tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20081996396339068762012-02-08T05:21:44.553-08:00thoughts on theology, culture and ministry from a modern-day disciple who wants to be covered in the dust of the Rabbi.Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.comBlogger1751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-37159905167293202802012-01-15T13:12:00.000-08:002012-01-15T13:23:53.052-08:00

In 2010, Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird published Viral Churches, sounding a call for church multiplication movements through "churches planting churches that in turn plant churches."  As trendy as the title sounds, its idea is far from original. Prominent missiologists dating back to at least the 19th century have called for the development of self-propagating churches as a key objective of mission

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Missionary, Missiologist and Ecumenist Biography James Edward Lesslie Newbigin was born on December 8, 1909 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England to Annie Affleck and Edward R. Newbigin, a shipping merchant.  His earliest memories were happy ones, with a caring mother and a devout and politically radical father.  He attended a Quaker boarding school called Leighton Park in Reding, Berkshire.  By the

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Two thirds of the New Testament was written, it appears, by a missionary named Paul.  Furthermore, a large portion of the book of Acts is devoted to chronicling his missionary endeavors.  Thus it should come as no surprise that Protestant missionaries have over the centuries appealed to his model and practices as they shaped and justified their own.  This essay considers how notable Protestant

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I wrote this a while back, but if don't know me and want to, or want to know the back story, here you go:  David and Ruth James, my parents, were and are committed followers of Jesus, and their devotion was apparent to me not only in the reality that they sacrificed to send my sister and I to private Christian schools, but in the all-night charismatic prayer parties my mother would drag me to,

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Do you think of yourself as well-read and well-rounded Christian?   An impressive group of Christian leaders in spiritual formation have compiled and published a list of 25 books every Christian should read. The board included Gayle Beebe, Richard J. Foster, Emilie Griffin, Richard Rohr, Phyllis Tickle, Dallas Willard, Chris Webb and Frederica Mathewes-Green.  The book they've published

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David Fitch's pitch for Missional Orders as THE WAY to plant churches in post-Christendom is very interesting, poignant and comical.  Dave Fitch - Cultivate Gathering - Missional Order from Missional Tribe on Vimeo.

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John Ortberg and Jud Wilhite commenting on the 12-steps as a Christian way of life. Monvee Perspectives: John Ortberg & Jud Wilhite from Monvee Video on Vimeo.

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The rise of the “new monasticism” to popular awareness in recent years might lead the uninformed to imagine that Christian communalism is a recent phenomenon. The truth is Christians have lived in intimate community settings since the very beginning. What’ is “new” about new monasticism is largely a matter of its historical and geographical contexts, the catchy label and the recent dialog with

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An introduction to new monasticism could easily depict it as little more than a radical expression of Christian community best understood through a catalog of its common practices.  School(s) for Conversion: 12 Marks of a New Monasticism, which was the product of a 2004 gathering of new monastic practioners, provides an excellent introduction to these characteristics, but its more central and

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Reading Richard Foster's Streams of Living Water was a watershed moment in my ecclesiology.  Whereas I had formerly lamented the shattered nature of Christ’s church, I now relish the pluriform expressions it takes, still with sobriety about the brokenness of this diversity.  There is little question that I am most at home in the Evangelical Stream, having grown up and been educated in thoroughly

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Gary Hamel, brings his insights as a top business innovation thinking (according to the Wall Street Journal and Fortune 500 magazine) to bear on the plight of the church.  This is definitely worth watching.

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Hugh Halter, missional practitioner and contributor to The Tangible Kingdom and the follow up curriculum (both of which I recommend), has an inspiring story of giving up on church planting and developing a missional community instead. Hugh Halter: Turning Consumer Christians into Missionaries [VERGE 2010 Breakout Session] from Verge Network on Vimeo.

