Reformissionary

Intentional Suburbanites

Will Samson has posted someone's "Ten Ideas for Living Intentionally in the Suburbs" (HT: Hamo). Helpful stuff.  Also will take this chance to say that Will's new book, Justice in the Burbs, is out now.  Haven't picked it up yet, but will when I get the chance.  Here's Will's post.

Ten Ways to be the People of God in Suburbia
by Chris Smith

In response, to Brian McLaren’s call for urban churches at the Mayhem gathering last weekend [in Cincinnati], my friend Mike Bishop has been stirring up some conversation on "suburban ministry." Here's my response to that conversation, ten ways for those called to suburban ministry to be in the people of God in radical ways in suburbia. This list is meant for people to chew on and not all of its points may be applicable for all suburban missional church communities.

1) Live with others from your church community

Whether you share your home with another person or family, or whether you have several families that have homes in close proximity or both, sharing life together is perhaps the most powerful (i.e., going against the grain of suburban culture) way to be the body of Christ in suburbia. If you can't live together, at least find a way to share resources (power tools, lawn mowers, children's clothes/toys, etc).

2) Work Less!

One of the major powers that enslaves suburbia is the idolization of the career. There are many ways to pay the bills that do not involve a 9-5 job, and even within a 9-5 job, there are ways to work less (turning down promotions, taking unpaid leave, etc.) Working less will free you to serve your church community, your family, your neighbors, etc. It will also spur creativity: finding a solution for working less, finding a way to "make ends meet" financially, etc.

3) Throw out the television

Another (and perhaps larger power) that enslaves suburbia is consumerism. You'll be amazed at how your desire for things ebbs as you take the TV out of the picture. If you can't bring yourself to kill the television, at least take steps to lessen its influence (get rid of cable, only use it for movies, put it on a cart that can be wheeled in and out of a closet, etc.) Throwing out the television will also stimulate your creativity.

4) Drive less

Suburban culture is also enslaved to the automobile. Find ways to loosen those bonds (much more difficult in suburbia than in urban areas). Share a vehicle with others in your church community (much easier if you are doing #1 above). Invest in a good bicycle. Walk. There was a segment on "60 minutes" a few weeks ago about how much we miss when we zip around in automobiles. Walking and/or biking will help you be more attentive to your surroundings

5) Have a garden / grow food

Suburban life is often very shut off from the food cycle (Food comes from the grocery store, of course!). Homegrown food is more healthy, it gives you a good excuse to be outside (see #7 below), and it provides you with a resource to share generously with your church community and your neighbors. Phil Kenneson outlines a number of horticultural lessons for the people of God in his intro to LIFE ON THE VINE that are additional benefits of this practice.

6) Get to know your neighbors / listen for their needs

To be human is to be poor. Or in other words, everyone has needs. The challenge of suburbia is that there are many more ways to conceal that poverty, and similarly that it will take more effort to get into a position where a neighbor can reveal their needs. Be intentional about building relationships. Share meals, play poker, have block parties, whatever it takes.

7) Be outside as much as possible.

Another temptation of suburbia - fueled by individualism - is that of the house as an impenetrable fortress. Dissolve this temptation by eating, playing, relaxing outside. This practice is also one avenue to interact with your neighbors.

8) Do not fence in your yard

All apologies to Robert Frost, but fences do not make good neighbors, and in fact they often keep us from making good human neighbors. This is a corollary to #7, the fence is a major component of the impenetrable fortress syndrome; it protects our privacy and keeps out our "evil" neighbors. It often is a statement of distrust. If you must have a fence (to corral a dog for instance) make it as low and as permeable (i.e., not blocking off the view) as you can get away with.

9) Take a stand against the greed of mega-corporations

Whenever possible, resist buying from domineering mega-corporations (e.g., Wal-mart, McDonalds, Starbucks, and others). These corporations destroy local economies and have little or no concern for the environment. Buy as much as you can from businesses that are as local as possible (family-owned businesses are preferable to local chains, local chains are preferable to regional chains, and regional chains are preferable to global corporations.)

10) Utilize and support non-commercial public spaces (parks, libraries, colleges, etc.)

This point is another corollary of #7 above. We must utilize and show our support for these public spaces, lest they be conquered by the powers of individualism (by becoming private property) or by consumerism (by becoming commercial or industrial property). This is also a wonderful way to foster relationships with our neighbors.

