We hear stories of explosive growth through rapid-reproduction techniques like disciple-making movements (DMM)/church-planting movements (CPM) from various parts of the world. Are all of these stories true? Is pragmatism driving some missionaries? This week, we talk to Brad, a missionary from South Asia, who shares his first-hand perspective seeing pragmatic methods in action and howContinue reading “Exposing and Fixing Pragmatism in Movements”
Tag Archives: methodology
The Dangers of Syncretism and How to Avoid It
Do rapid disciple-making techniques run the risk of welcoming syncretism into new churches by failing to teach new converts to forsake their former idols? It’s no light question, with no easy answers—but there is hope. Scripture is not silent. This week, Scott and Alex discuss “The Potential Risk of Syncretism in Church Planting Movements” byContinue reading “The Dangers of Syncretism and How to Avoid It”
Dan Strange: A Theology of Religions and The Southgate Fellowship
We know missionaries should have a theology of God, the Bible, and salvation—but what does it mean to develop a theology of religions? And what are the bigger problems plaguing evangelical missiology? Dr. Dan Strange, theological director at Oak Hill College and co-chair of The Southgate Fellowship, joins us from London to discuss his newContinue reading “Dan Strange: A Theology of Religions and The Southgate Fellowship”
Should We ‘Follow the Science’ in Missions?
Everyone says we should “follow the science.” How should we judge our results in missions?
The Power of God in Missions
The world seems more chaotic than ever. The church feels increasingly paralyzed with fear. What power is available to us to engage the immense task of the Great Commission? The power of God for our mission is found in the foolishness of God in the cross, the foolishness of his servants in the church, andContinue reading “The Power of God in Missions”
T4G20 Panel: The Local Church and the Nations
Who are the nations, and how should the local church reach them?
Paul Davis: Why the Gospel Must Be ‘Preached’
In the missions community, we all believe the gospel must be spread. But there is increasing resistance to the idea of “preaching” or “proclaiming” the gospel with authority and simplicity. Why is that? ABWE President Paul Davis joins Scott and Alex this week to explain what is burdening him and what he’s seeing in the heart ofContinue reading “Paul Davis: Why the Gospel Must Be ‘Preached’”
From Africa to the Abortion Clinic: Anthony Mathenia on Suffering and the Sovereignty in Evangelism
Anthony Mathenia ministered faithfully in Ethiopia as a missionary, but the pragmatism and watering-down of the gospel he saw from his fellow cross-cultural workers worried him. He was charting a new course—until God’s sovereignty directed him elsewhere, and the sudden passing of his wife brought him back to the U.S. to raise their children. NowContinue reading “From Africa to the Abortion Clinic: Anthony Mathenia on Suffering and the Sovereignty in Evangelism”
The Tragic Fruit of Liberalism in Missions: Mark Tatlock Explains
We often talk about the state of theology in the American church, but what about on the mission field? In this episode, Mark Tatlock, president of The Master’s Academy International (TMAI), explains why there is reason for rejoicing but also much concern—and how the root of many heresies overseas can be traced to a gradualContinue reading “The Tragic Fruit of Liberalism in Missions: Mark Tatlock Explains”
Disciple-Making Movements: A Critical Discussion With Dr. Glenn Sunshine
Disciple-making movements (DMM) and church planting movements (CPM) are more than just buzzwords—they represent controversial methodologies that are dividing missionaries along organization and theological lines. Do these methodologies represent faulty views of conversion or ecclesiology, or are the critics guilty of prayerlessness and quenching the Holy Spirit? We’ve explored these topics in the past onContinue reading “Disciple-Making Movements: A Critical Discussion With Dr. Glenn Sunshine”
Why Character Matters in Ministry: Paul Davis on Knowing Christ
When pastors, missionaries, and others in ministry fail to actively abide in Christ, that’s when pragmatism becomes most tempting—and most dangerous. How can missionaries remain rooted? ABWE President Paul Davis stops by the studio this week to share what most burdens him for the missionaries he’s met across the world over the last year, andContinue reading “Why Character Matters in Ministry: Paul Davis on Knowing Christ”
Brooks Buser on the Urgency of Eternity and the Dangers of Pragmatism
Do we really grasp the urgency of taking the gospel to those who have never heard? And if the task of making disciples among the unreached is so urgent, why shouldn’t we employ every pragmatic means at our disposal to finish the task? Brooks Buser weighs in this week and discusses pioneer missions, disciple-making movements,Continue reading “Brooks Buser on the Urgency of Eternity and the Dangers of Pragmatism”
Do We Need to Redefine Unreached? Matthew Bennett Answers
For decades, missiologists have assumed the priority of the “unreached”—and for good reason—building entire organizational strategies around it. But do we need to redefine this term? Matthew Bennett, Ph.D., former IMB missionary and current Assistant Professor of Missions and Theology at Cedarville University, weighs in. In a recent article, Matthew argues that we’ve taken theContinue reading “Do We Need to Redefine Unreached? Matthew Bennett Answers”
Tom Ascol and Jared Longshore on the Priority of Preaching, God’s Sovereignty, and Discernment
Is preaching essential to missions, or is it a Western tradition that can be sacrificed for the sake of contextualization? Some advocates of disciple-making movements (DMM’s) claim the latter. In this interview, Tom Ascol and Jared Longshore of Founders Ministries explain why authoritative proclamation is indispensable to ministry in any culture. Later in the episode,Continue reading “Tom Ascol and Jared Longshore on the Priority of Preaching, God’s Sovereignty, and Discernment”
What Is Gospel-Centered Missions?
What is the gospel? It’s a question missionaries can’t afford to take for granted. Specifically, what would a distinctly gospel-centered approach to missions look like, and how would it differ—or not differ—from forms of mission that focus heavily on meeting physical, tangible needs? What is the relationship between gospel proclamation and cultural engagement? Scott and AlexContinue reading “What Is Gospel-Centered Missions?”
T4G Panel on Theological Training in Missions
There’s a theological famine across the majority world. How can we fix that? Are translated English resources the solution? How can we encourage more theological educators to serve overseas? And why does the chasm between the gospel-centered, big-God theology movement and the missions world seem so large? On April 12th, 2018 at Together for the GospelContinue reading “T4G Panel on Theological Training in Missions”