As one of the most important theologians of our day, Dr. Wayne Grudem has impacted me tremendously since my conversion to Christianity at the age of nineteen. I believe the first book of his I read was Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Today, I own every book he has published that I am aware of. His Systematic Theology is in my opinion the finest on the market and the standard for Mars Hill Church and many of the churches we are affiliated with in the Acts 29 Network.
Over a year ago while in Raleigh, N. C., I met Dr. Grudem’s son Elliot and was encouraged at the loving and respectful way he spoke of his father. Sometimes a man is great in print or on the stage, but far less impressive the closer you get to him in the everyday affairs of life. But the way Elliot spoke of his dad was incredibly reassuring and made me all the more eager to one day meet and thank him.
The Doxologist has released 6 parts of an interview between Tim Smith and Bob Kauflin. It can be seen as a whole here, but if you want to skip to the stuff you want the links are below the video. I'm really excited to see Bob, and all of the other speakers at the Desiring God Conference. If you're going @mikeyanderson me on Twitter.
I would like to take this opportunity to explain some of the elements in the pre-conference of the National Resurgence Conference: Text & Context / Acts 29 Church Planting Bootcamp. On Sunday February 24, 2008 we are having a slotted time to meet with Mars Hill Church pastors and staff from 2:00pm to 3:30pm PST. Space is limited so sign up ASAP to reserve a spot in the various pre-conference tracks listed below. As well, if you attend this Sunday pre-conference track you will be able to see the evening services at Mars Hill Church. Remember when you sign up to check the appropriate track you want to attend so we can accommodate accordingly.
One of the least talked about devastations in masculine formation is the boy who was not rescued from the bosom of women and initiated into the world of men. Many fathers fail to initiate their sons into the masculine journey which has very damaging, long-term effects. Preachers and teachers must figure out a way to initiate these men into kingdom mission.
Finding a starting point for a Christ-sharing conversation is not easy. Maybe you've heard before:
"So, do you consider yourself a good person? Yes, well I've got some bad news…"
"Nice to meet you, Stephen. Did you know that there was a guy in the Bible who was stoned to death for his beliefs about Jesus? What do you believe about Jesus?"
Wow! 5 months out of the shoot and we are having a blast (planted Epiphany Fellowship in September ’06). We feel like we are in a support group with Bobby Brown. We have High, highs and Low, lows. Planting in our particular context has made us bi-polar. Our emotions are sometimes like rubber bands. So one of the things we have been developing as a congregation are buzz/slang words that reflect a more comprehensive picture of redemption of our community from the inside.
In Proverbs 3:5-6 and Ezekiel 36:25-27, generally the word heart is used to describe euphemistically, where the redemptive process begins. Heart, in these passages, defined further represents the mind, the emotions, and the will (BDB, HALOT). In the Ezekiel 36:25-27 passage, we find that under the New Covenant redemption begins with the mind (which can be equivalent to our values), emotion (which could also be said “passions”) and the will (or another way for us to say it is volitional application).
