I'm on Twitter now. Put it off for many months but am enjoying it so far. Some "essential tools," "twitter links," and "benefits." Twitter in plain English.
I've opened an Amazon bookstore for my blog. I'm building up all my recommended books there. When you buy through it I get something back.
Bob Franquiz: 10 things churches could learn from Disney.
Tim Chester: When Gideon gave a seminar on church planting.
Audio/Video of the Multi-Site Exposed conference in Seattle.
Here is what I call The Missional Triad (a tweaked version of this by Joe Thorn and this that Joe and I fleshed out together). Forgive the handwritten sloppiness, but it's what I have for now. It's essentially a missional paradigm for our church to think through what we do and where we do it. The mission is a very central part of the paradigm. (Click the diagram for a larger version.)
If you are familiar with Joe's paradigm the next few points will help you see the changes I've made for my version, as well as explain a few things I thought you might have questions about.
1. The order of the shapes is different. I changed them to a left to right flow for unbelievers and right to left for believers.
2. I've changed the titles of each shape. I have included something of each shape in the name (example: tri-formed discipleship). I can still use "table, pulpit and square" as designations, and have done that, but I felt it helpful to give each a name that is slightly more descriptive. That also allows my "table" to lose the Lord's Supper confusion.
3. The "Circles of Friendship" is fleshed out so that hospitality is seen in three different spheres:
neutral >> semi-private >> to private
It also moves beyond the home into third places (why?).
4. Under Tri-Formed Discipleship I have used "Equipping Ministries" to explain all discipleship, from one-on-one to seminars, short-term classes, membership class, leadership training, etc.
5. Our small groups are transitioning toward being "Missional Communities." These will be more than small groups but less than house churches.
If you want to know something more, let me know. It's basically still the same three shapes, the same basic approach, the same goal of simplicity.
I recently received an email (edited for content below) from a Southern Baptist pastor in downtown Chicago about some very cool opportunities to be a strategic leader in SBC work in downtown Chicago...
Last year we basically wiped the slate clean with staff [at the Chicago Metro Baptist Association] and designed three new full-time roles that we think will help our churches BRING GOOD NEWS to Chicago.
Director of Missional Leadership and Mobilization: This position will help to “develop ministers of the gospel” by equipping current and future pastors.
Director of Evangelism and Church Growth: This position will help to “strengthen local churches” by assisting them in bringing the Good News.
Director of Church Planting: This position will help to “expand the Kingdom of God” by planting new churches.
We advertised and tried to spread the word and got around 150 applications, but none of them have turned out. We really believe that these positions are so strategic that we want to make sure we get the right people here and have no false starts.
Chicago is an alpha class, major global city. Yet as far as a real movement of the gospel goes it’s pretty pathetic here. I really think these positions could potentially play a huge role in reaching our strategic city. Exciting stuff is happening in New York and Seattle and other major cities around the world. Why not Chicago?
I was wondering if you knew anyone for any of these positions that would be good for Chicago and getting a movement started here. They’re full time positions, partly funded by NAMB. But we want to take more initiative in going out and finding the right people. We’re praying like crazy and super excited about the potential.
I know I have some readers out there who would be well equipped for this sort of work. Chicago is a great city with far too few good churches. If you are interested and feel you fit as SBC/missional, email apply@chicagobaptist.com. If you feel your blog readers might be interested, please point them to this post. Thanks.
Quick God Story: My family is still sick, sick, sick. Unbelievable virus we are dealing with. We were all feeling better and now most of us are getting symptoms back. Our youngest now has 103+ temp again. Ugh. But all praise to God for this story. Saturday afternoon my debilitating fever and aches stopped and I had tons of energy Saturday night and plenty for the task this morning. I mean I went from the worst day so far on Saturday morning, and then full of energy and vigor Saturday evening. Then soon after gathered worship today my fever came back as did my aches and terrible cough (I didn't cough once during the sermon). There may be some medical explanation for why I had such a dramatic health hiccup, but I know WHO is getting the credit. I was truly singing this morning, "How Great is Our God."
