Tag: InterVarsity Press

Leadership lessons from the world of blacksmithing

We don’t live by faith by reading a rule book, or following a map, or working through a career development program. We do not begin with things, or pieces of paper, or ideas, or feelings, or deeds, or successes.

For the last four hundred years, racism has been ingrained in the founding and fabric of America. What this means is the gravitational pull of our culture is downward into prejudice, discrimination, and racism.

After long years working in the church, both sinning and being sinned against within her, I still believe in the body of Christ—the church. Why? Because I believe in Jesus now more than ever.

If Jesus says being a disciple and making disciples is the main thing, then that's the main thing for us. But what in the world does this look like?

In light of the unique role that written texts have played in Christianity for two millennia, it will be helpful to briefly consider what may be determined regarding the manner in which the biblical authors composed and distributed their works.

According to the apostle Paul, a richly varied church that’s united in Christ reflects the richly varied wisdom of our God. To cultivate multiethnic, multigenerational, and multi-socioeconomic cultures in our churches is to declare to the world the riches of God’s wisdom in Christ.

While acknowledging hits to the credibility, reputation and psyche of the church's collective witness, they passionately and practically encourage readers to see this not so much as a problem but an opportunity for the church to understand the times and know what is the best course of action to take (1 Chron. 12:32) in pursuit of systemic transformation for the sake of the gospel.