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As the Father has sent me, so I send you. ~ Jesus Ed Stetzer begins with this foundational saying of Jesus in order to launch into his discussion with Alan Hirsch. These two, along with Tim Keller, Dan Kimball, Linda Bergquist and others, are the framers of the Missional Manifesto, which they discuss in this video. Here is the text of the Missional Manifesto: God is a sending God, a

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Johannes Metz’s Poverty of Spirit, published in 1968, develops a rich portrait of the contingent human condition as most fully revealed in Jesus. In striking contrast to some contemporary theological anthropologies that seem founded primarily on human sinfulness, Metz roots his approach in incarnation. This Christocentrism constitutes the greatest strength of Metz’s presentation. According to

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In this video, created by Monvee, Dallas Willard talks more about ecclesiology (the nature and function of the church) than I've come across anywhere else.   He also gives priceless nuggets like this one: Spiritual growth doesn't respond well to guilt, period. Dallas Willard on Spiritual Formation from Monvee Video on Vimeo.

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It's another buzz word that's being thrown around these days: "missional communities."  No, it's not about making your congregation missional.  Here's your introduction. 

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Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s The Divine Milieu sets out with the explicit and practical  intention of putting forward “a way of teaching how to see” (9).  By dividing human experience into that which we do (the active) and what which we have done to us (the passive), Teilhard attempts to chart the course by which all “human action can be sanctified” (12).  This essay will explore the insights,

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In this exclusive video from Monvee, John Ortberg and Gabe Lyons share their observations about changes in American Christianity, drawing on sociologists like Christian Smith and James Davidson Hunter (both experts in Evangelicalism) centering around Lyon's The Next Christians.  John Ortberg is the author of two excellent books on spiritual formation including The Me I Want to Be  and The Life

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In Lower Allston, where the Charles River winds south bordering Watertown, Publick Theatre sits atop a small hill, surrounded by a moat of natural or human making.  This circle of water about Publick Theatre is connected to the Charles’ south side, but sits in stillness apart from the breeze that was creating ripples on the surface.  Whether the theatre cut this moat or is simply taking advantage

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God's people are an exodus people.  This moving video from Not For Sale is an appeal to the Jewish community to participate in modern day abolition of slavery.  (There are more slaves to day--27 million--than at any point in history). Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today. Deut. 15:15 Freedom Shabbat | Teaching

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Alan Hirsch, a popular voice in missional circles, weighs in on the risk-averse nature of the American church, and it's perils. Alan Hirsch - Are You Stuck In A Rut? from Verge Network on Vimeo.

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Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart is one of the most profound books I am aware of touching the human longing for personal transformation, growth, change.  The clips below are a sample of the curriculum Willard, John Ortberg and others have provided, focusing on session and chapter eight of the book: transforming the will

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In Everything Must Change, Brian McLaren maps his journey with two questions that have shaped his life: What are the biggest problems in the world? and What does Jesus have to say about these?  With these framing questions, he signals to religious educators immediately the degree to which his approach is squarely within the liberation paradigm.  This book, is premised on the assumption that the

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I can still remember the sights and sounds of Kibera, Nairobi’s largest slum. I had made the trip to Kenya during the Christmas break of my junior year in college and I had been visiting the missionary families of two roommates. Jesse and his mom, who worked for an NGO, knew a family who lived in Kibera, and we were to be their guests. This experience was, on the surface, unremarkable. There

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-76082109420738283012011-03-17T08:47:00.000-07:002011-03-17T08:51:22.463-07:00

@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoHeader, li.MsoHeader, div.MsoHeader { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }span.HeaderChar { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }      The immediate impression of this piece is one of vibrant

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A church I served not too long ago had quite a prolonged fiasco trying to upgrade their severely dated and impractical website.  Literally, years and thousands of dollars later, they settled for one that, in my opinion is barely par. While this waste of funds was unfortunate for this church, their size and budget meant that hardly anyone noticed.  But if you're leading in a small or medium-size

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Reagan was the first presidential candidate who the press credited Evangelicals for electing in 1980, the year I was born.  Find 50 minutes to watch this excellent PBS documentary (The final episode of an excellent six part series). It looks at key figures including Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Robert Cizik, Rick Reed, Jim Wallis, George W. Bush and Barack Obama evenhandedly.  Watch the

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While all “religions create action orientations,” one of the most striking, and for some alarming, facts about Catalyst is its undeniable attention to impacting, engaging and changing the world.[38]  As Smith notes in Christian America?, evangelicals are the most “most intensely distinctive and most publically oriented subgroup of conservative Protestants.”[39]  Furthermore, as Smith

