October 7, 2024

The SEND U Blog

Reflections and Resources for Lifelong Learning for Missionaries

Author: Gary Ridley

Education: BA Gordon College 1973; M.Div. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 1977; DMiss Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 1990. Ministry: SEND Missionary 1977-present. Faculty at Alaska Bible College 1978-2013. SEND U Missiologist 2013-present. Family: Married, 3 children, 6 grandchildren.
Finishing Well: Keeping a Firm Grip on the Gospel
Photo by Zach Lucero on Unsplash
Finishing Well, Gospel

Finishing Well: Keeping a Firm Grip on the Gospel

This entry is part 2 of 11 in the series "Finishing well". In the first post in this series on finishing well, I compared a ministry assignment to a leg of a relay race. I also pointed to the baton as a distinguishing feature of a relay race. Furthermore, I identified the baton as the gospel in our ministry race. The gospel is the distinguishing feature of our ministry.1 While Tom Steffen does not identify the baton as the gospel in his book, Passing the Baton, he does devote a whole chapter to “Presenting an Accurate Gospel.” (p 127-141 in the 1993 version of the book.) As relay runners must keep a firm grip on the baton, so also church-planters must keep a firm grip on the gospel. This is no less true for administrative assignments in mission organizations. What is the Gospel? This may seem like an unnecessary question.… Read the whole post
Gary Ridley2 mins read
Finishing Well: Ministry as a Relay Race
Photo by Roman Boed PXHere
Finishing Well, Gospel, Church Planting

Finishing Well: Ministry as a Relay Race

This entry is part 1 of 11 in the series "Finishing well". I have been doing a lot of thinking and reading about finishing well in the past several months. In part, this is because I turn 70 in November and will retire at the end of 2021. But I am also interested in this subject because SEND U has been asked to develop and find resources to help SEND missionaries finish well whether in a ministry assignment or at the end of a career. When reflecting on finishing well, I find it helpful to view ministry as a relay race. 1Tom Steffen’s book, Passing the Baton: Church Planting That Empowers also uses this analogy. Over the next few months, I will be writing a series of blog posts on finishing well in ministry assignments as a leg in a relay race. In this series, I will be applying the… Read the whole post
Gary Ridley2 mins read
Theology, Book Reviews, Christ, Gospel

The Whole Christ: A review

I recently watched a breakout session from The Gospel Coalition 2021 National Conference (TGC21) discussing grace and works in the Christian life. Specifically, the question that was posed was “Does grace oppose hard work?”. However, the breakout session did not resolve the issue. Sinclair Ferguson’s book, The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance – Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters provides helpful guidance. Because these issues are vital for evangelism and discipleship, this book is an important resource for missionaries. The Marrow Controversy The historical background of Ferguson’s book is a debate in the Church of Scotland in the early 18th century. Now, the term “marrow” seems a bit strange to our ears today. Yet, in the 17th and 18th centuries, it described the seat of a person’s vitality and strength, the essence of a subject matter.1Sinclair B. Ferguson, The Whole Christ, Crossway, 2016, p.22. The controversy acquired its… Read the whole post
Gary Ridley2 mins read
Preparing to Preach: Introductions and Conclusions
Photo by Pascal Meier on Unsplash
Resources, Preaching

Preparing to Preach: Introductions and Conclusions

This entry is part 5 of 5 in the series "Preparing to preach". Taking off and landing require a pilot’s utmost attention. Likewise, sermon introductions and conclusions demand careful preparation by a preacher. In fact, the introductions and conclusions will make or break the connection with our audience. In the introduction, we meet them coming from their daily life of the previous week. Then, in the conclusion, we send them off to live in the light of the biblical truth expressed in the sermon’s big idea. So, introductions and conclusions must be carefully worded to connect our audience with the big idea. For the simple reason that we need to know our destination before we start a journey, writing the conclusion precedes writing the introduction. Writing the Conclusion Conclusions Conclude A sermon conclusion should not resemble a jetliner in a holding pattern waiting to land, or worse, aborting an attempted… Read the whole post
Gary Ridley1 min read
Preparing to Preach: Illustrating and Applying the Big Idea
Photo by Alena Koval from Pexels
Preaching

Preparing to Preach: Illustrating and Applying the Big Idea

This entry is part 4 of 5 in the series "Preparing to preach". In this series on preaching for missionaries, I have stressed being students of Scripture and of our audience. This “double listening” (as John Stott calls it)1See the first post in this series. is critical for illustrating and applying the big idea of our biblical text. In fact, illustrating and applying form the key connection between the biblical truth and our listeners. Additionally, illustrations set the stage for the application in the daily lives of our audience. Illustrating the Big Idea Shining light on the big idea Illustrations include quotes, anecdotes, examples, comparisons, statistics, testimony, and poetry. Sources include personal experience, news, history, literature, imagination, and the Bible. Whatever the type or source, they must shed light on the biblical truth and connect with listeners. That is, illustrations must help our audience understand and identify with the biblical… Read the whole post
Gary Ridley2 mins read
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