• Robert Cox – “Never Roam Alone: God is With You!” (46:33)
• Robert Cox – “Never Roam Alone: Are You With God?” (42:56)
• Allen Hamblin – “I’ve Been ‘Gnome’ to Worship” (57:18)
• Orlando Henlon – “Prepared to Roam” (55:57)
• Juan Black – “Alone & Engaged” (53:35)
• Ben Mullins – “Men’s Session: Alone & Endangered pt. 1″ (53:33)
• Ben Mullins – “Men’s Session: Alone & Endangered pt. 2″ (60:32)
• Hannah Cox – “Women’s Session: Alone & Endangered pt. 1″ (45:23)
• Hannah Cox – “Women’s Session: Alone & Endangered pt. 2″ (51:50)
• Kerry Cox – “Two Gnomes Are Better Than One” (44:50)
• Kerry Cox – “Love & Lost Gnomes” (34:47)
• Macky Shedd – “Every Gnome Needs a Nathan” (57:47)
• Clint Hill – “BGFs (Best Gnomes Forever)” (59:54)
• Lynn Stringfellow – “Behind Every Good Gnome” (49:02)
• Johnny Bond – “Deliberate Roaming” (40:03)

For more like this, visit campusministryunited.com’s download page.

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Powerful.

Thank you to Out of Ur for sharing.

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• Audio Only: click here to listen
• PowerPoint: click here to download the PowerPoint

For more like this, visit the westcoastwitness.com Sermon Archive.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 59,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 22 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

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Merry Christmas!

In Visible Fellowship has been described by some as “Bonhoeffer in bite-sized chunks”. The 174 pages of this book are broken down into 36 chapters – most just two or three pages long. Each begins with a quote from Bonhoeffer and a scripture before moving in to a commentary on the “big idea” of the lesson. Chapters conclude with a brief description of how Jesus embodied the discussed principle along with well-written personal reflection questions for group discussion.

The principles dealt with in this book are basic to healthy Christian community. A few include the importance of being in community, suggestions for a strong devotional life, the primacy of prayer, confession, and more – each with a strong emphasis on practical application.

In Visible Fellowship is not designed to be read alone – this book would be best used in a small group setting with participants reading three or four lessons ahead of a meeting coming prepared to discuss application. I stress application, because this material has the potential to be transformative, but not simply through discussion – application is a must.

Remember, this is a reworking of a classic book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The phrase, “Bonhoeffer says …”, or, “Bonhoeffer suggests …” shows up from beginning to end and will likely become tedious to readers unless they have some appreciation for Bonhoeffer’s life and teachings. I highly recommend leaders familiarize themselves and their groups with him ahead of time so they have at least some knowledge of Bonhoeffer in order to give his words and teaching credibility. The easiest way to do that would be to watch a film together about his life – several are available to buy through Amazon or to rent/stream via NetFlix.

In sum, this book might be tedious for individual readers outside of ardent Bonhoeffer fans, but would be excellent to use in a small group made of people who 1) appreciate Bonhoeffer’s life and work, and 2) are committed to practically applying the teachings found within.

The lessons found in this book are patently biblical, and, if put into practice, will be transformative for your small group

You can pick up In Visible Fellowship through Amazon for $11.07 here, or directly from Leafwood Publishers for $13.99 here.

Jon Walker has served as a writer and editor for many years in addition to serving on the pastoral staff at Saddleback Church. You can find out more about his ministry at gracecreates.com.

I just finished reading Growing Up Church of Christ by Mike S. Allen.

This book isn’t so much a narrative as it is a topically arranged collection of memories served to readers in bite-sized portions. This makes for easy, fast reading, and I found it to be a page-turner.

I also found myself being flooded with memories while reading largely because I have personal connection to many of the people or institutions referenced. For instance, Mike’s ‘principle Bobby’ gave me two spankings when I attended Central Arkansas Christian School – once for punching a boy in the mouth, and then again … for punching another boy in the mouth.

The College Church’s boycott of the local convenience store in Searcy is also something I remember hearing about. This store was displaying pornographic magazines on the racks in full view of children, and I believe it was my dad who brought this to the attention of the mayor which led to a new law being passed banning such displays.

Additionally, Harding University is my alma mater, and Jimmy Allen (Mike’s father) taught my Romans class. Dr. Allen was and is quite a character, and I really enjoyed Mike’s stories about him.

I could go on, but you get the idea – and personal connection or not, if you “grew up Church of Christ”,  reading this book will bring back a flood of memories for you too.

Mike’s sense of humor comes through loud and clear in the writing. I read Growing Up Church of Christ with a smile on my face many times laughing out loud. Various topics are addressed in a tongue-in-cheek fashion – swearing, clapping and instrumental music, VBS, youth group stories, the evils of Rock-n-Roll, “The Baptists” – all handled in a tasteful and good-natured way.

Serious topics are also addressed, albeit less frequently. Mike shares a bit about what it was like growing up “in the shadow” of his father who is a famous preacher in Church of Christ circles, and several times references various personal struggles he’s had with life and faith. There are also sections on race relations, church discipline, the struggle between staying with the CoC or leaving it, and much more.

My favorite excerpt from the book is found on pages 48 & 49. In recounting the night of one of Jimmy Allen’s famous gospel meetings, Mike shares this:

Evening gospel meeting with us school-aged kids sitting up front.

Fiery sermon and a long invitation song.

People, young and old, come streaming down the aisles. A few of them, mostly women and girls, are crying. The young want to be baptized; the old want to be restored. So many are coming forward that there aren’t enough seats for everyone.

Which brings me to the best part.

The elders, the ones receiving the responders, pause. they give us kids – all of us singing our lungs out – a little nod. We vacate our seats and go to stand in front of the stage.
We look out at the crowd, at the responders who just keep coming. We stand there, grinning like fools. We’re part of this mass of moving people. We’re giving up our seats, so more can come forward.

We’re watching the world change right before our eyes.

If you “grew up Church of Christ” or in any conservative Evangelical tradition, you will thoroughly enjoy reading Growing Up Church of Christ by Mike S. Allen – I certainly did.

This book is available in paperback for $12.95 at Amazon or $5.99 for the Kindle version, and might make an excellent Christmas gift for someone you know.

Visit Mike’s blog here.

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Joie & Nathaniel after the baptism

Joanna N. – Baptized by Nathaniel Tuliao on December 7, 2011, at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, CA.

Today was a good day!

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Reminds me of Lynn Stringfellow’s post on Social Justice.

Christianity Today recently published an article telling a little about how River City Ministry is making a positive difference in ‘the meanest city to the homeless’.

Read the full article in Christianity Today here.

What they don’t mention in their story is that over 100 people a year on average are giving their lives to Jesus, and more than that are being restored in their relationship with Him. RCM is feeding people, but not just with physical food. Intentional efforts are made to share food that never spoils, and God continues to bless them.

To read past WCW posts pertaining to River City Ministry, click here.