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 Staff Team
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…
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Groups Matter Initiative
Regardless of how you think groups ought to be practiced in the local church, almost everyone would agree that groups matter. In the context of smaller communities, people are known, loved, taught, challenged and led towards…
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Church Discipline – FAQ
Much of what I have written here in the past focuses on the formative work of discipline in the church – discipleship. Within Scripture, however, we also find another form of corrective discipline, commonly called “church…
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The Outcome of Church Discipline
Much of what I have written here in the past focuses on the formative work of discipline in the church – discipleship. Within Scripture, however, we also find another form of corrective discipline, commonly called “church…
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The Process of Church Discipline
Much of what I have written here in the past focuses on the formative work of discipline in the church – discipleship. Within Scripture, however, we also find another form of corrective discipline, commonly called “church…
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The Heart Behind Church Discipline
Much of what I have written here in the past focuses on the formative work of discipline in the church – discipleship. Within Scripture, however, we also find another form of corrective discipline, commonly called “church…
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The Theology of Church Discipline
Much of what I have written here in the past focuses on the formative work of discipline in the church – discipleship. Within Scripture, however, we also find another form of corrective discipline, commonly called “church…
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A Primer on Church Discipline
Much of what I have written here in the past focuses on the formative work of discipline in the church – discipleship. Within Scripture, however, we also find another form of corrective discipline, commonly called “church…
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Why Membership Matters
Over the next two posts, I’m going to focus on church membership (which we call “partnership” at The Austin Stone) from a few different angles: The Biblical Basis for Church Membership Why Membership Matters For many…
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The Biblical Basis for Partnership
Over the next two posts, I’m going to focus on church membership (which we call “Partnership” at The Austin Stone) from a few different angles: The Biblical Basis for Church Membership Why Membership Matters For many…
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A New Year, A New Direction
Although we’re already almost a month into the new year, I’m just now getting my ducks around the blogosphere. Looking back, I focused a great deal of time and attention on the practical aspects of missional…