Everybody has a theology. That is to say, everyone has a perspective of God and a way in which they interact with that perspective. You are what you think. What you think about God is the most important thought you will ever have. Personal theology is ingrained in the human experience. Everyone views the world … Continue reading Theological Beings
For years I have been part of a church culture that employs an attractional approach to ministry. For too long we have relied on programs and uniformity to determine our worth. The tradition of the local church, in many instances, stems from an internal focus. We have mastered the art of entertainment, and we are … Continue reading Attractional to Incarnational
Shifting from a traditional to a missional focus proves to be complicated, and my church’s transition did not come without its share of difficulties. As the leadership team committed to developing a deeper understanding of mission, they also realized the importance of shaping a perspective beyond that of their traditional underpinning. In their commitment to … Continue reading Traditional to Missional
People leave churches for a variety of reasons. Financial difficulties, leadership transitions, ministry programs, etc. are the wrong reasons to leave a church. Others complain about the lack of children and youth ministries without ever getting involved and trying to help make a difference themselves. Other exit strategies include the following: “The worship leader refused … Continue reading Three Reasons To Leave A Church
“God comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable” ~Shane Claiborne. It happens throughout Scripture. I’ve learned this firsthand. I was comfortable in ministry in a beautiful city, with a loving congregation, when suddenly God said, “It’s time to go.” It didn’t surprise me, because in my suburban comfort, I increasingly felt uneasy as I grew … Continue reading Embracing Discomfort
A church on mission is forward-thinking. Though it is respectful of the history and traditions that have been created behind it, it always looks to the future with great anticipation. It’s like hiking a high mountain; there are various campsites on the way up, but the goal is to reach the summit. We must move … Continue reading Mission Of Love
Church is a Verb! The call of Christ is not passive. It’s active. It includes becoming a visible expression of God in the world. It consists of a group of people called to participate in God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Jesus calls his followers to a life of sacrificial service. Being the Body of Christ … Continue reading Church Is A Verb
About 350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness. In the fourth year the people tried to … Continue reading Without Vision People Perish
Our job is to make goodness fashionable. It doesn’t matter if someone’s life is ruined, degraded, or wrecked beyond comprehension, as God’s ambassadors we connect the world with the goodness of God in such a way that anyone has the potential to become a new creation. Then God will make of others what he is … Continue reading Making Goodness Fashionable
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it” ~Psalms 24:1 God is a missionary God. His very nature is missional. The church only discovers the mission of God as it is gathered into the life of God. More than ever, it appears the church has misplaced … Continue reading Missio Dei
Brian L Powell 