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            In contrast to the “coolness” of being “in the world,” Catalyst also nurtures the “hipness” of a distinct subculture, which it sees as equally important to its mission.  Smith, who argues that evangelicalism is “the strongest of the major Christian traditions in the United States today,” attributes this vitality to what he calls their “subcultural identity.”[33]  In the wake of

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Catalyst manifests the coolness-pursuit of being “in the world” in a myriad of ways.  First, the music used in the interims, rather than being your typical slate of Christian worship or even Christian rock, was rather a mix of popular secular hits.  Live bands in hallways, outside and from the mainstage played songs including: Jack Johnson’s “Waiting on the World to Change”; U2’s “City of Lights”

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Christian Smith’s landmark American Evangelicalism: Embattled and Thriving labels the evangelical posture toward society as “engaged orthodoxy.”  Smith traces this to the founding of the American evangelical movement to the likes of Billy Graham, Harold Ockenga, Charles Fuller, and Carl Henry, beginning in the 1940s.  These reforming fundamentalists were “fully committed to maintaining

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In October of 2010, 13,000 zealous Christian leaders gathered and talked about changing the world. This study applies some of the tools of the sociology of religion to an understanding of the organization behind this gathering, Catalyst. The research that informs this work includes participant observation at the annual Catalyst East Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on October 5-7, 2010, analysis

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Monvee is for people who have a desire to grow spiritually, and could use some help making a plan that takes into consideration what is unique about how they were wired to learn, connect with God and bless the world. To see my other posts on monvee click here.

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What follows is a Call to the Christian community to recognize the centrality of spiritual formation within the mission of the church.  It was the collaborative effort of more than 200 leaders in spiritual formation (including Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, John Ortberg, Jan Johnson, Mindy Caliguire, Todd Hunter, Gayle Beebe, Ruth Haley Barton and Chris Webb) and is an excellent summary of this

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This is post three in a three part project on Evangelism in Davis Square, MA, co-written with Ross Ponder.  I've made some final editoral omissions.   Part one, on evangelistically relevant characteristics of residents, is here.  Part two, drafting a contextual theology of evangelism, is here. Practicing Evangelism in Davis Square      The evangelizing community practices evangelism to

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This is post two of a three part project on Evangelism in Davis Square, MA, co-written with Ross Ponder.  I've made some final editoral omissions.   Part one on evangelistically relevant characteristics of residents is here. A Contextual Theology of Evangelism for Davis Square, MA.     Before proposing several practices that could constitute faithful witness to the jaded, progressive, educated,

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The following three posts are sections of a paper co-written with Ross Ponder for our project on Evangelism in Davis Square, MA.  I have made a few, final editorial omissions.  Evangelistically Relevant Characteristics of Davis Square, MA Residents      Stepping outside of the Davis Square Red Line T-stop, a person quickly encounters a number of local businesses (i.e., restaurants and bars,

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Some have referred to Christian Smith as a “rock star” among sociologists of Religion due to his prolific and wide-ranging work. Currently serving as the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame, he has recently released titles exploring the nature of the human person (What is a Person?, 2010) and

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NewCalvinism.com's definition quotes Wikipedia: The New Calvinism is a growing perspective within conservative Evangelicalism that embraces the fundamentals of 16th century Calvinism while also trying to be relevant in the present day world. In March 2009, TIME magazine ranked it as one of the "10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now." Some of the major movers in this area are John Piper, Mark

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As the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame, Christian Smith is a notable figure in contemporary Sociology of Religion.  His recent work has explored American Evangelicalism as well as the religious lives of teenagers and emerging adults.  According to his faculty page, his “larger theoretical

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There's a debate in Christian circles which goes like this: "We must save the planet, it's God's creation!" and the other says "No, the earth is doomed, we must save souls from this sinking ship!" Perhaps you've heard or participated in a version of this conflict yourself. I want to propose that the former is a strategy for the latter.* That is, a vibrant, flourishing planet is an irrepressibly

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-11301905300782701162010-10-24T14:14:00.000-07:002010-12-05T18:10:02.854-08:00

Christian Smith is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame.  He is the author of numerous books including Christian America: What Evangelicals Really Want, Evangelicals: Embattled and Thriving and very recently, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers and What Is a Person?: Rethinking

