Category Archives: Religion

Contextual Theologies of Mission: Samuel Escobar and Jeremy Wynne Compared (Pt. 1)

When studying theology from around the world we come to see how much a theologian’s context affects his or her theology. This is partly due to the fact that different situations beg different questions and demand appropriate answers to those questions, but it is also partly due to the theological tradition in which that theologianContinue reading “Contextual Theologies of Mission: Samuel Escobar and Jeremy Wynne Compared (Pt. 1)”

A Letter to a Confused Christian Artist

Hey Melissa, thanks for writing to me explaining your situation. I can definitely sympathize with you. At one point in life I was in a similar position that you are in now, of course I wasn’t an artist! (Nonetheless I was feeling called to a less “eternal” vocation). Just like you, people around me wereContinue reading “A Letter to a Confused Christian Artist”

Missiology Book Review: Churches, Cultures, and Leadership

Branson, Mark Lau and Martinez Juan F. Churches, Cultures, and Leadership. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2011. In this book Branson and Martinez offer a practical theology of congregations and ethnicities. They do this by studying churches, mission, and ethnicity from a contextual and theological point of view. They go on to look at various interculturalContinue reading “Missiology Book Review: Churches, Cultures, and Leadership”

The Essence of Coaching (pt. 4): Cultivating the Heart of a Shepherd

Today we wrap up our series “The Essence of Coaching” which was based off of Bill Donahue’s and Greg Bowman’s book Coaching Life Changing Small Group Leaders by talking about one of the most important aspect of small group leadership: shepherding. _______________________________ The Essence of Coaching – Cultivating the Heart of A Shepherd Today we areContinue reading “The Essence of Coaching (pt. 4): Cultivating the Heart of a Shepherd”

The Essence of Coaching (pt. 3): Cultivating A Passion for Developing Leaders

The Essence of Coaching – Cultivating a Passion for Developing Leaders “Faithful leaders will make disciples, but great leaders focus on making other leaders.”  -Tom Wood  Here is a simple truth, if leaders are going to grow they NEED someone to coach them. Some leaders will not have a coach so they will turn toContinue reading “The Essence of Coaching (pt. 3): Cultivating A Passion for Developing Leaders”

The Essence of Coaching (pt. 2): Cultivating Community

The Essence of Coaching – Cultivating Community So last time we looked at some steps we could take to help cultivate a culture of transformation among our leaders and their Life Groups. Today we will take a look at what it would look like to cultivate a love for community in them. One of myContinue reading “The Essence of Coaching (pt. 2): Cultivating Community”

The Essence of Coaching (pt. 1): Cultivating Transformation

Hey Friends! This week we start a new series about Lifegroups, specficially coaching Lifegroups. In this series I am going to be working around what Bill Donahue and Greg Bowman call the “Essence” of Lifegroup Coaching. __________________________________ The Essence of Coaching – Cultivating Transformation So recently I have been reading some stuff about coaching, specificallyContinue reading “The Essence of Coaching (pt. 1): Cultivating Transformation”

Missiology Book Review: Beyond Christendom

Hanciles, Jehu. Beyond Christendom. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2008. In this book Hanciles looks at three different subjects: 1) globalization, 2) African migration, and 3) the transformation of the West by these immigrants. Hanciles’ main argument is that migration and mission are inextricably connected. He shows that migration and Christian expansion have always gone hand inContinue reading “Missiology Book Review: Beyond Christendom”

Communion and Commission Celebrating the Lord’s Supper

Below is a resource I use at the beginning of each quarter of Lifegroups, letting leaders know why we celebrate communion and how we celebrate communion at Soma. If this is helpful take it and pass it on, use it for your own community groups! Commission _______________________________ Welcome to Life Group: Communion For week oneContinue reading “Communion and Commission Celebrating the Lord’s Supper”