As we settle into our cities or as our churches grow, it can be easy to assume we have “a handle” on the culture of our city, suburb, or town. However, a good citizen-missionary never “arrives” in cultural exegesis but is always knowing, exegeting (studying & interpreting) their culture. To that end, here are some general and specific suggestions for continuing cultural exegesis:

1. Ask Questions

Ask your neighbors and fellow citizens lots of questions. Don’t interrogate them but show sincere, intentional interest in them and the information they possess. Anecdotal information about your city and fellow citizens is unbeatable.

Ask them the What, How, and Why questions: What do you think is broken in our neighborhood or city? What gets you excited about life? What do you think should be done about economic decline in our city? Anything you would like to change about your neighborhood?
Are you fulfilled in what you are doing in life? Why do you drive across town to do X? Why do you dislike traditional Christianity?

2. Read Local Authors

Read local and independent publications. Op-ed pieces in your local paper will reveal the local voices in your culture or city. Listen reflectively not aggressively. Allow yourself to learn from your city. After all, chances are you are a newcomer. History has much to teach us.

Don’t write off unimpressive, independent publications. Very often the stuff that looks like a waste of time contains some of the clearest voices from within your culture. Get local (not just national) opinions and reviews on movies, books, culture and politics.

3. Study Your City's History

Gather historical information on your city and neighborhood. How did your city evolve—geographically, architecturally, politically, commercially? The history of a city or town often reveals its profound strengths and deep idols. What political and cultural and economic issues have shaped the ethos and beliefs of your city?

Read local authors and histories. Look for commissioned writings by local universities on the city. Check out popular books on the city or even tour guides. Jump on a tour!

4. Enjoy the City!

Participate in local art, music, food, and business. Learn to love your city, celebrate its strengths, learn from her citizens, love her citizens! Support local business, go to art shows, listen to local music, eat local food. You should become an expert on local fare and fun! As you participate in local culture, do it reflectively. Consider why certain events, institutions, or groups flourish. Praise what is good, beautiful, and true. Bring the hope of redemption into what is not.

For more training on urban mission, be sure to register for the GCM Collective Conference (Oct 28-30) to get gospel-centered, practioner-tested insight and tools for engaging your city!

2010 Seattle Bootcamp

The biggest church planting event we've ever done. September 29-30 in Seattle. Church Planter: A29 National Bootcamp.

This post is adapted from Darrin Patrick's book Church Planter: The Man, the Message, the Mission, available to preorder now.

From CEO to Lead Shepherd

Thankfully, there has been somewhat of a course correction from "pastor as CEO" to pastor as lead shepherd. The call to care and not just lead is getting louder because the books of the Bible, and not just the books of business, are being preached and lived. I don't believe pastors should simply be chaplains for non-missional sheep, but should be lead shepherds who personally shepherd emerging leaders and create systems of care for the church at large.

Sheep Without a Shepherd

Scripture tells us that during his earthly ministry, Jesus had compassion on the crowds that followed him, because they were like “sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). This poignant picture that our Lord uses to describe people in the world should remind us not only of our own vulnerability apart from our Shepherd, but also awaken our compassion and remind us how needy people need pastoral oversight and aid in their spiritual maturity.

Paul challenged the Ephesian elders to be courageous shepherds (Acts 20:28-30), which would result in protection for the sheep. Peter commanded elders to shepherd God's flock with delight and not duty (1 Peter 5:1-3), which would result in eternal reward for the shepherd. These men understood the importance and value of developing the heart of a true shepherd both for the sake of the shepherd and the sheep.

Pastors Must Be Flock-Focused

In both the early church and the ministry of Moses, the reality of growth mitigated that systems of care be developed. The apostles realized they needed a system of care so they could focus on preaching and leadership, so they formed what would eventually become the office of deacon (Acts 6:1-7). Moses was rebuked by his father-in-law for tethering all care and leadership to himself. Jethro then gave Moses instructions about building a system of care. Pastors must be flock-focused by developing leaders who can be sheep-focused

The Scripture is clear that if you are a pastor, you have to shepherd people.

