Who is Jesus? For the last few years, I have been studying the life and ministry of Jesus in an attempt to more fully answer the question: “Who is Jesus?” My approach has been centered in the text of the four biblical gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. My journey began when I realized that I was, at times, giving answers with great certitude even when such responses were somewhat speculative or lacked adequate gospel foundation. In addition to reading the biblical Read More …
Review of A Multitude of Blessings (#0071)
Campbell, Cynthia M. A Multitude of Blessings: A Christian Approach to Religious Diversity. Westminster John Knox Press, 2007. ISBN:9780664229566. Meet the Author Cynthia Campbell is the President of McCormick Theological Seminary, where she also serves as Cyrus McCormick Professor of Church and Ministry. An ordained Presbyterian pastor, she served many years in pastoral ministry and was among the first women called as Head of Staff at a large Read More …
Review of Changing the Conversation (#0070)
Robinson, Anthony B. Changing the Conversation: A Third Way for Congregations. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008. ISBN: 9780802807595. Meet the Author Anthony Robinson is an ordained United Church of Christ pastor who currently serves as President of Congregational Leadership Northwest. He travels throughout North America as a speaker, teacher, preacher, consultant and coach serving congregations and their leaders. Robinson has taught at several schools Read More …
Review of Life Together in the Way of Jesus (#0069)
Stiver, Dan R. Life Together in the Way of Jesus Christ: An Introduction to Christian Theology. Baylor University Press, 2009. ISBN: 9781602580619. Meet the Author Dan R. Stiver has been Professor of Theology at Logsdon Seminary at Hardin-Simmons University since 1998. Previously, he taught Christian philosophy at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His books include The Philosophy of Religious Language: Sign, Symbol and Story; Theology after Read More …
Review of Mudhouse Sabbath (#0068)
Winner, Lauren F. Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Discipline. Paraclete Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-1-55725-532-7. Meet the Author Lauren F. Winner is Assistant Professor of Christian Spirituality and Duke Divinity School. She is the former book editor for Beliefnet and the author of three books: Girl Meets God, Mudhouse Sabbath, and Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity. She has appeared on PBS's Religion & Ethics Read More …
Dust to Dust (#0067)
About six weeks into a new year is long enough for life to become routine. It is also time to pause and to really hear the words of Genesis 3:19b "you are dust, and to dust you shall return" (NRSV) or "you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt" (The Message). So What? Whether or not you attended an Ash Wednesday service or received ashes, allow the words of Scripture to call you to recognition of the frailty of human life, especially your own. As you recognize your sinfulness, Read More …
The Future Church – Top 10 Changes (#0066)
Looking into the Future: The Top 10 Changes for the American Church Over the last few months I have posted about each of the Top 10 Changes I view as important for the American Church over the next several years. It is my hope that this list will challenge individual disciples, leadership teams, and congregations to think proactively, prayerfully, and strategically about not only what it means to be the church today, but also what changes are needed to be effective in the Read More …
The Future Church – Discipleship (#0065)
The future church is focused on discipleship, not membership. Shown below is a helpful set of comparisons between these two models developed by Michael Foss in Power Surge: Six Marks of Discipleship for a Changing Church. MEMBERSHIP MODEL DISCIPLESHIP MODEL Pay dues Follow the way of Jesus Take care of members Equip disciples for ministry For members only For all God’s people Pastor does the praying Disciples are fervent prayers Bring a guest on occasion Inviting is a way of Read More …
The Future Church – Experiential (#0064)
Looking into the Future: The Top 10 Changes for the American Church 2. Experiential (Doing/Practicing the Faith) The future church knows Christian education is important as an empowering tool, not an end unto itself. Gone are the esoteric classes on matters of intellectual curiosity with little or no connection to living as a disciple of Christ. Christian education, faith formation, discipleship or whatever term you may prefer is a lifelong Read More …
Too Much Misinformation (#0063)
Stetzer, Ed. Chicken Little was Wrong. Christianity Today, January 2010. Meet the Author Ed Stetzer is the President and Missiologist in Residence of LifeWay Research. Ed is a contributing editor for Christianity Today, a columnist for Outreach Magazine and Catalyst Monthly, serves on the advisory council of Sermon Central and Christianity Today's Building Church Leaders, and is frequently cited or interviewed in news outlets such as USA Today and CNN. Additionally, he Read More …