Apprentice 2 Jesus

Church

  • Arab Spring Isn’t All Blossoms

    As we celebrate the “Arab Spring,” there are reminders that all doesn’t bloom evenly in the Arab world. The Church in Egypt is feeling the pressure. And an Iranian pastor sits in prison awaiting execution. Often when we see good things happening, what gets missed is the plight of the Church in regions of the… Read more

  • Give Me the Gospel in 3-5 Minutes

    To which Scot McKnight says, “Fuhget about it!” Why are we so consumed with needing to give the gospel like an “elevator pitch?” Jesus’ own invitation is this: “Come and see.” Read more

  • The Danger of “Decision” Theology

    Scot McKnight makes the comparisons of how the New Testament seems to be talking about Gospel… and how we “gospel” today. He pulls no punches. When all we care about is bringing people to a decision, to pray a prayer, to just admit their sin and find Jesus as Savior, we are doing damage. Jesus… Read more

  • Why I am a Confessing Pentecostal

    The founding of the Assemblies of God (my denomination) was based on the lack of creeds in the very beginning. They believed in the Bible, bless God, and that was enough. It wasn’t long before theological controversy forced them into a statement of faith. (But it’s not a creed. 😉 ) Over the years as I… Read more

  • The Pope and Pentecostalism

    Pope Benedict made the following comments about Pentecostalism: The geography of Christianity has changed dramatically in recent times, and is in the process of changing further. Faced with a new form of Christianity, which is spreading with overpowering missionary dynamism, sometimes in frightening ways, the mainstream Christian denominations often seem at a loss. This is… Read more

  • The King Jesus Gospel — Messing Up the Message

    I am beginning to work my way through The King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnight. My church staff will be making our way through it the next several weeks as well. The diagnosis of the “evangelical problem” resonates with me. The struggle over “decisions” and “disciples” has been something I’ve felt for all my years in… Read more

  • Whiplash Politics and Microwave Christianity

    David Brooks of the New York Times hits the nail on the head today. (HERE.) We think so highly of ourselves, we just think we can whip this economy back into shape without realizing the depth of the problem and that TIME will really help in pulling ourselves out of the mess. This is leading… Read more

  • The Loss of a Moral Compass

    David Brooks’ column in The New York Times gives a synopsis of where we have come. Just yesterday in my Church History lecture I was talking with my students about the place tradition had in the Church for about 1700 years. While I will never argue that trusting tradition is always a good thing, I will say… Read more

  • Reflecting on 9/11

    This is part of what I shared this morning with my congregation: The tragedy of 9/11 is a lesson in misplaced faith. Misplace your trust in the financial schemes of this world or the arm of power this world can give you… and even THAT can come crashing down. But what has the Church done… Read more

  • Prayer in Reflection of 9/11

    Ten years ago, right after 9/11, I was having lunch with a great man of God. He works with Muslims and has such an amazing balance of working in this culture, loving Muslims, and loving God. Right after 9/11 when all I wanted was to find who was responsible and take them down, he offered… Read more