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 …
Have you considered this one important question?

Have you considered this one important question?

The twice-tolling clock, the Count explained, had been commissioned by his father from the venerable firm of Breguet. Establishing their shop in Paris in 1775, the Breguets were quickly known the world over not only for the precision of their chronometers (that is, the accuracy of their clocks), but for the elaborate means by which their clocks could signal the passage of time. They had clocks that played a few measures of Mozart at the end of the hour. They had clocks that chimed not only at the hour but at the half and the quarter. They had clocks that...Read more …
A fruitful yield

A fruitful yield

Here’s a radio-minute that aired nationally this week on Q Place’s Walk the Way: This Walk the Way. Brought to you by Q Place. I’m Jeff Klein When I was younger, I learned this little poem with hand motions to match – maybe you did, too: this is the church, this is the steeple, open the doors and see all the people! But I never taught it to my own kids. How did we come to believe that the measuring stick for the fruitfulness of the church was based on see my steeple? See all the people sitting inside? We need new yardsticks!...Read more …
And the winner is…post-truth!

And the winner is…post-truth!

  • Posted on July 3, 2017
  • /Under Sharing
Every November, as the calendar year is winding down, the folks at Oxford Dictionaries in the UK select a word or expression that has attracted a great deal of interest during that year. They choose the winning term based on criteria such as the number of times it is searched online. They call it “The Word of the Year.” The Oxford team tends to choose a word that captures the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of that year. In 2013, the word of the year was selfie: a picture you take of yourself with a smartphone. In 2015, it was emoji: you know,...Read more …
Doing love

Doing love

  • Posted on June 30, 2017
  • /Under Loving
A Greek writer named Lucian, who lived around A.D. 120-200, once said this of the early Christians: It is incredible to see the fervor with which the people of that religion help each other in their wants. They spare nothing. Their first legislator [Jesus] has put it into their heads that they are all brethren. Jenn’s story Jenn recently confessed she never really associated everything Jesus “put into [our] heads” to do—for our fellow believers and for others—with love. She associated things like feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting those in prison, with a “to-do” list—things she was supposed to do because, well, that’s...Read more …
Something worth practicing

Something worth practicing

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. We don’t need to look any farther than Jesus’ example for ways to move out in mission. Jesus noticed people. People like Zaccheaus and the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus initiated countless conversations. Remember the story of the Samaritan woman at the well? Jesus intentionally went out of his way to engage with her, notice her and ask her some questions. Jesus prayed. The Bible records Jesus...Read more …
Are you marked by joy?

Are you marked by joy?

  • Posted on June 26, 2017
  • /Under Sharing
Drew Dyck, author, acquisitions editor at Moody Publishers, and senior editor at CTPastors.com, recently wrote: My evangelist friend Thomas gave me a surprising bit of advice for sharing my faith with non-Christians. “For goodness’ sake, enjoy your faith!” he bellowed in his distinctive Malaysian accent. “Christians get so tense and serious. They forget to show their friends and family that the Christian life is filled with joy.” Religion is a contentious topic these days and the conversations surrounding it are often downright nasty. It’s easy to get stuck in a defensive crouch and lose our joy when we tackle the topic. But...Read more …
2 more steps for creating a missional culture in your church

2 more steps for creating a missional culture in your church

Not too long ago, On Q talked about a very important first step in creating a missional culture in your church: facing the facts. Although it can be hard to take an honest look at your church’s missional culture, there’s a very good chance that doing so will be the key to jumpstarting important changes and shifts in your church’s mindset and ministry. The first step in building a missional culture in any church is to be strong and courageous–you must set aside the fear of being honest with yourself and your congregation. Once you’ve taken an honest assessment and accepted the reality, here are two more things...Read more …
Truth: irrelevant?

Truth: irrelevant?

  • Posted on June 21, 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. And I’m Pam Klein. Every November, the folks at Oxford Dictionaries in the UK select a word or expression that has attracted a great deal of interest during that year. In 2013, the word of the year was selfie: by now, most of us know what that is. In 2015, it was emoji: you know—those small digital images or icons used as shorthand to express an idea or emotion. In 2016 the word of...Read more …
Are you asking your church the right questions?

Are you asking your church the right questions?

Robert Hodge coaches leaders, emerging leaders, and boards to their “preferred future” and just recently shared some interesting thoughts in a blog about how asking the right questions can help any organization innovate and gain new insights. In this blog, he concentrates his thoughts around Kelcie Miller-Anderson, an amazing young woman, scientist, researcher, and environmentalist, who recalls her infatuation with the question “Why?” Dandelions? Kelcie Miller-Anderson of Calgary, Ontario, was only 15 years old when she began to wonder why it was possible for dandelions to grow in places nothing else could. Seven years later, Kelcie’s questions have resulted in research that could...Read more …
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