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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Building a Disciple-Making Culture
This post was originally published at the SEND Network website here. Building a Disciple-Making Culture Many people much smarter than me have wrestled with the question “what is culture?” At the heart of it though, culture…
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The Essentials of Disciple Making
The following article was originally posted on the SEND Network site here. I am ecstatic that much of the conversation in church planting and church leadership has been moving towards the topic of discipleship. Books are…
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Aren’t Missional Communities Just Small Groups?
Recently I was asked by a reader on this blog and partner in our church: Is the bar so high in missional community that no one can reach it? Or, only a few groups can reach…
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Top 5 Posts of March
For the month of March, the Missional Communities Practices Series continues to be the most read series on the blog. Apparently practical is good! As for content posted in March: Making Disciples is the Job Building…
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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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Verge 2014
This week we begin our yearly Verge Conference at The Austin Stone. For me, it is a chance to process through the past year as we pursue Christ and His mission, and connect with others who…
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Recruiting Candidates
After understanding your core philosophical convictions, building a healthy staff team requires an interview and hiring process. At The Austin Stone, we have a process of candidacy, interviewing, assessment and hiring: Do We Need To Hire? What Role…
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Identifying Candidates
After understanding your core philosophical convictions, building a healthy staff team requires an interview and hiring process. At The Austin Stone, we have a process of candidacy, interviewing, assessment and hiring: Do We Need To Hire? What Role…
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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…