Dan Reiland, on his excellent blog, writes about “The Great Value of Churches Under 100” in AWA. “God intended ALL churches to grow,” he says, but God is the one who gives numerical growth. Generally, we can influence numerical growth, but we don’t determine it. “It is God’s power, not human ability, that determines the … Continue reading Summary: “The Great Value of Churches Under 100”
Ministry & Missions
Evangelical Engagement pt 5: The Problem of Dependence
So I'm going to write something blasphemous now. To wit: long-term financial support from the USA for European pastors and churches can be bad for the churches. Let me explain. I see three ways that this support becomes counterproductive. FIRST, the "cultural thing." Long-term support comes with strings attached, expectations that are sometimes not sensitive … Continue reading Evangelical Engagement pt 5: The Problem of Dependence
“Don’t Pull Me Up” (A Meditation)
My friends, Dave & Betsy Scott, are Nazarene missionaries here in Zagreb. God is doing AMAZING work through them among the Muslim refugees here. They're having a significant number of baptisms, developing leaders from among the refugees, etc. We (Biblijski institut) are proud to be able to partner with them. After a recent baptismal service, … Continue reading “Don’t Pull Me Up” (A Meditation)
From CT: “When Women Follow a Scandalous God”
I 100% agree with this: This amazing scandalous God is regularly asking women to use the gifts he has given them in ways that are contrary to established customs and traditions. And as they step out and say yes to his invitations and callings on their lives just like the women in the New Testament, … Continue reading From CT: “When Women Follow a Scandalous God”
“God’s Word for Croatia”
This is the message I brought to the 14th Annual Conference of the Churches of Christ in Croatia this past Friday. I was asked to speak on the topic of "God's Word for Croatia," addressing our dependence on the Bible and the benefits that come from being centered in scripture. Click here to listen. The … Continue reading “God’s Word for Croatia”
On My Way to Vukovar
I am traveling today (by train, a new experience for me) to Vukovar, a city on the Croatian side of the Danube River, across the river from Serbia. There I will participate in (and speak to) the annual conference of the Churches of Christ in Croatia. Vukovar is famous because of its recent history; here … Continue reading On My Way to Vukovar
Evangelical Engagement, pt 4: Responding to the State Religion
Some thoughts on how we should engage with adherents of the state religions in Europe. Again, I am thinking primarily of Catholics, but engagement with Orthodoxy and other state religions will be similar, I think. Engage with the gospel. Evangelicals need to look to engage SCA's (state church adherents) on every possible front, with love, … Continue reading Evangelical Engagement, pt 4: Responding to the State Religion
Evangelical Engagement pt 3: “Why Evangelical Churches Struggle in Europe”
This is my summary of an EXCELLENT post by Patrick Nachtigall at three-worlds.com. I'm still thinking through the damage that christendom (the state church) does to the pursuit of biblical Christianity. Nachtigall has some important insights. In what follows, I have kept the labels that Nachtigall gives to the thirteen factors, but otherwise paraphrased his … Continue reading Evangelical Engagement pt 3: “Why Evangelical Churches Struggle in Europe”
Evangelical Engagement pt 2: The Acts Model
Yesterday I examined two models for evangelical engagement with non-practicing adherents of the state churches in Europe. I suggested that evangelicals should engage in a way modeled after the way the church in the Book of Acts interacted with the Jewish communities that surrounded it. The earliest Christ-followers were Jews themselves, in a country where … Continue reading Evangelical Engagement pt 2: The Acts Model
Circleslide 