We’ve just had a 9-day travelling holiday in the Red Centre of Australia. Judith had been to Prayer Conferences at Uluru, the indigenous name for Ayer’s Rock, but I’d never seen “The Rock” as we Australians affectionately call it. I…
Making Disciples Today
The major view today is that people encounter Jesus and grow as disciples in a church. It is interesting to note that there is a lack of Biblical examples of this view of disciple-making. People met Jesus at the side…
Evaluating Our Approach
Because we behave as we believe, our worldview guides and informs our decisions and actions. Sometimes our view brings clarity, and at other times it can distort reality. A seemingly rational worldview can be true, partially true, or entirely false.…
The Therapeutic-driven Approach
There has been a growing trend among Evangelicals over the past fifty years to make the Church Service more relevant to unbelievers. As part of that the messages/sermons are designed to help people feel comfortable and show them how to…
The Importance of Context
In Matthew 9:37‑38, Jesus tells us the key to a great harvest of many people is to ask for more workers. The more we ask, the more workers. The more workers, the greater the harvest. It’s a simple equation. “The…
‘Where are you’ as a disciple maker
Recently I have been spending time with a group of young leaders who are part of a large church. They have been meeting as a group to share how they can more effectively make disciples. As part of their journey…
How can I curb the trend of kids leaving the church after high school?
I have heard this question asked over and over again… among all types of churches and all types of congregations. Kids leaving church after high school is an almost universal concern among church leaders. If we use the statistics I…
Discipleship Today
“The Simpson’s” animated sitcom may not be a viewing preference for you but you have probably heard about it or viewed it at least once. The very structure of the television show follows the classic era of the family sitcom…
Patrick and Early Irish Christianity
The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West…Again by George G. Hunter III traces Celtic Christianity in Ireland during the 5th century. In this very readable book, Hunter points out the true genius of this ancient form…
Why does disciple making begin outside of the Church?
Obviously from the title of this blog I believe disciple making begins outside of the Church. My position (paradigm) is influenced by four things: I’m a disciple of Jesus and have been for a long time I live in Australia which…