Reflections and resources for lifelong learning for missionaries
Sometimes we approach the Bible like dining at a smorgasbord restaurant. At a smorgasbord there is no order or progression to the meal, you just pick what you want. Similarly, we can read a passage or story without thinking about where it fits in the story-line of the Bible. We gravitate to what we want …
Continue reading Teaching the Bible Story-line
Jesus told us to go and disciple all nations. That means that those of us who have been called and sent are to be disciplemakers who equip others to be disciplemakers as well. The question that I have been asking myself recently is, "Are the sending and training structures that we have established to help …
The Bible is clear and understandable. Anyone can understand it. [For a helpful discussion on the clarity of the Bible see Wayne Grudem, "The Perspicuity of Scripture," Themelios 34:3 (2009): 288-308]. All believers ought to study the Bible so that the word richly dwells within them. The Berean Jews were commended for examining the Scriptures to see if Paul's …
Teaching is sometimes seen as slowing down "movements." Taking the time to teach is seen as unnecessary because the Holy Spirit teaches seekers and new converts. Yet, throughout the biblical record, and especially in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit works with and through human teachers. It is not an either/or situation. Teaching is a …
There is a lot of emphasis on coaching and facilitating in mission circles today. And rightly so - these are great tools! Teaching often does not get much space at the table though. It seems to escape everyone's notice that those who advocate coaching and facilitating are in fact teaching. Teaching is frequently caricatured as …
In my colleague's review of the book, Dialogical Apologetics, in this blog, Gary Ridley noted that dialogue with adherents of other religions has often been seen as mutually incompatible with evangelism. Dialogue has been used to describe inter-religious discussions in which evangelism is not seen as necessary or even a desirable goal. The book Gary …
I have a couple of shelves full of books on apologetics in my library. Some are very philosophical and technical - the kind you need a dictionary handy in order to understand. Some are like cookbooks that give recipes for every question you might encounter in defending Christian faith. A good friend recommended David K. …