Dan Cruver & Adoption

I wanted to send a quick shout out about Dan Cruver of Eucatastrophe, who has recently started working with Carolina Hope Christian Adoption Agency.  I first got to know Dan about a year and a half ago.  He emailed me about some Keller stuff and we have kept up on each other's blogs ever since. 

My wife and I have considered adopting in the past, and we may revisit that idea again someday.  It's good to know guys like Dan are working to bring small "r" redemption to little ones around the world.  He writes on his blog...

My responsibilities are (1) networking with pastors/churches, mission agencies, children’s homes, and other organizations to inform them of Carolina Hope’s established full-service adoption ministry; (2) speaking in churches, Bible study groups, and other venues to present adoption within the context of the larger story of redemption; and (3) writing content for Carolina Hope’s website and articles for publication. If you know of a ministry that might be interested in having me come to speak on orphan ministry in general and adoption in particular, please let me know.

I hope by mentioning Dan's ministry here that someone might be able to connect with his ministry.

Solomon's Porch Video

Here's a video sure to spark discussion on emerging church and truth issues, among other things.  It's about Solomon's Porch: A Holistic, Missional, Christian Community, where Doug Pagitt (blog) is Pastor. 

Do everyone a favor and do more than just react.  Please try to be generous in your comments.  You will likely disagree with some things.

(HT: Tony Jones)

McKnight on The Emerging Church

I finally got around to reading Scot McKnight's 30 page paper on the Emerging Church, "What is the Emerging Church?," that he presented at WTS.  It once again proves that McKnight is one of the most important voices speaking about (and within) the Emerging Church.  I highly recommend you read it if you any interest in understanding the EC.

Saturday Selections

I'm getting a lot of hits from Spero News.

Have you been listening to Ken Myers' podcast from Mars Hill Audio?  It's called Audition, and it's a great free resource for provoking thoughts on theology & culture.  And if you don't subscribe to Mars Hill Audio, I recommend it.  At least get a free sample issue to try.  It's a key resource for stretching me beyond my current intellectual boundaries.

I've gotten through part of the Book TV discussion with Andrew Sullivan and David Brooks.  The conversation focused on Sullivan's new book The Conservative Soul: How We Lost It, How We Can Get It Back.  I originally caught some of the end of the show on TV.  It is intriguing concerning political conservatives and evangelicals.  You can also get at least some (maybe all?) of the video at YouTube, which has worked better for me than the Book TV video.  Al Mohler just had Sullivan on his radio show as well.

Speaking of evangelicals and the political world, I'm very interested in the recent comments of David Kuo, who is currently a columnist at Beliefnet.  Kuo served as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Deputy Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, and has written the new book  Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction.  I just bought the book and look forward to reading it in the next couple of weeks. I was introduced to Kuo by watching Charlie Rose's interview a couple of nights ago.  Here's the Google Video of the program, and the Kuo interview begins at around the 35 minute mark.  Justin Taylor points to the Books & Culture review of Tempting Faith.

I'm already tired of the online discussion about Ted Haggard, and find Stephen Shield's post on the matter very helpful.  Mark Driscoll's good advice in his post on the subject are must reading, though nothing profoundly new (a typical sign of most good advice).

The late Mitch Hedberg has some important thoughts for us as Thanksgiving approaches.

I don't listen to country music, but the new CD by Alan Jackson is really good.  It's called Like Red On A Rose. 

I'm finishing up preaching Colossians this Sunday.  I've enjoyed N.T. Wright's commentary (TNTC) the most.  Then I'm taking two Sundays off for vacation and a planning retreat.  Tim Etherington will be preaching for me from Jude.

Astonishing Generosity

I'm preaching a series of sermons on generosity in January, and this post on "Astonishing Generosity" by Tod Bolsinger caught my eye.  A blurb...

• This is not just a strategy for adding some kindness to the world.  It’s a strategy for changing the world.  (It's a revolution strategy!)
• It’s not just about making the world better, it’s about making the world new. 
• Generosity is not just about making people think we are good nice and kind, it is about helping people see that God is good, compassionate and responsive to their cries.

It is a central activity of the followers of Christ to reveal God to the world. 

Our generosity is to remind people of God’s generosity.  Our generous forgiveness of those who fail us, giving to those in need, of openhandedness to those who were clinging so hard to the scraps of life, and welcome to those who are without a place in this world would be nothing more (and nothing less!) than a reflection of the “generous love of God into the whole world.”

