Life2gether

Here’s a good laugh as you go into the weekend. And here’s a good post on being intentional.

This is Discipling from The Foursquare Church on Vimeo.

(HT: Brent Thomas)

Check out this great new website on the gospel called the6c.com. Chad Nuss has put together a really helpful resource for anyone who is curious about Jesus Christ and how he influences our lives and this culture. I invite you to take a look at the various videos, articles, and helpful information and to point others to this website as well.

• The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
• The Story of God for Kids by Soma Communities
• Engaging in Story by Soma communities
• The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative by Christopher Wright
• The Mission of God’s People: A Biblical Theology of the
  Church’s Mission by Christopher Wright
• The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story by Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen
• Living at the Crossroads: An Introduction to Christian
  Worldview by Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen
• Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story by Michael Goheen
• Treasure Trove of Articles and PP Presentations about the Story of God by Michael Goheen
• Shaped by the Story: Helping Students Encounter God in a
  New Way by Michael Novelli
• The Story of God, The Story of Us by Sean Gladding
• Redemption: Freed by Jesus From the Idols We Worship and the Wounds We Carry by Mike Wilkerson

My buddy, Cam Potts, also pointed me to this great resource that “provides a beautiful, powerful, yet simple explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ using 4 major themes found in the Bible: Creation. The Fall. The Rescue. The Restoration.” Check out the website for more info.

My friend, Matt Perman, recently guest blogged at the Leadership Summit at Willow Creek. He wrote that John Dickson’s message on humility was the best he’s heard on the subject. Dickson is Director of the Centre for Public Christianity and Sr. Minister, St. Andrews Anglican Church, Sydney, Australia. I had the privilege of meeting him at a conference we held for pastors back in 2008. He’s the real deal – probably the clearest (and most encouraging) speaker on the topic of evangelism I’ve ever heard.

I encourage you to read John’s books and listen to some of his messages here.

Tony Kummer, from ministry-to-children.com, recently asked me to respond to the problem of over-churched kids. By over-churched kids, he means kids with too much religion and not enough actual interaction with Jesus. This is a relevant issue for pastors’ kids. My short answer is that we must model the gospel to our kids and get them on mission early as a church family.

• Check out a few other video responses to the question here
• Read Tony’s 9 Strategies for Reaching Over-Churched Kids

Michael Wallenmeyer challenges us to ask these questions as we seek to engage our neighborhoods:

1. Without asking someone else, can I provide the first and last names of the people who live beside (or above and below) me?
2. What can I describe about their lives that can be known only by someone who has been inside their home?
3. What are some of the God-shaped longings and/or questions that currently shape their lives?

And I’m especially challenged by this last question:

How cool would it be if when people asked us what God was up to in our church, instead of heading to our buildings, we took them for a extended tour through our neighborhood to show them?

Read the whole thing.

Here’s an old video from a couple years ago! The challenge is still relevant so I’m reposting it. Let’s get off the couch and get into the lives of others this summer!  You can also check out my post on Gospel-Driven Garage Sale.

Alistair Begg, John Dickson and Rico Tice teamed up for this year’s Basics Conference at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio. The theme: Doing the Work of an Evangelist. Everyone loves Begg. Dickson is one of the clearest speakers on evangelism I’ve ever heard. And Tice spent the last few years developing the highly acclaimed, Christianity Explored. Quite a line-up.

My pastor, Tony Rose, said it was one of the best conferences he’s been to in awhile. Check out all the sessions here.

Tim Chester reviews the book here.