Let's close this with a challenge from a cutting-edge pastor from the 16th century:

The whole of our ministry must be carried on in tender love to our people. We must let them see that nothing pleaseth us but what profiteth them; and that what doeth them good doeth us good; and that nothing troubleth us more than their hurt. We must feel toward our people, as a father toward his children: yea, the tenderest love of a mother must not surpass ours. We must even travail in birth, till Christ be formed in them (Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor).

Church Planter

This new book examines the biblical criteria for the man, the message, and the mission behind every church plant. Get it here.

Click through to the Resurgence if you can't see the video.

In this clip from his interview with Pastor Mark Driscoll, bestselling author Randy Alcorn talks about how so many Christians are missing out on joy by not being generous with their time and finances.

For more from Randy Alcorn on money and giving, check out these books:

• The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving
• Money, Possessions, and Eternity

See all the parts of this interview posted so far.

Scandalous

In Scandalous, world-renowned theologian D.A. Carson unpacks the meaning of the most scandalous event in history: the death and resurrection of Jesus. Get the book.

The Myth: Exercise Is For the Overweight

Most of my patients that I see for suspected heart disease are truly clueless about exercise, and I bet you may be too. Here is a quick question to check your exercise IQ:

True or false? Overweight people who are physically fit (defined below) are better off than thin people who rarely or never exercise.

If you are like my patients, you think this statement is false. Sorry, but that big guy riding his bike to work every day is lapping you if your idea of exercise is turning off the TV by hand instead of using the remote—even if you look like a model.

Exercise For Life

Being overweight is a huge problem in the US, but just as problematic is our flagrant disregard for regular exercise and what it can do for you if done well. Fit people have less depression and rate their quality of life consistently higher. They sleep better too. Fit people, compared to sedentary, have fewer heart attacks and strokes and are more likely to survive if they do have one. Regular exercise leads to longer life on average (comparatively)—and not just longer, better too.

3 Biblical Reasons for Exercise

So maybe you just remembered you have a new pair of running shoes that you got for Christmas... from 2004, and they still look brand new. Don’t worry, it’s never too late to start. But are there biblical reasons why we (especially stressed out pastors) should stay fit? Yes, and here is why:

1. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth that our body is God’s temple where his Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 6:19).
2. Our bodies are members of Christ and should not be abused (1 Cor 6:15).
3. Our body is not our own, it is God’s. How dare we desecrate it on purpose? (1 Cor 6:19-20)

Practically speaking, what pastor doesn’t want to have less depression, better sleep, and more happiness?

3 Wrong Reasons to Avoid Exercise

There are many great reasons to exercise, but our sin drives us to the couch instead of the gym, in several ways:

1. Laziness. Pick your Proverb here. We ignore what we know is best for us.
2. Ignorance. Not finding out for ourselves what we need to do to stay fit.
3. Self-righteous busyness. You know the drill: I just have more important things to do, and I’ll sacrifice this area for my family and church.

6 Tips to Get Started Exercising

Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. You only need four 30-minute workout sessions a week, especially if they are effective.
2. You do not have to qualify for the Boston Marathon to be healthy and get all the benefits listed above.
3. Miserable, difficult, expensive routines will be dropped every time. Pick a plan you enjoy.
4. Break a sweat, get your heart rate up, and stay at it for at least 30 minutes per session. Walking fast is great; it’s cheap, efficient and accessible to almost all people.
5. Exercise is good for you even if you don't lose weight!
6. If you are over age 40, or younger with health problems, talk to your doctor prior to starting an exercise routine.

Take it from this heart doctor who sees what can go wrong. A little bit of sweat is the ounce of prevention you need to keep folks like me out of your life. You will see benefits right away, and you’ll finally take good care of the temple God has given you to steward. Get moving!

A Book You'll Actually Read

Clear, biblical answers to some of the most common questions. Mark Driscoll boils down the big ideas into little books.

Could it be that Satan wants to make things more complicated?  As I teach my three young children gospel truths, I’m reminded how those simple answers are what my soul desperately needs, as well.  "Sunday School answers" are sometimes the best answers. 

Sunday School Answers

A believer experiences an unexpected break-up, and a friend responds, “God works all things for good.”  Another Christian expresses struggles with his future job prospects, and his brother answers, “Trust in the Lord.”  The discouraged disciple becomes frustrated.  He looks at his Christian friend and says, “Well, I know that.  Give me something that helps.”  Or, more likely, the truths are never stated.  The basics are just assumed.  After all, people know the Sunday School answers, right?