McKinley @ Catalyst

One of the many conferences I wanted to attend this year was Catalyst.  Rick McKinley, pastor of Imago Dei in Portland, is one of the speakers I wanted to see.  Out of Ur has some thoughts on the "lab" McKinley led at Catalyst...

"As pastors, we are tempted to build the church," [McKinley] said. "So we send out postcards to targeted Zip codes and we promote church programs." But that misses the point, he argued. "Our job isn’t to build the church. We’re supposed to BE the church, and build the kingdom." He emphasized that the kingdom is to be experienced NOW, on earth, as Christians exemplify godly living, but he also pointed out, as the recent school shootings demonstrate, that the kingdom is also "not yet." God’s kingdom won’t be realized in its fullness as long as such sin characterizes our world.

[...]

"The best expression of the church is NOT what happens on Sunday morning. It’s what happens in the world during the week. And that’s not something you can market."

His most provocative statements focused on the Christian’s calling to love their neighbors, even if those neighbors don’t respond to Christ or clean up their act. He told of his church’s messy efforts to love those with addictions, mental illnesses, and other conditions that aren’t easily cleaned up.

"We’re not called to change people’s behavior; we’re called to love them whether they change or not. It’s up to God to change them."

Derek Webb Countdown

Derek Webb will be free in 10 hours.

The Suburban Christian

I just got Albert Hsu's The Suburban Christian and immediately read about half of it last night.  I'm really enjoying it.  What I find fascinating is the way Hsu speaks of suburbia in much the same way some speak of the city.  Here are a couple of quotes.

Suburbia has become the context and center of millions of people's lives, and decisions and innovations made in suburbia influence the rest of society.  If Christians want to change the world, they may well do so by having a transformative Christian impact on suburbia and the people therein. (27-28)

While an individual suburb might not be a microcosm of the total city, it is an essential slice of the larger metropolis that cannot be partitioned off or seen in isolation, just as a traditional local urban neighborhood is an essential component of the whole city. (29)

Free Derek Webb

Wow.  How cool is this?  Derek Webb is making his Mockingbird album available for free download starting on September 1st.  Go to freederekwebb.com.  I love this CD and it rocks that Derek is making it available for free.  You need it. 

(HT: Joe Thorn)

Crisis in Generica

Read Mark Van S' post on the Crisis in Generica (his name for suburbia).  A blurbia...

These days, when we think of Genericans, we think of vacuous, vapid, consumers. Lonely plastic-people who pretend that everything is all right. Urban folk, and rural folk, both are suspicious of such plastic people. In our cities and towns the problems are obvious. The poor folk aren’t hidden. Our lives are lived in public. When we go to the streets of Generica (those streets with deceptively pretty names), everything looks the same…the pleasant exteriors betray the brokenness of their residents.

And in response, the Suburban church–the Church of Generica seeks to save these people by catering to their broken impulses. We feed the individualism by giving them individualized sermons (David Fitch can detail this phenomenon much better than I can). We try to attack the isolation by introducing small groups (which are usually pretty anemic and unoffensive…being centered on things like the Purpose Driven Life). And so the Generican Church tends to have the same ailments as the Generican people–and all their blessings as well (like resources and a value of excellence).

A spiritual crisis is growin in Generica. The people are dying there. They have money, but it has secured their sense of disillusionment. Materialism grows, but the people cry out for substance. They moved out to the burbs to find sanctuary, but they crave relationship.

But as missional pioneers emerge–those uniquely envisioned folks that can utter prophetic voice to their brothers and sisters in Generica–they flee to the cities with their obvious problems. Urban has its own challenges, to be sure, but it is easier to be missional in the city, in many ways, than it is to be missional in the burbs. Generica needs missional leaders. Missional leaders who reject the homogeneous unit principle (the idea that folks don’t like crossing cultural boundaries so we should do church in a way that appeals to particular cultures rather than being mulit-ethnic in our approach), who reject consumerism and materialism, who embrace authentic community, who care about the poor and the marginalized should come back to the suburbs and minister there. Generica is growing in its diversity. Generia has its poor. And most of the churches in Generica tend to assume that issues of race and poverty and crime are urban issues. But new churches must come to Generica.

Churches that value social justice.

Churches that cross cultural boundaries.

Churches that challenge consumerism.

Churches that build authentic community amidst fracture.

Who will respond to the cries for healing in the broken land of Generica?

