Monthly Archives: July 2017

Is there more to being good at church?

Is there more to being good at church?

A thoughtful and honest look at many churches today results in the realization that we’ve been good at one outcome: creating good “church people,” that is, people who are well-equipped to run, operate, and keep all of our church programs going. What kind of processes have led to that outcome? Here’s an example from one church: Spend the summer calling people to populate ministry teams at church. Provide a spiritual gifts assessment to measure an individual’s best place to get “plugged in” to one of the ministries inside the church. Highlight a “volunteer Sunday” at which each ministry in the church hosts a...Read more …
So THIS is your brilliant idea?

So THIS is your brilliant idea?

 Here’s a radio-minute that aired nationally this week on Q Place’s Walk the Way: This is Walk the Way, brought to you by Q Place, I’m Jeff Klein. And I’m Pam Klein. Paul Sparks, Tim Soerens, and Dwight D. Friesen, say this in their book, The New Parish: Most of your presence in your neighborhood is incredibly ordinary, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be intentional. For example, you drink coffee at the local cafe instead of driving miles away. You play pickup basketball with neighbors at the park around the corner instead of playing in a church league. You and a few neighbors...Read more …
Go fish

Go fish

Ruth’s neighbor had been sick for a long time, grew quite reclusive, and had stopped responding to any of Ruth’s neighborly gestures. Ruth had all but given up trying to literally love her neighbor. That was, until one day, when her neighbor reached out to her. In total distress, she called Ruth and explained a pretty serious problem she was experiencing. Ruth’s response was kind and compassionate, and feeling like this was an answer to her own prayers, she was ready to help. As it turned out, this was a pivotal moment in their relationship–Ruth’s neighbor has needed daily help...Read more …
Process or outcomes?

Process or outcomes?

Our entire family watched as much of the Chicago Cubs as we could last summer as they chased after their first World Series victory in 108 years. I doubt that my youngest son, Joseph, even missed one! Baseball is his game—he’s played it (and watched it) for most of his seventeen years. Joseph’s also a man of few words. But when he does choose to speak, he either makes the rest of us laugh or comes out with a real gem. The case for process Like the time he and I were watching one of those history-making games and Joseph...Read more …
How serving together changed two lives

How serving together changed two lives

Amy and her husband were new to their church and, quite frankly, new to life as believers as well. But their church had made serving together–as a way of sharing the good news of the gospel–part of the regular rhythms and expressions of their body. Amy, although a bit hesitant, finally just “did it” and signed up her entire family to participate in one of the service opportunities.  This particular time, the church was serving at a local homeless shelter. The church had established a relationship with the shelter, routinely partnering with them to set up and make the beds, cook, and serve dinner. Amy...Read more …
Do you think you need to have all the big answers?

Do you think you need to have all the big answers?

  • Posted on July 19, 2017
  • /Under On Q
Here’s a radio-minute that aired nationally this week on Q Place’s Walk the Way: This is Walk the Way, brought to you by Q Place, I’m Jeff Klein. And I’m Pam Klein. Not too long ago there was a pretty funny commercial running for the quiz show Jeopardy. It opened with a kid asking her dad where babies come from. The dad is at a loss for words, and fumbles for an answer. Next, a congressman in front of the press, is asked to explain his spending on travel for the past year. He has no answer. Finally, a wife appears, dressed for a party...Read more …
How did Jesus start a movement?

How did Jesus start a movement?

Jesus clearly had a goal for his three years of ministry on earth: begin the world-shaping movement of the Kingdom of God. Outcomes vs. process If Jesus had focused only on the outcomes of this goal, then he would have surely embraced the lure of the crowds, held daily rallies in various cities throughout the ancient world, and continued performing miracles. We certainly know that Jesus could gather a crowd without even trying! Yet one has to ask this question: Would following that strategy, with its focus on immediacy, have limited Jesus’ impact to the time he was on earth? Years later, would people just have had...Read more …
Too tired?

Too tired?

When God created the world, he built rest into the natural order of things: Wake and sleep. Day and night. Work and Sabbath. Seasons. Festivals. Jubilee. In order for us to be everything we’re intended to be, God knew we’d need regularly scheduled times of rest. So he built them in for us. Then, in fact, he commanded us to keep them! How’s that going for you? Somehow, it has become a badge of honor NOT to rest, lest anyone of us be considered undedicated or less than hard working. Rest, relaxation, and time for restoration have become almost synonymous with laziness. Busyness today...Read more …
Rest for the battle

Rest for the battle

  • Posted on July 12, 2017
  • /Under General
Here’s a radio-minute that aired nationally this week on Q Place’s Walk the Way: This is Walk the Way. Brought to you by Q Place. I’m Jeff Klein. Many Christians today would probably say that living as a believer—especially as one who is trying to make an impact on the world around them—is a battle. In this battle of cosmic proportions, you can take a number of different postures: You can take matters into your own hands and go pick a fight. You can run and hide in your church or your Christian “bubble.” You can give up and live like everybody else....Read more …
Simple instructions for the everyday evangelist

Simple instructions for the everyday evangelist

It’s widely believed that Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians in 62 A.D., during his imprisonment in Rome (around the same time he wrote his epistles to the Ephesians and Philippians). The letter itself is very “evangelistic” in tone, calling the believers in Colosse back to Jesus and Jesus alone. Andy Rau, Senior manager of content for Bible Gateway, describes it this way: In the decades following Christ’s ministry, death, and resurrection, Christianity wasn’t the only religion competing for people’s hearts and minds. Pagan cults and philosophies were firmly entrenched throughout the ancient Mediterranean world. It’s understandable that early Christians—many of whom...Read more …
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