5 Lessons from Jackie Hill Perry & the Enneagram
Author, artist, and teacher Jackie Hill Perry shared on Instagram that she had changed her mind about the Enneagram personality test. Perry, who was once skeptical of those who said the Enneagram was demonic, said she came to the said conclusion after studying it for two days. I share 5 things we can learn from this scenario.
3 Differences Between A Theologically Driven Church vs. An Ideologically Driven Church
In an article entitled, “The Coming Church Split (It’s Not What You Think)” Carey Nieuwhof made observations about four divergent roads churches will face as we move into the future. I read this article over a year ago and have kept thinking about his fourth and final point: “Ideologically Driven Versus Gospel-Driven” churches. In this post, I share 3 observed differences between these two churches.
Why THAT Church Is Still More Than Its Failures
In the last few years, we’ve seen leadership implosions and scandals from churches large and small. There’s a real temptation to reduce the whole of a church down to its failure. And while I understand the kneejerk impulse, here’s an unpopular opinion: That’s only partially true. THAT church is still more than its failures.
Reflections from The Mars Hill Podcast
“The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” podcast series has come to an end. Some have loved the series. Others have wondered if we’re just soaking in the failure of others. But wherever you stand on the validity of the podcast series, we can all agree that there is much to reflect on and learn from the Mars Hill story itself. In this post, I share a few of my reflections.
Christian Tribe vs. Tribal Christian. There’s a Difference.
Author and Professor Gerald L. Sittser once wrote that “Every generation of believers faces the risk of becoming a prisoner to its own myopic vision of the Christian faith, assuming that how it understands and practices faith is always the best.” It’s one thing to be part of a Christian tribe. It’s another thing to be tribal. This post is about the dangers of pursuing our “myopic vision.”
Here’s How To Know If the Church You Attend is Missional
How can I know if my church is missional? The answer lies not by looking at your church’s vision or mission statement (no matter how beautifully crafted). It’s also not by pointing to your church’s outreach events (though they can be helpful). I believe there is a more surprising and sure indicator for whether your church is missional.
20 Things That Became More Clear in 2020
Exactly a year ago, some were saying 2020 would be “the year of 2020 vision.” With the end of 2020 almost here, it’s clear we got much more than what we bargained for. In this final post of 2020, I share 20 things that became more clear this year.
The Elusiveness of the Asian American Faith Expression
Black Christians have the gospel choir and a responsive preaching experience, but what are the distinctive markers for Asian Americans? Is there Asian American worship? Asian American preaching? Is there an Asian American faith expression? And why is it so difficult to answer these questions?
The Courage and Wisdom of Pastoral Silence
Have you wondered why some pastors have been so silent on the many issues we’ve faced this year? Are they cowards? Are they trying to protect their job? Or are they actually courageous and really wise? In this post, I make a case for the latter. I hope this helps pastors to feel free from the pressure of saying things just for the sake of it.
Jesus Was A Refreshing Presence In A Politically Charged Culture
We’re living in a politically charged cultural moment. While this presents obstacles, this is also an opportunity for the church to be the refreshing presence Jesus was for the politically charged culture of his day.
Why the American Church Needs Bi-Cultural Leaders
Moses, Daniel, and the Apostle Paul walk into a bar and ask the bartender what the 3 have in common. You might say they were mightily used by God at crucial moments in history. But the other common denominator is that they were bi-cultural leaders. In this post, I share why I believe the American Church needs bi-cultural leaders.