Read Crisis in Generica.

Reform & Resurge: Keller on Justice

Reform & Resurge audio: Tim Keller on Doing Justice.  This was his third message.  Message 1: Being the Church in Our Culture.  Message 2: Preaching the Gospel.

Sacred Space Ministry

Imago Dei in Portland, where Rick McKinley is pastor, has started something called Sacred Space.  From the Sacred Space website...

sacred space is an urban renewal project spearheaded by Imago Dei Community.

Last fall, nearly two hundred people got together on a sunny September day with a vision. The team descended upon St. Francis Park in SE Portland to serve in an amazing renovation project with over $5,000 in resources raised. The park was transformed from a blighted area into sacred space.

After a year of dreaming, praying, and planning, our vision has grown.

And it’s still growing.

On August 12, we expect one thousand people will come together to bring restoration, resurrection, and renewal to about fifty spots around Portland, Oregon.

With shovels and rakes, hammers and nails, hard work, healing, and laughter.

We’d love for you to be a part of it.  Look for signup information soon.

the idea

Sacred Space is about recalling our duty to preserve creation by reclaiming harmony with God’s Kingdom: the way things should be. We are committed to a missional journey of actively repairing the broken places all around us, partnering with God to restore our divinely-created habitat.

We want to engage the city in this process of regeneration, planting seeds of hope and nurturing the faith that we can make life better together. We believe that God invites people from all beliefs into this progressive movement. As we combine our talents we experience authentic community rich in meaning, truth, beauty and worship.

Keller Audio

New Tim Keller audio at The Veritas Forum (MP3). The quality isn't very good, but the content makes up for it.  (All Tim Keller Resources)

Seattle: Thursday

Okay, it's VERY late.  So this will be very short.  I may expand on some stuff later, and I don't claim to be able to make sense of stuff so late.

Smokin' guns, Tim Keller just rocked.  I'll explain this talk a bit, but the rest will be brief. 

Keller's third and last session was up first this morning, "Doing Justice."  Geez.  A friend said it was the highlight of the conference.  It certainly was one of the most important talks I've ever heard on ministry.  Keller described injustice as that which damages the fabric of shalom.  Shalom is the way things ought to be.  When the body is healthy, it has shalom.  All bits and pieces are harmonious.  So with culture, as the bits and pieces do well together, there is cultural/city/neighborhood shalom.  But when that fabric is damaged (as it always and often is) then we do justice, or reweave shalom.

Keller said that power has to be given to others if we are going to do anything good.  Our job is to enable flourishing.  We are born in certain circumstances we didn't look to be in.  People haven't asked to be where they are.  And Christians should give away power to those who don't have it as the work of justice.  Keller said that biblical righteousness is about being willing to disadvantage yourself for the advantage of the community.  His question for us: Does your city rejoice that your church is there?  If they don't then we aren't working justice.

Matt Chandler of The Village Church of Dallas was next.  I first heard Matt in Dallas last summer at Acts29, and he was great.  But today, it may have been the most important message I've heard.  I said Darrin Patrick's message was really good for me, and Matt's was like picking up where Darrin left off and pressing even harder toward Jesus.  I wrote in my notes: "I would gladly let Matt start again and say it all over again."  It was that good.

Eric Mason talked about reaching the hip-hop generation.  Good, solid stuff.  We heard a couple of rap songs.  Very interesting on contextualization.

Mark Driscoll batted clean-up by talking about the Gospel, the Cross, and mostly about penal substitution.  It was a "hot" talk, and he was pretty fired up.  Good, biblical stuff.

Last things...We were able to hang at the Driscoll house for 1 1/2 hours tonight with about a dozen other guys.  The conference audio should be online in a couple of weeks.  And please pray for our trip back.  We fly out at 2:30 central time.  It has been a great, great trip but we really miss our kids.

Keller: A New Kind of Urban Christian

Buy the new Christianity Today and read Tim Keller's article: "A New Kind of Urban Christian."  If you haven't yet, also check out the Christian Vision Project which is connected to Keller and other important thinkers.  Keller's article is a part of this project.

Thorn Asks, What Does God Want?

Joe Thorn starts a four parter on "What Does God Want?"  (Someone needs to tell Joe that God probably wants more than Joe can write in four posts, but Joe is just a simple guy after all.)  In part one he deals with some spiritual disciplines in light of the values Micah 6:8. 