Speaking of how sick I am, it would really help me turn this frown upside-down if someone would present me something this awesome with Joe Thorn's likeness on it. It would make my year! (HT)
When was the last time you wondered how Michael Foster would approach church planting differently? Exactly. And he promises to elaborate. I'm demanding he gets on it asap.
You need to make your way to the Vintage Jesus Newsroom, where Steve Camp goes for his devotional time.
Poythress, The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses, online free.
PastorHacks is into Jott (and Pinger). I've been using Jott for a while now with great success and productivity. I think Joe Thorn told me about Jott (I had to say that because he will speak harshly to me this week if I don't mention it. I don't like it when Hobbits get mean, especially when I'm sick.).
I may have mentioned this before, but Piper/Bethlehem's accountability stuff is worth checking out.
You should check out Abraham Piper's crazy little experiment of a blog. Alas, he is his father's son. (Only four more words.)
Speaking of numbers, Baptist Reformed types will probably not like Scot McKnight's new article, "The 8 Marks of a Robust Gospel." Why? It's one short. I actually haven't read it yet, but McKnight is always worth reading (even when tragically wrong!). No heckling me please. I'm sick.
Here's Eugene Peterson at the 2007 Writer's Symposium by the Sea (isn't that where George McFly first kissed that chick from Howard the Duck?). The story he tells about Bono is worth the whole thing. (HT)
From page 10 of Tim Keller's Redeemer Church Planters Manual, on Keller's call to plant in NYC...
A great darkness descended on me, because I knew I had no good reason not to [plant in NYC], but I felt totally inadequate for the job. I know that everyone feels inadequate for any ministry, but this was different. I knew that I was as humanly well-equipped as anyone to try this ministry, but I also knew this was well beyond the human abilities of anyone at all. That meant only one thing: it would not be my talent, but my love for, and dependence on, God that would be the critical factor in the project. I felt that my spirituality would be laid bare for all (worst of all, for me) to see. But the opportunity was too ripe and I also knew it was a door that might not be open for even a few more weeks...
I prayed and was reading Gurnall's A Christian in Complete Armour one day and came upon a passage: "It requires more prowess and greatness of spirit to obey God faithfully than to command an army of men; more greatness to be a Christian than a captain." I realized that if was an illusion to imagine that I would have to start being brave if I took this job; I should have been living bravely all along. Even if I turned the NYC church down, I could not go back to being a coward. So I might as well go to New York! On July 1, [1988], I gave Westminster Seminary a year's notice. Immediately, my prayer life broke open like never before. I did not wonder why.
I haven't posted much on evangelism lately, but that should change soon. The main reason is that I'm doing a ton of work on some strategic planning for the next two years (and beyond) at our church. I've had some extra meetings and lots of sketchy ideas and plans that are starting to gel. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll have some things nailed down and can share more about my evangelism plans for the rest of 2008. Some of them are directly tied to our church's plans.
Here are a few books I'm currently reading, rereading, perusing, etc
Promoting the Gospel by John Dickson (info here): To be fair, I haven't gotten past the table of contents. But that's because I just got it in the mail today from Lisa at Narwee Baptist Church in Australia. Thanks Lisa!
unChristian by Kinnaman and Lyons: Used some stats in last Sunday's sermon. Good resource.
Love Walked Among Us by Paul Miller: A book I reread or reskim at least yearly on the compassion of Jesus. You can get it used for about $4 at Amazon. Well worth it.
Redeemer Church Planting Manual by The Godfather (Tim Keller): How can you NOT own this? It's simply outstanding. Been using it a lot for church strategy and planning, but also pulling much on evangelism, ethnographic interviews, etc. I'll be blogging on a few things from the book soon.
Also worthy to note is the short New Church Initiatives (NCI) paper on "The Work of an Evangelist." Check out NCI and their other resources.
I'm curious about the Mulit-Site Exposed Conferences. I'm not a video venue kind of guy, but I'm very open to thinking multi-site if we are growing and it makes sense for our area. Keller's approach is my favorite, with live preaching at all locations.
Finished day 1 of the Acts 29 boot camp in Chicago. Great stuff from Darrin Patrick, Mark Driscoll, and Ed Stetzer. I particularly liked Driscoll's message on preaching. Much of it wasn't new to me as someone who has preached nearly every week for 4 years, but a few of the things he said were really helpful. If the audio gets released I will try to link it.