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To put words in the mouth of Vincent J. Donovan:  After a futile century of missionary strategies in Africa that centered on purchasing slaves or educating Africans, I felt compelled to pursue a different, more direct approach: to simply go to the Maasai people and talk to them about Christ (13).  I was driven by one conviction:  Christianity is of value to the world and all people have a right

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-22080170749292910912010-10-17T17:05:00.000-07:002010-12-05T18:11:31.131-08:00

According to George Hunter III:  The way St. Patrick and those who followed in his legacy went about evangelism has much to teach us today.  Patrick’s experience in slavery among the Celts attuned him to Celtic culture and informed his approach when he returned decades later as missionary bishop.  His strategy included a team that wouldset up camp near a settlement, engage with the local leader,

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-30542961231654092722010-10-11T13:46:00.000-07:002010-11-11T09:18:03.505-08:00

@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } According to Bryan Stone: Evangelism, as a practice of the Spirit, is therefore  utterly pacifist in nature.  The pacifism of evangelism is not passive but arises from an

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-41531669271708455122010-10-10T12:35:00.000-07:002010-11-11T09:18:21.722-08:00

According to Bryan Stone: Christian conversion is foremost an exchange of narratives. Two rival narratives have significantly shaped the social, political and economic orders and religious life of Western cultures.  The Constantinian story fuses church and world and calls for ‘realistic’ appraisal of faithful Christian living.  Constantinian-storied evangelism pragmatically values worldly power

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-31984890025551234292010-09-30T12:03:00.000-07:002010-11-11T09:18:44.362-08:00

If you haven't read Bryan Stone's Evangelism After Christendom: The Theology and Practice of Christian Witness, consider these next three posts a primer to this significant contribution to the theology of evangelism.   Stone’s overarching thesis is that faithful evangelism is most fundamentally accomplished in the “beauty of holiness made real in the church” (12). Laying the foundation for

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-82294436852592397852010-09-24T11:20:00.000-07:002010-09-24T11:40:43.170-07:00

Ok, so I work for them. But it's still cool. Even better, if you're serious about becoming like Jesus, monvee can help.

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-30897477847355176442010-09-13T20:41:00.000-07:002011-11-23T10:56:35.105-08:00

The Verge Network - a promoter of all things missional - posted a video of Matt Carter, Pastor of  The Austin Stone Community Church declaring that "missional community is the long awaited structure that the American church has desperately needed to unleash everyday believers into the mission of their every day life."  I have nothing against Matt or Verge (in fact, I celebrate anyone contributing

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-37844506833090477752010-08-18T21:34:00.000-07:002011-04-11T07:35:44.824-07:00

The kingdom life which Jesus offered is accessible to all, but it is not entered fully without a serious and active intention.   It takes the kind of intention that would lead one to sell all they own to buy a field with a pearl in it.  The disciplines are means by which an individual opens themselves to the transforming grace of God, and they cultivate holy habits of mind and body.[i]  As

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-44731320275036104752010-08-10T18:43:00.000-07:002010-10-17T17:40:18.178-07:00

What do you think God wants me to do? First of all, let me just commend you for asking that question.  It’s evidence that you want to do what God wants you to do. This is 90% of what it takes to hear God. Well, I hope that’s actually true. Do you believe that God knows what will lead you to the abundant life?  Because if that’s in limbo, then it’s really the very fabric of your relationship

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-31722942514226888852010-07-28T14:12:00.000-07:002010-10-17T17:46:35.173-07:00

This is, in my opinion, one of the best sermons I have heard John Ortberg give in the three years I've been attending and serving Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.  You can read it below or watch it here.  It's a question that so many church-goers need to have thrust upon them: Are you just and admirer of Jesus, or do you want to follow Jesus?  Is Jesus your Lord, or just your homeboy? ____________

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-79940658747133023212010-07-22T15:31:00.000-07:002010-10-17T17:47:10.544-07:00

There are a number of myths about identity.  There's the false connection between identity and commodity.  And there's the idea that having identity requires self-sufficiency.  But neither of these are as destructive as the myth I'm going to address in this post.   It's about the relationship between identity and productivity.  We’re going to debunk the myth that “I am what I do”—this idea that

