Follow the promptings of the Spirit

Leadership, Missional

One of my friends went to the grocery store last week. As he was checking out, he had a strong impression to buy a rack of ribs. He didn't need ribs, but the sensation didn't go away. So he bought a rack of ribs anyway. As he drove home, he decided to give the...

Start with listening prayer

Missional, New Church Planting

Yesterday, our house church spent time in listening prayer. We asked God questions and waited quietly to sense the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Questions raised included ones like: Lord, what should be be asking you? What have you already shown us? Where are...

Where do you find the time?

Missional, Prioritizing

Living incarnationally, serving others, building relationships… that takes a lot of time. Where can we find it? It’s extremely difficult—if not impossible—to do so when our commitments in the existing church are too extensive. We try to hang onto the old too much,...

Measuring the fruit

Missional, New Church Planting

When I posted last time about rethinking church subsidies, I mentioned investing in leaders that have fruit rather than just potential. Some readers wondered how I would define fruit. Many of us are rightly skeptical of a system that counts success as full pews and...

Missio Intensive

Missional

This week I am taking part in the Missio Intensive in Denver. Here’s the link in case you don’t know what that is. I’m helping facilitate the breakout groups, and can I just say that I love this stuff? I love the part where after getting some great...