Alan Hirsch’s seminal book, The Forgotten Ways (2006, 2016) is a prophetic call to the western church to come back to the movement DNA of the early church. 1. The center must be Jesus and the clear, simple message, “Jesus is Lord.” 2. From the Lordship of Christ, disciple-making naturally grows in obedience to ourContinue reading “The Forgotten Ways”
Category Archives: Multiplication
More Disciples
The early disciples were called followers of “the Way” (Acts 9:2; 19:9). There was a lifestyle they embraced that was noted by their admirers and their opponents. Damian Gerke wrote an insightful book cleverly titled In the Way. He shows how western church practices are keeping us from making disciples who make disciples, and winsomelyContinue reading “More Disciples”
Gospel Communities
When you see a well organized garden you immediately know several things have contributed to its fruitfulness: careful planning, intentional preparation, well timed planting and continual care. “But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” Mark 4:20Continue reading “Gospel Communities”
Character First
“Guard your heart with all possible vigilance, for from it flow the wellsprings of life.” Proverbs 4:23, NCB Leadership rises or falls based on character. God has always shown primary concern for the heart of a leader, patiently shaping their character before moving them into ministry. Abraham had to wait 25 years for Isaac. JosephContinue reading “Character First”
Disciplemaking Training
Several pastors gathered at Mission Hill for this training forum on disciplemaking. Paul Purvis kicked things off with a vision to reach the city together and a prophetic call to rethink the way we’ve been doing church for the last few decades. Darin Anderson shared his journey as a pastor in recent years, shifting fromContinue reading “Disciplemaking Training”
Streams and Buckets
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14 The glory of the Lord Jesus is spreading across the globe in fulfillment of promises like this one in Habakkuk and others like Acts 1:8 and Matthew 16:18. Jesus is building His church andContinue reading “Streams and Buckets”
Disciplemaking Signposts
As we seek to mobilize multiplying disciplemakers to every part of Tampa Bay, here is a simple roadmap to guide us. These three books have helped our leadership team begin to chart a course that can help all churches and all Christ followers in the region (re)orient our lives around the Great Commission. The MasterContinue reading “Disciplemaking Signposts”
My Journey
Here are four key lessons I have learned in my 20 years of ministry so far. It’s not about you; it’s all about Jesus Right out of college (Taylor in Indiana) I served as youth pastor at my home church in the suburbs of Chicago (Glenview, north of the city). I was on fire forContinue reading “My Journey”
Multiply
Ying Kai grew up in Taiwan, raised by an active evangelist and church planter who started a new church every year for 28 years! For several years Ying replicated his father’s practices and most looking on would have said he was remarkably fruitful. He and his wife, Grace, would lead 40-60 people to Christ everyContinue reading “Multiply”
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