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-44884566932349296982010-07-18T08:41:00.000-07:002010-07-18T08:41:00.497-07:00

Dallas Willard changed my understanding of the Christian life and gospel, for the better (and the more biblical).  Watch John Ortberg interview him at the Catalyst West conference where I witnessed the audience gasp and burst into applause at a few of his pearls of wisdom.  He speaks to young leaders about the need to clarify the central message of Jesus.  Is it the announcement of the minimal

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-87448780182293077082010-07-15T16:30:00.000-07:002011-11-29T08:45:41.582-08:00

This is Part Two in my series on Light as a Biblical Metaphor.  Part One explored the three dominant biblical metaphors for light: 1) Light as Goodness/Virtue 2) Light as Knowledge/Vision 3) Light as Life/Vitality In this post, we'll look at how the three primary metaphors for light developed in the Old Testament get applied to Jesus and his followers. Matthew 4:16 asserts that Issiah's

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-79879696901149130972010-06-30T12:04:00.000-07:002011-11-29T08:52:45.553-08:00

In response to a request from a group of artists at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, the topic my next two posts is Light as a Biblical Metaphor. I will explore how the authors of Scripture use the physical reality of light to illuminate spiritual realities. To start, we need to know that light is a significant metaphor in Scripture and the word “light” occurs on the very first and very last

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-10646965748556534212010-06-25T14:36:00.000-07:002010-06-25T14:36:23.183-07:00

Fans of the original Karate Kid can't fail to remember these words: "Wax on! Wax off!"  But lesser known is the lesson they conveyed - for Daniel-son - and for us. As you watch the clips below, try substituting Jesus for Mr. Miagi, yourself for Daniel-son, spiritual disciplines for washing, waxing, sanding and painting and Kingdom-living for Karate. Just as Daniel's training for the fight

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-15396573244206738352010-06-22T18:26:00.000-07:002010-06-22T18:26:37.610-07:00

So, who takes out the trash in your home? Next time you're putting something in the trash can, think about this: it is impossible to throw something away - you just throw it somewhere else. And that's a problem.

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-61208294269019407742010-06-17T14:17:00.000-07:002010-10-17T17:47:56.507-07:00

Fans of C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters will appreciate this post written by Neil Cole, though I've fixed a few typos, and added the gargoyle just for fun. My Dearest Wormwood, If you want to make sure that the enemy's people are relegated to obscurity, lead them to believe that the church is for them, not the other way around. Hire professionals to make sure their church experience is more

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-79396797579666163772010-06-14T13:34:00.000-07:002010-12-05T18:18:55.808-08:00

"God is a handcrafter, not a mass producer," says John Ortberg on this video promoting monvee.   Monvee is a innovative use of technology providing customized spiritual growth plans that take into account your learning style, your personality, your spiritual pathway, your stage of life and your signature sin.  Monvee allows church leaders to actually come along side their congregations and say "

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-51968285544225312962010-06-10T20:48:00.000-07:002010-06-12T15:56:51.353-07:00

Still in denial about Christendom's sunset? Eight churches in America close their doors every day Less than 20 percent of Americans now attend church The average church has shrunk to less than 90 people The average church member gives $756 a year Only 2.5 percent of church volunteer hours are with the poor Church members total annual giving to all sources averages $756 a year Less than 10

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-31497499593192960432010-06-07T10:22:00.000-07:002010-06-08T16:35:43.425-07:00

Rob Bell is getting some heat these days, and I'm not going to weigh in on everything the guy has said.  But this teaching on the meaning of Jesus as a Jewish Rabbi is worth watching whether you think he's a heretic or a hero. 

