John Pless is the Assistant Professor, Pastoral Ministry and Missions—Director of Field Education at Concordia Theological Seminary...
From his work he has a strong interest in mission and the divine service, and writes from a confessional view point.
Following are some articles/essays that John Pless has written that maybe of interest to you:
Ceremonies For Seekers: Catechesis As A Fundamental Criterion For Worship In The Lutheran Confessions
The Divine Service and the Mission of the Church
Divine Service: Delivering Forgiveness of Sins
Liturgy and Evangelism in Service of the Mysteria Dei
Liturgy and Pietism: Then and Now
The Lord's Service To Us
Taking The Divine Service Into The Week: Liturgy And Vocation
What Your Eating and Drinking at this Altar Confesses
Paper - The Lord's Supper in the Life of the Congregation PDF
if you can suggest other mission oriententated academics I would be delighted to include them on this site.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Observations on selecting mission sites from the book of Acts
Observations on Selecting Mission Sites From the Book of Acts
By Rev. Jack Cascione
this article is available at http://www.unitedlutheranmission.org/Fromacts.htm
The best information about prioritizing and selecting mission sites is in the Book of Acts.
The guiding principal throughout Scripture is that God doesn’t think like we think.
Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
All too often Jesus went where He was not expected and chose what we would not choose, and sent the Apostles where we would not send them.
He delights in raising up the low and lowering the high.
1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:”
We see this pattern again and again in the Book of Acts as God establishes congregations. All this being said, God gave us the Bible and He gave us brains to read and apply His Word, with our best judgment.
If anything, examples from the Book of Acts show that we what we should send out his Word as soon as possible without waiting for His external motivation. Examples from the Book of Acts demonstrate how God has acted in the history of His church. We may safely assume that God, who changes not, is still acting with the same approach today.
How wide is the mission field?
The following verses tell the church to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
How does the Bible describe the growth of the church?
The Bible describes the growth of the church as the growth of the Word, that is, more people believing the Word.
Acts 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Acts 19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
How are mission sites selected in the Bible?
The Gospel is transmitted in the Book of Acts when:
A. Christians, Evangelists, and Apostles are driven out and or flee for their lives.
B. Christians travel from one place to another.
C. God prevents Christians from traveling from one place, so they must go to another.
D. People are sent to preach the Gospel by other churches or apostles.
E. Churches or Evangelists are invited to preach the Gospel to them.
F. God tells the Apostles and Evangelists where to start preaching.
G. People reject it and the evangelists look for other places to preach.
A letter of the alphabet above has been placed in front of the verses from Acts that corresponds to the verses below. Please note the frequency of the letters “A” “B” and “D.”
The letter “A” is God’s most common approach to mission work. It is also the approach God used to establish the LCMS. We begin our examination of mission work with the Gospel going out from Jerusalem in Acts 8:1, about two years after Pentecost.
------------------------------------
A. Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his [Stephen’s] death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
A. Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
D. Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
F. Acts 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
F. Acts 9:19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
D. Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, (He prays for God’s help and God sends Peter)
A. Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
D. Acts 11: 22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
A. Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
A. Acts 14:6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
A. Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
D. Acts 15:30 So when they were dismissed, [by the church at Jerusalem] they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
D. Acts 16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
C. Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
F. Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. . . . 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
A. Acts 17:1 [After being beaten and jailed in Philippi] Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
A. Acts 17: 5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
A. Acts 17: 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
A. Acts 17: 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. . . 15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
G. Acts 18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
A. Acts 18: 17 Then all the Greeks [at Corthin] took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. 18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
B. Acts :18: 22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. Acts 18: 23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. 24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
A. Acts 20:1 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
B. Acts 20:2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece
A. Acts 20:3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. 20:4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. . . .5 These going before tarried for us at Troas.
B. Acts 20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
B. Acts 20: 6 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
B. Acts 21:1 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: 2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. 3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. 4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
B. Acts 21: 8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
F. Acts 21:12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 3 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
A. Acts 21:27 [ At Jerusalem] And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
A. Acts 22:22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
A. Acts 23:23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; Acts 23:24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
A. Acts 27:1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
A. Acts 28:1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
A. Acts 28:16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
A. Acts 28: 30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
June 28, 2005
By Rev. Jack Cascione
this article is available at http://www.unitedlutheranmission.org/Fromacts.htm
The best information about prioritizing and selecting mission sites is in the Book of Acts.