I noticed that Alex Chediak is now blogging the Global Church Advancement conference. You can keep up at AlexChediak.com or the new GCA blog. Of interest to me are Alex's notes on Daniel Montgomery's "Theology-Driven Churches" workshop and Tom Nebel's talk on "Evangelism Entropy." There are several other GCA posts from Alex you should check out.
iMonk was on Steve Brown Etc. I haven't heard it, but I will. Two guys I always enjoy listening to.
Mark Driscoll - Dwelling in the Text & Dwelling through the Text
Tim Keller - TBD (2 sessions)
Ed Stetzer - Dwelling in the Kingdom & Dwelling in the Mission
CJ Mahaney - Dwelling in the Cross
Darrin Patrick - Dwelling with non-Christians
Conference will also include panel discussion, worship and breakout sessions. Register at www.dwellconference.com.
Next week I'll be attending the Acts 29 Boot Camp in Chicago. It's been a few years since my wife and I first attended a boot camp in Dallas. Now that they are coming to town I'm very excited to go and see some of my Acts 29 friends and continue to grow as a pastor. Drop me an email if you are going to be at the boot camp and want to connect.
Justin Taylor has an interview with Tim Keller about his new book The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. I think this book will be a great resource for skeptical friends, due in February
OnMovements (first posted by Sam Metcalf) let's us know How to Kill a Movement.
Nelson Searcy's assimilation book is now out: Fusion: Turning First Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members of Your Church. Get some free resources from the Fusion Site.
More free Jerram Barrs' resources (audio, pdf) from Monergism. Covenant Seminary stuff.
People are talking about Neil Cole's Organic Church (which just came from Amazon today). Tim Chester has a thought-provoking post, Seven Principles for Planting Organic Churches. Chester has another great quote on making new believers evangelists and church planters. Church Planting Novice explains How to Grow a Missional Church.
SUBURBIA: Watch some James Howard Kunstler on YouTube. He is often very helpful on issues of suburbia.
Glocalnet (Bob Roberts' ministry) is putting on a conference in February. If I were anywhere near the area I would make the effort to be there, not only because I think Roberts is an important missional leader, but because the other main speaker is Matt Chandler. Here's some info, but find all of it at Glocalnet.
What is it?
Glocalnet, in partnership with Glocal Ventures, Inc. and Vision360 DFW, trains Church Planters, Senior Pastors, Mission Pastors, and Business Leaders how to instill a Kingdom mindset in those whom they lead. Turbo Training combine the best of Glocalnet’s Church Planter Training and Glocal Ventures’ Global Engagement training in a two-day intensive.
Who is it for?
Turbos are specifically designed to train Church Planters first and foremost. However, Pastors of existing churches and business leaders have discovered the benefits of the Turbos.
What are the benefits?
Church Planters: Starting your church with a missional DNA that focuses your people not just on their neighborhoods and cities, but their state, their nation, and other nations around the world. (Acts 1:8)
Pastors: Tired of urging your people to get out of their seats and do something, only to have them stare at you like a deer in headlights? Turbos will equip and excite you to move your people forward into their “glocal” community!
Business Leaders: God called you to use your business to make a Kingdom impact. We live in a flat world today. With technology and communications making huge strides, there is no reason why you should not be engaging societies around the world with your vocation. We’ll teach you how!
Ugh. What the crap is going on among Missouri Baptist leaders? The Executive Board of the MBC has voted to block funding for Acts 29 church plants, according to Scott Lamb. Brilliant. Anyone who would block funding for a church plant that looked like Darrin Patrick's gospel-centered and biblically-faithful Journey Church in St. Louis isn't biblically-faithful. It's really that simple.
By the way, at the Acts 29 Boot Camp for church planters in Chicago next month there are three Southern Baptist speakers: Darrin Patrick, Ed Stetzer, and Mark Dever.
Al Mohler is writing about how more and more hotels are not putting Gideon's Bibles in their drawers (BP picked it up). While I like the idea of knowing that it's there for those who need it, I think Mohler overstates his case...
...there will be no Bibles available in those hotel rooms when travelers need them, and that is a tragedy by any measure.
