church
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Why Plant Churches
The question in Austin has shifted from why not plant a church to why we even need more of them. Austin is not a city saturated with churches, it is a city unevenly served, and the…
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The Church Isn’t a Safe Place
The church was never meant to be a safe place as the world defines safety. It exists to make you holy and obedient, not comfortable, and my worry is that the mood of the day is…
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Gratitude for Partnership in the Gospel
Christian community is not built on consumerism but on covenant partnership, sustained not by preference but by promise. I used to teach at The Stone that we should aim for mission over community, and I have…
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The Longing Beneath the Form: Ancient Future and Nostalgic Novelty
Ancient future and nostalgic novelty look like opposites, but they come from the same desire, to belong to something lasting, to be from somewhere and to be going somewhere. The form is not the same as…
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Jesus Has All Authority—Stop “Releasing” People to Do Ministry
If you are in Christ, you have been commissioned, and you do not need a second opinion or a stamp of approval to make disciples. A friend recently told me he wanted to do that in…
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The Deadline Dilemma in Ministry
Ministry tends to explain its fluid deadlines as prioritizing people over projects. I wonder whether it is less about prioritizing people and more about avoiding accountability, because deadlines force clarity and reveal priorities, and that kind…
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One Body, Many Parts
The body of Christ is not a theoretical concept, it is a living reality, and it is at work Monday through Saturday in coffee shops and living rooms and late-night phone calls. We need each other…
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Assessing Candidates – Character
Over the past few weeks, I’ve focused on staffing in the local church. This series will focus primarily on assessing candidates who emerge for potential roles on your team. There are four primary areas of assessment…
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Assessing Candidates – Calling
Over the past few weeks, I’ve focused on staffing in the local church. This series will focus primarily on assessing candidates who emerge for potential roles on your team. There are four primary areas of assessment…
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Understanding the Position
As I’ve served in the role of Executive Pastor for the past two years, one of the key responsibilities I have is building a staff team. With the help of Kevin Peck and Dave Barrett, I’ve developed a pretty…
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The Basic Process of Hiring
As I’ve served in the role of Executive Pastor for the past two years, one of the key responsibilities I have is building a staff team. With the help of Kevin Peck and Dave Barrett, I’ve developed a pretty…
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Making Disciples is The Job
As I’ve served in the role of Executive Pastor for the past two years, one of the key responsibilities I have is building a staff team. With the help of Kevin Peck and Dave Barrett, I’ve developed a pretty…