More often than not, “partnering in missions,” means small churches give what little money they think they can afford to a larger church or a missions sending agency that will handle mobilization, screening, indoctrination, training, sending, and maintenance of missionaries on the field. This is not “partnering,” it’s outsourcing.

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Ed Stetzer Is (Probably) Not Your Pastor

Posted July 30th, 2010 by Ernest

At the “amen” of the closing prayer, the man bounded up to the stage with a satisfied look on his face. “Dude, you really brought it just now!” he exclaimed. “That was just what we needed to hear!” The Dude in question was Ed Stetzer, missiologist, author, preacher, researcher, and popular Christian conference speaker. The [...]

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Filed under:Christianity, Church

On Church Planting

Posted July 29th, 2010 by Ernest

I love church planters. They really are a unique breed. Anyone who would launch out on their own to navigate the waters of societal indifference, institutional competition, and sustained discouragement  in efforts to start a church deserves some respect (Or pity. Maybe both.) I get to meet a lot of church planters from across the [...]

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Filed under:Christianity, Personal

Bible Stories

Posted July 19th, 2010 by Ernest

Growing up in church, kids always got special treatment. At my church, for example, there was some unwritten rule giving all adults in church “special” permission to “discipline” us as though we were their own kids. Doyle Braden was an arm-grabber, as I recall. Mr. Lettow would flick the backs of our heads. Sean’s dad [...]

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Filed under:Communication, Subculture

The Church, On Mission

Posted July 13th, 2010 by Ernest

This the the third in what I didn’t realize was going to become a series on the relationship between missiology and ecclesiology. I believe this is an extremely helpful conversation. One that needs to happen more and more. Missiologically-driven folks need to hear more about the centrality of the church in the Great Commission. Many [...]

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Filed under:Incarnation, Missions

The Church Has A Mission

Posted July 5th, 2010 by Ernest

The Upstream Collective recently went to London and Paris on a Jet Set vision trip. We took 26 pastors and church leaders (and  a couple wives) to Europe to see first-hand what missions looks like in that post-Christian context. These trips have always been successful.  90% of pastors who participate find ways to become directly [...]

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Filed under:Church, Missiology

The Mission Has A Church

Posted July 2nd, 2010 by Ernest

There has been an ongoing discussion among Christian leaders about the relationship of the church and the mission of God. On one side, you’ve got those who say that ecclesiology (theology of church) should come before our missiology (theology of mission). In other words, the church is the most important thing in terms of how [...]

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Filed under:Missiology, Missions

Grown-up Church

Posted June 10th, 2009 by Ernest

If everything I know about church was learned in youth group, I’d be inclined to think that: Church should be a good mix of games, singing, a short devotion, and pizza. Accountability is meeting with a “grownup” who asks me if I’ve been reading my Bible. Socially, it’s easier to be a big fish in [...]

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Filed under:Church

The Counterintuitive Church (pt.5, What’s Wrong With Pragmatism?)

Posted April 2nd, 2009 by Ernest

PREVIOUSLY:  Let’s Be Clear Some might read my commentary about widespread pragmatism in the American church today and ask, “So what?” Others might share my concern, but see few alternatives. I have never wanted to be merely a critic, so here I’d like to draw some conclusions. Next, I’ll try to share some ideas for [...]

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Filed under:Church, Misunderstood, Philosophy, Trends