Imaginatively Missional
One of the questions I am increasingly asked is what we mean when we describe our work as being “shaped by the Ephesiology Framework.” It is an important question because the phrase is not intended as a slogan or a branding exercise. Rather, it expresses the theological and missiological lens through which we seek to …
The Greek words oikos and oikia are often used interchangeably in modern discussions of the early church, yet they carried distinct meanings in the first-century context. Understanding their differences is crucial for accurately interpreting biblical texts and their implications for missions, community, and church structure for today. Oikia: The Physical House and Family The term …
Continue reading "Understanding the First-Century House Church in the Archaeological Record"
In Innovative Disruption, I'm exploring the ways in which the church must reorient itself toward a perichoretic mission—one that is deeply relational, participatory, and embedded in the movement of God in the world. When we look at Jesus’ ministry, it is clear that what was truly innovative and disruptive was His message, not necessarily His method. His …
What if we’ve been overlooking a key component of how the early church grew? Church planting movements and disciple making movements often focus on people of peace—individuals receptive to the gospel who help spread it within their communities. But what if the early church also relied on places of peace—natural spaces where people gathered, shared ideas, and …
Back in 1994, Loré and I were coming off of an incredibley tense and productive time of ministry in post-communist Romania. Four years of non-stop work resulted in seven church plants, Romanian leadership of the churches, and sustained evangelism and disciple-making leading to the multiplication of small groups. It truly felt like we were living …
Years ago, I visited a church in South Asia. It quickly became evident that the rectangular building where we met—complete with a cross above the entrance, rows of red plastic chairs facing a handcrafted wooden pulpit, a drum set, loudspeakers, microphones and stands, as well as a soundboard—bore a striking resemblance to a Western church …
The Perichoretic Mission frames the missionary’s role as deeply connected to God’s ongoing, relational work in the world, modeled after the perichoresis of the Trinity. This divine dance of mutual indwelling between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shows us that mission isn’t just a task to complete—it’s a reflection of God’s loving and communal nature, always revealing Himself. …
What excites me most about this understanding is the mystery of salvation that accompanies the concept of perichoresis. God’s salvific work is not restricted by human limitations or understanding. In many ways, the missionary must adopt a posture of humility, recognizing that we do not fully understand the extent or methods of God’s saving grace. We …
One of the most mesmerizing sights in nature is the murmuration of starlings—a flock moving in what appears to be chaotic yet beautifully coordinated patterns. Without a single leader, each bird instinctively adjusts its position in response to the movements of those nearest to it, creating a collective dance in the sky. From the outside, …
The concept of perichoresis has long served as a profound theological framework for understanding the dynamic and relational nature of the Trinity. Describing the mutual indwelling and constant movement between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, perichoresis shows us that the Godhead is not a distant, static unity, but a community of love, eternally revealing Themselves in and through …
Continue reading "Perichoresis: Implications for Missiology and Ecclesiology"
In contemporary missiology, the terms “unreached people groups” (UPGs) and “unengaged unreached people groups” (UUPGs) have become a staple in our missions vocabulary. Defined by missiologists as ethnic groups with no significant Christian presence and/or little to no access to the gospel, UPGs and UUPGs represent the frontier of missionary efforts. However, as we reflect on the theological implications of …
Continue reading "50 Years Since Lausanne: Rethinking our Nomenclature"
One of the hot button topics of contemporary evangelical Christianity deals with the nature of the church. In the still very young 21st century, both critics and advocates lend their voices to the conversation. Admittedly, ecclesiology—the study of the church—traditionally occupies just a few pages, maybe even chapters, in contemporary systematic theology texts. Compared to other …
There is one early Christian letter that stands out as a remarkable testimony about second century Christianity. It is included among the writings of the Apostolic Fathers and provides an early example of the defense for the Christian faith. It is something we often call an apologetic although not the common confrontation form. Rather, it …
Back when the color inkjet printer and image scanner were introduced to everyday consumers, many with nefarious intentions came up with the brilliant idea to print counterfeit money. Simply by laying a piece of currency on the scanner and printing the image onto a piece of paper, the money looked remarkably similar to the real …
Continue reading "The Early Church and Counterfeiting Jesus"
History seems to repeat itself in a continual cycle of recapitulation. While there is a temptation to think of our particular period of history as unique, a student of the past quickly recognizes common characteristics and patterns that appear familiar across time. The study of leadership theory is no less the case as we look to the past to …
Preliminary observations from ongoing research into the history and evolution of the word "pastor" Eusebius’ magisterial work entitled Ecclesiastical History, written in four editions between 311-324AD, spans the history of the church from the time of Christ to the time of Constantine: about 300 years. The volume comprises a total of 10 books. Remarking on Eusebeius’ …
Continue reading "The Use of ποιμην in Early Christian History"
Ever since C. Peter Wagner declared church planting as the greatest strategy for the spread the gospel around the world (1990), church planters have taken up the banner of what is no doubt one of the most obvious results of making disciples in the book of Acts. Indeed, Tim Keller writes, “The continual planting of …
Continue reading "Reflections on the State of Church Planting in the US"
The early church fascinates me; especially the practices of those Christians who were disciples of people like Paul, Peter, Barnabas, and Timothy–the first century giants of the New Testament who set the foundation for Christian belief and practice. I’m often curious about what their disciples did to carry on the work of the gospel throughout …
Continue reading "Looking to the Past to Move to the Future"
Over the weekend, one popular Christian apologist ignited social media with remarks he made at a global conference sponsored by the American Association of Christian Counselors. His video was later removed from the AACC website and he rightly issued an apology. Unfortunately in our world today, he and many other evangelicals often take a polemical position when engaging culture. …
One only needs to consult an online job board to observe the vast number of staff openings in churches across the United States. As do others, I receive regular requests from headhunters for recommendations of people to fill this or that ministry position. However, a question has been raised, at least in my mind, regarding …
Continue reading "The Solution to Your Church Staffing Needs"
I had coffee this morning with a friend who is a fellow co-laborer in ministry. As we bantered around various social issues confronting Christianity–gender identity, social justice, and the like–as well as the reality that COVID has led many to conclude they no longer have a need for the church, I was struck again by …
The ordination of three women at Saddleback Community Church has raised the issue of women in ministry in new ways. The recognition of the gifting of women to teach and pastor has long been a point of contention in the American evangelical church. Stemming from Western Christian cultural practices which viewed women as the helpmate …
In 1522, Martin Luther made his final assessment on the book of Revelation by stating, “Finally, let everyone think of it as his own spirit leads him. My spirit cannot accommodate itself to this book. For me this is reason enough not to think highly of it: Christ is neither taught nor known in it. …
Theological development is contextual and is frequently a reaction to a crisis in culture. As far back as the ecumenical councils of the first six centuries of the church, theology has responded to context and always will. Those early formulations of dogma came in the midst of political tensions often instigated by an emperor who …
It seems to be a regular occurrence these days. Another evangelical pastor falls into moral failure. Carl Lentz is the latest causality. The celebrity pastor of Hillsong Church’s New York City branch is a further example of the dark side of hierarchical leadership where a pastor-centric ecclesiology places a charismatic person as the lead of …
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