The guiding principal throughout Scripture is that God doesn’t think like we think.
Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
All too often Jesus went where He was not expected and chose what we would not choose, and sent the Apostles where we would not send them.
He delights in raising up the low and lowering the high.
1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:”
We see this pattern again and again in the Book of Acts as God establishes congregations. All this being said, God gave us the Bible and He gave us brains to read and apply His Word, with our best judgment.
If anything, examples from the Book of Acts show that we what we should send out his Word as soon as possible without waiting for His external motivation. Examples from the Book of Acts demonstrate how God has acted in the history of His church. We may safely assume that God, who changes not, is still acting with the same approach today.
How wide is the mission field?
The following verses tell the church to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
How does the Bible describe the growth of the church?
The Bible describes the growth of the church as the growth of the Word, that is, more people believing the Word.
Acts 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Acts 19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
How are mission sites selected in the Bible?
The Gospel is transmitted in the Book of Acts when:
A. Christians, Evangelists, and Apostles are driven out and or flee for their lives.
B. Christians travel from one place to another.
C. God prevents Christians from traveling from one place, so they must go to another.
D. People are sent to preach the Gospel by other churches or apostles.
E. Churches or Evangelists are invited to preach the Gospel to them.
F. God tells the Apostles and Evangelists where to start preaching.
G. People reject it and the evangelists look for other places to preach.
A letter of the alphabet above has been placed in front of the verses from Acts that corresponds to the verses below. Please note the frequency of the letters “A” “B” and “D.”
The letter “A” is God’s most common approach to mission work. It is also the approach God used to establish the LCMS. We begin our examination of mission work with the Gospel going out from Jerusalem in Acts 8:1, about two years after Pentecost.
------------------------------------
A. Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his [Stephen’s] death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
A. Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
D. Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
F. Acts 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
F. Acts 9:19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
D. Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, (He prays for God’s help and God sends Peter)
A. Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
D. Acts 11: 22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
A. Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
A. Acts 14:6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
A. Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
D. Acts 15:30 So when they were dismissed, [by the church at Jerusalem] they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
D. Acts 16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
C. Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
F. Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. . . . 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
A. Acts 17:1 [After being beaten and jailed in Philippi] Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
A. Acts 17: 5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
A. Acts 17: 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
A. Acts 17: 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. . . 15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
G. Acts 18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
A. Acts 18: 17 Then all the Greeks [at Corthin] took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. 18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
B. Acts :18: 22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. Acts 18: 23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. 24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
A. Acts 20:1 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
B. Acts 20:2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece
A. Acts 20:3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. 20:4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. . . .5 These going before tarried for us at Troas.
B. Acts 20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
B. Acts 20: 6 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
B. Acts 21:1 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: 2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. 3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. 4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
B. Acts 21: 8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
F. Acts 21:12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 3 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
A. Acts 21:27 [ At Jerusalem] And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
A. Acts 22:22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
A. Acts 23:23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; Acts 23:24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
A. Acts 27:1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
A. Acts 28:1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
A. Acts 28:16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
A. Acts 28: 30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
June 28, 2005
Monday, January 28, 2008
Free Lenten devotions for your congregation
Lutheran Hour Ministries offer your congregation two forms of Lenten Devotions to hand out.
"Uncustomary Love" explores many of our culture’s everyday rituals and contrasts them with the uncustomary, and exemplary, actions of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Each day’s devotion looks at a timeworn, sometimes odd, custom, such as crossing one’s fingers or walking around a ladder, and suggests a practical “contemporary custom” or two to consider in their place. Written in a spirited, yet traditional style, "Uncustomary Love" will remind its audience that Lent is not only a season of reflection, but of doing.
