The book is in the wild...

11 years ago I sat in Dryer 201 with my buddies Andy, Scott and Mark.  I don't know who exactly it was, Scott I think, but someone tossed out the idea of created a curriculum for teens that would take them through the essential doctrines of the Christian faith.  The four of us divided up the 9 larger sections of systematic theology and pledged to begin writing on it.  Then summer hit, we got distracted and that was that.  Until today.  Actually until 5 years ago.  

That idea never left me and as I entered ministry that idea became a need and that need had to be answered.  The teens I was ministering to needed to know what the Bible taught about God, salvation, sin, eternity, the church and all the other big players in the world of systematic theology.  So I sat down and wrote, and taught, and wrote, and taught.  Over the last 5 years the curriculum has been written, rewritten, edited, taught to over 50 teens, written again and formatted so it looks half-way decent.  What's so humbling to me is that a few churches asked to buy it from me to teach their teens.  

So the dream is realized.  I can say, humbly I have to say, that there is a curriculum for teenagers on the basic doctrines of the Christian faith.  And I can now get this project off my plate, and allow God to put other things there for His glory and the advancement of the gospel.

If you are interested in Passage and would like to know more about it, or even buy it you can contact me or go to my storefront.
Tagged writing

"I don't want to build a museum..."

Everyone once in a while a little video clip or a book hit me right in the heart.  This trailer for Darrin Patrick's new book Church Planter is a clear shot across the bow for me. Legacies don't need to be left behind, leaders do. It's time to move, not build museums.   

 

Tagged church planting gospel mission reading

Re:Thinking Discipleship

As many of you know I am in Seattle this week working on a graduate program with The Resurgence Training Center (Re:Train).  Each month for the next year I will be traveling to Seattle to take a different course through Re:Train with the outcome being a Masters of Missional Leadership degree.  

This weeks course is entitled "Leader as Disciple" and is taught by one of the Mars Hill campus pastors, Bill Clem.  After two days of class we have begun to plow through the question, "what is a disciple?"

In many ways it has been a great question to ask because it not only relates to my own personal life as a follower of Jesus and how that plays out, but it also gets right at the core of how churches engage in the mission of "making disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:18-20).

I won't play out my thoughts on this question here in this post other than to say much of my "disciple-making method" is under assessment.  Pray for me as I marinate on two days worth of teaching/thinking/observing and learning.       

Tagged discipleship Re:Train

Re:Train Reflection

My new friend Carlos has posted a great article about our first day at The Resurgence Training Center (Re:Train) in Seattle. You can check it out here:

http://losgriego.com/2010/08/09/day-1-at-retrain/

Tagged Re:Train

Preach Christ or Go Home

via Justin Taylor

The very idea of a “Christless sermon” appalled Charles Spurgeon. It was a plague he confronted ... Read More >>

Tagged gospel preaching

Gospel Humility Sermon Audio

This last Sunday I had the opportunity to preach in both the morning services.  The text of my sermon was Luke 18:9-14. 

Here is the audio from my message. 

(download)

Tagged audio sermons

Re:Train Reading for August

Here's the list with links for the reading I am doing this month in preparation for my September Re:Train course taught by Dr. Bruce Ware.  
Tagged Re:Train reading

A Day at the Fair

Next time I gotta get a funnel cake. 

             
Click here to download:
A_Day_at_the_Fair.zip (537 KB)

Tagged family photos

Where Is My Trust Placed?

This Sunday I'm preaching at Santa Rosa Bible Church.  Here is the prominent themes in word art of my sermon.  If you have some time please pray for me that God's Word would be preached with clarity, boldness and humility.  

The text of this sermon is Luke 18:9-14.
Tagged gospel sermons

Big Sister Meets Little Brother

Yesterday Allie met her new little brother Ethan and had something special for him:

(download)

Tagged family