Certainly we must fight against insensitivity. It’s often appropriate to hold a hand, give a hug, or simply sit in silence.  Most of us don’t want to be preached at in the midst of suffering.  But the basics are truly what we need.  Truth is what comforts us.  There is a tragic sophistication and cynicism toward basic Christian truths today by many young people.  We’ve heard those answers.  They’re too simple, we reason.  We ask for more.    

The Simplicity of the Gospel

Jesus taught us that the kingdom belongs to children.  We are to receive him with the faith of a child (Luke 18:16-17).  What’s the answer to monsters under the bed?  God is in control.  How are we comforted when someone teases us on the playground?  He loves us, and that’s what counts.  What do we do if we find ourselves sad?  We reflect upon our joy in Christ.  Our need is not for better answers.  It’s for our hearts to embrace the right ones.  Gospel truths are not simplistic.  They are rich and deep.  But they’re simple.

I remember a skit, back in my college ministry days, where three Christians were competing in a game show.  One girl, trying to play the airhead, kept answering “Jesus,” with much enthusiasm, to every question.  Everyone laughed.  But maybe it was our Enemy who was truly laughing.  If he can get us to assume gospel truths, he’s won most of the battle.  If he can get us to mock God’s word, that’s success for him.  In our counseling, in our preaching, and in our evangelism, is “Jesus” our answer?  Are the promises of Scripture our comfort?  If not, we might just need to go back to Sunday School.

Resurgence Podcasts

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The Tired Leader

Through the years I have come to some general conclusions about people, ministry, and leaders. One of them is that most people, in general, and leaders, in particular, try to do too much and work too many hours. An article in the Seattle Times by Shirleen Holt read,

Nearly ten million Americans worked more than sixty hours a week last year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics found. We’ve outpaced the famously productive Japanese in hours worked. We’re the only developed nation without mandatory vacation time. And, according to the Expedia.com’s annual vacation poll, one-third of us will take no vacation this year.

The insight of author Fred Smith comes to mind: “Busyness is the new spirituality.”

Years ago, I would often greet a fellow leader with, “Good to see you! How you doing?” The response would be, “Dave, I am really busy.” Now, when I ask the same question, the response is, “Dave, I am really tired.”

When I probe a little, it is clear that this is not the common sort of tiredness that can be handled with a decent night’s sleep, but a deep, deep sense of exhaustion—emotional, spiritual, and physical. Leaders are falling out of the race and shipwrecking themselves for a number of reasons; and one of them is sheer exhaustion, which leads to frustration, anger, confusion, potential burnout, and, eventually, throwing in the towel.

Causes of Bone-Deep Tiredness

What causes this sort of epidemic of bone-deep tiredness? Here are a few things that come to mind:

1. The inability to say no. Leaders are often servants at heart. They feel called to help people and to try to meet their needs, which are endless and inexhaustible. We have limited capacity, time and gifts and we need to learn to set boundaries, recognize our limits and create margin in our lives. We cannot and should not be at the beck and call of every person with a need. Even Jesus, at times, left people who were in need and disappeared to be by himself (See Luke 5:15,16).
2. The inability to slow down. Too many leaders move at an insane pace and work too many hours. They love to work and, in many cases, get their sense of self-worth through their work. In John Grisham’s novel The Broker, one of the characters says, “I’ve been there (Washington D.C.). I’ve never seen so many people racing around, going nowhere. I don’t understand the desire for such a hectic life. Everything has to be so fast—work, food, sex.” That’s us in the good old USA—going at breakneck speed and not always sure why. One of the results is that we are slowly, but surely, becoming addicted to speed and busyness; and sometimes we’re not even capable of slowing down.
3. The inability to think stragetically. Frankly, I meet very few leaders who are strategic in how they allocate their time and energy. Most are reactive rather than proactive. We are all composed of a few themes and need to stick with our unique contribution.
4. The inability to simplify. Recently, I have been meditating on 1 Timothy 2:1–2 in The Message: “pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation.”

