“And blessing—remember, we have been blessed to be a blessing,” I said. “How can we express that blessing toward one another? What has God given each of us? And do any of you have any needs that we can meet?” “Well, some of you couples with kids need to be able to...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rs8CPHuuHo

“OK, what about celebrating? How do we want to engage in this rhythm?” I asked. “I think we should celebrate every one of our birthdays.” “Yes, and anniversaries,” someone said. “Think about how rare it is these days for people to stay married, especially in this...

It was the bottom of the sixth inning. The Montreal Expos’ most feared hitter, Tim Raines, was at the plate. The pitcher glared at the catcher and checked the runner on first base. Then kicking high, he pushed off the rubber and threw as hard as he could. It was the...

Next, we clarify our mission. We remind one another that we are commanded by Jesus to make disciples of all people groups. So we ask: “What people and place do we believe God is collectively sending us to this year? Who do we hope to see become followers of Jesus...

“Now, how do we plan to recreate together?” I asked the group. “How should we keep the rhythm of resting, working, playing, creating, and restoring beauty in our lives apart and together?” “Well, let’s make sure we are all taking time off weekly to rest,” someone...

Let’s define what we are talking about. To put it very simply, a missional community is a group with the following characteristics: Jesus at the center Twenty to fifty (or more) people (including children) A clear mission to make disciples in a specific neighborhood...

Demetrius was right to be worried. The Ephesian silversmith made shrines for the goddess Artemis, and what kept him up at night—worrying about his job security—was the rapid growth of Christianity in his city. Up until a missionary named Paul arrived, the silver trade...

We have just released a new Bible Study based on the book: Culture Shock, by Chip Ingram These lessons are available on Amazon, as we as a part of my Good Questions Have Groups Talking Subscription Service. Like Netflix for Bible Lessons, one low subscription gives...

If you are curious about the answer to this question, I have good news: The Bible actually says. Acts 2:42 (NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Note four things that the early church did,...

When a young couple comes to our church looking to be “plugged in” to one of our missional communities or “villages” (which they assume are set up like small groups in the churches they have been to before), I ask them to consider the hundreds of people in their...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjtU5BzIN9w&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3PNEw4tdTb8cn4MiJmhg1Um8pSi8VadRQp6KFxcutii4DI15fOz-8-loU

One day when my son, Reid, was just a little over one year old, I went home from the office in the middle of the day to surprise my wife for lunch. My wife’s a blogger, and she was working on a new post that day. When I show up, Reid’s upstairs napping. Lauren asks me...

First, as you are going … welcome a stranger. Missional communities are known for their missional integrity, missional clarity, missional fidelity, and most importantly, their missional hospitality. Missional communities practice reflexive hospitality to the...

I believe everybody has one thing they do better than anything else. The right place to start is with your one thing. I learned this from my dad. In fact it was a Maxwell house rule when I was growing up. When we were kids, my dad’s message to my brother, sister, and...

Christians seem to sing fewer hymns these days, but when they do, sometimes they tinker with the lyrics. Consider the change made to a simple hymn by John Newton: “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound! That saved and strengthened me!” There is a grace that strengthens,...

As I was agonizing over these questions, I was introduced to two other writers who turned up the volume of a very different tune. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship and Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy are both commentaries of sorts on Jesus’s most...

When I left for college my father gave me a copy of Louis Berkhof’s Manual of Christian Doctrine, a small classic in the tradition of Reformation theology. The book was inscribed with these words: “For Philip upon entering college, in the hope that your theology will...

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). Hemmed in on all sides by the grace of God, being placed in Christ and having Christ living in him, Paul knows he is covered not just in life but in death as well. When God promises life to those who...