What Global Terrorism Means for the Sending Church
The church must wisely react to terrorism with wisdom, with a view to shepherding it's flock as well as further fulfilling the Great Commission.
How to Stay Motivated in Language Learning
Cross cultural missionaries often learn the language of their host cultures. This is a really hard job! How does a person stay motivated through the thick and thin of language learning?
The role of language learning in cross-cultural church planting
It is important for these missionaries and the churches that send them to have a solid theology of language learning.
The Holiday of the Sacrifice
This week over 100 million animals will be slaughtered throughout the Muslim world. From Munich to Mecca to the Maldives, Muslims celebrate the "Holiday of the Sacrifice" in the memory of Abraham's binding of his son. This holiday gives us the chance to love the Gospel more and share that Gospel with our Muslim friends.
All hell has broken loose
Disaster and tragedy are everywhere in the news. Has all hell broken loose on this earth? Yes. In fact, it has.
What Does Ramadan Mean to You, Christian?
The following short video helps explain what the month of Ramadan means to Muslims. As a believer in Jesus, what could it mean to you?
There are no “hard people”
Among humanity, is no pre-disposition towards saving grace, only pre-indisposition. If we are "dead in our trespasses and sins", then nobody is "farther" or "closer" away from Christ. We are all, rather, equally dead. The ground is level both at the foot of the cross and the plain of the cemetery. Nobody is more saved than others by Christ and nobody is more separated than others from Christ. So Saul the persecutor of Christians and Cornelius the "God-fearer" were equally dead in their trespasses and sins and equally in need of divine alien righteousness. And this makes all the difference for how we make disciples among the nations.
The UpStream Collective: What is a sending church?
A Sending Church is a local community of Christ-followers who have made a covenant together to be prayerful, deliberate, and proactive in developing, commissioning, and sending their own members both locally and globally, often in partnership with other churches or agencies, and continuing to encourage, support, and advocate for them while making disciples cross-culturally.
What if Jesus Had Not Given the Great Commission?
Why is the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20) so noticeably absent from Acts and the apostolic letters? Would the Church still be responsible to go if she did not have the Great Commission? Would we still be experiencing the wave of churches in the West becoming passionate about God’s glory among all the nations that we currently are?
4 Observations on Obedient Faith in Both Fight and Flight
Matthew 10:5-42 are the "marching orders" of the apostles. And they are very helpful for those of us church planting in dangerous places among the unreached.
5 Common Myths about Disciplemaking
Many people teach on it, most of us don’t regularly obey it. Here are 5 common myths about the Great Commission that lead us to miss out on disciple making.
Stories from the Field: The Lame Walk
A story from Daniel and Jessie—goers sent by the Austin Stone as part of the 100 People Network, serving among the unreached people group the deaf of Honduras.
What is the Culture of the Kingdom?
What does it mean to obediently follow Christ while remaining in the context of our community and culture? What does the kingdom really look like?
Am I Called? Knowing God’s Will: Conclusion (Pt 6/6)
There is no peace more penetrating, stabilizing and joy-giving than that of knowing and following God’s will. And that peace is not dependent on any border.
5 Ways To Start New Works (from Paul’s Church Planting Strategy)
A look at Paul's church planting strategy in Philippi from Acts 16:9-15.
Am I Called? Knowing God’s Will: Circumstances (Pt 5/6)
God is absolutely in control of all circumstances. Therefore, circumstances often provide clear windows into the work of God in our lives.
Am I Called? Knowing God’s Will: Community (Pt 4/6)
You need to care about the insights of other Christians in your life. God often speaks in the context of community, not just exclusively to an individual.
How Jesus Sends YOU
As the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus has sent us. That means that if we can discover how the Father sent Jesus, then we will see how we have now been sent.
Am I Called? Knowing God’s Will: Our Own Perspective (Pt 3/6)
As a Christian indwelt by the Holy Spirit, what your “gut” says matters. The Holy Spirit speaks within us—we should expect to hear from him.
How to Be Both Stubborn and Flexible in Mission
The following is excerpted from our Nations editor's letter to workers in a dangerous area. He describes how the apostle Paul was both a pioneer with a dogged spirit to get things done and a humble child of God... More...