"Writings from the Wilderness", on the other hand, is an open invite to readers who may not yet know the Savior or, if they do, to consider from another perspective the dynamics of a relationship with Him. These reflections allow room to explore the realities of our everyday existence, contemplate how these challenges take place in our life, and consider God's triumphant solution sealed by the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Readers are challenged to keep a journal of their passage through the wilderness so they can look back and reflect on where they’ve been –and where they’re headed. These gritty and life-tested observations are written in a way that challenge readers and bring them into the faith conversation.
Both "Uncustomary Love" and "Writings from the Wilderness" have been created in a PDF format making them easily customizable when adding church information for distribution throughout your community.
To abtain these please visit: http://www.lentendevotions.net/
"Uncustomary Love" explores many of our culture’s everyday rituals and contrasts them with the uncustomary, and exemplary, actions of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Each day’s devotion looks at a timeworn, sometimes odd, custom, such as crossing one’s fingers or walking around a ladder, and suggests a practical “contemporary custom” or two to consider in their place. Written in a spirited, yet traditional style, "Uncustomary Love" will remind its audience that Lent is not only a season of reflection, but of doing.
"Writings from the Wilderness", on the other hand, is an open invite to readers who may not yet know the Savior or, if they do, to consider from another perspective the dynamics of a relationship with Him. These reflections allow room to explore the realities of our everyday existence, contemplate how these challenges take place in our life, and consider God's triumphant solution sealed by the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Readers are challenged to keep a journal of their passage through the wilderness so they can look back and reflect on where they’ve been –and where they’re headed. These gritty and life-tested observations are written in a way that challenge readers and bring them into the faith conversation.
Both "Uncustomary Love" and "Writings from the Wilderness" have been created in a PDF format making them easily customizable when adding church information for distribution throughout your community.
To abtain these please visit: http://www.lentendevotions.net/
A congregation worth visiting: St Lukes Lutheran Church Oviedo Florida
St. Luke's Is . . .
Bible-based.We believe that the entire Bible is the Word of God. It is the only source of all we teach.
Gospel-motivated.We proclaim the Good News that God has reconciled the world to Himself through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Nurturing.Helping people grow in their faith through a K-8 grade school Sunday School, and Youth and Adult Bible Study.
Sacramental.Baptism and the Lord's Supper are central to our life together.
Balanced Worship.We blend newer worship forms with the time-honored liturgy of the Church.
Active and Caring.We seek to motivate and equip all people for service in Jesus' name.
Outreach Oriented.We seek to make Christ known throughout our community and the world.
There web site http://www.stlukes-oviedo.org/ offers an insight into a wide range of ministries, outreach approaches and resources with a Lutheran emphasis. If you are looking for ideas it may well get you started.
Bible-based.We believe that the entire Bible is the Word of God. It is the only source of all we teach.
Gospel-motivated.We proclaim the Good News that God has reconciled the world to Himself through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Nurturing.Helping people grow in their faith through a K-8 grade school Sunday School, and Youth and Adult Bible Study.
Sacramental.Baptism and the Lord's Supper are central to our life together.
Balanced Worship.We blend newer worship forms with the time-honored liturgy of the Church.
Active and Caring.We seek to motivate and equip all people for service in Jesus' name.
Outreach Oriented.We seek to make Christ known throughout our community and the world.
There web site http://www.stlukes-oviedo.org/ offers an insight into a wide range of ministries, outreach approaches and resources with a Lutheran emphasis. If you are looking for ideas it may well get you started.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Leadership
Leadership involves guiding, directing and influencing people.
Something for us to think about is what does it mean for us to be a leader in a Lutheran context?
Surely it involves guiding, directing and influencing people in God's ways as revealled to us in the scriptures and especially as seen in the life of Jesus. And central to this is FORGIVENESS and welcoming all people, concepts that are not always popular or a high priority even amongst Christians.
And so like anything else, as we engage with the huge minestrone soup bowl of leadership material keep this in mind, keep asking the question what are we guiding, directing and influencing people to!!!
Type leadership into google and you will get over 134 million hits...now i would rather be looking for a needle in haystack (or a toy in my children's play area), so hopefully some of the information gives you a starting point...and of course if you have any recommendations, please feel free to email them to me so we can share them with others...