I am not pitting spiritual disciplines against these values, but I am pitting the narrow, hyper-personalized approach to spirituality against what God desires for us. When Bible study, prayer and fellowship for the purpose of personal, spiritual strength are our greatest emphases we are missing the point. What God requires of us is not closet spirituality, but public spirituality.

I'm quite certain that nearly no one will disagree with Thorn on this, but in practice most of us are guilty of "closet spirituality."  Too often our pride will keep us from admitting it.  I've been a member at churches where the first application point every week was, "So first of all we need to read our Bible's more."  Aren't we are known by the fruit we produce?  It's very easy to see that the American church looks more like Job's counselors than justice and mercy workers.

Unmissional

What missional isn't.

Derek Webb-Donald Miller Chat

Don't miss the Derek Webb and Donald Miller online chat tomorrow night. 

Joining the conversation is a sure ticket to becoming a theological liberal repackaged with a goatee.  If you are a girl, it will take a pretty significant piercing to equal goatee status.  Yes!  You can be a liberal too!  Try throwing something into your eyebrow, tongue, nose, or lower lip.  You didn't know liberalism was this easy, did you?  Lucky I'm here for you.

Keller: Ministry in Global Cities Pt. III

Tim Keller continues his thoughts on ministry in world cities with his newly released article "Ministry in the New Global Culture of Major City-Centers Part III."

City-center churches should have as equal as possible emphases on: a) welcoming, attracting, and engaging secular/non-Christian people; b) character change through deep community and small groups; c) holistically serving the city (and especially the poor) in both word and deed; d) producing cultural leaders who integrate faith and work in society; and e) routinely multiplying itself into new churches with the same vision. There are many churches that major on one or two of these but the breadth, balance, and blend of these commitments is rare in a church. Nevertheless, this balance is crucial for ministry in city centers.

Here are the links to Part I and Part II, and Part IV is coming soon.  Also stop by my Tim Keller Resource page.

Mohler Considers Some Anne Lamott

Al Mohler on "Anne Lamott and Her Evangelical Audience."

Wilkinson Walks

When Jabez isn't enough.

Emergent, Jews and Justice

It seems Emergent (the organization) is muddling the Christocentric nature of Kingdom work (see Doug Pagitt's blog as well).  In other words, it looks like Emergent (Tony Jones, Brian McLaren, et al) is treating collaboration on social justice issues between Jews and Christians as equally valid Kingdom work.  Doesn't that give social justice primacy over faith in Christ so that Kingdom work can be done without faith in Christ?  Or is this worse in that Emergent is attributing spiritual life to both groups?

If we are talking about working together to help those who can't help themselves instead of sticking to the same political routes, that's fine.  But it seems much worse than that.  Read some excerpts.

Synagogue 3000 (S3K) and Emergent have announced a ground-breaking meeting to connect Jewish and Christian leaders who are experimenting with innovative congregations and trying to push beyond the traditional categories of "left" and "right." This will be the first conversation that brings them together to focus on the enterprise of building next-generation institutions. 

[...]

S3K Senior Fellow Lawrence A. Hoffman, (_Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life_, forthcoming 2006) stressed the importance of building committed religious identity across faith lines. "We inhabit an epic moment," he said, "nothing short of a genuine spiritual awakening. It offers us an opportunity unique to all of human history: a chance for Jews and Christians to do God's work together, not just locally, but nationally, community by community, in shared witness to our two respective faiths."

Brian McLaren...

"We have so much common ground on so many levels...We face similar problems in the present, we have common hopes for the future, and we draw from shared resources in our heritage. I'm thrilled with the possibility of developing friendship and collaboration in ways that help God's dreams come true for our synagogues, churches, and world."

Tony Jones...

"As emerging Christian leaders have been pushing through the polarities of left and right in an effort to find a new, third way, we've been desperate to find partners for that quest," he said. "It's with great joy and promise that we partner with the leaders of S3K to talk about the future and God's Kingdom."

Without a bunch of explanation for how this isn't what it seems to be, I reckon this to be very bad news.

(HT: Mike Noakes)

Mohler and Carter Exchange

Al Mohler wrote "Jimmy Carter's Endangered Values" in response to President Carter's new book.  And Jimmy Carter has read and responded to Al Mohler's review.

Mayhem

Of all the horrible things happening in the wake of Katrina, the latest is mayhem and chaos.  While the water is no longer rising, tensions are. 

