Three Allegiances
Wednesday, 15 Jun 2016
"And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." (2 Corinthians 5:15)
Movements require much more than a simplistic approach to conversion and evangelism. Evangelism is more than seeking to proselytize, baptize and abandon. Such programs count conversations and baptisms. In my context... Read more
The Chaordic Tension of Movements
Sunday, 05 Jun 2016
True, apostolic movements are continually torn between chaos and order. This tension will always exist inside a healthy movement. Chaos needs to be present for movements to emerge.
That is why institutions do not respond well to emerging movements.
Most institutions tend to move towards stability and conformity.
Churches and non-profits are no exception.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the... Read more
When God births a Movement
Sunday, 05 Jun 2016
When God births a movement, He works through many different people. In a previous article we looked at two roles in the church that often have little tolerance for one another – the hunter and the herder. But when hunters and herders begin to appreciate one another and work together, we see healthy movements emerge.
However, as much as hunters and herders often misunderstand one another, they... Read more
Mentoring for Movements
Friday, 30 May 2014
The concepts found in Disciple Making Movements are beginning to be widely accepted. But as this acceptance spreads, we are also experiencing a lot of confusion. Part of this confusion results from the application of Disciple Making Movements methodology in a variety of contexts.
Not everyone has the same role in a movement.
When I mentor people into Disciple Making Movements, I first... Read more
Workplace Disciple Making
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
Discovery Groups are taking off in cities – and one of the contexts is the workplace. This is the place where many people spend the majority of their time.
Watch as we visit a workplace Discovery Bible Study in Cape Town, South Africa. Listen to the stories of how it is changing lives – not only of the participants, but also their families and communities. Can we believe for more of these to... Read more
The Yearning for Beauty
Sunday, 20 Apr 2014
Lately I have been reflecting on urban movements and how we go about creating Disciple Making Movements in cities. Sometimes this subject can become quite technical, full of strategies and tactical plans. But as I am learning about the urban dweller, I am also learning about her yearning for beauty.
The city dweller is cut off from creation. His urban surroundings draw him away from a Creator... Read more
Mid-sized Gatherings
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013
The best atmosphere for healthy, constructive church community is often the mid-sized group. This is the conclusion I have come to after 25 years of ministry, mission and building movements. Allow me to explore this with you. I will be the first to admit that we are still learning, and my thoughts are highly subjective. Comments are welcome.
Crowds attract spectators, not disciples. Long term... Read more
The Person of Peace
Monday, 10 Jun 2013
“How will God provide for me when I enter into pioneer work?
How will I gain access to new communities?”
Both these important questions are answered in the passage we will study. We will discover that the person of peace is God’s provision and point of access for new work.
"Don't take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don't stop to greet anyone... Read more
Sustainable Movements
Friday, 07 Jun 2013
There is a surge of interest on movements globally. However, often the excitement is about one aspect of the Kingdom that gets taken out of balance from the other aspects. The church and mission worlds seem to continually swing from one extreme to another. Although this generates some short-term momentum, it fails to build sustainable progress in the long and even medium term.
Kingdom... Read more
The Hunter and the Herder
Monday, 13 May 2013
Hunting and herding require vastly different skill sets. Both have specific, crucial roles to play in a Church Planting Movement. Neither role can fulfil its full potential without the other.
The greatest single crisis in the church is that we have hired hunters to be herders. That's a bit like asking a cat to bark or a cow to bleat. When we try to serve God in mismatched roles, we end up hurt... Read more