I’m incredibly excited about what is happening in our church right now. We’re really dialing in on discipleship, more than ever, in a variety of ways. As we assessed the health of our church, we evaluated the four “selfs” of a viable church plant.

• Self-Governing – a church led by a plurality of elders
• Self-Sustaining – a church financially supported by its own people
• Self-Reproducing – a church that multiplies disciples, missional communities, and church plants
• Self-Gospeling – a church that is equipped to apply the gospel to itself and to its own cultural context

At our inaugural PlantR Microconference, we are hosting Alan Hirsch on the topic of Missional Discipleship. Session 2 is on Incarnational Mission (how to make disciples).

Incarnation As Mission

• We are sent like the Father sent the Son–incarnation.
• Jesus is in the neighborhood for 30 years and nobody knew.
• This way of incarnating the gospel is the most profound way God has ever engaged the world.
• If the incarnation is the way God sends, then we must become incarnational.
• The apostles worked with the message Jesus is Lord and that was enough.
• You don’t commute to your mission.

Here are some event & conferences I am looking forward to speaking at this Fall. I’ll be presenting fresh material at a lot of these. In particular, I’ll be focusing on what I’m calling Integrated Discipleship (theology meets practice big time), the Challenges of Missional Community (stories of failure, difficulty, and struggle to make MCs work).

Most of these are currently live for Registration!

• The GCM Collective Conference -
• CITY LEADERSHIP: MicroConference on Missional Community
• Initiative 22: Montreal, QC
• Gospel-Centered Discipleship (w/ Joe Thorn) – site coming…
• Acts 29 Regional Church Planter Cohort
• Orlando Grace Men’s Conference

There are so many great things in the works, I thought I would give a bullet list of things to look for this Fall:

• City Seminary: 2 stellar courses that will fit, inspire, and equip everyone in our church! Registration starts soon! First Micro
• PlantR: Microconferences & Missional Hubs start this Fall. Don’t miss this Thursday meeting if you’re a local church planter! RSVP for free BBQ lunch!
• GospelCenteredDiscipleship.com – our launch of this all things GCD site is just days away. The content is top-notch and will equip many to make, mature, and multiply gospel-centered disciples!
• The Gospel & Domestic Arts: Don’t miss this week-long series of posts on how people in Austin City Life are pushing the gospel through ordinary things

It’s been about a week of vacation, nestled in the Vail mountains, where Dodson families converged to share a condo, rest, recreate, and fellowship. I’ve learned, not so much from study, but from seeing generosity.

A Generous Spirit is Hard to Find

My parents generosity continues to amaze me. Their stated goal, even during a recession, is to give generously, not primarily to their kids, but to God’s kingdom. This generosity isn’t a mere act but an act of worship. Their generosity has affected Christians and non-Christians around the world. It extends well beyond finances into (or from) a generous spirit. A mundane example from our vacation…

As a family of five, my family is the largest by far among my two brother’s families. Yet, I’m never made to feel guilty when Dad a picks up the restaurant bill for everyone. There are no cutting remarks, snide comments, or jokes about how many mouths there are to feed. In fact, a number of years ago my father told all of us: “Whenever we all meet for a meal, I’ll pick up the tab. Don’t feel like you have to offer to pay. It’s something I enjoy doing.”

Now, I realize that not everyone has this kind of financial liberty, but we all have the opportunity, every single day, to make others feel as though they are in our debt or as though they are in our blessing. We all have the power to make others feel judged or free, as an imposition or as part of the the family. We choose one or the other many times a day. We do it with time.

Generosity of Time

Are people made to feel as though they are robbing your precious time or do they walk away sensing they are free recipients of it?

My father is the CEO of a company, an elder in his local church, and is currently dealing with several emotionally taxing issues. Yet, he remains open, generous, interested in our lives. He listens and asks questions. He pauses to take great delight in is grandchildren. He pursues us in conversation. He plays tennis and enjoins topics of conversation unique to each person.

My mother is ever-present, serving in the background in silent generosity. Meals, dishes, shopping, and laundry, magically remain in order while everyone enjoys their vacation. She has plenty of vocational responsibilities. Yet, she anticipates the needs and preferences of nine to eleven people, and meets them. Blessing flows out from her.