I believe the solution to the epidemic of tiredness is not all that complicated:

• Learn to say no.
• Intentionally slow down.
• Think strategically when you make decisions as to what you will do or not do.
• Simplify your life by de-cluttering your busy schedule.

Charles Swindoll had this observation about our supreme example, Jesus:

Somehow Jesus mastered the art of maintaining a clear perspective while accomplishing every single one of his objectives (John 17:4). A major reason for his being able to say he finished all the father had in mind for him is that he simplified his life.

He followed his own agenda instead of everyone else’s. He also set predetermined limits. He chose twelve (not twelve hundred) whom he trained to carry on in his absence. He stayed with his set of priorities without apology, which means he must have said no a score of times every month. He balanced work and rest, accomplishment and refreshment, never feeling the need to ask permission for spending time in quietness and solitude. He refused to get sidetracked by tempting opportunities that drained energy and time. He was a servant of his father, not a slave of the people. Even though misunderstood, maligned, misquoted, and opposed by numerous enemies and even a few friends, he stayed at it. His simplicity kept him balanced.

Think about it! What do you need to begin doing differently?

Leaders Who Last

Too many Christian leaders stumble, burn out, or veer off track. Learn how to endure from a seasoned pastor and leadership coach in Leaders Who Last.

Click through to the Resurgence if you can't see the video.

A lot of people ask "why" we do Film & Theology and "how" we approach it, and I hope to address the basic questions - and objections - in this 10-part instructional series. It's my hope that it won't just lead to edification and personal transformation, but ultimately replication leading to more glorification of the God we love and live for.

For more on film & theology, engaging culture and redefining entertainment, go to cinemagogue.com.

"101" establishes the basic premise essential to this engagement: that the one true God of the Universe is not only the ultimate Storyteller, but Protagonist in the greatest story that encompasses all our lives. This explains our image-bearing impulse to be storytellers whether we acknowledge him or not.

Doctrine Book

Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe is available now. Read a free chapter and find out more.

People Don't Trust the Church Anymore

Organized religion's trust levels are only a few percentage points higher than that of our politicians—and that is a grave problem for the church. The majority of Americans, over three quarters of them, view organized religion with the same suspicion they do politicians, who are often associated with incredible self-interest and pettiness.

People View the Church as a Dead Organization

This low view of organized religion has not led to an outbreak of atheism. Spiritual things are still a hot topic in many people's lives and still have incredible influence over how people live their lives. Many people will say things like, "I'm spiritual, but not religious," or, "I can have a relationship with God, but I don't need to belong to a church." These statements are indicative of the wider attitude towards church: the church as an organism and organization is no longer seen as a credible source to know God or find life. Instead, the church looks like a horse and carriage in a world of automobiles—tolerated, but not the best way to get around.

How to Build Trust: Humility and Sacrifice

That is why establishing trust is so important. Trust is the bedrock of all quality relationships, so if the church needs a restoration of its relationships, it will need to renew trust with others. At the core of all churches is relationship—relationship to one another, relationship to the leadership, and relationship to the organization. When trust within the church is broken, just as in all relationships, the whole edifice crashes. The church has a moral imperative, then, to not just retreat into an enclave and perpetuate a community where trust is already established, but to do the hard work of restoring trust with individuals and communities.

But sadly this is often not the case. To the outside world the church seems to be full of hypocrites, money-hungry leaders, and hateful people. This is also the experience of many Christians who now walk with a spiritual or emotional limp because the church broke their trust. Many Christians have experienced the fallout of leaders who covered their sin because their church or vision was more important than their individual righteousness or morality.

Some churches have been captured by false teaching that leave people wounded and starving for the one true God. Many have seen church people preach one thing and then turn around and do another, leaving them wondering, "Can the church really be a place where we can practice what we preach?" and "Can this really be a place that has treasure for the outside world?"

The Blueprint for Trust: Stop Pretending

The blueprint for building trust is simple. It does not involve any new thinking or teaching, but actually rediscovering something very old: the gospel.

The gospel message has two embedded characteristics that are vital for trust: humility and sacrifice. Trust is never built on perfection, but on the ability to own up to our mistakes and flaws. We also see this with church membership: the church is one of the only organizations in the world where the absolute requirement for membership is failure. You have to own up to your bankruptcy before God.