A "tragedy?" 9/11 was a tragedy. Pearl Harbor was a tragedy (the awful event we remember today AND the movie). Abortion is a tragedy. The Bears are a tragedy. Some hotels not carrying Bibles? Not so much. Sure it means culture is changing. Sure it means that some travelers who may have picked it up won't have it readily available. But where was that ever the main ministry to people staying in hotels anyway? It was a bonus that a few people are now eliminating. People are the front line of ministry, not books.
Ben Arment is encouraging us to strip. He's also continuing to reveal a killer conference line-up for the Whiteboard Sessions.
Dever and Ferguson lectures on preaching.
CNN interview with Gabe Lyons...
Ariel Vanderhorst interviews church planter Hunter Beaumont (dude I met at Reform & Resurge Conference in Seattle).
Publishers Weekly reviews Tim Keller's The Reason for God.
Joe Thorn on Leadership Development, Suburban Evangelism, and his new laptop.
I've started a new resource page called Mission to Suburbia (notice a link near the top of the left sidebar of my blog). There isn't much there yet, but I wanted to mention it to you all and ask for your help in finding missional, theological, statistical resources (books, articles, blogs, posts, etc) that will help those of us who are striving to bring the Gospel to the suburbs/exurbs. I hope Mission to Suburbia will be a handy tool for pastors, planters, churches and Christians who
Click the email link on my sidebar to email me info or links. I'd rather not receive links in comments. Thanks!
At the Reform & Resurge conference (2006) at Mars Hill in Seattle Tim Keller gave a talk on "Being the Church in Our Culture." Now the article, "Being the Church in Our Culture," that Keller gave to conference attendees is online. Check it out.
CT talks Glocal with Bob Roberts
Tentmaker Group looks promising
I heard an interview with Eric Maisel on the Writers on Writing podcast (see Pen on Fire). A couple of interesting thoughts on creativity. Here's Maisel's site.
Simpsonize yourself. Here's what Jonathan Edwards would look like on the Simpsons.
Two new fantastic movies: The Bourne Ultimatum & Sunshine
The Gospel Coalition website (which has gone from a little helpful toward really helpful in a short period of time) has a number of short video interviews (linkable) with key players: Don Carson, John Piper, Mark Driscoll, and yes, Tim Keller. As you could have guessed, I'm linking the Keller (and Carson/Keller) ones here for you. To see them more quickly, just go to the interviews page and scroll to them. And don't forget to visit my Tim Keller Resources page.
I don't get into church lists very much. Seem to me to be mostly a waste of energy. But since I'm a Kellerophile I figured I should mention that Redeemer Pres in NYC has been named the #1 on the Top 25 Multiplying Churches in America list by Outreach Magazine. In other news, my local church didn't make the list.
Scott Thomas, Acts 29 Network Director, on the "Seven Misrepresentations of Acts 29."
Here's Joe Thorn's post on our trip so far...
Steve and I have come down to Louisville to meet with friends and dialog about church planting and church planting networks. I have benefited from our denomination, and believe our church will remain Southern Baptist as long as doctrinal integrity and healthy cooperation remain in play. While I can imagine both of these things disappearing in 10-20 years, I like to think we will only grow healthier. Time will tell. NAMB is a great way to plant a church (we planted Grace via NAMB), but the alternative networks (Acts 29, Sovereign Grace, etc.) are producing great results as well. I really want our church to both partner with others in the planting of healthy churches and to be directly involved in planting as much as possible. This is why we are here. This and the Scotch Eggs at the Irish Rover. I’ll share more as I can.
I just want to add that ear X-tacy adds a lot to the trip. Hitting it tomorrow.
It just kills me how hard some folks (can anyone say Missouri Baptist Convention?) are trying to distance themselves from the "emerging" Acts 29 organization and Mark Driscoll. Driscoll is all pomo and truth has no meaning for him.
Then in Bizarro world Bill Hybels (a pastor of a moderately influential, smallish church in suburban Chicago) has poked him publicly for his fundamentalism after viewing Driscoll on video at the National New Church Conference. He basically didn't like Driscoll's male-centered approach to church planting and let that be known from the platform. That resulted in Acts 29 eating thousands of Driscoll's videos because the conference decided not to hand them out as originally planned.