Emotional Generosity

Generosity also has an emotional expression. Do we listen intently to others as they share their joys and struggles or do we secretly lie in wait to express our preference, experience, or current emotion?

Do people feel emotionally drained or strengthened when they walk away from conversation with you?

My mother is one of the best listeners I know, not because she is silent, or because she nods her head continually, but because her eyes tell me she is listening. And when she does speak, it is with understanding. She speaks, not to hijack conversation but to climb deeper into it, into your life. This is how she has deeply and effectively counseled so many women through so many crises. Whether it is a friend in a small group or a confused, broken woman who walked through the door of a crisis pregnancy center, Kaye remains generously present.

Generous Discipleship

Discipleship is about generosity. Take a mental stroll through the Gospels and you will find, again and again, Jesus giving generously of his time and emotions, even when he is exhausted or overwhelmed. As the multitudes press in, as the marginalized reach out to touch him, as his own followers puzzle over his identity, Jesus remains present, listening, giving, and speaking. With his eyes upon their hearts, he offers extended time and enriching presence.

Jesus is not distracted with “the kingdom”; he is present, building the kingdom. People are not an imposition; they are, very profoundly, his creation, his flesh and blood, his family. Jesus offers both presence and understanding as he climbs deeply into our lives. If Jesus was stingy, he would not have lived thirty-three years with us, three of which have spawned countless disciples and endless reflection.

Jesus’ life also teaches us that generosity requires sacrifice. Time, emotions, possessions, and energy must be subtracted from our lives if they are to be added to others. Jesus did not host events and call it discipleship; he hosted people and called them his own. Blessing poured out of him. From the backwoods of Galilee to wood of Golgotha, Jesus gave generously. This is grace.

Grace gives without demand, offers freedom not debt. Grace remakes men. It makes disciples of consumers, freeing us to spend our time and emotions on others. It reminds us that God has made so much of us in Christ, that we have much to give away to others. When Jesus died, he gave life. And to his disciples he says: Truly I say unto you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (Jn 12:24) Generosity requires sacrifice, but the life it nurtures invigorates both giver and recipient, such that we would say: “You don’t have to offer. It’s something I want to do. You have no idea how much I have received, and how much I love to give.”

While financial gifts can help many, it is the generosity of our own lives that will leave the greatest impression. Disciples of Jesus give generously. They leave an impression of grace.

Guest post by Josh Reeves, who is planting Redeemer Church in Round Rock, Tx.

Recently I made a list of 100 ways to engage your neighborhood. I have found that it is often helpful to have practical ideas to start engaging the people around me in order to be a better neighbor. Most of the things on this list are normal, everyday things that many people are already doing. The hope is that we would do these things with Gospel intentionality. This means we do them:

• In the normal rhythms of life pursuing to meet and engage new people
• Prayerfully watching and listening to the Holy Spirit to discern where God is working.
• Looking to boldly, humbly, and contextually proclaiming the Gospel in word and deed.

Below is a list of my top 25. The full list of 100 is available to download below the list. Not all of these are for everyone, but hopefully there will be several ideas on the list that God uses to help you engage your neighbors. Would love to hear stories of how you have lived some of these out or other ways you have engaged your neighbors.
1. Stay outside in the front yard longer while watering the yard
2. Walk your dog regularly around the same time in your neighborhood
3. Sit on the front porch and letting kids play in the front yard
4. Pass out baked goods (fresh bread, cookies, brownies, etc.)
5. Invite neighbors over for dinner
6. Attend and participate in HOA functions
7. Attend the parties invited to by neighbors
8. Do a food drive or coat drive in winter and get neighbors involved
9. Have a game night (yard games outside, or board games inside)
10. Art swap night – bring out what you’re tired of and trade with neighbors
11. Grow a garden and give out extra produce to neighbors
12. Have an Easter egg hunt on your block and invite neighbors use their front yards
13. Start a weekly open meal night in your home
14. Do a summer BBQ every Friday night and invite others to contribute
15. Create a block/ street email and phone contact list for safety
16. Host a sports game watching party
17. Host a coffee and dessert night
18. Organize and host a ladies artistic creation night
19. Organize a tasting tour on your street (everyone sets up food and table on front porch)\
20. Host a movie night and discussion afterwards
21. Start a walking/running group in the neighborhood
22. Start hosting a play date weekly for other stay at home parents
23. Organize a carpool for your neighborhood to help save gas
24. Volunteer to coach a local little league sports team
25. Have a front yard ice cream party in the summer

See full list of 100

Verge posted a video interview with me today. In this video I answer questions like:

• Who are you?
• Is the Gospel dangerous?
• What does risk look like in following Jesus?
• How are we called and equipped for the risk that comes with mission?
• How does entertainment prohibit mission?
• How does the gospel compel risky mission?

