If you keep up with Christian leadership literature, you know that for the last few years there’s been a rivalry of sorts created between “attractional” churches and “missional” churches. The idea is that we need to get away from the old attractional model and move toward a more missional model.
You see, in the attractional model, we invite people to the building. And we plan the worship service to be great — wonderful preaching, fabulous music service, greeters in the parking lot and foyer, and maybe even a coffee shop for those who come early.
In the missional model, the church is about leaving the building and going into the community to do good works and preach the gospel. Some churches encourage their Bible classes and small groups to meet in coffee shops — to let our light shine in the world. Some church plants have gone so far as to buy coffee shops in the city to interact with the unchurched and bring them to Jesus. Continue reading
Well, he’s written another excellent Christmas post: 
While teaching a class on the Ray Vander Laan series, it occurred to me that the key to the Sermon on the Mount is the Story. It should have been obvious, but it takes a while for these things to sink in, you know.
