Out of Ur http://www.outofur.com/ Conversations for Ministry Leaders en Copyright 2010 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.31 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Worship with Muslims and Jews?

Bob Roberts calls for more interfaith dialogue without minimizing our Christian beliefs.

The pastor who coined the word “glocal” to describe his church’s approach to missions has led his Texas congregation to visit new territories: the synagogue and mosque down the street. In January, NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas, worshipped with Temple Shalom of Dallas and the Islamic Center of Irving in three services that highlighted the differences and similarities among the religions. “The basis of coming together is not to minimize our beliefs but to hold... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/03/worship_with_mu.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/03/worship_with_mu.html Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600 How Not to Talk about Justice by Skye Jethani

If you hear "social justice" at your church, Glenn Beck says "Run!" There is another option.

Back in January I wrote a post on “The Battle Lines Over Justice.” As more evangelicals are rediscovering the sections of the Bible that highlight God’s compassion for the broken and abused in this world, there is a fearful response by some that we will slide down the “slippery slope” of liberalism into a social gospel and evangelicals (particularly the younger breed) will abandon the cross of Christ. To prevent this repeat of history, some... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/03/how_not_to_talk.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/03/how_not_to_talk.html Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Ur Video: Greg Boyd on Hell

Can we know who is, and who is not, going to hell?

Our dive into damnation continues with Greg Boyd, pastor of Woodland Hills Church. After explaining our human tendency toward poor self-assessment, and our need to be in a right relationship with God, Boyd says, "I don't know who's going to heaven and who's going to hell. It's not for me to judge.... I can't say, and I don't think anyone can say, that so-and-so, and so-and-so, and so-and-so, are or are not saved."... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/03/ur_video_greg_b.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/03/ur_video_greg_b.html Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Holy Holograms! by Url Scaramanga

Forget video preaching, holographic technology is coming to the church sooner than you think.

Clark, a media technology company that supplies churches, is pioneering holographic technology that can create a life-size, three dimensional projection of a preacher on a platform. Blogger Tony Morgan was given a preview at Clark’s offices near Atlanta. He writes, “Pricing is coming down quickly to the point that I won’t be surprised if we see this technology implemented in churches within the next 12 months.” Morgan took a photo of himself standing beside the... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/03/holy_holograms.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/03/holy_holograms.html Preaching Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Mark Driscoll: Avatar "Most Satanic Movie I've Ever Seen"

Is James Cameron's blockbuster film something the church should be fighting?

Move over Rob Bell--Mark Driscoll has a new nemesis: Avatar. The blockbuster movie has been condemned by the pugnacious preacher as "demonic paganism" for it's portrayal of a "false Jesus" and a "false heaven." Driscoll said, "That any Christian could watch that without seeing the overt demonism is beyond me." He also blasts Christianity Today's (Out of Ur's parent company) review of Avatar. Our colleague at CT Movies, Mark Moring, has reported on Driscoll's... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/03/mark_driscoll_a.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/03/mark_driscoll_a.html Culture Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:00 -0600 Chris Seay: Don't Begin with Morality by Url Scaramanga

What role should the proclamation of moral standards have in our evangelization?

In the current issue of our digizine, Catalyst Leadership, there is a video of Chris Seay talking about his ministry among transvestite prostitutes in Houston. "If Jesus were in Houston, Texas, today this is where he would be," says Seay, "and his focus would not begin with morality." Do you agree? Check out the full video and sign up for a free subscription at CatalystLeadershipDigital.com.... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/03/chris_seay_dont.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/03/chris_seay_dont.html Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600 A Christian Sexual Alternative? by David Swanson

Both conservatives and liberals have had their views of sexuality shaped by the culture.

The title caught my eye: “Reverend reconciles sex and religion.” Was another church challenging married couples to make time for sexual intimacy for seven days straight? A pastor making headlines for an edgy sermon about the goodness of sex? A review of the latest book from a Christian relationship expert with new statistics about Christians’ sex lives? Actually, the article was much less predictable than any of my guesses. The story’s focus, Debra Haffner, has... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/a_christian_sex.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/a_christian_sex.html Culture Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:00:00 -0600 Ur Video: Mark Driscoll on Hell

The punishment fits the crime, and the preaching fits the subject.

You knew it was coming. We couldn't feature a series on hell without Mark Driscoll. His bold, in-your-face preaching on the subject is a vivid contrast with Erwin McManus' pastorally sensitive approach from last week. Which style is a better fit for your ministry context?... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/ur_video_mark_d.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/ur_video_mark_d.html Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 The Hansen Report: 5 Myths about Emerging Adult Religion by Collin Hansen

"Souls in Transition" offers cause for congratulations and consternation

If you want to rile up the evangelical masses, drag out dubious statistics about how many Christians fall away from the faith after high school. We fear for our youth, that they’ll rebel against what their parents and churches taught when they leave home and the youth group. But what if we’re wrong? What if our particular fears about “emerging adulthood,” the period between the ages of 18 and 29, are unfounded? And what... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/the_hansen_repo_8.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/the_hansen_repo_8.html Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Ur Video: Ed Young Jr. says "U.B.U." by Url Scaramanga

The importance, and humor, of originality.

Ed Young Jr., the eccentric pastor from Fellowship Church in Dallas (remember the "7 Day Sex Challenge" sermon he preached from a bed rather than a pulpit?), is reaching out to other pastors with a message on the dangers of imitation. Young practices what he preaches by presenting the message in a form no other pastor (that I know) would dare attempt.... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/ur_video_ed_you.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/ur_video_ed_you.html Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Ur Video: Erwin McManus on Hell

Why would a loving God create hell?

We've heard from N.T. Wright, John Piper, and Tim Keller about the doctrine of hell. What do you make of McManus' understanding of hell and God's character? He seems to echo the perspective of C.S. Lewis who wrote that "The doors of hell are locked from the inside." That's certainly more palatable in our anti-damnation culture, but do you think it's right?... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/ur_video_mcmanu.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/ur_video_mcmanu.html Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Avatar and Becoming Mature in Christ by John Ortberg

What a not-so-Christian movie says about the goal of the Christian life.

I have been thinking a lot lately about Colossians 1, where Paul writes: "We proclaim Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this reason I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." It strikes me that this comes close to a creedal text for those of us involved in church ministry. Sometimes we get so immersed in the... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/avatar_and_beco.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/avatar_and_beco.html Formation Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Rob Bell on the Dangers of Video Preaching A Leadership interview

Video preaching is popular and effective, but is there a better alternative?

He once planted a church by teaching through Leviticus. He can use a rabbit carved from a bar of soap to illustrate the nature of suffering. Google his name and the term "Sex God" will appear among the top entries. Rob Bell is the most interesting preacher in the world. The winter issue of Leadership features a wide-ranging interview with Rob Bell on the art and impact of preaching. His candid answers and down... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/rob_bell_on_the_1.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/rob_bell_on_the_1.html Preaching Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Ur Video: What is Absolutely True?

What do people in a post-Christian society really believe?

In October 2010 the Lausanne Movement will convene the Third Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa. In preparation for that gathering, Lausanne and Christianity Today are developing a "Global Conversation" around the issue to be discussed in Cape Town. In February 2010 the Global Conversation tackles truth—and the reluctance of post-Christian societies in the West to trust claims of absolute truth. We asked residents of a secular university city whether there was... http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/ur_video_what_i.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/ur_video_what_i.html Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Ur Video: Tim Keller on Hell

Jesus talks a lot about hell, so why don't we?

 http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/ur_video_keller.html http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/02/ur_video_keller.html Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600