Out of Ur

Video Venues and Multi-Sites: Can We Please Move On?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

We've got more important matters to discuss.

May I vent for a moment? If I stumble onto another blog, article, or conference advertisement for anything having to do with video venues or multi-site models of church growth, I just might lose it. Everywhere I look within our odd little subculture these days I’m barraged by debates and diatribes about the glorious merits or awful shortcomings of venues and sites. On one side are proponents who seem to believe that only really good...

Not a Christian, But a Christ-Follower?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

The downside of trying to re-brand your Christian identity.

Anyone can understand the desire for an alternative to the word “Christian.” There are plenty of “Christians” I’d rather not be associated with. I’d much prefer to maintain my relationship with Jesus while making clear to others I am not in relationship to Pat Robertson or Jack Spong. Lisa Miller, true to form as an excellent religion journalist, has brought attention to efforts to follow Jesus without calling oneself a “Christian.” Non-Christian Christ-followers even seem...

Ur Video: The Prosperity Gospel

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Christianity Today International, Out of Ur's publisher, and The Lausanne Movement, a worldwide movement of evangelical Christian leaders, present The Global Conversation: a year-long series of essays, short films, and photo essays about issues facing the church worldwide. These videos highlight topics to be addressed at the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization being held in Cape Town, South Africa, in October 2010. In November the Global Conversation focuses on the prosperity gospel—the teaching that...

Catalyst, Liturgy, and Innovation

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0600

What liturgical church leaders and the Catalyst Conference can learn from each other.

According to data from the National Congregations Study (2006-2007), 38% of people in the United States associate themselves with liturgical churches (Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, etc.); while 46% associate themselves with free churches (Baptist, Pentecostal, non-denominational, etc.). The 14% of people associated with Methodist and Reformed/Presbyterian churches sit atop this watershed—some sliding down the liturgical slope, others down the free church slope. Liturgical churches emphasize historical and global continuity in their worship services; whereas the...

Are Small Groups Just for White People?

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Why don't more ethnic churches have a small groups ministry?

I came across an interesting interview in the recent issue of Leadership Journal. The subjects of the interview were from River City Community Church—a multi-ethnic ministry located in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. Leadership talked with Daniel Hill, who founded the ministry, along with several key leaders of the church. Here's a brief excerpt of their conversation: What kind of person is attracted to River City? Hill: Most of our new people are white....

Virtual Church is STILL a Bad Idea

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Online churches are missing a few essential ingredients.

**Editor's Note: I apologize for the lack of posts in recent days. We've been experiencing some technical difficulties. -Url Scaramanga** I was disappointed to read Douglas Estes’ piece last week on Ur, for a number of reasons, but chief among them is this: it fails to deal substantively with a single serious critique that has been raised regarding virtual church. In fact, Mr. Estes not only fails to address the critique, but he seems to...

In Defense of Virtual Church

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Douglas Estes, author of SimChurch, responds to critics of online churches.

A myth is growing in some circles of the blogosphere that online church is not good, not healthy, and not biblical. If we read carefully the criticisms levied against internet campuses, they boil down to some very common and tired themes: Internet campuses and online churches are not true churches because they don’t look like and feel like churches are expected to look like and feel like (in the West, anyway). Arguments against virtual church...

Margaret Feinberg: The Surprising Truth About Shepherds

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0600

An excerpt from her latest book, Scouting the Divine.

As we finished our tea and truffles, I took Lynne to the book of 1 Samuel. I explained that the first mention of someone in Scripture often reveals something significant about the person’s character. The first king of Israel, Saul, is introduced as a young man trying, unsuccessfully, to find his father’s donkeys. This humorous scene hints at Saul’s later inability to lead others well. Though his early years of ruling God’s people are marked...

Scot McKnight's Top 10 Leadership Books

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0600

The best books for leaders you won't find at your next ministry conference.

What makes a leader? Ideas. Courage. Contact with great thinkers. What makes a Christian leader? Great ideas, courage, and contact with great thinkers shaped by the gospel. So, I offer to you a list of my top ten books for leaders, and none of the titles of these books have the word “leader” or “leadership” in it. Some of these are overtly Christian classics; others are not. These books have the ability to swell the...

Ur Video: STORY Conference

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Carlos Whittaker gets excited about the STORY Conference in Chicago.

Skye Jethani will be presenting at the STORY Conference next week, Url will be blogging from the event, and Leadership's editors will be hosting video interviews with the speakers. Be sure to check out more at StoryChicago.com....

Quiz: Determine Your Ministry Age

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Do your assumptions about leadership reflect the values of your generation?

In recent years we have entered into lengthy discussions about how worship, spiritual formation, and evangelism are transitioning in the church. However, the most crucial area of transition, leadership, has received minimal attention. For more than 35 years, I have been overseeing the ministry of young InterVarsity staff and college student leaders. In that time I have seen a significant swing in how these young leaders view leadership. The emerging generation of leaders desires a...

The Hansen Report: Calling Out Counterfeit Gods

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Tim Keller banks on the recession to make Americans think about their idols.

There is nothing like a recession to put Americans in a reflective mood. Unemployment and a devalued stock market have led many to consider whether money is the pre-eminent form of American idolatry. New York Times columnist David Brooks has called for a new culture war, a “crusade for economic self-restraint” in a self-indulgent age. Adam Sternbergh wonders whether thrift is a virtue that can be developed or a trait that must be inherited....

Create-A-Caption Contest

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Do you ever feel like church activities, which are intended to promote God's mission, are actually keeping you from promoting God's mission? We're eager to see your captions for this cartoon by Roger Judd. Winners will be published in the Winter issue of Leadership. (Please include your name, church's name, city, and state.)...

Ur Video: Catalyst High-Dive Stunt

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:04:10 -0600

> Professor Splash dives 35 feet into a kiddie pool with 1 foot of water....

Ed Stetzer Releases New Research on Pastors

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:50:37 -0600

The president of Lifeway Research spotlights how America's pastors feel about their calling--and more.

Ed Stetzer, president of Lifeway Research and adviser to www.BuildingChurchLeaders.com, released new research on pastors, which will be published soon in our sister publication, Leadership: Pastors still believe in the church Almost all pastors--88 percent--strongly agree that "If I had a friend who wanted to make a difference, I would encourage him or her to do so through their church." Pastors are investing in developing leaders--but the church may not be doing a good job...