Todd Engstrom

Author: Todd Engstrom

  • Scriptural Election: The Third Way

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    Todd Engstrom
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    I found this article as I was preparing for my teaching on the doctrines of salvation, and particularly on election.  The quote below is very insightful Thesis 23: We must affirm that God creates what he elects rather than that he selects out of what exists. Israel is called into existence. Election is tied to…

  • Touchpoint » Blog Archive » An Encouraging Mega Church View

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    Todd Engstrom
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    A great viewpoint from David Watson on mega church involvement in church planting movements. From my perspective as a champion for rapidly multiplying small church planting, I do see a need for and appreciate mega churches. Mega churches could be the nexus for information, training, networking/connecting, strategy, and resourcing of all kinds, including human, vocational,…

  • When Planning Fails Churches

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    Todd Engstrom
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    This quote from an article in Church Solutions Magazine adds some fuel to the fire from our conversations as a staff and implementing our strategy as a church. The statistics tell the unfortunate truth. Eighty-seven percent of American churches have either plauteaued or are declining in attendance. We can and should innovate until we are…

  • What motivates you to mission? | shawblog

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    Todd Engstrom
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    My friend and colleague has written some fantastic thoughts on ministry to Muslims, which have broad applications for motivations for ministry.  Below is the concluding quip from a great post: Passion for obedience to the basic commands of Jesus in response to His love for you. The 2 greatest commands of Jesus are very clear…

  • Discipleship and Training | TheResurgence

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    Todd Engstrom
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    I really like the Resurgence blog.  It always has great thoughts, including the one below on discipleship. The primary context for training should also be the church in situ. I find it strange that this assertion should be so contentious when the weight of the biblical evidence is behind it. Timothy was trained in gospel…

  • Forgiveness in Marriage

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    Todd Engstrom
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    I’ve been reading through This Momentary Marriage by John Piper in preparation for our Nearly/Newly Wed class at The Austin Stone.  Although the content hasn’t been earth shattering, I’ve been reflecting on Ephesians 5:22-32, and specifically some applications for marriage from Christ’s covenant keeping love for His church. First, Piper has often made the point…

  • Attractional and Missional | TheResurgence

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    Todd Engstrom
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    Below is quote from a post a The Resurgence on the Attractional vs. Missional “debate”. People often set up attractional church and missional church as polar opposites. Attractional has a come-to-us mentality. It’s about drawing people to the church. Missional is a go-to-them mentality. We take the gospel to people, meeting them on their terms…

  • A Future and a Hope Conference

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    Todd Engstrom
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    I attended and helped greet at an adoption conference this weekend with Olivia. There were three main sessions and a panel: Kristin Wong spoke on God’s heart for adoption from Ephesians 1 Julie Kouri presented myths to adoption and highlighted the basic adoption process Jason Kovacs shared some insight on funding for adoption through organizations…

  • Reflections on the Ministry : Rick McKinley

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    Todd Engstrom
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    This was a convicting message for me to hear from Rick McKinley of Imago Dei in Portland. The art of unbusyness and unneccesariness is essential to the being available to God. There is disaster awaiting the one who gets bogged down with doing good, and not dwelling in the excellent. It is our job to…

  • adaptive challenges and the church | The Forgotten Ways

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    Todd Engstrom
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    Really liked this quote from Alan Hirsch, and it speaks toward the movement we desire to see in Austin: When I am teaching TFW material, one of the constant questions that is raised is “do we need persecution to become a fully fledged Jesus movement?” And my answer is “No, I don’t believe that it…

  • What Makes a Great Leadership Team? | Gallup Management Journal

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    Todd Engstrom
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    Came across this at What’s Best Next from What Makes a Great Leadership Team? at Gallup Management Journal, and thought it was another helpful understanding of balanced leadership teams. As we worked with these leadership teams, we began to see that while each member had his or her own unique strengths, the most cohesive and…

  • CGI | Austin Stone Student in the Statesman

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    Todd Engstrom
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    This is why I love doing what I do…I get to watch amazing students do amazing things.  Jackie Markovich is an intern in the College Ministry at The Austin Stone, and The Austin American Statesman printed an article about her project in Sudan for the Clinton Global Initiative.  Here’s an excerpt: In Nagishot, Sudan, women…