From Driscoll on the Resurgence website...
Last year I spoke at a large church planting event along with a number of other church planters and church planting movement leaders. The event was held in Florida, went well, and did a very encouraging job of bringing together a number of denominations, networks, and organizations that otherwise would not have benefited from such a partnership.
This year I was invited back but declined because the few-day round trip from Seattle to Florida to give a very short message (last year it was less than twenty minutes) seemed like too much in light of other responsibilities. So, the sponsors of the event asked me to instead put together an eight-minute video on church planting that could be shown at the event and then handed out to each of the 1,500 attendees. So, in an effort to be helpful, the video crew from Mars Hill Church and I spent half a day in freezing weather at a military cemetery shooting scenes that were then edited for the video. Apparently the video was shown at the event, was well received by the attendees, and then criticized by Bill Hybels from the stage because it did not speak of women church planters. And, not wanting a bigger fuss, the organization hosting the event then made a decision not to hand out the video as they had promised, leaving the guys from our Acts 29 Church Planting Network who had hauled suitcases of the videos to Florida with thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of wasted effort. The leaders of the event are good guys whom I still consider friends, and I've never met Bill Hybels so I won't speak about him personally. But, I thought we should at least post the banned video online, so here it is:
The “Theology Committee” of the Missouri Baptist Convention have released a statement today that, in effect, separates the MBC from ever working in partnership with Acts 29 and their organization of church planters again.
And this is despite the new and shocking evidence that Mark Driscoll has become a flaming fundamentalist. Yes, that is a suit.
I first heard through Charlie Pharis that Tim Keller (Tim Keller Resources) has an article in the Cutting Edge, a Vineyard church planting publication, but it wasn't online. Now it is. Read Keller's article on "Our New Global Culture: Ministry in Major City-Centers." Looks like some other good articles there too, and Cawley has a list of Keller's points.
I'm starting a new occasional post called "Reasons Why I Hate Us." These posts will be about why I'm frustrated with the SBC and are geared to get us to think about what needs to change. This is not about complaining but looking toward a better future. And yes, "hate" is a strong word, but since I'm talking about "us" and not "them" I feel I can use a bit of harshness fairly.
As a first installment I offer an email from someone I've gotten to know over the last year. I often get emails from people who read my blog and want to discuss some aspect of the SBC with me. Too often they are frustrated with being in the SBC or trying to get in the SBC. Here's an example of a guy who looked at the SBC as a place where he might be able to serve and was frustrated with how he was treated. Yes, I know that our churches are autonomous and people can merely have bad experiences with some churches. But I think this is a pretty common experience with the SBC and have gotten several emails like this.
The following has been edited by me with permission of the emailer.
_____
Hey Steve,
I've read that you're at a Southern Baptist Identity conference. The last couple weeks have been interesting to me, and I thought I'd share my experience with you to: 1. get your thoughts, and 2. maybe add some perspective of the Southern Baptist identity from someone who is not one.
I've been looking for pastoral ministry positions over the last couple weeks. My family is heading back to the Northwest soon and we are thinking seriously about planting a church or replanting in the _____ area. As you may remember, I spent time as an associate pastor of a fairly large church in ______ before deciding I wanted to be a lead pastor so we moved to another state to finish my MA and now we're heading back. I have some leads already, and I was actually offered a job at a big church as an associate, but because I wanted to either plant or replant a church, I thought about looking into the Southern Baptist movement (esp. since I was impressed with Ed Stetzer when I was at The Resurgence and the NAMB's focus on missional church planting). To make a long story short, I've sent resumes to a couple different SBC churches and one church that was looking for a church planter for the ______ area (either of which I was really interested in). However, these churches responded to me and said the same thing, "You're not a Southern Baptist, so we don't really think you'd be a good fit." I have to admit, I was floored. Since I have never been affiliated with any denomination maybe this isn't news to you to hear this, but I was actually expressing interest in being involved in the SBC, I'm from the NW and I understand its ethos and people, I have years of experience as a pastor in ______ and therefore I am really well connected to other churches in the ______ area and with many other pastors who are friends, and I'm well educated (Bible college, seminary and graduate school!). This is basically the formula for a successful missional church plant. I have to be fair, though. The church plant that said we don't want you is actually sending my resume onto the NW SBC headquarters because they do think I "might make a good fit somewhere." So they are not necessarily done talking to me, but I kind of feel like a wheel in the cog.
