Way of Life Village » 2008

Archive for March, 2008

Functions of church

March 28, 2008 5:00 am | Written by Phil

On March 10, in a post entitled Litmus Test (click here to read), I shared a quote from David Watson’s podcast “Credibility and Reproduction”. In his podcast, David explains that in a church planting movement leaders are measured by their ability to train other leaders (2 Timothy 2:2). As a litmus test, David and his team of missionaries don’t call someone a leader until that person has reproduced another leader. Similarly, they no longer call a group a local church until that group has reproduced another group.

On March 11, Tim wrote this in response to my post:

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Thoughts on recent Barna update

March 19, 2008 5:00 am | Written by Phil

The Barna Group recently did a survey on church attendance and avoidance (click here to read). Not sure this one matches our experiences.

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Muslim friendship

March 18, 2008 10:27 am | Written by Phil

Katie and her sons and Meri and I and our sons are getting ready to head out the door to eat lunch in the home of a Muslim family we’ve been getting to know.

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I want everyone to know him

5:00 am | Written by Phil

I want everyone to know him,

my authoritative forgiver,

my scandalous healer,

my dirty footwashing master,

my laughing leper-hugging friend,

my homeless provider of true security,

my mestizo lover of all races,

my fierce and untamed king,

my smart and non-condescending mentor,

my selfless and respect-commanding lover,

my capable and humble leader,

my underdog champion against death,

my (and everyone’s) only true and unfailing God,

Jesus our only hope.

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Who comes to your Easter events?

March 17, 2008 1:00 pm | Written by Phil

It is important to realize who we’re reaching and who we’re not reaching when we invite the community to our Easter church events.

My church planting coach Larry Deal sent me this.

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Baptism photos

March 10, 2008 11:14 am | Written by Phil

Praise God for his gift of faith! Joining her husband Hector in his new commitment to love and obey Jesus Christ, Roxy was baptized yesterday.

Here are photos of her baptism. At Roxy’s request the women who helped lead her to Christ baptized her.

Blessings!

[*Names have been changed. All other details are accurate.]

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Specific prayer

5:00 am | Written by Phil

Two Wednesdays ago our team decided to pray and fast for 3 weeks for several individuals and their households whom we have been serving and building relationships with for the past year. We are praying specific prayers. During these three weeks we will be present in a meaningful way in the lives of these individuals and their families at least 3 times per week. During our conversations we will introduce spiritual topics that we hope will eventually lead to a regular Discovery Bible Study series. At the end of those three weeks, if someone in the household is receptive, we will spend all our time with that person and their family, according to the teaching in Luke 10. But if at the end of the three weeks, no one in the household is receptive to the kingdom message, we will move on to other households, perhaps trying again with the first set of households again in a few months.

Categories: Discovery Bible Studies
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