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Lost and Found

Interesting Statistics From The Book, Lost and Found, by Setzer 1.  9/10 unchurched would be willing to listen to someone share his or her beliefs. 2.  3/5 would be willing to study the Bible with a friend’s invitation. 3.  ½ surveyed said that they would be willing to learn more about the Bible and Jesus within the context of a small group. 4.  8/10 young adults said that “Christianity today is more about organized religion than about loving God and loving people.” 5.  9/10 believe they can have a good relationship with God without being involved in a church. 6. … Read More »Lost and Found

Let’s Go Die With Jesus?

Let’s go and die with Jesus? I can remember sitting in my “second office” at Panera several months ago identifying with Thomas in John 11.  In this chapter, Jesus invites the disciples to leave their present comfort to see Lazarus who has recently died.  Thomas, mindful of just having come from Judea where Jesus escaped a stoning, declares to the concerned disciples, “let us go also, that we may die with him” (verse 16). As I have contemplated the church-planting vision that God has set before us, I have been tempted to have Thomas’ attitude.  Part of me wants to… Read More »Let’s Go Die With Jesus?

“A Vision For Being The Church” UPDATE

I am updating those involved with the orientation class, “A Vision for Being The Church.”  I’ve been so excited and encouraged by all of you as we have explored the vision for this new work in our community.  Here is a brief summary of our discussion: CORE VALUES IDENTIFIED SO FAR Week 1:  Community: The church is the community of believers who are “called out” to be the physical representation of Christ to the world.  The church is not a building or a service. Week 2:  Mission: The purpose of the church is to 1) love God and 2) love… Read More »“A Vision For Being The Church” UPDATE

Something to Consider

“The greatest problem affecting church planting strategy today is a theological problem.  And church planters must realize that the missionary task to which they are called requires that they teach the whole counsel of God and allow the cultural expressions to develop from the people over time. An ecclesiological shift is necessary. Not a shift away from biblical prescriptions, absolutely not!  But there must be a shift away from expectations that may shackle new believers to longstanding  preferences that, while near-and-dear to us, are problematic for their sanctification and mission. Let’s do evangelism. Let’s gather the new believers together.  Let’s… Read More »Something to Consider

Simplifying Discipleship

This past Sunday, we had a great conversation in the “vision” class for the new church plant about discipleship.  In light of our conversation, I thought I would share a link to a great blog post on the subject.  I would love to hear your thoughts! Click Here to read! “A VISION FOR BEING THE CHURCH” UPDATE Here is a summary of what we have shared so far in the class “A Vision For Being The Church.”  You are welcome to join us any Sunday you can at 10:45 in room 13 below the sanctuary at First Alliance Church, Lexington… Read More »Simplifying Discipleship

Promo Video

Click “Promo Video” above to check out this short little video we put together highlighting the rational for the new “church plant” we are involved in!

Do We Need More Churches In Central Kentucky?

I just came across some interesting statistics produced by the Glenmary Report in 2000 concerning church and religious involvement in Kentucky and Fayette County. * 10% of people in Fayette County attend church on any given Sunday * 47.3% of people in Fayette County “adhere to a religion.” * 27.4% of people in Fayette County are “members of a religious group.” As you might expect, these numbers are slightly lower than the state average (12.8%, 58%, and 33% respectively).  Click here to see the report and the results for all counties in Kentucky.  So what do you think?  Do we… Read More »Do We Need More Churches In Central Kentucky?

Church Planting Movements In North America?

I was recently re-reading this paper that I wrote in 2004.  I would highly encourage you to read Church Planting Movements by David Garrison.  However, if you can not find the time, I encourage you to give the arguments laid out in my review some consideration.  It is amazing to me how much God used this class, and specifically this assignment that I worked on six years ago, to shape the vision He has placed in my heart for this new work here in Lexington. I have resisted the temptation to make some minor changes and have left this as… Read More »Church Planting Movements In North America?

"if you ever find yourself walking along a path like this...watch your step!"

The Calf Path.

One day, through the primeval wood,
A calf walked home, as good calves should;

But made a trail all bent askew,
A crooked trail as all calves do.
Since then three hundred years have fled,
And, I infer, the calf is dead.
But still he left behind his trail,
And thereby hangs my moral tale… (Click Title to Continue Reading)

“Have you heard about what is going on with Francis Chan?”

What’s Next for Francis Chan? A Conversation with Mark Driscoll and Joshua Harris.  (click to watch video) This past Sunday I had a conversation with a lady who, after hearing about the vision for the new work God has placed in me, asked me if I “had heard about what was going on with Francis Chan?”  I once listened to a message that Francis Chan preached and I am familiar with his “Just Stop and Think” video but I have not read his book “Crazy Love” or any other book of his for that matter.  I was intrigued by the… Read More »“Have you heard about what is going on with Francis Chan?”