Evangelism is inviting, encouraging, and inspiring travelers to journey with us to the City of God. | Over two decades ago, my friend, Raul, and I travelled to New Delhi, India, just for a day. We actually had no business…
Do We Need a Stronger Word for ‘Faith’?
In his provocative book Salvation by Allegiance Alone, Matthew W. Bates expresses deep concern that Christians—particularly North American conservative evangelicals—misunderstand what the Bible means when it calls people to faith. Too often, he argues, they reduce faith to cognitive assent, as…
Why Churches Should Give Gifted Women a Chance
From her several decades of experience in women’s ministries and in seminary classrooms, Alice Mathews has gained an appreciation for the gifts godly women offer the church. In Gender Roles and the People of God: Rethinking What We Were Taught about…
Breaking Church-Growth Barriers: Build A Bigger Leadership Table
How many of us would admit that we have experienced more failures than we’d have liked in leading our churches? It’s never easy to reflect honestly on our leadership mistakes; however, measurable outcomes and practical goalposts are critical if our…
The Kind of Woman I Want To Be
As we observe women in the church today, we see the vast majority striving to meet perfection. They have allowed today’s society and media to influence their view of what women should be. Many women feel overwhelmed by the unrealistic…
Man Shall Not Live on the New Testament Alone
What do Christians do with the Old Testament, with its weird laws, brutal violence, and unpredictable God? Some are confused by it, some are afraid of it, and some simply ignore it. Our confusion, fear, and avoidance of the Old…
Being People of Truth in a World of Fake News
One of the hottest topics in our culture is fake news. I’ve written about it, and others have as well. Obviously, not all news is fake. At the same time, not everything that calls itself news is real news. When…
Ministry in the Present Tense Unshackle yourself from the tyranny of the past and future.
I’ve reached that stage in my ministry when it feels like I have more time behind me than in front. I know this isn’t really true. I realize I am wending my way toward eternity where I will serve God…
Three Keys to Increasing Church Planting Capacity in Denominations
A generation of Christians that has grown up with microwaves is also sold on the idea of movements. But rarely do these things go together. Movements are not instantaneous—they can explode (that’s what makes them movements) but they don’t just…
Why Christians Should Avoid Watching Rape Scenes
On the difficult topic of rape, Americans seem to be in a weird paradox. On one hand, we consume plenty of movies and TV shows that depict it, often graphically. The Handmaid’s Tale, 13 Reasons Why, and, of course, Game of Thrones are…