Soul coach, culture shaper, husband, golfer, father of the 2 best kids on the planet, over the top granddad. I lead the Common Ground network of churches.
If your mission is to fill buildings, then keep going with your current strategy. But if your mission is to reach people, it might be time to rethink things. https://t.co/atJ9qXu35g via @cnieuwhof
Churches that overfocus on their buildings run the risk of becoming like shopping malls in the age of Amazon, taxis in the age of Uber, or cable TV in the age of Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube. https://t.co/atJ9qXu35g via @cnieuwhof
Christians aren’t motivated simply to be moral people, honouring a number of respected virtues; they’re amazed & enlightened by JESUS, & long to be like him & are even empowered to do so.
Our problem is not so much that the 'boat' of the church is in the 'water' of the world. It’s that the 'water' of the world has got into the 'boat' of the church.
Yes, our world is changing- 'In the age of social media, virtue is not defined by how compassionately you act. Virtue is defined by how vehemently you react to that which you find offensive.' David Brooks (NYT 27.11.2018)
Under realized eschatology = disappointment that God can’t do more.
Over realized eschatology = disappointment that God doesn’t do more.
Biblical eschatology = active hope and intervention to get you through all the disappointment of a fallen world.
Jesus ate with Pharisees and sinners.
Only eating with sinners can turn you into an anti-religious Pharisee.
Never eating with sinners can turn you into an anti-missional Pharisee.
"To be fully known but not fully loved is rejection, and to be fully loved but not fully known is sentimentality. Only in the gospel are we completely known and completely loved” (Matt Papa)