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-24267765970527094382010-06-05T20:01:00.000-07:002010-10-11T08:05:30.677-07:00

A teacher in one of the churches I used to serve emailed me asking:  Can you give me a simple explanation of the role of repentance in our salvation? I know we are saved because we believe in Christ, but what about if we have some unrepented sins?  I think the answer is we will all have some, and we are saved anyhow, but I need to understand this better.  I know repentance requires change, and

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-8515310974263513172010-06-01T16:55:00.000-07:002010-06-06T09:21:05.476-07:00

A friend of mine is wrestling with her seminary class on the New Testament, and asked for my thoughts on the Search for the Historical Jesus.  Here's what I said (in the midst of a threaded discussion on peace)... The Search for the Historical Jesus seems like a good idea, but in practice it was loaded with biases that ruled out the discovery of the Real Jesus as one that could do miracles and

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-82647219959446323012010-05-28T16:07:00.000-07:002010-05-28T18:51:18.131-07:00

I am a born and bred evangelical.  I was born in an evangelical Christian family, attended private evangelical Christian schools in elementary, middle and high school, graduated undergrad from the ‘Harvard of evangelicalism,’ Wheaton College, got an M.Div from the largest evangelical seminary, Fuller Theological, and have worked in two evangelical mega-churches.  So, I guess I’d have to say, “I’m

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-85279815310373189812010-05-24T11:33:00.000-07:002011-11-29T10:44:31.496-08:00

Two rising streams within Western Christianity seem to be flowing in opposite directions. Missional ecclesiology and spiritual formation are significantly shaping the course of the Christian church but they are rarely understood as tributaries of the same great river, whose vitality depends upon their fusion. Thus, missional ventures without spiritual currents dry up and spiritual formation

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-67833324813841353732010-05-20T16:12:00.000-07:002011-11-29T09:02:20.270-08:00

            The Kingdom of God is the realm in which God’s will is actualized.  Thus heaven is a part of the Kingdom of God, angels are citizens in the Kingdom, animal life and all creation (generally speaking) are within the Kingdom of God.  It is only people and evil spirits who, through their resistance to God’s will, find themselves outside of the Kingdom of God.             People come to

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-44408750930363418212010-05-17T16:10:00.000-07:002011-05-20T09:17:58.733-07:00

           The theological grounding for spiritual formation in Christ is found in answering two fundamental questions with the same answer: What was God’s hope for the creation of humans and why did Jesus live, die and resurrect?            God’s loving desire from the beginning has been that he might extend the fellowship enjoys in the Trinitarian community and enter an interactive love

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-25654465498544633342010-05-13T16:05:00.000-07:002010-05-18T08:32:26.727-07:00

Biblically speaking, the human person is a created being with immeasurable worth, conferred freedom, a spiritual nature, a bodily presence and relationships to the surrounding persons and objects.             The human person has several primary interrelated dimensions.  At the center of the individual is the will, often referred to variously as the “spirit” or “heart” in the Bible.  This is the

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-71073616543266416982010-05-11T15:52:00.000-07:002010-05-11T15:52:38.711-07:00

Yep.  That about says it. Nightline report on XXX Church.

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-78023015246114879242010-03-27T09:40:00.000-07:002011-03-23T07:28:33.036-07:00

Mark 12:13-19 is a widely known, and generally misunderstood passage.  Here it is in the TNIV.  13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-67014105747163083212010-03-24T16:49:00.000-07:002010-03-24T16:49:42.913-07:00

Hear Gary Hamel, Wall Street Journal's Top Business Thinker of 2009 apply the principles of innovation to the church. Find it here. Find some of earlier reflections on innovation in the church here.

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-4887572609490603032010-03-22T10:54:00.000-07:002010-03-22T10:54:09.676-07:00

Check out the fresh liturgy at the beginning of this trailer!  That's my kind of Christianity - radically opposed to what God opposes.   http://www.theordinaryradicals.com/

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-76566828067854322782010-03-11T15:30:00.000-08:002010-03-11T15:30:30.416-08:00

Glenn Beck recently told his listeners to leave any church that teaches social justice, and to report its pastor to church authorities. He suggested "social justice" was a code word for communism and nazism.  You've got to be kidding.     Whether you're a church leader, a church member, or a church seeker, if you're a Christian who believes in the biblical call to social justice, I invite you

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-88850068037602899842010-03-08T07:34:00.000-08:002010-03-08T07:45:27.624-08:00

Why is the Gospel of Love Dividing America? If you were to meet ten average Americans on the street, nine of them would say they believe in God. So why is the Gospel of Love dividing America? Dan Merchant put on his bumper-sticker-clad jumpsuit and decided to find the reason. After talking with scores of men and women on streets all across the nation, and also interviewing many well-known

