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 nations.  Soon the thick walls of the Christian bubble become nearly impenetrable. Egypt and the nations are only viewed through the shatterproof glass. Within that protective bubble the remedies for the maladies of the outside world are concocted, even though they’ve never walked the streets of Egypt or tasted a falafel. 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 swayed by the arguments, and the polarization continues. You said it. We know what you like and don’t like.

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 :-)) there are fewer invitations to teach church planting when you are actually doing it. If you teach church planting you are likely to raise less controversy than if you do church planting. And for sure it’s more difficult to be away and spend time in a classroom unless the seminary is local.  However, it might be more accurate to say that I taught about church planting.

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 need to be complemented by urban specific assessment and assessors.  Further, church planting training in suburban classrooms by men who have no church planting experience or no urban experience cannot adequately prepare men for urban ministry. Are you called to urban church planting? Then there is no substitute for working with a church plant in an urban setting in order to have confirmation of your gifts and calling.

          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 together was our commitment to the gospel and our common burden for church planting in Philadelphia. The gospel transcends our denominational or movemental ties, or should. It does not erase those differences. We want to start a conversation to see how we can partner together and at what level in order to advance the cause of Christ.  It’s encouraging to see this happen especially since our experience with many independent Baptist churches has been less than encouraging. more

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 thought to myself that before this truth can be preserved it has to be proved.

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 life. We desire to share this grace with both Jews and the nations of the world. Providentially, at this time in history, God has made the carrying out of our task more accessible by bringing the nations of the world to cities like Philadelphia. Perhaps you have been sensing a deeper longing to fulfill your calling of seeing the blessing of Jesus the Messiah come to the nations of the world. Maybe right there in your community you can share the good news with those from many nations or, if you live in a homogeneous community, God may be calling you to the city to experience how the gospel creates a new community of diverse people. 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 mostly it’s that innocent children are born into poverty and brokenness who have never known anything different and rarely benefit from or have access to the privileges of upper classes. If you are reading this blog on your laptop today as an educated, employed, middle-class American, there’s a good chance (with some exceptions) that you didn’t lift yourself up by your bootstraps.

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 us and where our identity will not be limited to those who use the same labels we do."  My opinion was not well received in many quarters. In re-reading the article I find much confirmation taking place today of what I sensed at that time. As Dylan sang, "the times they are a-changin."

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 and disfigured and crushed Him — for you. What more could I do to persuade you that I love you?’” C. J. Mahaney, "Living the Cross Centered Life"