Please note: Some of the resources are from Lutheran sources and authors/speakers/organisations, others are simply resources that I know some Lutheran leaders and pastors have been using and have recommended.
Organisations
Pastoral Leadership Institute is a virtual training arm for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. The mission of PLI is to provide advanced leadership training for pastors whose hearts burn with passion for the gospel and who have exhibited potential for leadership excellence. It is an initiative conceived with the express purpose of supporting a strong, viable church for the next millennium. The purpose of the Pastoral Leadership Institute is to operate an in-service, leadership formation program for pastors and others who desire to develop their leadership abilities helpful in pastoring churches in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and beyond. On their web site http://www.plinstitute.org/ you will discover information about conferences, mentor congregations, their programs and other leadership development.
PRISMS: New Insights for church leaders series from Augsburg Fortress http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/itemseries.jsp?clsid=190779&categoryID=1008
Ideal for both lay and ordained Christian leaders, this series comprises short, accessible books that rethink key elements of being church in a postmodern era of formation, re-formation, and transformation. Encompassing a full range of topics?from membership and growth, to discipleship and teaching, to group dynamics and social justice?Prisms engages readers in new thinking about the survival, shape, and agenda of the Christian churches of tomorrow.
Breaking the Conspiracy of Silenceby Donald E. Messer (Author)Addressing a worldwide emergencyItem No: 9780800636418Release Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2004Format: PaperbackAvailability: In stock, usually ships within 24 hours.Eligible for Free Shipping on orders over $150. DetailsOnline Price: $12.00 (reg $15.00) 20% off
Healing Bodies and Souls: A Practical Guide for Congregationsby W. Daniel Hale (Author); Harold G. Koenig (Author)The next frontier: Ministries of health and healingItem No: 9780800636296Release Date: Friday, October 31, 2003Format: PaperbackAvailability: In stock, usually ships within 24 hours.Eligible for Free Shipping on orders over $150. DetailsOnline Price: $12.80 (reg $16.00) 20% off
A Servant's Manual: Christian Leadership for Tomorrowby Michael W. Foss (Author)Energizing a new generation of Christian leadersItem No: 9780800634537Release Date: Monday, June 10, 2002Format: PaperbackAvailability: In stock, item will be discontinued when sold out.Eligible for Free Shipping on orders over $150. DetailsOnline Price: $12.00 (reg $15.00) 20% off
Spiritual Maturity: Preserving Congregational Health and Balanceby Frank A. Thomas (Author)Building effective God-centered ministriesItem No: 9780800630867Release Date: Monday, April 22, 2002Format: PaperbackAvailability: This book is available through our print on demand program and will ship separately. Most titles will ship within 10 days of the placement of your order.Online Price: $10.40 (reg $13.00) 20% off
Moving Beyond Church Growth: An Alternative Vision for Congregationsby Mark A. Olson (Author)Character development for communities of faithItem No: 9780806643465Release Date: Thursday, December 20, 2001Format: PaperbackAvailability: In stock, item will be discontinued when sold out.Eligible for Free Shipping on orders over $150. DetailsOnline Price: $13.60 (reg $17.00) 20% off
Turn Your Church Inside Out: Building a Community for Othersby Walter Kallestad (Author)A primer for reinvigorating church lifeItem No: 9780806640341Release Date: Tuesday, January 30, 2001Format: PaperbackAvailability: In stock, usually ships within 24 hours.Eligible for Free Shipping on orders over $150. DetailsOnline Price: $15.00
Lead like Jesus by Ken Blanchard
The author defines leadership as influence in a positive or negative direction. Given this definition, Jesus was the greatest leader of all time. He was firmly grounded in the Rabinical Judaism of the time. With this background, He took the fledging Christian community on a Transformational Journey culminating in His own crucifixion and a fantastic earthquake conincidental with the Death and Resurrection. The author reminds us that the ultimate leader serves the community first and not himself/herself. Leadership comes from a variety of personal sources. i.e. - the heart is the center of the leadership thrust - the head formulates strategies and movement forward - the hands relate to crafting specific actions - the habits relate to consistency/predictability of actions Blanchard presents the contrast between the serving leader and the self-serving leader. The serving leader actively engages in acts on behalf of the community while the self-serving leader benefits himself mainly. In providing service, the serving leader implements specific plans to move the community forward. This was done very skillfully by Christ in His own time.
