Preachers, Church Leaders, Ministers, Family Ministers: We just finished a four-day Marriage Matters conference with Jerry and Lynn Jones. This is a hard-hitting, enjoyable, relationship-building, faith-building conference. More information? www.marriagematters.ws. You’ll be glad you checked it out!
Monthly Archives: September 2011
What is the Christian life about?
It is about God. It is about recognizing God for who he is, both in his creative power and his nature (character). It is about seeing God as he reveals himself to us. It is about respect for God based on who he is–his nature and character. It is about Jesus. It is about understanding …
Missional Outreach: Evangelism in the Latin American Churches
Yesterday I wrote about leadership development using the phrase: “missional inreach.” The phrase may sound strange to our ears, because it connects missional with internal church dynamics. I believe there is a sense in which missional outreach efforts begin with and are based on effective missional inreach efforts. The church which honors God’s purpose and …
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Missional Inreach: Leadership for Latin American Churches
For the last several years, my heart has been burdened by the need for biblical leadership and biblical church organization in Latin America. In 2002 when I taught an adjunct course at Baxter Institute on the subject of Church Development and Administration, effective biblical leadership was a key component. I presented a guest seminar at …
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A Big Step Toward Becoming a Missional Church–Congratulations!
Last week, the Main and Oklahoma church was able to pay off their mortgage on the Family Life Annex, eliminating a major budget expense of the past almost 20 years. I remember that when I first worked with the church about 10 years ago, the church was paying about $1000/week (yes, week!) on the mortgage. …
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On Leadership: A Quote from Stuart Briscoe
“Leadership is largely a catalyst for what happens in a corporate body. Studies done in churches in different parts of the world have found that while many churches approach their ministry in different ways and have different emphases, a church that is vital and virile, and achieving that which it appears God has called it …
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It’s Sunday Again: The Communion We Share….
For me, Sundays provide time for reflection. What is the nature of the fellowship Christians share? What does it mean that we assemble, that in fact the Greek word for church can also be translated assembly when referring to secular meetings? Is assembly something we do or something we are? How do the shared activities …
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Reporting In: Colombia
The trip to Colombia was intense, busy, and tiring. The 11-day trip included nine days in Colombia (seven full days plus partial days at the beginning and end of the trip). Roberto and I preached every night for seven consecutive nights, visiting four different congregations. The people are hungering and thirsting for the word of …
Leadership Training in Latin America
The next two weeks will be devoted to Latin American Leadership Training. One can hardly overstate the case. A church that appointed elders within the last year has been instrumental in three new church plants since that time. Churches that are self-governing more easily become self-sustaining and self-supporting, both financially and with regard to the …
It’s Sunday Again: Sunday Morning Reflections on the Lord’s Day
It’s Sunday again–no preaching nor teaching obligation today. Early this morning the breeze on the back patio feels cooler than normal–a welcome harbinger of summer’s almost end. Another Lord’s Day–this must make over 3000. I suspect that I have preached on at least 2000 of them. The opportunity to arise and celebrate God’s presence and …
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