Category: Connecting to Community
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The Forgotten Ways – Day one, part one
Here’s a quick list of a few things that stood out to me from the first day of class. Before you read, know this: I can’t include everything, so you’re getting a limited context. Read the books! Also, Alan is great at helping a group understand a problem so they see the need for a…
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This week – a look at how we ‘do’ church
I’m taking a one-week intensive with Alan Hirsch here at Fuller. I thought a class meeting from 8:30 – 4:30 would be overwhelming and tiring, but I’m loving it! My biggest challenge is thinking critically enough to push back and engage well in conversation, because I honestly agree with most, if not all of what…
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Discipleship – for unbelievers
Check out what Erwin McManus has to say about discipleship in this video. Here are a few of his points: “Christians love to be discipled, get more and more information so I can know more and more about God without actually having to do anything about it. And when you look at the scriptures, what…
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Communal dining is catching on
A fascinating article from the San Francisco Chronicle: From trendy neighborhood restaurants in San Francisco to casual breakfast spots in the East Bay, communal tables are cropping up everywhere. Designers are putting the big family-style tables into places such as Salt House in San Francisco, West County Grill in Sebastopol and A Cote in Oakland.…
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Seminary and relational “in-between-ness” (spending time on what really matters)
Seminary can be an amazing time. You’re preparing for ministry. And for one of the only times in life, you’re surrounded by people who believe something similar and are pursuing a similar calling. They may have different backgrounds. They may be diverse. But they have a similar passion. They’re preparing for a similar thing. That’s…
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Empowering leadership: helping people find their fit
One of the most important things to remember in leadership is that – amazingly – everyone doesn’t think like you do. It’s a lesson I learn time and again. And I’m a little surprised every time! It’s like this. I’m the kind of deranged person who likes leading. I like speaking. I feel comfortable being…
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Bonhoeffer and Claiborne on community
“Love community and you will kill it. Love your brother and you will build it.” –Dietrich Bonhoeffer If that makes you think too hard, I also like Shane Claiborne‘s paraphrase: “If you love the vision you have for community, you will destroy community. If you love the people around you, you will create community.” [HT:…
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Accountability – beyond the list
I love what Steven Furtick has to say about accountability: What if accountability was focused more on making each other great than making sure we were being good? We would all agree, and rightfully so, that if you see blatant sin in the life of another Christian, it is your responsibility to call it out. …
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Two-way teaching
We held the first of two sessions of our newly revamped new leader training for small groups today, and I had a great time getting to know some people who I know will launch some amazing groups. We’re trying something a little different than the church has done in the past. Our small group training…
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What does it mean to be ‘missional’?
Glenn Smith has some great thoughts here. “I’ve recently begun consulting relationships with a couple of new church plants and the leadership teams all claimed to be “missional.” As I asked them questions to understand their visions and their mental models of church, I realized very quickly that they were much more “consumer-driven” than missional.…
Jon Sampson 