Nothing shakes a growth group up like new members, but what if those new members are non-Christians? How should you lead in that situation? How do you manage the good things and the difficulties?
My natural self wants to be independent and self-sufficient; not only is that impossible, it’s also stubbornly prideful.
Let me tell you about the Ninjas. It started at a Trellis and Vine Workshop Marty Sweeney and I were running in an old weather-board Baptist church in Atlanta, Georgia. We’d been invited there by a young black pastor (whose presence in Atlanta was a remarkable story in itself),
Scripture indicates that the apostle was flexible in his approach to sharing the gospel. Different contexts, it seemed, encouraged him to broaden his repertoire.
On Friday afternoons I find myself sitting in McDonald's, a cup of tea in hand, listening intently to girls ten years younger than myself. This precious hour is one of the highlights of my week. I love meeting with the teenage girls from church, chatting about life and God and
These days the word love has kind of by default come to mean something like ‘affirmation’. To love someone or something necessarily means to approve every bit of them. To disagree with some aspect of their life or character means you must hate them, or be afraid of them. (Although,
Don't get me wrong, I believe in rest. I know the ministry staff and leaders in our churches work very hard during the year, and need a good break over summer. Which necessarily means that many of our church ministry programs close down for 6-8 weeks. But that doesn't
Hanging in There is a book about God, you, the Bible, prayer, church, relationships, sex, feelings, doubts, love and, above all, 'hanging in there' as a Christian. If you're a young Christian (teenager to early twenties), new to the Christian faith or a long-serving Christian who could use some encouragement this book is for you. [ebook format]
John Chapman's classic guide to the how and why of sharing your faith. (236 pages)
Often when we share the gospel, we speak as though we are 'broken' people, whom Christ has rescued from our 'brokenness'. Claire Smith discusses why such terminology may not be that helpful.