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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Together for Adoption Conference
Both my wife and I are planning on attending the Together for Adoption Conference 2009 in October. If we have a group of four or more from The Austin Stone attend, then we are eligible to…
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Back in Action!
Since I know so many of you couldn’t wait for my blogging return, I’m happy to report that I’m back in action and well rested from vacation. I’ll resume regular posting shortly…
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Cool College Students | Repost Set 4
This set is some highlights of what Austin Stone students have done in the last year: Students reaching out to children in tough neighborhoods – St. John’s Day Camp Making disciples on campus – Unconventional Baptism…
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Tough Words | Repost Set 3
Below are some posts that were challenges me and people around me: Our messed up idea of calling – The Confusing Language of Calling Get up and do something – Passivity in the Church Pastoring in…
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Discipleship | Repost Set 2
As I’m on vacation, I’m reposting some links to things I have written in the past on this blog. Below are links to the series I wrote on Discipleship: Part 1 – Foundations of Discipleship Part…
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Assimilation and Mission | Repost Set 1
Vacation Repost Set 1: Assimilation and Mission I’ve written several posts that refer to assimilation and mission, and the complexity of doing both well. Take a look at them below: Alan Hirsch meets Seth Godin –…
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Rubik’s Cube and Vacation
Last summer I learned to solve the Rubik’s Cube. This summer, I am aiming to learn how to solve it in under a minute and a half, as well as solving it in as few moves…
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The 5 Big Issues in Campus Ministry | Innovation
This series of blog posts is in response to Steve Lutz’s series on “The 5 Big Issues in Campus Ministry Today”. and his specific thoughts on Missiology, Theological Foundations, Ecclesiology, Innovation, and Sustainability. My thoughts are here:…
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The 5 Big Issues in Campus Ministry | Theological Foundations
Steve’s take is here, and below is his thesis for this issue in campus ministry: Theological foundations are needed for the faithfulness and long-term fruitfulness of our ministries. We are running semester-long sprints when we need…
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The 5 Big Issues in Campus Ministry | Missiology 3
Lutz’s third assertion about missiology is: We must also talk about what missional campus ministry looks like. His basic idea is quoted below: We must be concerned that most everyone is content to keep doing attractional…
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The 5 Big Issues in Campus Ministry | Missiology 2
For the first thought on missiology in a college context, click here. Steve Lutz inspired these posts, so make sure you read what he is saying here. — We need a missiology of our context: Higher…
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The 5 Big Issues in Campus Ministry | Missiology 1
Steve Lutz is doing a great job of working through significant questions for campus ministries, and I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to think through these as well. Click here for the…