I wrote a follow up article to work out the idea of a “Dangerous Gospel.”

Book Review: Movements That Change the World by Steve Addison

This guest review is by Josh Reeves, who is planting a church in Round Rock, TX in partnership with Austin City Life.

Overview

In this short 128 page book Addison lays out five keys to spreading the Gospel. Overall Addison does a good job of keeping the language accessible to everyday readers, while also pointing those who would desire a deeper treatment of certain topics to a nice selection of supplemental resources.  One of the things I appreciated most about the book was that it got its point across cogently, making it easy to grasp the key ideas while moving quickly through the content.

The main purpose of the book is to outline what Addison sees as the five key elements present in movements that possess the capacity to spread the Gospel. The five elements identified in the book are White-Hot Faith, Commitment to a Cause, Contagious Relationships, Rapid Mobilization, and Adaptive Methods. Before expanding upon each of the five elements, Addison opens the book by telling the story of St. Patrick and the missionary movement he started among the Irish Celts. It was a great way to excite the readers appetite for radical movements of the Gospel.

Summary of 5 Movement Elements

White-Hot Faith (Chapter 1)

“Missionary movements begin with men and women who encounter the living God and surrender to loving obedience to his call.”

I appreciated that that from the start of the book he makes it clear that any movement is going to be driven by God powerfully working in his peoples heart. Dynamic missionary movements cannot exist apart from the power of the Spirit.  This is what Addison describes as “White-Hot Faith.”

Addison further explains this Spirit led dependence by what he calls, “Crisis” and “Process.” Crisis moments are explained as God’s initiative to “call a person to his service.” It is in these moments of crisis that  “we renounce dependence on anything but the presence and power of God.”

Process is defined as “all activities that deepen our relationship with God.” Addison gives several historical examples of movements that had Spiritual disciplines integrated into the rhythms of their members lives ( The Jesuits’ Spiritual Exercises of Loyola, Methodist and Moravian classes and bands which where accountability groups that met for prayer and confession of sin, Student Volunteer Movement had the “the morning watch”). The overall message was that no movement can be sustained on the initial crisis experience alone, there must be Spiritual disciplines to prepare the way for, and support, life changing experiences.

Commitment to a Cause (Chapter 2)

“Committed people make history by living in alignment with their deeply held beliefs.”

In chapter 2, Addison points out one of the more obvious elements of a movement in the book. Addison once again utilizes a nice mix of scripture, history, and modern examples to make his case.  This particular quote stuck with me and I found to be a valuable take away from the chapter:

“Living organisms are constantly seeking self-renewal by referring back to their essential identity and adapting to their environment.”

There is a necessity of commitment to a core identity, but also an element of adaptability that must be present in a movement for it to be sustainable.  Addison gives historical evidence for movements that declined due to losing their essential identity, as well as those who held their identity but failed to adapt (see pg. 63-64).

Contagious Relationships (Chapter 3)

“It does not take vast amounts of money to fill a nation with the knowledge of the gospel. What it takes is ordinary people, on fire with the love of Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, who are willing to tell their families, friends and casual acquaintances what God has done for them.”

Chapter 3 was practical and immediately applicable. It was a great reminder of the existing relational networks that God has put us in that we often overlook. It reminds us of the importance of relationships and how historically movements have spread along these network lines.

“Movements appear to grow spontaneously and randomly, but on closer inspection they are spreading within and across networks of relationships.”

Addison helpfully clarifies that these relational networks must maintain some level of tightness, but remain open enough that others can come into the network. The chapter is full of very helpful information tidbits on this idea. Much of what I gleamed from the chapter was immediately transferable and applicable to my own endeavor of church planting.  I walked away with a renewed vigor to prayerfully and strategically think through the existing relational networks in my own life, identifying what Addison describes as “connectors,” and utilizing those people to help us expand our relational network. All of this so that we might deepen relationships and tell others of what God has done for us in Jesus.