We must stop pretending that we have performed for God—that is the only way to build trust.

Scandalous

In Scandalous, world-renowned theologian D.A. Carson unpacks the meaning of the most scandalous event in history: the death and resurrection of Jesus. Get the book.

It's not often that we create something that we think every man needs to watch. This video is one of those you must see. We made it to announce the new book, Church Planter, and we think every reader of the Resurgence should read it ASAP.

Watch the video:

Darrin Patrick, vice president of the Acts 29 network and a veteran church planter himself is one of the most qualified men on the planet to write this book. It is written for Church Planters, but will challenge any man (really any person) to follow Christ with everything he's got.

This book is a call for God's men to rise to their calling to be the men God's called them to be, with the Word God has called them to preach, on the mission God has called them to. Seriously... Get a group of guys together and read this book.

What to do now?

Share this video with friends on facebook, twitter, and email.

Buy Church Planter on Amazon.

Come to the A29 bootcamp in Seattle where Darrin Patrick and others will teach the ideas of Church Planter.

The Theology of the Body: Click | View Series

Your Gender Matters

As embodied creatures, human beings are either male or female (Gen. 1:26-27); indeed, gender is a fundamental reality of human existence. God does not create a generic human being and then add on gender; rather, he creates a human being either as a male person or as a female person. Human genderedness means that a man is conscious of and knows himself as a man, he relates to other human beings as a man, and as a man he relates to God.

Similarly, it means that a woman is conscious of and knows herself as a woman, she relates to other human beings as a woman, and as a woman she relates to God. Try as I might, even urged on by my wife, I cannot see life from her—a woman’s—perspective! Human beings are perspectivally gendered—as designed by God.

Accordingly, men and women should be thankful for the gender with which God created them, and any sense of superiority or inferiority because they are male or female is wrong and dangerous. Gender differences should be celebrated, and men and women should learn to enjoy personal, pure relationships with the other gender (1 Tim. 5:1-2).

Sexuality and Marriage

An important aspect of gender, and hence of human embodiment, is sexuality. Indeed, God created human beings as both male and female so that they could fulfill the mandate to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Gen. 1:28). This universal command means that the majority of people will be married, and the biblical portrait is that marriage is between a man and a woman who commit themselves to living in a monogamous relationship. Sexual intercourse is to be enjoyed within the bounds of this covenantal framework and is designed for several purposes, including pleasure, procreation, a guard against immorality, and unity.

Tragically, the fall into sin wreaks havoc with human sexuality, and Scripture presents instructions intended to help people overcome temptation and failure in this area. For example, Paul denounces sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:12-12), urging Christians to flee from it. Elsewhere (1 Thess. 4:3-8) he commands married people to engage in sexual activity in a God-honoring and spouse-respecting manner while avoiding immorality. The close relationships that Christians enjoy with one another should never be allowed to cross the lines of proper morality so that members defraud one another by taking that which does not belong to them.

Sexuality and Singleness

Paul also addresses the reality of singleness (1 Cor. 7:7-9). This state, like that of marriage, is a gift of God (v. 7). Paul’s preference is that people remain single (v. 8), for celibacy offers many advantages (1 Cor. 7:25-40), including avoidance of troubles and anxieties, and promotion of “undivided devotion to the Lord” (v. 35). The advantages of singleness are many, yet only those to whom this gift is given should remain single (v. 9). Those with the gift of celibacy are not asexual beings who lack sexual desire, but they are able to control those urges by channeling them in God-honoring ways. Lacking such self-control, people should pursue getting married so they are not overwhelmed by sexual desire and thus fall into immorality.

We are certainly aware of the many troubles Christians and the church encounter in this area: rampant sexual immorality, adultery, homosexuality, sexual abuse, pornography, prostitution, and other problems. Cognizant of these many challenges, we should never lose sight of the fact that human sexuality and sexual intercourse between married couples are wonderful gifts from God for his embodied creatures, gifts that should be celebrated and enjoyed.

To be continued.

2010 Seattle Bootcamp

The biggest church planting event we've ever done. September 29-30 in Seattle. Church Planter: A29 National Bootcamp.