In the gospels, eating with Jesus was surprisingly simple, and a great challenge to church planters today. Surely Jesus believed that prostitutes were sinners, yet he welcomed them to his table. He ate and drank with them.Surely Jesus understood that tax collectors, betrayed their countrymen by helping the brutal Roman occupiers in his homeland, yet…
Devotions
Friend of Sinners, No Friend to Sin
It’s an everyday observation now: Jesus was a friend to sinners. I read or hear it nearly everywhere I turn—so much, in fact, I wonder if we’ve thought it through completely. Let’s give it a try today: One of the most amazing (and challenging) things about Jesus is he's a friend of sinners, but no…
Church Planters: Get Near to Jesus
When you feel like you're dying inside, get near to Jesus. Sorry if that sounds like some toothless religious platitude. It’s not. It’s got jaws like a gator that won’t let go. The reason is that the antidote to Death is Life. The remedy for Decay is Resurrection. The solution isn’t to stir up more gusto for…
What Makes a Nehemiah? Patience
Waiting upon God with an attitude of humility is one of the prerequisites for church planting leadership.
Loaves and Fishes – And Planting Churches
Maybe we never graduate beyond having little to offer the God of the universe; the longer I do ministry, the more I suspect that it’s all just loaves and fishes.
Doubt: Four Lessons From Thomas, the Honest One
Doubt kept me from indigestion because I had to take things one bite at a time. Here are four things Thomas taught me about doubt.
