Often believers have an escapist mentality causing them to seek safer and more restful surroundings, where they believe they can prosper as the people of God. Prospering often means, sprawling campuses, even hot tubs and saunas, Christian schools, Christian ball teams and the Christian duplication of most anything that will avoid contact with Egypt like Read more

          I find it odd that many writers and ministries are so concerned about the music that others use in worship. What’s the point of conferences either to attack or defend traditional forms?  Why do we care so much how another church worships? Enough has been said and written on both sides, rarely are others Read more

          Far be it from me to disparage seminary training or classes on church planting. For a number of years I taught seminary-level courses on both domestic and cross-cultural church planting at various institutions. Those classroom days seem to be over for the moment. For some odd reason (and some other good ones I’m sure Read more

One of the subjects we discussed at a recent gathering for Philly church planters was the assessment process and training for planting churches in urban areas. Many groups/movements provide assessments to help determine one’s giftedness, character, and calling to church planting. However, an assessment in California, Florida, or elsewhere by assessors without urban experience might Read more

          Last night my brother John and I met with a handful of Philly church planters, some who were meeting each other for the first time. There were men with Sovereign Grace Ministries, PCA, Vineyard, and Acts 29. And us, who at this time are not identified with any movement or denomination. What brought us Read more

          I’m just getting around to listening to the audio from the Preserving the Truth Conference. Among the topics treated was young earth creationism. YEC was presented as a “foundational truth that has to be preserved.” The speaker was a pastor who considers himself a scientist. As I was listening to the session on YEC I Read more

Another guest blog by John Davis at The Gospel First. As the people of the Messiah, we have the calling of ancient Israel, to gather the nations in worship of the Creator redeemer God. By His grace we have been engrafted into the life-giving vine, Jesus Christ and called to invite others to share this Read more

          A recent article on ShaperIron asked the question: “Why are the poor poor?” I'm not sure the right question is being asked or what a right answer will accomplish. However the reason why the poor are poor is relatively simple. Most poor people are BORN poor! Sure there are underlying causes, vicious cycles, but Read more

          Almost three years ago, while sitting in our little apartment on the outskirts of Paris, I wrote my first article for ShaperIron, an opinion on the direction of Fundamentalism as a movement. At that time I said: "What I am suggesting is that we may have entered a post-ism era where a movement will not define Read more

Here's a great thought for the day and every day:“When you’re tempted to doubt God’s love for you, stand before the cross and look at the wounded, dying, disfigured Savior, and realize why He is there. I believe His Father would whisper to us, ‘Isn’t this sufficient? I haven’t spared My own Son; I deformed Read more