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-1896624948830226892010-02-19T17:43:00.000-08:002010-06-05T15:33:48.951-07:00

"What is proof-texting?" That is what someone asked me the other day, as I was cautioning against it. I replied: Proof-texting refers to using Scripture to prove your point, without reference to the context of that Scripture. It is irresponsible exegesis, lazy theology and, I might add, inadequate preaching. (Can you tell I have feelings about this?) When we proof-text we are coming to

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-68140403470455720252010-02-16T11:04:00.000-08:002010-02-16T11:04:20.532-08:00

This morning (and last night) I watched two episodes of CBS’ new show Undercover Boss, which has CEO’s go undercover as grunts in their own company.  Frankly, I was moved - and that's saying something.  One of the episodes takes place inside of the Hooter’s restaurant business.  As you might expect, there is a chauvinistic manager named Jimbo.  What you might not expect is the other manager

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-19934403650321276612010-02-14T18:28:00.000-08:002010-02-14T18:28:42.537-08:00

 Dr. Kara Powell, youth ministry expert and Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute, on what it takes to make your teenagers faith stick.  

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-29414931371199008952010-02-08T16:32:00.000-08:002010-02-08T16:32:00.113-08:00

Sound like anyone you know? Maybe like someone you see every morning in the mirror?

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-37651429636977482002010-02-06T16:10:00.000-08:002010-02-06T16:10:00.903-08:00

Ed Stetzer and Dave Fitch square off on this question: Can a mega-church be missional? Ed Stetzer & Dave Fitch - a missional conversation Part II from Bill Kinnon on Vimeo.

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-88113501487547428402010-02-04T16:49:00.000-08:002010-02-04T16:49:00.339-08:00

On December 19, 2009, I taught at Saturday Morning Men's Bible Study, a group that has met at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church at 7:30am on Saturday for decades.  During the prayer time, a man stood up and said that the aged gentleman sitting in wheelchair next to him was Vern Turner, and that he'd asked him to read something he had written, since Vern couldn't read it himself.  None of us were

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-6466768363076610802010-02-02T17:22:00.000-08:002010-02-02T17:22:17.305-08:00

Like to use the buzz word "missional" but not really sure what it means?  This simple video defines the missional church in exactly two minutes, contrasting it to the attractional model. 

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-37457632624641094512010-01-30T10:11:00.000-08:002010-01-30T22:52:05.048-08:00

Watch Wall Street Journal's Top Business Thinker of 2009, leading innovation expert and author of "The Future of Management," Gary Hamel tackle the challenges facing the church.  It's painful and promising.

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-79031621122476101092010-01-27T21:00:00.000-08:002010-01-30T10:18:19.253-08:00

The primary biblical metaphor for salvation is being freed from slavery, because the Exodus was Israel's defining encounter with God.    Freedom Sunday is February 21, 2010.  You can get your church engaged in this divine action with biblical precedent by visiting www.freedomsunday.org. In order to get you ready for Freedom Sunday, let's review the ethics of Deuteronomy. Treat your

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-8580545510384402792010-01-23T17:04:00.000-08:002011-04-14T08:51:34.588-07:00

John Ortberg at his best, describing God's way of developing people. "God is a hand-crafter not a mass producer." The video below is Session One from the DVD curriculum for his new book titled The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God's Best Version of You. While the title smacks a bit of self-help (ala Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now) I'll tell you that I've read it and it is solid gospel. The book

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-51605798057020829162010-01-22T20:31:00.000-08:002010-01-22T20:35:56.928-08:00

"You can't pick up the cross, without putting down the sword." ~Greg Boyd Charlie Rose interviews Pastor Gregory Boyd on his book, "The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power Is Destroying the Church." Although Boyd is no liberal, he lost one-fifth of his congregation when he preached that the church should steer clear of mixing the gospel with a specific political stance

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-48348253941414098072010-01-07T14:22:00.000-08:002010-01-12T18:33:16.785-08:00

Become like Jesus. It's the goal of the Christian life, but how is it actually done? There is no one I know who speaks more thoughtfully on this subject than Dallas Willard, a Professor of Philosophy at USC. Eric Parks, Chief Creative Office of Monvee, a spiritual growth webtool I'm involved with, interviewed Dallas Willard several months ago, and here is the result.

