Young, Restless, and Culturally Arrogant? (Part 1)

Some younger Christians poke fun of the traditions and habits of older Christians and churches.  They say that the older Christians/churches are totally out of touch with society and therefore are neither “missional” nor “relevant” (to use evangelical buzzwords).  I appreciate how Andrew Byers discusses this.  Since this quote is a bit long I’ve put …

Biblical Theology and Mission

 Christopher Wright's The Mission of God is one outstanding book.  I'm grateful to a friend who pointed it out when we were talking about missions and church planting.  I really cannot recommend it enough.  The Mission of God  is quite long and detailed (over 5oo pages!), but Wright's style is clear, his structure is easy to follow, and his …

Global Church Planting

 Many thanks to Baker Publishing for sending me this review copy: Global Church Planting by Craig Ott and Gene Wilson (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2011). This book is difficult to review because it is an in-depth manual that covers nearly every aspect of church planting. I'd love to discuss all the details in-depth here, but the review …

Evangelism and Experience

  If it is OK to say that the church is on a mission, the mission is surely to glorify God by proclaiming the gospel to Christians (to build them up) and to unbelievers (to rescue them from darkness).  J. Gresham Machen has a good word on evangelism and experience.  "Let us not deceive ourselves, my friends …

The Church in Exile

 Richard Bauckham, in his short but sweet Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Postmodern World, says this about the biblical image of God's people as exiles (from pages 80-81). "Its positive significance for mission is its call to the church to be a counter-cultural movement, living for a different God in a different way and with a …