Todd Engstrom

Author: Todd Engstrom

  • Ministry vs. Discipleship

    My friend Sean Eppers posted some content on the Woodlands Point Pastor’s blog that Tyler David and I did on “Ministry vs. Discipleship” for one of our staff meetings awhile ago.  Below is a sample: Ministry Discipleship Reactive Proactive Ministry tends to involve a much lower level of relational investment, and for both parties there…

  • Together For Adoption – 2010 Conference

    This fall, the Together for Adoption Conference will be October 1-2, 2010, in Austin, Texas, hosted by The Austin Stone Community Church and Hill Country Bible Church (the conference venue), and in partnership with Hope for Orphans. The theme is “The Gospel, the Church, and the Global Orphan Crisis” and I have the privilege of…

  • The Church and The Surprising Offense of God’s Love

    I’ve been reading The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love by Jonathan Leeman, and although I’ve had some disagreements with the book, it has been an excellent read.   I wanted to share a few quotes that have been particularly challenging for me. Below is a good challenge to teaching “community” as the solution…

  • Good Friday – Isaiah 53

    Isaiah 53 53:1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? [1] And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty…

  • Without the Gospel | Challies Dot Com

    The following quote is from John Calvin, via Without the Gospel | Challies Dot Com. It is some really great stuff, and very much encouraged me yesterday. Without the gospel everything is useless and vain; without the gospel we are not Christians; without the gospel all riches is poverty, all wisdom folly before God; strength…

  • Current Reads

    I’m currently digging into a few new books, compliments of the best Christmas present ever, an shiny new Amazon Kindle 2: The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love by Jonathan Leeman Deep Church by Jim Belcher Untamed by Alan Hirsch Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength by CS Lewis…

  • Adoption and Redemption

    Reflecting on Ephesians 1:1-14 the other day, God struck me with a profound truth about the very nature of salvation: In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption…

  • Merry Christmas!

    Merry Christmas! I pray that the simple, yet miraculous truth that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” rests profoundly on you during these few weeks!

  • 2009 Top Posts – Ethereal Thought Train

    I’ve pretty much let Ethereal Thought Train go stale in the last two months, but I figured to close out 2009 I’d throw out your favorite posts of the year.  Without further adieu, here they are: The 5 Big Issues in Campus Ministry | Missiology 1 Summary of College Ministry | Gentrified Discipleship and Ministry…

  • American Charitable Giving | mint.com

    I thought the image below from the Mint.com blog was fascinating.  It’s long, but worth a look. budget planner – Mint.com

  • Giving Thanks

    I’m sitting in the passenger seat on my way to the inlaws’ family thanksgiving and dwelling on this great American holiday, so I figured I’d jot down some thoughts. In no particular order: Most of the country is taking the weekend off to celebrate WHAT they are thankful for. What an incredible opportunity to show…

  • Lessons from a Razor

    As many of you know, I was in a South Asian country with two other pastors from The Austin Stone, and we had an unfortunate incident with some youth.  My friend who was attacked has written his reflections, and I highly encourage you to read them.  Here is a short snippet: Unexpectedly, one of these…