Category Archives: Uncategorized

Surprised by Hope: The Resurrection, Mission & Kingdom

Wright cites as a central verse 1 Cor 15:58 — (1 Cor 15:58 ) Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor … Continue reading

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Surprised by Hope: Justice

Beginning at page 213, Wright argues that one part of the church’s mission is justice. By “justice” he means the realization of God’s plan to set the world right. Wright warns us against the view of many that the world … Continue reading

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Which Gospel? The Gospel of the Spirit: On Becoming Truly Human for the First Time, Part 2

Eden Look at it this way. Back in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve walked with God. They were God’s household. It was no mere metaphor. They enjoyed communion with the Almighty in a very tangible, immediate way. For … Continue reading

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Managing Missions: Are Short-Term Missions a Good Investment?

Thanks to Monday Morning Insight, I found this recent article in the Washington Post questioning the benefits of short-term mission trips. Fairfax Community Church is repositioning its mission trips “to get away from the vacation-with-a-purpose, large groups going somewhere to … Continue reading

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Which Gospel? The Gospel of the Spirit: On Becoming Truly Human for the First Time, Part 1

In the last post on this topic, I mentioned a “gospel of true humanity.” It’s not something we talk about much, but it’s important — nearly central. It is, after all, what the Spirit is all about. And the baptism … Continue reading

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On Bad Elders: Doing a Better Job of Selecting Elders, Part 1 (Training the Members)

Removing lousy elders can be really ugly. It’s never pleasant for the man being removed or for those confronting him and asking him to step down. It’s far, far better to ordain men who will make into good elders. Lots … Continue reading

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Which Gospel? The Gospel of Grace

It’s hardly surprising that our study of “gospel” begins with grace. Where else? I’m not going to attempt to lay out the rudiments of God’s grace, as I’ve already done that in the Amazing Grace series. Rather, I think it … Continue reading

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On Bad Elders: Removing Lousy Elders, a Story

A long time ago, in a land far, far away (not that far, actually), the men of a church gathered in a classroom. Two men had organized the meeting, and one acted as chair. “Most of you know why we’re … Continue reading

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Pagan Christianity and Congregational Autonomy, Part 2

The post on Pagan Christianity attracted several questions about what autonomy really means in the modern church world. Here are a few thoughts to add to the mix. * I dont’ really know how the monarchic episcopy evolved so quickly … Continue reading

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Which Gospel? Summarizing the Results

I started by saying I’ve been struggling with figuring out which of the many good ideas about the nature of Christianity is where the church should be focused. As kind of an experiment, I thought I’d look for a path … Continue reading

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