Writing
Essays and working ideas from more than fifteen years of writing about faith, leadership, discipleship, the church, family, and life in Austin.
Start here
New here? These four pieces offer a way into the writing: what shapes the church, how we lead, and how faith takes form in community. Begin with the recent essays, then explore the earlier work that helped shape those questions.
The church and the Spirit · 2026
The Organizing Principle of the Church
Start with a recent reflection on how spiritual gifts shape the church, and why I’m revisiting an old conviction about mission.
Leadership in practice · 2026
Leadership and Administration
Why leading people and bringing order to the work are gifts to recognize and steward, and what gets lost when we treat them only as skills.
Community and mission · 2013
What is a Missional Community? – Definition
A short introduction to the definition we used at The Austin Stone, and why a community of Christians is essential to a faithful witness.
Leading through change · 2013
Transitioning Your Church to Missional Communities
The opening of a practical series on our transition at The Austin Stone, with lessons about patience, learning, and the time real change takes.
For sustained explorations of a topic, browse the Selected Series.
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Missional community · Leadership · Christianity · Church · Personal · Austin Stone · Discipleship · Theology
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All writing
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An Interview with Eric Geiger
My friend Eric Geiger did a short Skype interview with me on the topic of the Gospel and Community. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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The Lobby – Day 2
Today has been another encouraging and challenging day of conversation, and has left me with some good thinking to do. Session 5: Mission and Community We began the day today talking through the idea of mission,…
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The Difficulty of Balancing Ministry and Discipleship
I’ve found that it can be extremely difficult to continually cultivate the centrality of discipleship, or the process of selectively investing a small number of individuals in order to teach obedience to what Jesus taught (Matthew…
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The Lobby – Day 1
It’s been a great day gathering with so many thoughtful and humble leaders here in Atlanta. Today was centered around four different discussions: Session 1: Disciple Making Our first discussion centered around the idea of making…
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The Lobby Conference
This week I will be spending time with many of the best and brightest small group thinkers in the country at The Lobby. I’m so thankful for our gracious hosts, North Point Community Church, and my friend…
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Upcoming Series and New Ideas
It’s been a joy to unpack some of the nuts and bolts of missional communities, and I’ve loved the feedback I’ve received from many of you. I’ve compiled the different series together on my resources page…
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Stages of Missional Community Development – Conclusion and Data
As we have led missional communities at The Austin Stone, we’ve found there are some common transitions in the life of our communities, and this series is discussing those four stages. They are: Community Group Small…
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Stages of Missional Community Development – Missionary Team
As we have led missional communities at The Austin Stone, we’ve found there are some common transitions in the life of our communities, and this series is discussing those four stages. They are: Community Group Small…
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Stages of Missional Community Development – Team of Missionaries
As we have led missional communities at The Austin Stone, we’ve found there are some common transitions in the life of our communities, and this series is discussing those four stages. They are: Community Group Small…
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Stages of Missional Community Development – Small Group
As we have led missional communities at The Austin Stone, we’ve found there are some common transitions in the life of our communities, and this series is discussing those four stages. They are: Community Group Small…
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Stages of Missional Community Development – Community Group
As we have led missional communities at The Austin Stone, we’ve found there are some common transitions in the life of our communities, and this series is discussing those four stages. They are: Community Group Small…
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Stages of Missional Community Development – Overview
Four Stages of Missional Community It is our hope at the Austin Stone that each and every person is living on mission to make disciples with other believers, but we know most of our people don’t…