As an American who is used to having a policeman stop by within 5 minutes if someone suspicious is around, New Orleans must be going through something nearly unthinkable for many of us as a sense of lawlessness abounds.

Update
Update 2 - updating page on latest info

Moore: Fathering the Fatherless

Russ Moore at Southern Seminary has written a short piece on the adoption of Russian orphans: Russia's Orphans and the Father of the Fatherless.  Russ and his wife Maria have two adopted children from Russia.

Russian national leaders are concerned with foreigners adopting their children and may stop the practice, though it would only encourage institutionalizing orphans.  Russ wants something better because God wants something better.  Here's a portion of the article...

The Russian orphanage where my wife and I found our sons, then Maxim and Sergei, was the most horrifying place I have ever been. Its sights and smells and sounds come back to me every day. But, even more so, before my mind's eye every day are the faces of the children we couldn't adopt. Until now, my hope has been that Christians from America, Canada, Germany, France or somewhere may have adopted them, to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. If the anti-adoption Russians get their way, I fear that these children will be sentenced to institutions, never to find families.

The plight of Russia’s orphans ought to spur American Christians to prayer and to action -- not only for Russian children but for abandoned children across the globe. What if Southern Baptist pastors encouraged, from the pulpit, families to adopt orphans domestically or from across the sea? What if older, more affluent Southern Baptist couples pooled money for young families who wish to adopt, but cannot afford the seemingly astronomical costs?

Yesterday my now four year-old Benjamin walked up and hugged my leg, saying to me (in the little southern accent he picked up from us): "I'm glad you're my daddy, and I'm glad I'm your son." I have learned more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ from such statements than from all my studies in systematic theology. Before I met these two, I “knew” all about what it means to have a new name in Christ, a new household, a new identity, new brothers and sisters. But I knew so very little about these things.

Tim Keller Resources

WELCOME to my Tim Keller Resources page.

Dr. Timothy Keller is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC.  This is a list of  every Keller sermon, article, book and any other resource I can find.  Feel free to link this post on the sidebar of your blog to help get these resources out.  If you find a dead link or a new resource, please email me so I can keep this resource page up to date.  Thanks much.

A Reason for God -- info and links on Tim Keller's new book...

- A Reason for God website
- Buy the book: Amazon (audio book), Westminster (audio book)
- Penguin reader guide for The Reason for God
- Quotes from the Introduction
- From Tim Keller: "Yes, I wrote a book"; Interview with Justin Taylor
- Newsweek article: "The Smart Shepherd"
- Redeemer sermons to supplement the book...

The Trouble with Christianity: Why it's so Hard to Believe It (link)

Exclusivity: How an there be just one true religion?
Suffering: If God is good, why is there so much evil in the world?
Absolutism: Don't we all have to find truth for ourselves
Injustice: Hasn't Christianity been an instrument for oppression?
Hell: Isn't the God of Christianity an angry Judge?
Doubt: What should I do with my doubts?
Literalism: Isn't the Bible historically unreliable and regressive?

Also: The Prodigal Sons: The Gospel is not religion or irreligion, but something else

The Reason for God book tour videos...

@ Google

@ Berkeley

Keller Roundtable with WTS Faculty

Keller at UPenn: The Reason for God 

Keller at UPenn: Q&A

Ed Stetzer interviews Tim Keller about The Reason for God and more.

Books & Culture review

ARTICLES

> "A New Kind of Urban Christian" (on Christian Vision Project site)
> "Advancing the Gospel into the 21st Century":
       Part I: Church Multiplying
       Part II: Gospel-Centered
       Part III: Context Sensitive
       Part IV: City-Focused Strategy
> "All of Life is Repentance"
> "Being the Church in Our Culture"
> "Biblical Mandate for Mercy Ministries"
> "Biblical Theology of the City"
> "Centrality of the Gospel"
> "Christ and the City"
> "Clarifying the Purposes for the Church" - on Acts 29 site
> "The Cultures of the Presbyterian Church in America" - NEW!
> "The Current Intellectual State of Affairs in America" - with Charles Garland
> "Deconstructing Defeater Beliefs: Leading the Secular to Christ" (pdf)
> "Evangelism through 'Networking'"
> "Evangelistic Worship" (Resurgence)
> "Gnostics and Jesus"
> "How Can I Know God?" (landscape, handout format pdf) (Resurgence, also abbreviated version)
> "How Then Shall We Live Together - Subscription and the Future of the PCA"
> "Kingdom-Centered Prayer" (not explicitly attributed to Keller, but on Redeemer site)
> "Love & Love Language"
> "Leadership and Church Size Dynamics"
> "Ministry in the New Global Culture of Major City-Centers":
       Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV
> "The Missional Church"
> "Planting a Church in the City"
> "Post-Everythings" (pdf)
> "Prayer and the Gospel"
> "Preaching Hell in a Tolerant Age: Brimstone for the Broad-minded" (Resurgence)
> "Preaching in a Post-Modern City":
       Part I, Part II: Preaching to Create Spiritually Inclusive Worship
> "Preaching Morality in an Amoral Age" (Resurgence)
> "Questions on Everyone's Mind": September 14, 2001
> Religion and the Gospel - NEW! (adapted from Keller by The Journey Church in St. Louis)
> "Religion-less Spirituality" (Resurgence)
> "Talking About Idolatry in a Postmodern Age"
> "Why Plant Churches?"
> "Worship Worthy of the Name"

