Author: Jonathan Dodson

Big Issues Facing the Church

Posted on April 5, 2010

If you are curious about how Austin City Life is trying to address some of the big issues facing the church, take a few minutes to read through Tim Keller’s brief essay “How Do We Handle the Big Issues of the Church.” Although these are not the Top 5 Issues in general for Austin City Life, they are in important.

In brief, here are the five issues. Feel free to comment. Do you agree, disagree?

1. The local church has to support culture-making.

2. We need a renewal of apologetics.

3. We need a great variety of church models.

4. We must develop a far better theology of suffering.

5. We need a critical mass of churches in the world’s largest cities.

Viral Hope Arrives!

Posted on April 3, 2010

I just received 25 copies of Viral Hope: Good News from the Urbs to the Burbs. As read the last section of the book today, I was inspired by the good writing and ministry reflected in these short essays. The unique contribution of this book is its collection of 50 local voices articulating the gospel in their own context. It’s inspiring to read stories of how the hope of the Good News of Jesus is making its way into so many places in the world.

Order at Amazon

Will glo Bible Replace Bound Bible?

Posted on April 3, 2010

GLO is the brainchild of Nelson Saba, a Brazilian evangelical Christian who was once, before his conversion, a technology vice president at Citibank. Three years ago, he joined forces with Phil Chen, a Taiwanese businessman whose family has an interest in the publicly traded company HTC, manufactures handheld wireless devices designed to compete with the iPhone.

Chen, 31, comes from generations of devout Christians and is a Christian minister himself, trained and ordained at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. He was in Afghanistan building schools and orphanages for poor kids when he started thinking about the ways in which he could use technology for a good cause. “If I give this,” he told me, gesturing at his cell phone, “to a child, I’m not giving him a book. I’m giving him a library, a university, a future.”

HT: Newsweek

How Good is Good Friday to You?

Posted on April 2, 2010

How good was Good Friday to the disciples of Jesus, our forefathers in the faith? How good is Good Friday to us?

The Garden of Gethsemane

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Are you Asleep?

Is your faith asleep? Do you rest unconsciously, not consciously, in the death of Christ? Many of us sleep to own our shame, possessing a faith of sleepy indifference to Jesus’ suffering. We desperately need a soul-awakening to the cost, merit, and person of Jesus Christ. We do not pray. We do not watch. We do not plead for deliverance from temptation.

While Jesus was weeping in the garden, we were sleeping under the tree. In one of his moments of greatest discomfort, we rested in unconscious comfort. What shame. What mercy!

What Shame, What Mercy!

As you contemplate our Savior’s excruciating sacrifice today, make much of his sacrifice by bringing your sins to him in confession. I began the day by confessing my unconscious reliance on the cross, my relative indifference to his suffering for my salvation and joy. What shame. Ah, but Jesus does not leave us in our shame. Extend your arms and soberly, gladly receive the benefits of his death—total forgiveness and total love. What mercy!