11 Most Intriguing Deviations (Blog Posts) of 2011

This year, more than any other, has been a year of blogging, tweeting, and social network communication of thoughts, ideas, and questions generated from an extremely intense year of face to face, on the ground and close body ministry.  I, along with my wife are missionaries in the Cloud Forest Region of Ecuador and have been for the last 6 years.  These posts represent the most popular of this blog in 2011.

11.  The Great Commission is the Generative Source for all Ministry in the NT?  

What if the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19,20 , was the generative source for all Ministry in the New Testament?  What if every other ministerial function in Church found its genealogy in Going, Making Disciples, Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that Christ commanded?

10.  When is a church considered as “planted?” 

When, in your opinion, can a church be considered as “planted?”

9.  Pastor-Teacher, The Odd Couple? 

If you necessarily connect the Ephesians 4 giftings of Pastor and teacher then aren’t you assuming that one who shepherds can also teach and vice versa?

8. Are there any valid “Litmus Tests” to determine whether one is Christian or not? 

Can we know whether or not one is a Christian?  If so how?  More importantly, what good reason would we have to apply these tests to another person? Should we? 

7.  Discipleship is best done when you have an Atom Smasher 

I have been reading “Building a Discipling Culture” by Steve Cockram & Mike Breen.  The first chapter is refreshing as it confirms many things that the Spirit has placed on my heart and that have developed quite naturally and effectively where we work in the Cloud Forest Region of Ecuador as Missionaries. 

6.  Virtual Community & Virtual Discipleship: Possible?  

Some would say that online communities are, in fact, not communities at all.  Others would say that all of the components necessary to form a real community exist in the virtual world as well.  Still others would say that online communities are possible, but online faith communities are not. 

5.  Does Preaching Piss You Off? 

Gloria Steimen once said, “the truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” Excuse me for the strong language in the title, but it does match the intensity of the reaction to the words, “preach,” & “preaching,” when either raised in conversation, put into action, or mentioned in passing.

4.  Church Planters & Church Killers  

“Come to us, all that are weary and heavy laden and we will give you rest.  So long as you do what you are told.”

3.  Christian Missions, Making Disciples & Cultural Contamination.  

I recently had a short but provocative twitter conversation with Ukumbwa Sauti, M.Ed.  who is a professor of cultural media studies, and is trained in Indigenous African Spiritual Technologies in the Dagara tradition.  The conversation centered on the perceived cultural imperialism of Christian Missions.

2.  The Merits and Demerits of Individual Discipleship. 

To me, discipleship can be one on one, one on many, many on one, & many on many. I think there is support for each of these models within the scriptures.  Likewise, I think to negate any of these models or stress any one to the exclusion of the others is unbiblical.

And the number one, most syndicated, and post that really started consistent blogging for me: 

1.  7 God-Directed Deviations in Disciple Making 

Surpassing 7 Generations of Disciple Making Disciples in less than 1.5 years. What does that mean? It means that disciples were made who made disciples who made other disciples who in turn made others and that all generations continue to make disciples. How did we pull it off? We didn’t, Jesus did. But I will tell you how it happened.

I would be honored to connect with you via facebook, twitter, or google+ in 2012. I also, along with others run facebook’s Making Disciples page where there is constant interaction.  Think of it as a micro-syncro-blog on discipleship.

  I have a feeling it’s going to be a year of even more God-Directed Deviations & Disciple Making

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