"Sermon of Remembrance and Peace for 9-11 Victim's Families" (Transcript) Preached 9/10/2006 (offsite source)

"America's Darkest Hour" - post 9/11 interview with Keller

The Hiddenness of God (Transcript)

BOOKS

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism - A profound work for skeptics and their believing friends.  Though I would deem most anything "Keller" a must-read, this is probably my highest recommendation.

Redeemer Church Planting Manual - This is an excellent practical-without-being-too-businessy church planters guide.  There are many helpful sections and resources in the book for pastors (not just planters) as well.  I often recommend this as a key resource for any church leader.

Ministries of Mercy - I bought this book after one of my children was diagnosed with autism, and I knew nothing about Keller at the time.  It's a thoughtful resource for churches, church leaders, deacons, and thoughtful Christians.

Worship By the Book (with Don Carson, Kent Hughes and Mark Ashton)
 

AUDIO/VIDEO

Redeemer site: Sermons related to Tim Keller's book The Reason for God from the series...

The Trouble with Christianity: Why it's so Hard to Believe It 

Exclusivity: How an there be just one true religion?
Suffering: If God is good, why is there so much evil in the world?
Absolutism: Don't we all have to find truth for ourselves
Injustice: Hasn't Christianity been an instrument for oppression?
Hell: Isn't the God of Christianity an angry Judge?
Doubt: What should I do with my doubts?
Literalism: Isn't the Bible historically unreliable and regressive?

Gospel Coalition

"Gospel-Centered Ministry" (also video) - Gospel Coalition Conference
Gospel Coalition Panel Discussion
The Gospel Coalition: Interviews...

What do you see yourself doing in The Gospel Coalition? | m4v

What is the state of the pulpit in America today?| m4v

How does preaching affect how christians see culture?| m4v

What do you tell pastors about their family life? | m4v

What ways can people learn from your teachings | m4v

(w/ Don Carson) What started The Gospel Coalition? | m4v

(w/ Don Carson) What makes The Gospel Coalition different? | m4v

(w/ Don Carson) Assessing The Gospel Coalition | m4v

(w/ Don Carson) How were the leaders of The Gospel Coalition gathered?| m4v

(w/ Don Carson) What is the future of The Gospel Coalition? | m4v

(w/ Don Carson) What threats and challenges face The Gospel Coalition? | m4v

(w/ Don Carson) What causes fragmentation in evangelicalism today? | m4v

"The Gospel" Sermons
1. Who is this Jesus? 2. Lord of the Wine 3. Born of the Gospel

"Changed People" Sermons
1. Changed Lives 2.

What do you see yourself doing in The Gospel Coalition? | m4v

What is the state of the pulpit in America today?| m4v

How does preaching affect how christians see culture?| m4v

What do you tell pastors about their family life? | m4v

What ways can people learn from your teachings | m4v

(w/ Don Carson) What started The Gospel Coalition? | m4v

(w/ Don Carson) What makes The Gospel Coalition different? | m4v

(w/ Don Carson) Assessing The Gospel Coalition | m4v

(w/ Don Carson) How were the leaders of The Gospel Coalition gathered?| m4v

(w/ Don Carson) What is the future of The Gospel Coalition? | m4v

(w/ Don Carson) What threats and challenges face The Gospel Coalition? | m4v

(w/ Don Carson) What causes fragmentation in evangelicalism today? | m4v