Early House Churches
interesting article about what early house churches would have looked like
the sandbox
come play in the sand.
Introduction to Jeremiah, the Message Remix
What happens when everything you believe in and live by is smashed to bits by circumstances? Sometimes the reversals of what we expect from God come to us as individuals, other times as entire communities. When it happens, does catastrophe work to re-form our lives to conform to who God actually is and not the way we imagined or wished Him to be? Does it lead to an abandonment of God? Or worse, does it trigger a stubborn grasping to the old collapsed system of belief, holding on for dear life to an illusion?
coaching and discipleship
Coaching Church Planters
I’m in a coaching training with Corporate Coach U right now. About a year ago I went through Coachnet/Coaching 101 with Bob Logan and Scott Thomas. Coaching is definitely in vogue with forward thinking, missional initiatives/networks/denominations, and with good reason.
My first exposure to coaching definitely forced me to rethink my presuppositions. I learned that:
- Good coaches don’t actually give advice; they ask good questions.
- Good coaches can coach any kind of church planter or church planting model.
- Good coaching requires good listening and insightful questioning.
- Good coaches move the coachee along in their thinking, understanding, and approach to ministry.
- Good coaching guides, not informs, the coachee to concrete action.
All these principles are good; however, as Nate recently pointed out, the best coach actually prays for his coachee, loves his coachee, approaches him or her as a fellow disciple under Christ. Good coaching changes the coach and coachee, moving them beyond skills and methods into deeper dependence upon the Holy Spirit.
(from church planting novice)
Reblogged from that was then, this is dumb
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More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them.
— Henri Nouwen, Gracias
What I think leadership looks like…
Firstly, let me say that I didn’t read all of the previous article. But I will describe what I think good leadership looks like.
A good leader is one who does not see himself as any better than those he is leading. He/she is willing to do the very things that he is wanting his followers to do, and he is willing to lend a hand. He desires to get to know those that he is leading and is willing to take time to discover individual gifts and talents. Once he discovers those talents, he will take the time to encourage that person to develop those gifts. Rather than try to get everyone to try to learn all the same things, he gives the person opportunity to develop what comes naturally.
note: satire
(1/4)
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