Rapid Mobilization (Chapter 4)

“It does not take vast amounts of money to fill a nation with the knowledge of the gospel. What it takes is ordinary people, on fire with the love of Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, who are willing to tell their families, friends and casual acquaintances what God has done for them.”

Chapter 4 was helpful but also proved to be the chapter I had the most concerns about. I loved the “Mobilization” part of the chapter (making disciples who are released to go and make disciples) but I struggled with the idea of doing this “rapidly.”  Nonetheless there was a great deal of good to take away from the chapter. One very helpful take away were the two lists Addison gives from Roland Allen.

List one listed Roland Allen’s seven conditions in which spontaneous expansion is inhibited:

1. When paid foreign professionals are primarily responsible to spread the gospel, causing the gospel to be seen as an alien intrusion.
2. When the church is dependent on foreign funds and leadership.
3. When the spread of the gospel is controlled out of fear of error, and both error and godly zeal are suppressed.
4. When it is believed that the church is to be founded, educated, equipped and established in the doctrine, ethics and organization before it is to expand.
5. When emerging leaders are restricted from ministering until they are fully trained and so learn the lesson of inactivity and dependency.
6. When conversion is seen as the result of clever argument rather than the power of Christ.
7. When professional clergy control the ministry and discourage the spontaneous zeal of nonprofessionals.

Allen’s other list was equally helpful. It lists 5 conditions that enhance spontaneous expansion:

1. When new converts immediately tell their story to those who know them.
2. When, from the beginning, evangelism is the work of those within the culture.
3. When true doctrine results from the true experience of the power of Christ rather than mere intellectual instruction. Heresies are not produced by ignorance but by the speculation of learned men.
4. When the church is self-supporting and provides for its own leaders and facilities.
5. When new churches are given the freedom to learn by experience and are supported but not controlled.

Overall the chapter produced some challenging questions for us to consider. It rubs against much of the institutional wisdom that has dominated the recent history of the church.

Adaptive Methods (Chapter 5)

“To fulfill their mission, the most effective movements are prepared to change everything about themselves except their basic beliefs. Unencumbered by tradition, movements feel free to experiment with new forms of the church and new effective methods of ministry.”

Chapter 5 gives some helpful tools with understanding past movements that are in rapid decline as well as ways to avoid that same fate. While affirming an unchanging message, Addison reminds us that our methods must be adaptable.

He very helpfully points out that once fruitful methods can become formalized and seen as the “right” methods. An organization can become so convinced what they are doing is right (because it worked at some point) that they stop paying attention to the world around them. Sadly, history shows us a long list of examples that prove this true of the church.

Conclusion

Overall, Movements that Change the World was a solid and concise work. It provides a wealth of practical insights while clearly defining the key components of dynamic movements. It puts forth a vision for world changing Christian movements that are rooted in orthodox Christian doctrine, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and adaptable to every context.  It challenges the church to take an honest look at our methods, and consider if they are accomplishing the mission at hand.

The Verge Network is running a series of interviews with some great folks who are leaders in missional community. They recently interviewed me (video posts next week) on the topic of Risk & the Gospel. The more I think about this topic of “Risk”, the more I’m convinced it is a helpful word to challenge consumer impulses in American Christianity. Risk, of course, comes with some theological baggage as it relates to God, but Verge (& Alan Hirsch) is more concerned with human risk. Should we risk? Is the Gospel dangerous? If so, what does risk look like in the life of a disciple and his/her community?

I wrote an article addressing these questions called: “Is the Gospel Dangerous?”

Summer is a great time for books, but anytime is a great time for books! For those interested, here’s what I recently finished or am currently reading:

Fiction

Nemesis

Sociology

HIP: the history

Modernist America: Art, Music, Movies and the Globalization of American Culture

American Grace: How Religion Divides & Unites Us

Theology

Did Adam & Eve Really Exist?

The Doctrine of the Christian Life

Faith & Culture

Should Christians Embrace Evolution?

The Call: Finding & Fulfilling Your Purpose in Life

Mission

Heart of the Gospel: The Theology Behind the Master Plan of Evangelism