Category: Missio Dei
-
ReFrame: Following Christ in the Modern Era
What does it mean to follow Christ in our era? That is the central question for Christians in any era, but it is particularly challenging today. Some suggest that our postmodern and post-Christendom context is creating a level of disruption in the Church not seen since the Reformation. I think that is likely true. So…
-
Church is not Worship, Community, or Mission. It’s All Three
Rachel Young has a thoughtful article at the The Presbyterian Outlook's Outpost blog titled, Consumers, missionaries, or worshipers? She writes: … We use the language of buying and selling, of efficiency, of getting the best product for the best price, even as we think about our relationships, our work, our leisure, our church. We are…
-
Want to be Missional? Equip Those in the Workplace
The High Calling: Want to be Missional? Equip Those in the Workplace I was recently invited to teach a session of a seminary class called “Pastoral Functions” at an extension of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. In this class, the pastors-in-training had been discussing such topics as Worship, Disciplemaking, Evangelism, Visitation, Funerals, Weddings, Pastoral Counseling, Children’s…
-
Scot McKnight on Political Eschatology
Looking through articles commenting on the election this morning, I found this one by Scot McKnight. Jesus Creed: Politics and Eschatology Somewhere overnight or this morning the eschatology of American Christians may become clear. If a Republican wins and the Christian becomes delirious or confident that the Golden Days are about to arrive, that Christian…
-
Flying into our Future with the Wright Brothers
Jesus Creed (Scot McKnight): Flying into our Future with the Wright Brothers …Question: If you had to name one or two authors or themes that will be at the forefront of the future of theology, what would you choose? No, not those Wright Brothers, but another set of Wrights (who aren’t even brothers, except in…
-
Prosperity: “Your Kingdom Come…”
"Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Christians across the continents and the ages have continually prayed these words Jesus taught his disciples. They are central to the life and mission of the Church. But there are two important implications of this prayer. First, these words are an…
-
Prosperity: The Mission of God
The mission of God is not to get people saved. Now that I likely have your attention, let me also acknowledge that getting people saved is an essential piece of God's present work in the world. However, we must view God's mission from God's vantage point rather than ours. Failure to do so inevitably results…
-
Living Simply in Abundance (24)
I've suggested that we need to get in touch with the forces within us that distort our sense of need and be intentional in our financial management. Beyond this, I want to suggest that we must also become disillusioned. Isn't it interesting that the word "disillusion" has a negative connotation? After all, if we are…