Something for us to think about is what does it mean for us to be a leader in a Lutheran context?
Surely it involves guiding, directing and influencing people in God's ways as revealled to us in the scriptures and especially as seen in the life of Jesus. And central to this is FORGIVENESS and welcoming all people, concepts that are not always popular or a high priority even amongst Christians.
And so like anything else, as we engage with the huge minestrone soup bowl of leadership material keep this in mind, keep asking the question what are we guiding, directing and influencing people to!!!
Type leadership into google and you will get over 134 million hits...now i would rather be looking for a needle in haystack (or a toy in my children's play area), so hopefully some of the information gives you a starting point...and of course if you have any recommendations, please feel free to email them to me so we can share them with others...
Please note: Some of the resources are from Lutheran sources and authors/speakers/organisations, others are simply resources that I know some Lutheran leaders and pastors have been using and have recommended.
Organisations
Pastoral Leadership Institute is a virtual training arm for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. The mission of PLI is to provide advanced leadership training for pastors whose hearts burn with passion for the gospel and who have exhibited potential for leadership excellence. It is an initiative conceived with the express purpose of supporting a strong, viable church for the next millennium. The purpose of the Pastoral Leadership Institute is to operate an in-service, leadership formation program for pastors and others who desire to develop their leadership abilities helpful in pastoring churches in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and beyond. On their web site http://www.plinstitute.org/ you will discover information about conferences, mentor congregations, their programs and other leadership development.
Joyleadership Center The Joy LifeShapes Leadership Center serves mission-minded church leaders as a relational resource for those God is inspiring and calling through LifeShapes. Our vision is to see the church effectively reach this postmodern world. By providing training, discipleship, and other resources for LifeShapes, JLLC is partnering with churches throughout the United States and Canada so that all may know Jesus Christ and become his empowered followers. Visit http://www.joylead.org/ for more information
Changing Church Forum http://www.changingchurch.org/ Changing Church Forum is a ministry and mission of Prince of Peace, ELCA, to the church at large. Our focus is processing information, fostering change and renewal, and encouraging, in whatever way we can, more effective ministry.
e=mc2
Einstein was famous for his thought experiments. He would take puzzles and problems that presented themselves in the science of his day and by thinking differently about these issues, outside the traditional way of seeing these problems, he devised theories that were a whole new way of looking at the world. He and others would then test these theories through experiments to prove their validity and to address problems or create enormous new opportunities in the fields of science. It was during the long tenure of doing this that the now famous equation shown above was discovered. He summarized its enormous implication this way:
"This formula shows that very small amounts of mass may be converted into large amounts of energy and power."
This, in turn, released the beginning of the nuclear age in the world.
The Changing Church Forum adopts a similar philosophy toward the church of our day. Taking the puzzles and problems of the modern church, we think differently about these issues, outside the traditional ways of seeing the church in the world. We then test our ideas in real church settings. Our aim is to release the power and energy of each congregational member and congregation to thrive in the new context that the 21st century confronts us with. We are committed to this goal:
"That a small amount of investment with the Changing Church Forum will release a large amount of untapped potential in your church's ministry."
