by Robby McAlpine | Jul 27, 2019 | Church Life, Discipleship, Evangelism, Forgiveness, General, Healing, Messy Church, Practical Theology
“But one thing I do: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” ~ Philippians 3:13-14 Memory can be a tricky thing. Case in...
by Luke Geraty | Mar 14, 2017 | Church Life, Cross-Cultural Ministry, Cultural Engagement, Disciple Making, Discipleship, Evangelism, Leadership, Messy Church, Missional, Practical Theology, Preaching
Over the years I’ve been approached by a few people who wanted to either use the gifts they believed they had or be trained and equipped to minister through speaking (e.g., preaching, teaching, training, etc.). In simple terms, they wanted opportunities to speak...
by Robby McAlpine | Dec 22, 2016 | Discipleship, Evangelism, Practical Theology, Preaching, Revival, Social Justice
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord…” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with...
by Robby McAlpine | Dec 7, 2016 | Discipleship, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Practical Theology
Every now and then, I hear (or read) something that mocks the idea of Jesus as a “personal Savior”. The rationale is usually along the lines of: “What? You think you own Jesus, or something? Like, He’s your personal Savior — what a...
by Brad Blocksom | Sep 27, 2016 | Church Life, Church Planting, Cross-Cultural Ministry, Cultural Engagement, Disciple Making, Discipleship, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Family, Leadership, Messy Church, Missional, Money, Practical Theology, Prayer, Preaching, Small Groups
I came across these podcasts and, quite frankly, they were pretty eye opening for me (they’re kind of all related). So I wanted to share them here and see if we could get some good discussion going in the comments below. And, here they are: This one talks about...
by Brad Blocksom | Mar 15, 2016 | Church Life, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Homosexuality, Leadership, Messy Church, Practical Theology, The Vineyard Movement
I recently shared a post from Pastor Mike Turrigiano about his friendship with Lonnie Frisbee – a controversial figure from the early days of the Vineyard movement (and Calvary Chapel for that matter). For those who don’t know the history, Lonnie was known...
by Brad Blocksom | Feb 9, 2016 | Cross-Cultural Ministry, Disciple Making, Discipleship, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Leadership, Missional, Practical Theology
So you may recall that I have written in the past here on the Missional Model vs. the Attractional model for Church. I’ve also written here that the commonly used metrics of Butts in Seats & “Decisions” for Christ are poor measures of an...
by Robby McAlpine | Jan 19, 2016 | Cultural Engagement, Discipleship, Ethics, Evangelism, Messy Church, Practical Theology
There was this guy in the Old Testament who gets a lot of bad press. And when you read his story, you gotta admit: he deserves it. If anything, he serves mainly as an example of how not to do life. His name was Lot. He was Abraham’s opportunistic nephew, who has...
by Brad Blocksom | Jan 13, 2016 | Devotionals, Discipleship, Ethics, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Leadership, Messy Church, Practical Theology, Preaching
2 Cor. 4:2 But we have renounced disgraceful and underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. (ESV) Wow, this...
by Brad Blocksom | Sep 23, 2015 | Devotionals, Evangelism, Missional, Practical Theology
Acts 26:16 I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. (ESV) Paul’s commission from Jesus: to be a servant and a witness of the things...
by Brad Blocksom | Sep 2, 2015 | Church Life, Cultural Engagement, Devotionals, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Healing, Missional, Practical Theology
Acts 8:25 …they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. (ESV) The church was booming in Jerusalem but they weren’t going into Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth. So God scatters (v. 1, 4) the church through...
by Brad Blocksom | Aug 25, 2015 | Church Life, Devotionals, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Messy Church, Missional, Practical Theology
John 17:22-23 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world will know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV)...
by Brad Blocksom | Aug 5, 2015 | Devotionals, Evangelism, Missional, Practical Theology
John 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (ESV) Abiding in Jesus (v. 4, 7, 9), bearing fruit (v. 2, 5) it all leads to this: “This is my commandment, that you...
by Brad Blocksom | May 16, 2015 | Church Life, Church Planting, Discipleship, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Missional, Practical Theology, Prayer
There are, of course, two extremes on this issue. On the one hand we have the Fundamentalist approach: Circle the wagons! Its us against the world. Keep those sinners out of the church. They might have a bad influence on my children, and they might infect us lest sin...
by Brad Blocksom | May 5, 2015 | Church Planting, Devotionals, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Healing, Leadership, Missional, Practical Theology, Prayer
Luke 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” (ESV) Jesus answers His own question on “What is the kingdom of God like?”...
by Luke Geraty | Apr 17, 2015 | Church Life, Church Planting, Cultural Engagement, Disciple Making, Discipleship, Evangelism, Leadership, Messy Church, Missional, Practical Theology, Small Town Church
At this year’s Society of Vineyard Scholars annual meeting, focused on “Thinking with the Church, Thinking with the Vineyard,” features a panel featuring three of our ThinkTheology.org contributors: Brad Blocksom, Kenny Burchard, and Luke Geraty....
by Luke Geraty | Apr 8, 2015 | Church Planting, Disciple Making, Discipleship, Evangelism, Missional, Practical Theology
God cares about multiplication: “The first essential principle [of church growth] is to realize that God wants his lost children found and enfolded. Church growth explodes from the life-giving nature of the eternal God. Jesus Christ gave his disciples the Great...
by Brad Blocksom | Feb 24, 2015 | Devotionals, Discipleship, Evangelism, Healing, Missional, Practical Theology, Social Justice
Matthew 12:20-21 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (ESV) Matthew provides this quotation from Isaiah as an apologetic/explanation of Jesus...
by Brad Blocksom | Feb 17, 2015 | Church Life, Church Planting, Cross-Cultural Ministry, Disciple Making, Discipleship, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Leadership, Messy Church, Missional, Practical Theology
Bear with me for a minute: A guy (or gal) has a heart/gifting for evangelism. So what does he do? Does he become an evangelist? No she becomes the Pastor of a Church and endeavors to create an organization centered around her goal of soul-winning. She turns every...
by Brad Blocksom | Jan 13, 2015 | Church Life, Devotionals, Evangelism, Missional, Practical Theology
Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, (BAB*) The purpose of God, brought about (epoiesen) in Christ is to proclaim the good news of Christ (v.8) to all (v. 9) nations. This is accomplished through the church...
