Posted on February 20, 2009
The Austin Stone Missional Community blog is putting out some good posts. This post helpfully raises missionary questions that will promote MCs that think and act more wisely, communicating the gospel with greater missional savvy. Here are some questions your MC can ask in the process of understanding your culture and mission:
- What are the emotional needs of the elderly, families, teens, singles, men, women, children?
- What are the social, economic or educational needs of the same?
- What are the flaws and difficulties with the systems of the community?
- What is their worldview?
- What redemptive analogies best fit this culture?
- What does this culture understand about the basic components of the gospel story?
- What questions are being asked in the culture that point to their need for the gospel?
Posted on February 18, 2009
I’ve had a ton of stuff going on with not much time to post lately. Here are a few exciting things:
- Austin City Life gatherings are moving from the Hideout to The Parish, a nationally acclaimed venue on historic 6th Street. Pray for us.
- City Groups are multiplying, leaders are emerging, interns are applying, and the city is changing through our community! This morning I looked at 30 pictures from a Valentines missional event from one of our CGs. It brought tears to my eyes. The elderly population is so overlooked, sidelined in the U.S.
- I am working on a Fight Club booklet to be epublished through Resurgence. Should finish by the end of the month.
Had a good chat with Steve Timmis about Austin City Life piloting the theological-missional Porterbrook program here in Austin. Porterbrook is a remarkable blend of hermeneutics, biblical and systematic theology, missiology, gospel-centered life, and missional ecclesiology for contextualized ministry. We will likely take some interns and key leaders through a 
module. Here is an overview of the curriculum.- My wife and I will be in Seattle in March for the Acts 29 Bootcamp and to assess aspiring church planters. We will also take advantage of Timmis’ traning on gospel-centered community.
Posted on February 18, 2009
Archbishop William Temple said: “Your religion is your solitude.” In other words, where your thoughts go in your silence determine your religion, your chief objects of devotion and joy. Do our thought wander to God or to self, to entertainment or to community, to hobbies or to service? Prayer is also an indicator of our religion. Where do our prayers wander? To self or to others? To our wants or to others’ needs? How are we praying? For whom are we praying? Three brief thoughts on prayer and mission:
- Conversation with God leads to conversation with man. If we really listen to God in prayer, we will hear him compelling us to talk to others about Him. If we adore him, we will draw others into that adoration.
- Missional prayer results in conversational mission. Praying for others will lead to conversing with others about the gospel, how it addresses all of life from anger to reconciliation with God. The more we ask God to bless, change, encourage, renew, and comfort others, the more we will find ourselves, blessing, encouraging, and comforting others with the hope of the Gospel.
- Vertical Christianity produces horizontal Christianity. If God is truly first, man will be a close second. Our faith in Christ will produce good works for others. Entertainment, hobbies, and the internet will not come before people. People will be second to God in our lives and in our prayers.
Posted on February 18, 2009
You don’t have to be an “angry person” to have a problem with anger. Even complaining can be a form of sinful anger. My new article honestly explores everything from everyday anger to explosive anger, attempting to get at the angry root that makes us look more like Satan than Jesus. I hope you’ll read Anger, The Image of Satan and find gospel resources to grow in grace.