So, what is the reason I'm telling you this? I'm definitely not looking for sympathy or for you to help me find a job because I wouldn't have made anything of it if these churches had said to me, "We don't want you because we want a guy with more experience" or something. Besides, I'm certain I'll find a church. But, I'm writing because I've been turned away because I'm not "one of you;" and you're one of the only Southern Baptists I know. You wrote on your blog, "The only thing missing, in my opinion, were thoughts on networking beyond the denomination. I think post-denominational networks are crucial, not just for the sake of the mission, but also for the sake of the denomination. We will be healthier, stronger, more missional when we stop thinking we are the self-sustained force of the Great Commission." I have personally experienced what you wrote, and honestly I find it really sad.
I asked to hang out with you and Joe once because I wanted to ask you questions about the denomination. We didn't spend a whole lot of time talking about it, but I think I walked away with more confusion about what the SBC is about than ever. Between the alcohol prohibitions (even though I don't even drink) and now this focus on "inbreeding" (!), I have to admit that it SEEMS like the SBC is more concerned with the denomination than with Jesus and reaching the world. Obviously, I know this is not true, but I feel like I'm a Gentile and we play for the same team. It's got to look worse from those who are not church-goers.
Seriously, do you really have to go to a SB Seminary to be a SB pastor? I appreciate you and I know you love the SBC and I'm certain there are great things to love about it. But I'm wondering if the denomination has gone on an adventure in missing the point? Where is the focus on finding gifted and qualified people who LOVE an area and commissioning them to minister there instead of finding someone who doesn't know the area, but is SB, and transplanting them there? I know I'm not the only one who has experienced this, as I have a friend who has recently felt the same walls (and he's trying to be a youth pastor).
I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts. I did not write my comment on your blog because again, I do not want to be decisive. But I have to admit, my latest experiences have really turned me away from wanting to be involved in the SBC. Can/Should this be the reality?
_____
No, this should not be the reality. But we are too often about the SBC brand than anything else.
There are many in the SBC working in another direction that includes a love for the best of the SBC and a humble understanding of our common mission with other Christians and churches. Ed Stetzer is a great example. He is a key leader at NAMB yet he works with the Acts 29 Network. I know a number of other SBC'rs who are involved with other networks, and I think they are the best example of how our churches should think.
I pray that the SBC would embrace a vision of the future that would be less about SBC pedigree and more about the mission.
Ed Stetzer interviews Mark Driscoll for the Exponential Conference (National New Church Conference) podcast. Want to know more about "the cussing pastor?" Want to know more about Driscoll's church, prayer life, struggles with sin, history with Emergent guys, or preaching? This is a great way to find out from the horse's mouth instead of the latest blog gossip. Great info. Very encouraging.
Grab it at the Exponential site, or on iTunes. The whole series of podcasts has been helpful.
Wow. Very interesting article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about The Journey Church in St. Louis and their pastor, Darrin Patrick. It's called, ahem, "Beer and the Bible." Darrin is a friend and someone who I think is doing an unbelievable job pastoring. They are associated with the SBC as well as Acts29 (Picture credits to the StLP-D).
It seems, according to the article, that there are some frustrations in the Missouri Baptist Convention because they loaned The Journey money to buy a building and then found out some at The Journey drink (like Jesus). The Journey has a regular theology event called Theology at the Bottleworks where they discuss all sorts of issues, and yes, some drink a beer there.
Theology at the Bottleworks is run by a wildly successful congregation of young St. Louisans called The Journey. The Schlafly program is part of the church's outreach ministry. And it works.
Every month dozens show up at the brewpub to drink beer and talk about issues ranging from racism in St. Louis to modern art controversies to the debate about embryonic stem cell research. First-timers are invited to check out the church on Sunday, and Journey leaders say many have. Theology at the Bottleworks is just one of The Journey's ministries, but it has helped the church grow from 30 members in late 2002 to 1,300 today.
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