Books

Back to School: Why Theological Education Matters to the Church

Evangelism is the church’s speech to the outside world, but worship is where it learns its grammar.

Learn to Linger in Grief

Imagine a church where grief isn’t ignored, but it also isn’t hopeless. Where lament isn’t a sign of weak faith, but an act of worship.

Brandon O’Brien’s Top Books on Small Church Ministry

Rather than being a subcategory of American ministry, the small church is the norm. If you take a longer and broader view, most churches throughout history and in most parts of the world are and always have been small.

Contextual Sensitivity in Reading Scripture

As the world becomes “smaller,” the incorporation of new ideas and new approaches to reading and interpreting Scripture becomes important as we encounter people with perspectives, experiences, and cultures different from our own.

Gathering at the Table

As Jesus sat at the table of Zacchaeus, he, too, saw past the sinful nature. Instead, he saw a man in need. Put yourself in Zacchaeus' position, and then Jesus’.

We Need a Reset

One of the primary roles of a pastor is to gather as many sheep as possible. We all know that for people to come and join your church they need to like us. This reality means that as pastors, we perpetually serve in hazardous territory.

Prepare a Table That Welcomes Everyone

So, should a leader give up leading and living like Jesus because others don’t like what is happening around them? The church needs leaders to speak up and step out of the comfortable to serve the uncomfortable.

Introduction to the Biblical Metanarrative

The story that the Bible tells, therefore, is the story that we are all part of whether we know it or not and whether we like it or not. We have joined the story in progress, along the way, so to speak.

Richard Averbeck: The Old Testament Law for the Life of the Church

“It is not a matter of whether the Old Testament law applies but how the New Testament applies it.”

Where to Look and What to Look For

Your genius unlocks your unique purpose. Someone else’s key won’t work. So how do you begin to discover what your genius is—or isn’t? Your answers to some core questions will be a good starting place.

A Conversation With Steve Richardson

Jesus commissioned his people to bless the nations. Even in traditional cultures, I’ve never personally met someone who wished missionaries hadn’t come. I’ve met thousands of people who are thrilled that missionaries brought a message of salvation and hope.