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-14726669872471515712010-01-03T21:48:00.000-08:002010-01-05T14:24:56.432-08:00

Dallas Willard spent a weekend at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church answering tough questions from the congregation, in conversation with John Ortberg. You can find his comments on homosexuality, hell, freewill, science, assurance of faith and even football here. Below, is a clip on his insightful examination of the limitations of eternal skepticism.

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-37431270736778212872009-12-26T13:03:00.000-08:002012-01-14T14:06:43.983-08:00

Here's an article by John Ortberg posted at www.christianitytoday.com. Lindsay and I were privileged to participate in the Leadership Team conversation John Ortberg mentions.   The Gap: The fractured world of multi-generational church leadership. by John Ortberg When Pastor Rehoboam took over the flock after the long tenure of his father, change management was his number one challenge.

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-288249672426255272009-12-08T13:30:00.000-08:002010-01-12T18:39:25.472-08:00

This moving poem by Julia K. Dinsmore powerfully invites you to see the world from the perspective of someone who is referred to with all kinds of derogatory remarks, but who retorts "My Name is Child of God, not "Those People."

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-77593847308396909642009-11-29T13:39:00.000-08:002009-11-29T13:51:39.904-08:00

Want to move beyond speculation and mythology about what is actually working in growing churches? The U.S. Congregational Life Survey provides a rare look at the facts. Myth #1. Only congregations in growing areas are adding members Fact: Three strengths are positive predictors of growth — Caring for Children and Youth, Welcoming New People, and Participating in the Congregation.Fact: Other

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-7953176626434149392009-11-11T18:27:00.000-08:002009-11-11T18:56:24.587-08:00

So, I'm taking a GRE practice test and I'm asked to respond to this statement "Sports stars and movie stars have an obligation to behave as role models to the young people who look up to them. In return for the millions of dollars that they are paid, we should expect them to fulfill this responsibility." Here's what I said. Pretty sure it's barely adequate, but I found it interesting to reflect

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-76779104418618594692009-10-21T21:10:00.000-07:002009-10-21T21:10:00.103-07:00

Check out this simple, clear way to bring stories of following Jesus to your glocal neighbors. I hope to see it, and others like it across the map. www.iamsecond.com

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-13523485957721233912009-10-18T19:59:00.001-07:002009-10-18T20:54:04.192-07:00

I know an unbeliever who while in the middle of a prolonged affair, oddly loved to listen to a local preacher who repeatedly scolded adulterers. This guy had a sense that the preacher was speaking God's Word, but he nonetheless made no effort to leave his life of sin. Then, one day, despite his fondness for him, he killed the preacher. I am, of course, talking about King Herod and John the

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-42569699502706773842009-09-28T13:24:00.001-07:002010-01-30T22:52:25.683-08:00

Gary Hamel was ranked #1 most influential business thinker in the world in 2009 by the Wall Street Journal. His talk at Willow Creek's Leadership Summit 2009 was touted by many as the highest impact and he's here sharing a lot of the same thoughts on what the church needs to come to grips with, and how it needs to innovate. It is equal parts disturbing and inspirational. Watch him being

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-59521405924145790132009-09-18T17:42:00.000-07:002009-09-18T18:19:07.246-07:00

Last weekend at my church, we heard Paul Ely, a 78-year-old former Vice-President at Hewlett-Packard share the events that led to his decision to follow Jesus in January of this year. You can hear him here. What struck me was this line: "HP's unique culture improved my character and made me a better person, like it did for many." Now, I know Paul, and I know this wasn't a veiled advertisement.

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2008199639633906876.post-20355506785903365232009-09-08T19:06:00.000-07:002011-05-18T13:43:38.279-07:00

Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.  ~Pablo Picasso  Basically there can be no categories such as “religious” art and “secular” art because all true art is incarnational, and therefore “religious.” ~Madeline L’Engle Creating art is holy work, simply because God is, in fact, an artist. God called his defining work adam, referring to the medium (earth, in Hebrew adama) from which he

Chris Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10716811244655233526noreply@blogger.com0