More specifically, we can help you and your congregation:
Expand your vision — Ministry of PoWeRSuRGe
Experience God deeply — Ministry of PoWeRSuRGe Worship
Enter into community with others — Ministry of Growing People through Small Groups
Equip people for service — Ministry of LifeKeys
Engage your world — Ministry of Thriving Churches Experiments
Injoy... www.injoy.com maybe you have heard of 21 Irrefutable laws of leadership......this was written by John Maxwell, a pastor who developed into pastoring leaders....In 1985, Dr. John C. Maxwell founded INJOY® in San Diego, California with a mission to develop leaders of excellence and integrity. INJOY® moved to its current location in the Atlanta area in 1997. The business develops thousands of leaders yearly primarily through its large events and training programs across the United States and Canada and high quality resources in the form of books, audio and DVD training kits, monthly mentoring subscriptions, and small group curriculums. To date, Dr. Maxwell has sold over 12 million books as an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author, and his organizations have trained more than one million leaders worldwide. Two of his books, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and Developing the Leader Within You, have each sold over a million copies. Their Mission: We passionately impact leaders at the heart level. Their Values: Character, Competence and Influence
Willowcreek Association.... www.willowcreek.com and http://wall.willowcreek.com/leaders/index.asp Their vision is that EACH CHURCH would reach its FULL REDEMPTIVE POTENTIAL. Their mission is to ENVISION, EQUIP, and ENCOURAGE Christian leaders to BUILD PREVAILING LOCAL CHURCHES. Each year they put together a quality Leadership Summit primarily for Christian leaders which is delivered in many locations around the world and offer a range of resources for churches and leaders in churches.
Books
Lutheran Leadership Bible Study Series
by Mueller Kelm Rutschow Heins Lauersdorf
Newly re-formatted, these five 6-lesson Bible-based studies with probing questions will help you evaluate your parish needs and minister to your people with the Word. Open your leader's meetings, conduct special classes for new officers, or help long-time leaders see the value of getting back to the study of God's Word with these Bible Studies. Studies included in this book are: "Lutheran Leadership" by Wayne Mueller; "Jesus' Mission for His Church" by Paul Kelm; "The Biblical Concept of Planning" by David Rutschow; "Church and Change" by Ronald Heins; and "Priority in Ministry" by Richard Lauersdorf. Price: $11.00 from http://online.nph.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?10418&productID=387640
Christ based leadership by David Stark
Learn From the Top Leadership Experts As a pastor, layleader, or leader of a ministry you know what the Bible has to say about leadership. You’ve also probably read some leadership books or heard the experts talk about effective leadership. Now, how do you put everything you’ve heard together? In Christ-Based Leadership David Stark, a Lutheran pastor, business consultant, and trainer, has done that for you. In one of the most practical and useful leadership books you’ll ever read, you’ll learn about today’s best leadership concepts and how they measure up to the biblical leadership model. Then discover how to put the principles into practice to become a more effective leader in your church, ministry, or business. Just a few of the books and experts he draws from include
* Leading Change, James O’Toole
* Good to Great and Built to Last, Jim Collins
* Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton
* Stewardship: Choosing Service Over Self-Interest, Peter Block
* Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick M. Lencioni
Stark asks twelve questions about your leadership style and methods, including
* What is the truth of your ambition?
* Who is lord of your leadership?
* What is your definition of success?
* Who are you here to serve?
The Everyday, anytime guide to Christian Leadership by Walt Kallestad .
Chapters include: Love Unconditionally, Envision the future, Affirm continuously, Discipline with determination, Energize others, Risk boldly, Serve selflessly, Hope relenetlessly, Imagine immeasurably, Pray persistently.
On a wing and a prayer: faithful leadership in the 21st Century by Michael Cooper White
These book uses the basis of pilot training to introduce well founded concepts in what is necessary for Church leadership
PRISMS: New Insights for church leaders series from Augsburg Fortress http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/itemseries.jsp?clsid=190779&categoryID=1008
Ideal for both lay and ordained Christian leaders, this series comprises short, accessible books that rethink key elements of being church in a postmodern era of formation, re-formation, and transformation. Encompassing a full range of topics?from membership and growth, to discipleship and teaching, to group dynamics and social justice?Prisms engages readers in new thinking about the survival, shape, and agenda of the Christian churches of tomorrow.
