Platt's Mideast simulcast grapples with 'why'
David Platt said he doesn't know why he was born in the shadow of dozens of churches when people on the other side of the world are born, live and die without ever hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"I can't answer the question why," the Alabama pastor told a crowd of 400 believers of more than 50 nationalities in an undisclosed location in the Middle East.
"But I do know this: I've been reached for a reason" -- to complete Matthew 4:19, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Platt's Aug. 14 message focused on "Follow Me," his latest follow-up book to the bestselling "Radical." Read more
The Gospel and The American Dream
Exile — which is the ongoing state of the Church today as it was for Israel then — presupposes that we are in Babylon, not Jerusalem. And one of the major mistakes the Church has made is expecting Babylon to act like Jerusalem, to be like Jerusalem, to even recognize Jerusalem as something ideal to be. We see this in the way Christians keep trying to convince non-Christians that America is really a Christian nation and needs to start acting like it again.
The reality is that we should not expect Babylon to start acting like Jerusalem. Our calling instead is to live like Jerusalem within Babylon. What does this look like? The prophetic words are helpful.... Read more
Healthy Churches are Messy
There are as many definitions of a healthy church as there are people who have attempted to define one. The emphasis of church health often falls on numerical growth, but weekly attendance averages are inadequate metrics of health on their own. Doctrine is key, but denominations exist for a reason. Even non-denominational churches cannot (or should not) be atheological. So a wide theological consensus on what is healthy is unlikely. Throw in small groups, mission work, and diversity, among many other things, and it becomes difficult to create a universal set of definitive metrics.
But I believe most—hopefully all—of us can agree on one vital indicator of health: People in our churches should be telling others about Jesus and inviting them to worship services. And ironically, successful churches in this area will often be viewed as unhealthy. Why do some healthy churches look unhealthy from the outside? Read more
Implement a Simple Disciple-Making Strategy: The 1st Pitfall to Avoid
Albert Einstein wrote, “Out of complexity, find simplicity.”
This quote was the basis for the immensely helpful book Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger. At one time, it seemed as if every pastor was not only reading the book but also implementing the four fold elements within: clarity, movement, alignment, and focus. After extensive research, the authors uncovered a simple process among vibrant churches.
These same elements can be applied to discipleship. Here are some pitfalls to avoid when forming a discipleship ministry. Read more
Three Ingredients for an Evangelistic Church Culture
I’m convinced it’s better for your church to have an evangelistic culture than just a series of evangelistic programs.
In a church with a program-driven approach to evangelism, sharing the gospel can become something mostly for certain people at certain times, like when the evangelism team goes out visiting.
But in a church with an evangelistic culture, each member is encouraged to play a role within the larger church’s effort to reach the people around them with the message of salvation in Jesus. It becomes a part of every believer’s life. Read more
Why Disciple in Groups?
More books and conferences under the banner of disciple-making are available now than ever before. As a result, believers are contemplating the implications of the Great Commission for their lives. With a better understanding of discipleship come questions of how to replicate the process. One important facet is how many people should be discipled together. The size of your discipleship group should be considered before approaching potential group members.
I have found that the most effective discipleship groups, what we call D-Groups, are gender-exclusive. Men should meet with men, and women should meet with women. Some topics and personal problems should not be discussed in a mixed group. While it is wonderful for couples to study God’s Word and grow spiritually together, the crucial dynamic of a D-Group is compromised when couples are involved, particularly in the areas of transparency and accountability. Read more
The Insufficiency of Small Groups for Discipleship
In my limited experience, I have found few pastors and church leaders satisfied with their discipleship efforts. Almost every evangelical church in America would say it wants to make disciples of Jesus and has a strategy in place for how that will be accomplished. Whether through small groups, discipleship classes, or solely the corporate Sunday gathering, churches are legitimately trying to make disciples. And yet many churches are far from satisfied at their efforts.
Early in the journey of planting The Austin Stone, we surveyed our efforts at community, discipleship, and outreach. At first glance, we were a relatively healthy, growing church with good attendance in small groups. Digging a little deeper, though, we recognized that people defined "community" primarily by the event they attended on a weeknight, and only a handful of groups had even invited someone who didn't know Jesus to participate. This process of thinking critically about our communities and disciples helped us to realize our church needed new forms of gathering if we would faithfully live as missionaries in our culture.
Previously for TGC, I unpacked the distinctions between missional communities and other predominant forms of community in the American church. Rather than simply point out deficiencies, I want to present the strategy that missional communities employ to cultivate discipleship, community, and mission together over time.
Briefly, missional communities at The Austin Stone:
•Gather as a community in a family meeting.
•Gather as disciples in a life transformation group.
•Gather as missionaries in a third place. Read more
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