Father, in the name of Jesus, we lift up MainStreet to You and pray a hedge of protection around them. We thank You, Father, that You are a wall of fire round about MainStreet and that you set Your angels round about them. We thank You, Father, that MainStreet dwells in the secret place of … More A Prayer of Protection
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:2). Two words of enormous weight and depth so easily slip off our tongue as we hurry past Paul’s characteristic greeting: grace and peace. But let’s pause to consider them for a moment. In all his letters, these are the two … More EPHESIANS 3: Grace and Peace (1:2)
Jen Floyd Engel’s article at FoxSports.com on Tebow is worthy of consideration: What if Tim Tebow were a Muslim? Imagine for a second, the Denver Broncosquarterback is a devout follower of Islam, sincere and principled in his beliefs and thus bowed toward Mecca to celebrate touchdowns. Now imagine if Detroit Lionsplayers Stephen Tulloch and Tony Schefflermockingly bowed toward Mecca, too, after tackling … More The Tebow Factor
We’re beginning a 4-part series on spiritual warfare in preparation for breaking new ground at MainStreet in the New Year. Join us at the MainStreet Huddle this Sunday at 5PM as we explore Chip Ingram’s “Invisible War” series together.
Today Will Willimon, in his book “Pastor”, gives us Anthony Robinson’s helpful list of time-tested wisdom for leadership decision-making. 1. Give responsibility back. When a layperson says, “Somebody ought to be doing this,” as a pastor, you might respond saying, “That sounds like just the thing God may be calling you to do.” 2. Expect … More Pastor 12 – Ten Rules of Leadership
“Ten years ago the USA had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope, and Johnny Cash. Now they have no Jobs, no Hope, and no Cash.”
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
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus” (1:1). When we surrender our lives to God and begin our new life with Christ, we receive a new address. Regardless of our earthly residence — whether Ephesus or Minneapolis — we’re given a new … More EPHESIANS 2: A New Address (1:1)
Scot McKnight recently delivered 4 watershed lectures for many of us misplaced Evangelicals who want to take back the big tent Evangelicalism of the Billy Graham and John Stott era from those trying to narrow down Evangelicalism into their much narrower theological categories. I’m speaking primarily of the so-called “young, restless Reformed”, the Gospel Coalition, … More Parchman Lectures on Evangelicalism by Scot McKnight
I want to commend David Mathis’ challenge to Christians as we approach Halloween this year. Thanks, Nancy, for sending me this. What if a crisp October wind blew through “the way we’ve always done things” at Halloween? What if the Spirit stirred in us a new perspective on October 31? What if dads led their … More ‘Halloween on Mission’ (David Mathis)
Every year around Halloween, I like to explore the topic of spiritual warfare — you know, angels, demons and the cosmic forces of evil. Here are some of the posts on this topic from the past. Today I want to share Greg Boyd’s basic articulation of what he calls a “Warfare Worldview” — that is, … More God vs. Satan: The Warfare Worldview (G. Boyd)
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
“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can … More NEHEMIAH 5: Overcoming Verbal Assaults by Faith
A few years back I was able to blog through the entire Letter to the Philippians, which was a long and arduous journey. But rich and rewarding too. I hope to do the same with the Letter to the Ephesians. Let me start with Klyne Snodgrass’s introductory words in his commentary on Ephesians to whet … More EPHESIANS 1: Introduction
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
Time to ask that question that divides Christians almost right down the middle: Should Christians have any participation in Halloween activities? Ben Witherington adds some thoughts on the matter. His post begins as follows: Ghosts and Goblins, tricks and treats, houses of horror and costumed heroes and villains. Should Christians have anything to do with … More Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
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>
I’m reposting an oldie but goodie from several years back. -JB These days, teachers in the news facing charges of “corrupting the youth” are usually repeat sex offenders. But did you know that the great philosopher, Socrates (469-399 B. C.), was also charged, convicted and ultimately executed for “corrupting the youth”? Socrates’ mode of “corruption” … More Socrates & I: Corrupting the Youth
“Christ is the head; the Church is the body. The head must have a body through which it can work. The Church is quite literally hands to do Christ’s work, feet to run upon his errands, a voice to speak his words. . . . Just a the ideas of the mind cannot become effective … More QUOTABLES: Barclay on the Church’s Tremendous Task
Peter’s VIKINGS SHIRT is his first lesson on PERSEVERANCE, the belief in MIRACLES and RESURRECTION from the dead.
I admit, I have a special place for ministering to and with college aged / young adults. One of the greatest blessings of planting a new church in Mound is that we have Crown College, an evangelical Christian school just a few miles away. Last fall we had a few outstanding students get involved with … More Next Generation Leaders
At first glance, Nehemiah chapter 3 is a monotonous list of random people doing seemingly mundane tasks (e.g., “So and so repaired such and such gate, putting in the doors and hinges…”). Yet, digging deeper we find a beautiful picture of an entire community — local families, business owners, religious leaders, neighborhoods — all uniting … More NEHEMIAH 3: More than Monotonous
Thanks to Tammi for passing this along to me on a day I needed to be reminded. -JB My Beloved Child, I am writing you today to let you know I am thinking of you. Actually, I am always thinking of you, because you are the apple of my eye. I created you unique and special. There has … More My Beloved Child (Source Unknown)