Breaking the Conspiracy of Silenceby Donald E. Messer (Author)Addressing a worldwide emergencyItem No: 9780800636418Release Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2004Format: PaperbackAvailability: In stock, usually ships within 24 hours.Eligible for Free Shipping on orders over $150. DetailsOnline Price: $12.00 (reg $15.00) 20% off
Healing Bodies and Souls: A Practical Guide for Congregationsby W. Daniel Hale (Author); Harold G. Koenig (Author)The next frontier: Ministries of health and healingItem No: 9780800636296Release Date: Friday, October 31, 2003Format: PaperbackAvailability: In stock, usually ships within 24 hours.Eligible for Free Shipping on orders over $150. DetailsOnline Price: $12.80 (reg $16.00) 20% off
A Servant's Manual: Christian Leadership for Tomorrowby Michael W. Foss (Author)Energizing a new generation of Christian leadersItem No: 9780800634537Release Date: Monday, June 10, 2002Format: PaperbackAvailability: In stock, item will be discontinued when sold out.Eligible for Free Shipping on orders over $150. DetailsOnline Price: $12.00 (reg $15.00) 20% off
Spiritual Maturity: Preserving Congregational Health and Balanceby Frank A. Thomas (Author)Building effective God-centered ministriesItem No: 9780800630867Release Date: Monday, April 22, 2002Format: PaperbackAvailability: This book is available through our print on demand program and will ship separately. Most titles will ship within 10 days of the placement of your order.Online Price: $10.40 (reg $13.00) 20% off
Moving Beyond Church Growth: An Alternative Vision for Congregationsby Mark A. Olson (Author)Character development for communities of faithItem No: 9780806643465Release Date: Thursday, December 20, 2001Format: PaperbackAvailability: In stock, item will be discontinued when sold out.Eligible for Free Shipping on orders over $150. DetailsOnline Price: $13.60 (reg $17.00) 20% off
Turn Your Church Inside Out: Building a Community for Othersby Walter Kallestad (Author)A primer for reinvigorating church lifeItem No: 9780806640341Release Date: Tuesday, January 30, 2001Format: PaperbackAvailability: In stock, usually ships within 24 hours.Eligible for Free Shipping on orders over $150. DetailsOnline Price: $15.00
Lead like Jesus by Ken Blanchard
The author defines leadership as influence in a positive or negative direction. Given this definition, Jesus was the greatest leader of all time. He was firmly grounded in the Rabinical Judaism of the time. With this background, He took the fledging Christian community on a Transformational Journey culminating in His own crucifixion and a fantastic earthquake conincidental with the Death and Resurrection. The author reminds us that the ultimate leader serves the community first and not himself/herself. Leadership comes from a variety of personal sources. i.e. - the heart is the center of the leadership thrust - the head formulates strategies and movement forward - the hands relate to crafting specific actions - the habits relate to consistency/predictability of actions Blanchard presents the contrast between the serving leader and the self-serving leader. The serving leader actively engages in acts on behalf of the community while the self-serving leader benefits himself mainly. In providing service, the serving leader implements specific plans to move the community forward. This was done very skillfully by Christ in His own time.
Living with Paradox: Religious Leadership and the Genius of Double Vision. by Newton Maloney
In "Living with Paradox," H. Newton Malony seeks to take religious leaders from "the tyranny of the OR to the genius of the AND." He explores eight paradoxes of religious organizations and religious leadership. The table of contents gives a sense of the book's scope:
1. Religious leadership and paradoxPart One: Paradoxes in the Religious Leader's Role
1. Religious leadership and paradoxPart One: Paradoxes in the Religious Leader's Role
2. Person and position: being true to oneself and to congregational expectations
3. Prophet, priest, and king: playing three roles that become confoundedPart Two: Paradoxes of Perspective
4. Inclusivity and exclusivity: appreciating both uniqueness and universality in faith convictions
5. Timely and timeless: applying the Bible's eternal truths to present circumstancesPart Three: Paradoxes Built into the Structure of Religious Congregations
6. For-profit and not-for-profit: balancing the books while serving a larger purpose
7. Person and organization: running an efficient organization in which people feel deeply recognizedPart Four: Paradoxes of Congregational Mission
8. Product and process: valuing ends and means equally
9. Mission and maintenance: moving the congregation toward achieving its goals while fostering goodwill and group cohesion
10 Conclusion: Leading others to double vision.
A list of some other books recommended by a number of Lutheran pastors and leaders....
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