A Tool for Urban Evangelism: How the People Map Can Transform Your Approach
Practical Urban Mission - Part 3
Today, we continue to look at the second essential element - discerning how God is already working so we can respond in prayer and action. Practising curiosity and attentiveness can help us “listen” to God.
The People Map is a visual tool that helps us listen.
15 Questions for Discerning God's Activity & How We Can Join Him
Practical Urban Mission - Part 2
The current series, Practical Urban Mission, opened by introducing three essential elements in transformative urban outreach.
Today, we’ll look at a second essential element - 15 questions to help us practically “listen” and discern how God is already working so we can respond in prayer and action.
Bridging the Gap Between Reality and Vision in Cities: 3 Roles That Help Urban Harvest Workers
I have had a number of cross-cultural assignments in over the last 25 years.
The "what" was clear.
Less clear was the "how".
Each urban context is different. There are no guaranteed formulae to success. However, we are seeing patterns across different cities.
3 Essential Elements for ‘Success’ in Urban Mission
Practical Urban Mission - Part 1
God is at work, people are dissatisfied with the brokenness they see and experience, but the vast majority of residents in our cities are not responding to Jesus' Good News.
There is a disconnect here. How can we, as urban harvest workers, be more effective at connecting the dots?
Relieve The Pressure (& Restore the Joy!) of Evangelism by Putting God at the Centre
Overcoming Challenges in Evangelism - Part 2 of 2
Evangelism is often framed as if God gave us the Great Commission from a distance and sent us off to make it happen on our own.
But IS God actually distant and uninvolved apart from giving us the command? Scripture speaks profoundly into this question in a liberating and life-giving way.
Evangelism Is Easier With This Paradigm Shift
Overcoming Challenges in Evangelism - Part 1 of 2
Recently I wrote about some common challenges faced by both Christians and un-churched people relating to evangelism.
My personal wrestle with these challenges & Scripture led to two powerful paradigm shifts that resolved the tension and opened up exciting new possibilities.
Today we look at the first of these Scripturally-based paradigm shifts.
Learning from Our Peers: 5 Observations from Fruitful Urban Disciplers
It can be tough carrying a burden for discipleship movement in cities!
There can be great encouragement from learning with and from the experiences of peers. That's why peer learning is an important part of the work we are doing in cities.
An Approach to Evangelism (and Discipleship) That Anyone Can Try & Everyone Can Enjoy
We recognise that the vast majority have said "No" to our evangelistic approaches and they are not changing their minds.
This creates challenges both for followers of Jesus and for seekers.
Are You Doing Urban Mission? Here Are 3 Important Questions To Consider
We previously looked at how population growth and technology have increased the complexity of our cities.
These changes have important implications for urban ministry. These implications confront us with pressing questions that must be addressed if we want to see God’s vision for our cities fulfilled.
We will look at three of them here.
God’s Household Invitation (and 5 Practical Steps to Lifelong Discipleship)
God's Gospel invitation is often framed primarily as an invitation to have sins forgiven, receive eternal life, and/or enjoy a more prosperous life. Each of these invitations distracts and confuses those we are inviting. These things might be by-products or consequences of God’s invitation, but they’re not the main thing. God’s central invitation is for us to step back into a surrendered and trusting relationship with Himself - the loving Father King.
God’s Kingdom Invitation (and 3 Essential Discipleship Elements)
The pressures of life and the demands of those around us are loud and persistent. So much of what we pour ourselves into is temporary. Only the things of God will endure. It’s important we periodically check the details of His invitation and make sure we are in sync with Him. God is offering a profound invitation to us.
What Does God Want To Do In Our Cities? This Discipleship Pathway Can Help Us Imagine
People are so familiar with European and American discipleship wineskins that many are surprised to discover other possibilities. Some of these can facilitate deep and effective discipleship, spreading through entire social networks.