» 2006 » November

Plunged into Cities of God by Rodney Stark this morning. Three insights on church planting movements from first chapter:

1. No mission without monotheism
The Jews were the world’s first missionaries because Judaism was monotheistic. Paganism doesn’t produce missionary movements. Within a polytheistic framework, new gods are supplements not alternatives.

The Jews of the Diaspora were very successful [...]

The next1000 website has launched: www.next1000.org

Visit for a free download of the next1000 ebook on how we can start 1000 Australian churches.

Church PlantingiStockMetaphorsnext1000

Peter Roennfeldt attended the Revolution Conference in Seattle. His report on the conversion of George Barna into a spiritual revolutionary is worth a read.

George Barna

Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it.

Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing.

Nothing that [...]

This is crazy. I’m doing a free add for a phone that I’ve never used.

But hey, I’m an evangelist for new ideas.

I just don’t see why anyone with broadband and Skype should be paying anything for phone calls. Garry Barker explains why: Reading you loud and clear

I’m getting rid of my landline today. Any day [...]

A simple goal: a church in every village of India in one generation. Makes a lot of sense if you want to reach what will become the world’s most populous nation.

Quick calculation: one million churches required among India’s 4,693 people groups.

Paul Gupta is not discouraged the by the enormity of the task. It energizes him. [...]

According to Seth Godin, small is the new BIG. Find out more in this free download introducing his new book on the subject.

More downloads here.

A key principle and a must read for church planters (the guys who do stuff) and movement strategists (the guys who talk about the guys who do stuff).

“Small Is the New [...]

I got inspired and I got angry when I read this story about Korasa Paul, a Koya from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The story begins with Paul’s miracle conversion from what is described as “a debauched life” that nearly ruined his liver.

Everywhere his pastor went, he went, learning what he could and pestering [...]

If you’re responsible for educating and training church leaders you may not want to read this quote. It will ruin your week.

The same goes for any theological students out there. Especially if you’re in Australia or New Zealand facing end of year exams.

It’s a comment from Sherwood Lingenfelter about the amazing story of how Paul [...]

Surprise surprise. Christian leaders are a vulnerable as everyone else. Maybe more so.
Some wisdom on the nature of the problem from Helmut Thielicke:
That is the curse of those who wish to justify themselves by works. They overcome temptation with the great bravery of Pharisees—and yet remain tempted, remain men in whom the abyss yawns and [...]