I’m reading a great book by David T. Olson, a church planting guru for the Evangelical Covenant Church, called “The American Church In Crisis.” Here’s an excerpt providing some perspective the older generation needs to wrestle with as we explore how the church can effectively engage 21st century America and reach the emerging generation with the … More Younger Christians’ Perspective
A great conversation is happening at the Internet Monk this week around Skye Jethani’s blog post on the transient nature of Moses’ mountain top encounters with God and our churches’ dependence on external experience in worship. Moses met with God on the mountaintop and the encounter made his face shine. Coming down the mountain, Moses … More “The Fading Glow of External Experience” (iMonk)
We’re living in exciting times. A shift in our understanding of church models is reframing everything and opening our eyes to ways of better embodying the gospel and reaching those outside our sanctuary walls with the love and salvation in Christ. I’m excited to read Reggie McNeal’s “Missional Renaissance.” I have had it recommended twice … More “Missional Renaissance” by Reggie McNeal
Just having some fun!
Tim Morey pulled these excerpts from a Dallas Willard interview at Out Of Ur. I, too, have been listening to a series of lectures by Dallas myself this past week. He’s been an enormous influence in my life and a magnificent gift to the 21st century church. As a 30-year old visionary leader who often … More Dallas Willard: A Gentle Prophet
I was blessed to have met a new friend in Nashville recently at a church planting assessment center. Tim Morey is a humble, thoughtful pastor and leader with keen insights into what it looks like for the church to reach the 21st century culture. He is a church planting pastor and the author of “Embodying … More Tim Morey and the Dechurched
I’ve been reading Neil Cole’s book “Organic Church” recently. I love his passion and ideals. But his optimism and idealism should be balanced with other voices who’ve learned their own lessons while “digging in the dirt” of organic church leadership. Here’s a great article for organic church planters and leaders from Leadership Journal by Brian … More A Lesson for Organic Church Leaders
I wonder what you think about Donald Miller’s post below. Thoughts? A couple times at a church I’m familiar with, here in Portland, the lead pastor, has very kindly asked people to leave. I remember a specific time he just stood up and asked how many people had been coming to church for a year … More Asking People to Leave Church (Miller)
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby … More Adventures in Mark 3 (1:35-39)
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4) I suspect Jesus wouldn’t last long in churches today before being fired for “irresponsible” leadership. What pastor in his right … More Leaving 99 to find 1
I just discovered that one of my previous articles was picked up and published at Youthworker.com recently under the title “Feeling Inadequate: Encouraging Words for Self-Doubt.” You can check it out HERE if you would like.
Keri and I had the wonderful opportunity to fly to Nashville and participate in an intense church leadership assessment process with some 13 other couples. For four days we were observed, went through several interviews, had some sessions with a therapist exploring our marital and emotional health, participated in a number of case studies where … More Seeking God in Nashville
Martin Luff pointed me to the Tall Skinny Kiwi’s good thoughts in response to this video where John Piper comments on the ‘Emerging Church.’ Check out the video and then read this response. What are your thoughts?
Michael Patton of Reclaiming the Mind runs the Credo House of Theology, a theology hub and coffee house in Oklahoma. I have to say that this would be a dream job for me someday. Anyone up for for some coffee, community and some conversation about the things that matter most in life? Keri makes some … More Living the Dream
I have a love-hate relationship with personal assessments. I love self-discovery and hold the ancient motto of Socrates in high regard: “Know thyself” and “The unexamined life is not worth living.” I’ve done the Myers-Briggs, StrengthsFinder, Spiritual Gifts inventory, EQ assessments, and currently doing some church planter assessments. Here’s my main frustration and source of … More Limitations of Personal Assessments
Check out A Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola. Then listen to an interview with them from the Steve Brown Etc radio broadcast HERE. Christians have made the gospel about so many things … things other than Christ. Jesus Christ is the gravitational pull that brings everything together and gives them significance, reality, … More A Jesus Manifesto for the 21st Century (by Sweet & Viola)
Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed is exploring Christian Smith’s new book: Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults. What do emerging adults think of religion? This next chp in Smith and Snell discovered in their fantastic new book: Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults will be of use to all … More Today’s Emerging Adults 2
Pastor Ed Young knows how to grab your attention! Out Of Ur blog introduces Ed Young and his video saying: “Ed Young Jr., the eccentric pastor from Fellowship Church in Dallas (remember the “7 Day Sex Challenge” sermon he preached from a bed rather than a pulpit?), is reaching out to other pastors with a … More VIDEO: Pastor Ed Young Raps – U.B.U.
Here’s an overview of “From Followers to Leaders: The Path of Leadership Development in the Local Church” by Robert E. Logan and Tara Miller, ChurchSmart Resources) I found HERE. A recent survey of churches asked the question, “What is your greatest need as a church?” Can you guess what the number one answer was? LEADERSHIP … More Myths & Realities of Leadership Development
Many, MANY of us can related to the words and general sentiment of Jeremy Bouma in a recent farewell address to the emergent movement. Jeremy Bouma is leaving the Emergent movement/conversation and “taking them to task” in the upcoming weeks. This is a worth a read. (Thanks for sending this my way Peter.) For those … More “Taking Emergent Church Theology To Task”
Have you read “Organic Church” by Neil Cole? I’m about to. I’ve read all the buzz about this revolutionary movement of dissatisfied Jesus-f0llowers who dream of paving new inroads into a culture that has grown disinterested in the church-as-usual. I am one of them. I’ve been part of sparking this kind of missional Christianity in … More “Organic Church” by Neil Cole
Michael Patton has a thoughtful read on the unique demands of ministry and the need to sometimes call in to work “spiritually sick.” I invite you to check it out below. What do you think? Calling in “Spiritually Sick” to Work Today by Michael Patton at Parchment & Pen.
One of my good friends in youth ministry, Paul Baudhuin at St. Croix Valley United Methodist Church, has an outstanding vision and purpose set out for his youth group. I can’t help but share it. While many students often only see what’s on the surface level of the “youth group experience” — the fun and … More More Than ‘Youth Group’
Mark Galli, senior editor for Christianity Today, recently wrote an excellent piece called “Long Live Organic Church: But What Happens If We Don’t Transform the World?” This is a must-read article for all who dream of a more effective church for the next generation. Are you dissatisfied with church as usual? Are you tired of … More A Must-Read Article for Church Leaders
Jeremy Berg 