Scripture speaks often of the “God of Israel.” But who did Israel believe that God was? What kind of a God did Israel envision as she worshiped? Dr. John D. Fortner provides insight into this compassionate, active God we encounter in Scripture.
Tag: mark adams
Helping Your Tribe Be Healthy
What does it actually look like for people to get healthier incrementally? How do we help dysfunctional tribes become high-functioning teams? Here are a few ideas.
John 21 Commentary
A commentary on John 21, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
John 20 Commentary
A commentary on John 20, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
Fresh Ideas for Church Leaders
How can we lead our churches in healthier ways? Research Spotlight is a collection of live interviews with leading scholars, based on their original research.
Helping Members Find Where They Fit with Dr. Matt Carter
Dr. Matt Carter shares best practices for helping every member in your church identify a ministry in which they can connect and flourish.
John 19 Commentary
A commentary on John 19, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
John 18 Commentary
A commentary on John 17, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
John 17 Commentary
A commentary on John 17, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
John 16 Commentary
A commentary on John 16, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Mark Powell.
John 15 Commentary
A commentary on John 15, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Mark Powell.
John 14 Commentary
A commentary on John 14, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Mark Powell.
John 13 Commentary
A commentary on John 13, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Mark Powell.
John 12 Commentary
A commentary on John 12, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Lauren Calvin Cooke.
John 11 Commentary
A commentary on John 11, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Lauren Calvin Cooke.
John 10 Commentary
A commentary on John 9, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Lauren Calvin Cooke.
John 9 Commentary
A commentary on John 9, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Lauren Calvin Cooke.
John 8 Commentary
A commentary on John 8, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Kindy De Long.
John 7 Commentary
A commentary on John 7, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Kindy De Long.
John 6 Commentary
A commentary on John 6, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Kindy De Long.
Reading John Through Ancient Eyes
Kevin Burr helps us gain a more culturally-informed view of John’s Gospel. What would John’s original audience have assumed that we might not? This conversation helps to bridge the gap.
John 5 Commentary
A commentary on John 5, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Kindy De Long.
Reading John Theologically
Dr. Mark Powell of the Harding School of Theology talks about how John’s Gospel enhances our understanding about God.
Reading John Theologically with Dr. Mark Powell
Dr. Mark Powell of the Harding School of Theology talks about how John’s Gospel enhances our understanding about God.
John 4 Commentary
A commentary on John 4, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Keith Stanglin.
John’s Unique Voice
Dr. Kindy De Long shares insights into some of the things that John’s Gospel uniquely contributes to the Gospels’ telling of the story of Jesus. What might John be showing us that he considers of special importance?
John 2 Commentary
A commentary on this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Keith Stanglin.
Join us for a Journey Through John!
In 2020 we’re going on a journey through John’s Gospel. We hope you’ll come, too!
My Favorite Reads of 2019
Here are my favorite books I read in 2019, along with a full list of all the books I read this year.
Haikus from I John
Engaging Scripture creatively helps us engage it more deeply. Here are some of my haikus based on I John.
Haikus From Jonah
Engaging Scripture creatively helps us engage it more deeply. Here are some of my haikus based on Jonah.
Haikus from Isaiah
Scripture comes to life when we engage it creatively. Here is a collection of haiku poems I’ve written based on Isaiah.
Preaching that Transforms with Dr. Rob O’Lynn
Good preaching informs, but great preaching transforms. Dr. Rob O’Lynn shares his research about how preachers can utilize transformative learning theory in helping their congregations to grow spiritually. Carefully crafted applications help the sermon move from the mind to the heart, and ultimately to the hands of the listeners who live into the new possibilities which the Word imagines.
5 Tips for Writing Mission Trip Fundraising Letters
Fundraising is an essential part of mission trips. You cannot go on a mission trip without the means to get there. Since many people raise their funds through writing letters, I am offering some tips for how to write excellent letters that are more likely to get you the response you are desiring.
Engaging Longer Texts
If you are wanting to teach a larger book of the Bible without overwhelming your listeners, here are three strategies for making larger, complex books more accessible.
Book Review: Worship Essentials by Mike Harland
A review of Mike Harland’s book Worship Essentials (2018).
Youth in Family Ministry with Luke Dockery
How do we help our children’s faith become their own? Luke Dockery shares about his Youth In Family Ministry model as a deliberate way to
Youth In Family Ministry with Luke Dockery
How do we help our children’s faith become their own? Luke Dockery is our guest today. He shares about his Youth In Family Ministry model
Finding Great Resources
A great conversation with Bob Turner, Library Director at the Harding School of Theology in Memphis, Tennessee. We discuss trends in books, exciting recent publications,
A Mentoring Model for Intentional Disciple-Making: with Dr. Jason Bybee
For this Research Spotlight, I had a rich conversation with Dr. Jason Bybee about discipleship. Discipleship involves following behind Jesus while walking beside the people we are helping to grow.
Make Serving A Joy
Not Employees Volunteers aren’t employees. When you’re leading in a church setting, there isn’t a single person involved who doesn’t have the real option of
W.A.Y.S.?: What You Can Stop Seeking
“It was in the last place I looked.” One of my least favorite expressions follows an anxious search for keys, wallets, and phones. Having scoured
Pastoral Leadership: It’s About The Sheep
The Shepherding Metaphor A good shepherd cares about his sheep. When we talk about leadership, we would do well to stay close to that imagery.
Productive Online Conversations: with Matt Dabbs
These days, talking about important subjects online is a lot like walking through a minefield. Matt Dabbs provides tools to help us with online conversations–and any conversations–where both the people and the issues matter. I always enjoy any time I can spend with Matt, as he absolutely embodies the healthy principles shared here in this video. This is great advice for anyone to consider before you hit “post”, which is just as valuable to practice at your office, your church, and at home.
Having Productive Online Conversations: with Matt Dabbs
These days, talking about important subjects online is a lot like walking through a minefield. Matt Dabbs provides tools to help us with online conversations–and
Kevin Burr: Worship As Spiritual Formation
In this Research Spotlight, I am excited to share a conversation I had with Kevin Burr. Kevin is a Ph.D. student at Asbury Theological Seminary, having previously completed his M.Div. at the Harding School of Theology and a Masters in Education at Harding University. He is also one of the ministers at the Nicholasville Church of Christ in Kentucky.
Kevin had recently conducted a retreat for worship leaders on how worship functions as spiritual formation. I wanted to hear some of the ideas Kevin had been cultivating, and am glad to share them with you.
Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change
As the conclusion to the Questioning Forward series about the assumptions of Appreciative Inquiry, Dr. Mark Adams describes his use of the Appreciative Inquiry method at the Old Hickory Church of Christ to help him discern a path forward to renewal at the congregation that would not come at the cost of division, but would promote unity and ownership.
Questioning Forward: A Case Study for Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change
I’ve enjoyed posting about the assumptions of Appreciative Inquiry. In this video, I explain how I utilized this method at the Old Hickory Church of