In light of some recent attacks on us and on our leadership, we wanted to “set the record straight” about a few misrepresentations about Acts 29. This is lengthy for a blog, but it is necessary for contextual clarity—something our critics don’t always practice. Read More
Category: Church Planting
A godly leader must make great sacrifices to begin a new work. Starting a family comes at a great expense. Starting a business comes at a great expense and starting a church or ministry will only come at a great expense to the leader. Nehemiah led the Jewish people to rebuild the broken walls around Jerusalem. He secured financing and time off (12 years) from King Artaxerxes to lead the people to reverse the desecration they were experiencing since their return from the exile. After fighting the initial opposition by outsiders, Nehemiah addressed the oppression by insiders. God's people at that time experienced financial hardship due to high taxation and famine. Furthermore, the unrighteous rich were taking advantage of the righteous poor by charging high interest rates on loans and then taking their fields, vineyards, houses and even children as slaves when they defaulted on their debts. Even Nehemiah had succumbed to the temptation to increase his own wealth through unjust means. Read More
Category: Leadership
Missional-Is that a Real Word? - A church that is not missional is not really a church. A church exists by mission as the sun exists by burning. When the sun loses its burn it ceases to be the sun. When a church loses its mission, it ceases to be a church. Missional is an adjective describing all of the activities of the church body as they are brought under the mission of God (missio dei) to proclaim the good news of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. Being on mission very easily becomes one activity in church among many others vying for attention. Over time churches allow meetings, programs, traditions and other good things to cumulatively move the church from missional mode to maintenance mode. A church must continuously see itself as missionaries and all of its energies must be missionary. Read More
Category: Church Planting