Current reading list

It has been a while since I updated my current reading list. It is shorter but here it goes! You'll notice that I have been studying church staff/teams.

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Lencioni


• Staff Your Church for Growth by McIntosh


• Confessions of a Reformission Rev.: Hard Lessons from an Emerging Missional Church by Driscoll


• Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument -- not a book but worth your time.


• 1 Corinthians - at least once a week

I honestly do not think I have ever read a Christian book that is as raw, funny, and real as Confessions of a Reformission Rev. You'll either love it or hate it. I love it. I'm looking forward to reading "The Radical Reformission" next.

Jacob and Kate

I had the privilege of officiating a wedding yesterday at Vance Vineyards and Winery in Fredericktown for Jacob Musgrove and Kate Hennrich. All I could think about while officiating the wedding was one Sunday last January. On January 24th, 2010 we baptized Jacob as he publicly professed his faith in Jesus.

Jacob's baptism is about ten minutes and forty-five seconds in. Listen to his response. Glory to God forever!

(embedded video - facebook viewers may need to visit benjamindurbin.com to watch it)



If you are interested in having a full wedding script from their ceremony last night, you can download it here.

When is a generalization about a group racist?

I had this question posed to me yesterday. I couldn't come up with a great answer but John Piper did! Below is an excerpt from an article on racism, stereotypes, and generalizations. Check out the whole article here.

When is a generalization about a group racist? I am using the word racist as something sinful, and the following answers move toward a definition. The following uses of generalization would be wrong (racist):

• When you want a person to fit a negative generalization that you have formed about a group (even if the generalization statistically is true).
• When you assume that a statistically true negative generalization is true of a particular person in the face of individual evidence to the contrary.
• When you treat all the members of a group as if all must be characterized by a negative generalization.
• When you speak disparagingly of an entire group on the basis of a negative generalization without any regard for those in the group who don’t fit the generalization. Or: When you speak negatively of a group based on a generalization without giving any evidence that you acknowledge and appreciate the exceptions. (I assume that Jesus’ generalizations about the Pharisees [Matthew 23] and Paul’s generalization about the Cretans [Titus 1:12] are not sinful because they did have such regard and did appreciate the exceptions.)

Implication for Christians: While realizing that life is not livable without generalizations, be careful not to let your pride lead you to use statistical generalizations in unloving ways.

Pastors are poor repenters. Ironic isn't it? The men who call people to geniune repentance weekly, often fail to deeply repent themselves.

This week I had some of my personal property violated. In my anger, I formed generalizations that led to racist thoughts and complete bitterness. This wasn't towards a people group of a different ethnicity. No, it was towards a people group that are near the low end of the social and economic scale often by their own choice and actions. They need discipline, yes. And yes, I must protect my family, friends, and flock as well.

But....

They don't need me to be racist. That is sin. I don't want to be bitter. I don't want to dishonor God or the gospel. I repent and trust the gospel. They need me to speak the gospel, live the gospel, and keep the gospel at the center of my heart and actions.

The formula of a successful church

Watch this video and give me your honest reactions. '
(Facebook viewers need to visit benjamindurbin.com)

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Here are mine.

I'm afraid that the deconstruction in the video is true. We have the most important opportunity in the world every Sunday. I pray that we don't waste it being consumer driven rather than gospel driven. It is also a gut check to make sure we don't follow routine and trendiness rather than the triune God in our celebrations.

How does The Bridge rate in regards to simply following this formula?

I would of said it was more true of us in year 1 and 2. Now, we plod through scripture making the Gospel the centerpiece of all that we do. The gospel is elevated as the rock star. All of our elements proclaim the gospel and challenge people to move not consume.

We definitely aren't as trendy as we once were, but we do get to spend at least six months in 1 Corinthians soon! :-) We have made it a focused effort for scripture to be elevated to a place of prominence over any of our teachers.

Now, I do believe that there are still abuses in non-contemporary or non-relevant churches.

On the other end of the spectrum, you still have churches stuck in different eras. Often instead of following the Triune God, they would rather follow the good old days. You can find abuses on both sides of the fence.

This video could be shot with hymns, special singing, and old fashioned preaching with three piece suits and still pull out the same reaction in me.

What questions does this video force us to ask?

1. Who are we pleasing? God or man?
2. Who are we following? Our own plans and strategy, or the living and triune God?
3. Are we comfortable and set it something that worked once? Or are we being led by the spirit in faith?
4. What are we growing? Consumers or Gospel-Driven people?
5. What are we imaging? Radical disciples of Jesus? Or man-made systems and strategies?
6. Have we over-contextualized? Have we under-contextualized?
7. Is Jesus the hero of our church? The hero of our leadership? The hero of our celebrations?
   

These are the things I think about all of the time. These are the reactions I had to the video.

If you want to see a video that I believe is in contrast to this one, CLICK HERE.