Another excerpt from Will Willimon’s book “Pastor.” This time preaching as commissioning. “Mission begins with commissioning. Therefore, preaching is an essential part of mission. I suppose that we preachers ought to strive, in every sermon, to have some illustration or example whereby ordinary Christian people could sense God’s vocation. Mission begins in the heart of … More Pastor 11 – Mission & Preaching
Another excerpt from Will Willimon’s book “Pastor.” I began this series many months ago, sharing excerpts from this great book on the vocation of pastor. Now, I’m back reading the book for a class I’m taking in November. -JB “A number of years ago, James MacGregor Burns wrote a classic book on leadership in which … More Pastor 10 – Transformational Leadership
At first glance, Nehemiah’s rebuilding project of the walls of Jerusalem can seem quite…well…unspiritual. Is it all about brick and mortar? Is the purpose strictly practical and militaristic? Are the walls being rebuilt merely to keep the city safe from enemy attack? I think not. The clue to the deeper motivation behind Nehemiah’s project, and … More NEHEMIAH 4: Gateways Into God’s Presence
This is good stuff. <div style=”width:425px” id=”__ss_9805155″> <strong style=”display:block;margin:12px 0 4px”><a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/tallskinnykiwi/resourcing-missional-entrepreneurs” title=”Resourcing Missional Entrepreneurs” target=”_blank”>Resourcing Missional Entrepreneurs</a></strong> <div style=”padding:5px 0 12px”> View more <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/” target=”_blank”>presentations</a> from <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/tallskinnykiwi” target=”_blank”>andrew jones</a> </div> </div>
Scot McKnight hits the nail on the head today. One of the best reminders I’ve had in a long time. Everywhere I go and nearly everyone I read has a theme, whether central or peripheral, and I think the theme is getting too much attention and it’s getting too much play and it’s setting us … More The Cracked Fellowship of Cracked Pots
I found this post at Michael Hyatt’s Intentional Leadership site very fun and insightful. Enjoy! -JB As a book mentor, I’ve read plenty of passionless prose. And as a fellow pilgrim, I’ve listened to many people who shyly look away when I ask them what their passion is. Why is that? I have a hunch that … More Find Your Passion in 3 Steps (by Mary DeMuth)
The Enemy did his best to drown me in doubt last week. In that darkness, I received a text message from a friend with a Bible verse with the perfect message at the perfect time: “Let us not grow weary in doing good. For at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we … More Through the Fog
I’ve been facing some serious spiritual oppression this past week. I’ve been fighting off doubt and discouragement, and trying to hear the Voice of God amidst the distorted cacophony of messages from the Evil One. Seeking a Word from God on how best to lead our MainStreet team forward this fall, I set out on … More A Frog at Midnight
A must read by David Fitch on the future of church planting in a post-Christian America: This is an idea whose time has come. It is easy, simple, saves money, and I think it seeds the mission of God in N America for generations to come: STOP FUNDING TRADITIONAL CHURCH PLANTS and instead fund missionaries … More Church Planting in Post-Christian America (D. Fitch)
Baptism’s No Big Deal, Is It? Jun 07, 2011 by Craig Blomberg at Denver Seminary Blog “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Rom. 6:4 NIV) “I know … More On Baptism (Craig Blomberg)
I’m reposting this DI classic series of posts from a few years ago. Enjoy! As a youth pastor I face a room full of teenagers every Wednesday and try my best to teach them how to travel faithfully the road of Christian discipleship. For the past month, each Tuesday and Thursday evenings have afforded me the … More STUDENT DRIVER 1: This is Not a Game
God loves reluctant leaders and, even better, he loves reluctant leaders who know they are frightened, confused, and broken. In fact, he seems to have a special fondness for rebels and fools. Does God choose troubled leaders because few other people are foolish enough to say yes, or does he choose weak, troubled people because … More QUOTABLES: Dan Allender & the Reluctant Leader
From Relevant Magazine, March 14-16, 2011 1. Are you in danger of neglecting evangelism in your passion for social justice? 2. Are you in danger of abandoning an affirmation of moral and intellectual truth? 3. Will you honor your marriage vows? 4. As you seek to respect the dignity of gay/lesbian people, have you wrestled … More Ron Sider’s Open Letter to Young Christians
I’ve taken many biblical leadership inventories and spiritual gift assessments. Each seem to define the biblical gifts/ ministry offices differently. I enjoyed these definitions from Alan Hirsch’s Forgotten Ways website at http://www.theforgottenways.org. A good book, too. If you are involved in ministry, which of these best describes you? APOSTLES extend the gospel. As the “sent ones,” … More Five-Fold Apostolic Ministry
A recent Christianity Today article made me cry. It’s called “The Pastor’s Speech: How ‘The King’s Speech’ Resonates with this Stuttering Preacher” Why was I so deeply moved by the film The King’s Speech? Yes, I cried during that, too. (And I’m not easily brought to tears at movies — unless its a kids movie … More The Stuttering Preacher
“In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centered on the living Christ. Then the church move to Greece, where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome, where it became and institution. Next, it moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America, where … More QUOTABLES: On Consumer Christianity
I’m reposting this always timely topic. This post was also featured at Jesus Creed last year HERE. We love to throw around the notion of career “calling” and “vocation,” both in the context of Christian ministry and secular career. I believe we’ve becomesloppy in our concept and understanding of “calling.” What we do agree on is … More Discerning God’s Call
Some mysterious Spirit-initiated transformation happened inside me. The transformation was sparked rather suddenly around age 19 when I first began to hear the Living God speaking to me through the sermons of Pastor David Johnson of Church of the Open Door. Notice: I had been hearing sermons my whole life in church. But suddenly I … More Some Thoughts on Preaching
What is the primary task of the disciple of Jesus? When one enrolls in the school of Jesus, or receives the call to give one’s life to following after him, what is the first step? Let’s play fill in the blank. (No cheating or reading ahead for the right answer.) When Jesus chose his twelve … More Enrolled in the School of Jesus (Mark 3:13-15)
Another excerpt from Will Willimon’s book “Pastor.” In this section, Willimon addresses a mindset common among Baby Boomers (and passed down to their children, I might add): “A few years ago, three sociologists, noting the huge decline in memberships being suffered by mainline (now fast becoming the old-line or sidelined) denominations, described what they termed … More Pastor 9 – Baby Boomers’ Bondage to Self
Pastor Steven Furtick challenges new churches to focus on being fishers of men, not keepers of the aquarium. He is the pastor of Elevation Church, one of the most explosive churches in America. After nearly five years, Elevation Church has grown to more than 8,000 in attendance each week at four locations. Since their launch, … More Keepers of the Aquarium (Steven Furtick)
Jeremy Berg 