Darryl Dash's Blog, page 59

Saturday Links

Podcast: I enjoyed talking to Kevin Vanhoozer about the role of theology in discipleship on the Gospel for Life podcast.

Curated links for your weekend reading:

The Danger of Being Driven By “Distant Drama”

Let’s not be so consumed with “distant dramas” that we fail to “look local,” and then lose sight of the fields of service where we can actually make a difference.

How Not to Debate Ideas in the Public Square

Here are eight bad ideas when it comes to communicating our ideas in p...

My Vertical Neighborhood

Around the time we began the process of planting a church in a condo community, I met Lynda MacGibbon, who had also moved into a condo community. She’s previously lived in a small city in eastern Canada. In her new condo, she, along with a friend, decided to build community in her building through weekly dinners, a writing group, Christmas morning brunches, and even Bible studies.

I loved hearing her stories. I invited Lynda and her friend to speak to our launch team at our new church, an...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

The Winsome Christian

The word “winsome” is not in the Bible. Yet it’s worth pondering this old-fashioned concept as it relates to the witness of the modern-day church.

A winsome life is attractive and inviting, exactly the sort of life every Christian should aim to lead.

Aren’t All Religions the Same?

Sure, there are minor theological variations, but aren’t all religions working toward the same goal, namely, to make the world a better place?

...

The Chicken and Egg of Church Planting

Truth often exists in tension. One example is which comes first in church planting: evangelism or the church. The answer is both.

Here’s why.

Evangelism Precedes Church Planting

J.D. Payne writes: “Biblical church planting is evangelism that results in new churches. There are many ways to plant churches; however, the model in the Scriptures is one that begins with evangelism and ends with those new churches following the Lord in obedience.”

In other words, don’t start with a chur...

Saturday Links

Podcast: In the latest Gospel for Life podcast, I talked to Jared C. Wilson about Discipleship and Gospel-Driven Ministry.

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Christianity Can Be the Safest Space for Truth-Seeking Intellectuals

Christianity has an opportunity to again become the most fertile intellectual ground — as it was for most of the last 2,000 years (until fairly recently).

Humility on the Opinion Front

Please my brothers and sisters. Join me in:

giving more care to your ...

Cross-training for Pastors (and Everyone Else)

If you’ve played sports, you’re probably familiar with the idea of cross -training. It’s training in sports other than your main one. Your preferred sport develops only some muscle groups. To counteract that imbalance, it’s best to engage in other activities that eliminate that imbalance.

Cross-training is important for pastors too.

In his book The Art of Pastoring — a great book to read if you’re a pastor — David Hansen observes how much he benefited from reading certain kinds of theo...

Saturday Links

Workshop: I took some training with Stu McLaren a few years back, and it was excellent. If you’ve ever thought of developing a membership site, you may be interested in some training he’s offering. (affiliate link)

Curated links for your weekend reading:

The 10,000 Hour Rule in the Christian Life

Whether or not you think the 10,000 Hour Rule is true or false, there’s no question that committing to hard work, engaging in deliberate practice, and getting a head start makes a difference.

...

Beware the Deadly Weed of Cynicism

When I was in my thirties, I became cynical.

I think it began with reading some books that were critical of church. I’m not sure. Soon I became a critic of the church while leading a church. I called it subversive back then; I think I’d call it disingenous now.

I became what Dietrich Bonhoeffer warned us against:

The man who fashions a visionary ideal of community demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by himself. He enters the community of Christians with his demands, s...

Saturday Links

Podcast: I enjoyed talking to J.T. English about his new book Deep Discipleship on the Gospel for Life podcast.

Curated links for your weekend reading:

A Word to the Weary Pastor

If you feel tired and disoriented today, please know you’re not alone. Before this weariness passes, I recommend you lean into the moment and take stock of your life and ministry in two ways.

4 Predictions for the Post-Pandemic Church

I offer four predictions of what American church will look like in a p...

Ignore the Noise and Shepherd the Flock Among You

I need this reminder as much as anyone.

I’m finding it easy to get distracted with the news and controversy. Never before in history have we had so much information available to us, and most of it is unhelpful. A lot of it is downright dangerous.

Last weekend, I came across another controversy and felt myself getting sucked in. I needed the reminder of 1 Peter 5:2: “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you.”

I’m a shepherd of a particular flock. God has given me, along with other...