The Great Commission and 3 Types of Churches

After Jesus walked out of the tomb alive and just before He ascended to heaven, Jesus gave His disciples authority to join His mission of reconciling people to God, people of all nations. Jesus commissioned His disciples, sending them out to make disciples. His words have been called the Great Commission: “All authority has been […]

What John Stott Has Said About the Social Justice Debate

I am constantly living vicariously through the stories Kenton Beshore tells me about his time with John Stott. Kenton, my predecessor and the pastor emeritus at Mariners Church, was mentored by Stott. While I have Stott’s books on my shelves, Kenton has pictures of him and Stott together. While I quote Stott’s books, Kenton showed […]

5 More Learnings From Serving the Church as I Go Back to the Church

As I have transitioned out of a role that served tens of thousands of churches a year and back to the local church, leaders have asked me what lessons I am taking with me. “What learnings from serving many churches are you taking with you as you go back to serving one church?” The first […]

2 Essentials for Effective Ministry to New Believers

A local church is on the planet to make disciples, not merely help people “make decisions” for Christ and then leave them alone and uncared for. Sadly, in some churches people are led to “receive Christ” but are not challenged to grow in their new journey with Him. In these churches, leading someone to faith […]

Why People Are Not Sharing Their Faith

For years, I have heard church leaders bemoan the reality that the majority of Christians never or rarely share their faith with unbelievers. Though declaring the good new of Jesus to others is the responsibility of every Christ-follower, few people in our churches embrace the holy assignment. Why? In his book Contagious, author and professor Jonathan […]