesus-centered church? What are the alternatives? … More Jesus-Centered?
Category: Guest Contributors
Under the Gaze of Grace (Scot McKnight)
November 2, 2021
Those of you who read me, knowing that I don’t enter into political discourse very often, may not know Kirsten Powers. I have read her for years because she is what I like most in political commentary: clear-minded, fiercely so at times, yet reasonable and logical. … More Under the Gaze of Grace (Scot McKnight)
Chosen 6 – The Spiritual Toxicity of Fear & Rigidity
October 26, 2021
Rigid traditions create small boxes with well defined borders. Small boxes define a world where some are in (us) and some are out (the outcast). We see this portrayed in this video; we see this in scripture, and, unfortunately, we see this in the world we live in today. … More Chosen 6 – The Spiritual Toxicity of Fear & Rigidity
A Deeper Salvation (Scot McKnight)
October 18, 2021
The reconstructors are fine with salvation if it is deep enough to take root in the whole life, if it is wide enough to embrace all that God is redeeming, and high enough to be genuine religion and spirituality, and low enough to matter when they get in the car to fetch the kids at school. … More A Deeper Salvation (Scot McKnight)
Beyond Deconstructing Faith
October 8, 2021
Many today are deconstructing their faith, the faith of their parents, the faith of their church, the faith of public evangelicalism. I have observed what I will call here three “phases” of this deconstruction. … More Beyond Deconstructing Faith
This Is Water (David Foster Wallace)
September 3, 2021
Two young fish are swimming along when they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes “What the hell is water?” … More This Is Water (David Foster Wallace)
Wise Evangelism
August 17, 2021
What gives is that Paul has a very different notion of evangelism than we modern evangelicals do. Paul is not interested in training his churches on how to initiate gospel conversations with their friends and family, nor is he concerned with teaching them how to present the four spiritual laws to a passerby on the street. Paul’s vision of evangelism does not look like ours. … More Wise Evangelism
Wise Teaching
August 13, 2021
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus drew huge crowds. There was an irresistible enigma to him. He is the ultimate charismatic teacher and leader. What is it about Jesus’ teaching and his style of teaching that was so attractive? … More Wise Teaching
Wise Politics
August 9, 2021
Wise politics are incarnational. World-based politics is inherently divisive. It creates an us-against-them mentality. The very idea of a political party breeds separation. A gospel ethic goes to those with whom they disagree and sacrifices for their well-being. … More Wise Politics
Wise Church Economies
August 5, 2021
Wisdom in general can be defined as “life within limits” and that is true of material possessions as well. The Bible presents another sort of Goldilocks situation when it comes to money—both riches and poverty pose spiritual dangers. But there is a wealth target that is just right. … More Wise Church Economies
Wise Gospeling
August 2, 2021
We live in a consultant and coach crazy world. There is an expert on every corner offering to help you for a small fee. Peter and Paul want to be your gospel coaches, free of charge, but sadly very few will take them up on their offer. … More Wise Gospeling
What Is Wisdom?
July 31, 2021
I’m excited to share a series of chapter summaries by my fellow doctoral graduates from the book we published together called Wise Church: Forming A Wisdom Culture in Your Local Church. Today’s chapter is “What is Wisdom?” … More What Is Wisdom?
Kings Rise and Fall (Skye Jethani)
May 14, 2021
In many parts of the West, Christians find themselves being pushed to the periphery of power and influence after centuries of privilege. Fear, anger, nostalgia, and retaliation are not how Christ’s people are to respond when their circumstances change or their cultural authority is taken away. … More Kings Rise and Fall (Skye Jethani)
Who Is This Man?
April 13, 2021
Don’t follow the disciples’ example in this passage and seek Truth in gossip, rumor and conspiracies. Turn to the source of Truth. Turn to Christ. … More Who Is This Man?
The Day Between
April 3, 2021
What might we be missing when we jump from Good Friday to Easter Sunday? What happened on Holy Saturday? … More The Day Between
This is the Way (Skye Jethani)
March 5, 2021
Dominionism, and the Christian nationalism it has spawned, are antithetical to the cross. It is a false gospel and those who preach it have their minds set on the things of man (fear, power, and control) and not the things of God (faith, hope, and love). … More This is the Way (Skye Jethani)
Pure Thanksgiving (Skye Jethani)
November 26, 2020
Beneath the surface, sometimes even hidden from our own awareness, may lurk a more manipulative intent behind our gratitude. The believer sometimes thinks — If I offer these prayers, if I give these sacrifices, and if I show my gratitude for past blessings, then God will bless me again. … More Pure Thanksgiving (Skye Jethani)
Cultural Intelligence
November 13, 2020
Darrell Bock, in his new book Cultural Intelligence, has put his hand on the table to offer some ideas about how Christians might better engage culture by becoming both more sensitive and by keeping on mission. … More Cultural Intelligence
When the Spirit Builds the Church
November 7, 2020
“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow” (Tozer). … More When the Spirit Builds the Church
Rebuking the Ghost (Jonnie Goodmanson)
October 25, 2020
Jonnie Goodmanson is a Christian teacher, preacher and Holy Yoga guru at our church. She is a powerful voice leading people into a more whole-bodied life of worship. People get set free when she opens her mouth or puts pen to paper. I hope to share more of her thoughts in the future. By Jonnie … More Rebuking the Ghost (Jonnie Goodmanson)
More Than Sin-Avoidance (Skye Jethani)
August 6, 2020
It is not the sins we are tempted to commit that ought to frighten us, but the acts of justice we are never inspired to attempt. … More More Than Sin-Avoidance (Skye Jethani)
What’s in a Name?
June 10, 2020
When someone’s name is taken away, that person is dehumanized. In a very real way, our name is our identity. No one has the right to take it away or change it. … More What’s in a Name?
Quarantine Letters: Illusion of Civility
March 30, 2020
The true mark of Christian love isn’t revealed merely when we have nothing to gain, but precisely when we have everything to lose. … More Quarantine Letters: Illusion of Civility
A Teetering Contraption? (George Will)
March 28, 2020
You are more than “a teetering, fallible contraption, always needing watching and patching, always on the verge of flapping to pieces.” … More A Teetering Contraption? (George Will)
Quarantine Letters: Illusion of Control
March 23, 2020
So much of our growth happens through pain, and that pain comes in two forms. Pain we choose is called a discipline, while pain we do not choose is called a trial. Neither kind should be wasted. … More Quarantine Letters: Illusion of Control
Jeremy Berg 