A blog designed to develop missional leaders
By: Rev. Scott Armstrong Recently, I was recommended a book by Stephen M.R. Covey. Although Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others was written for leaders in all walks of life, I find it interesting that several times the author uses Christian concepts, especially stewardship: “A fundamental belief of a Trust... Continue Reading →
*The following is an excerpt from a recording of the radio ministry Showers of Blessing. This sermon by Russell V. DeLong was aired on that show in 1965. DeLong served as president of Northwest Nazarene College and Pasadena College. He was a district superintendent of the Northwest Indiana District and was founding dean at Nazarene... Continue Reading →
*The following is an excerpt from the masterful preacher and writer Russell V. DeLong’s short book: The Unique Galilean. Jesus Christ is the topmost Person possessing the highest ideals of all professions and vocations. He is the epitome of the best, the apex of the highest, the summit of the loftiest, the superlative of the... Continue Reading →
By: Scott Armstrong *The following is taken from Lisa Sharon Harper’s book The Very Good Gospel. The first uses of the Hebrew word goy (foreign ethnic group) in Genesis are instructive. The word is found in the list of Noah’s descendants, commonly called the Table of Nations (see Genesis 10). The word is found next... Continue Reading →
By: Scott Armstrong I recently read Lisa Sharon Harper’s The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right. I agree with Shane Claiborne, who says, “On these pages, the Garden of Eden meets the world we live in.” I encourage anyone to read the full book; in fact, my hope is to whet... Continue Reading →
The Board of General Superintendents (BGS) announced a new denominational initiative, Nazarene Discipleship: A Journey of Grace, to provide a framework for discipleship in the Church of the Nazarene worldwide. Members of the BGS worked with denominational representatives from across the globe to make this initiative a reality, and, at the 97th Session of the... Continue Reading →
We have all come in contact with someone who has rejected Christianity primarily because of the unconvincing actions or even blatant hypocrisy of Christians. Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” That sentiment pains me, and it should sicken any of... Continue Reading →
*A reflection from the book The Natural Development of Faith: A Personal Adventure With Jesus By Jean David Larochelle “There are some noxious beliefs, like: ‘If you are sick, it is because you don’t have faith,’ or ‘If you suffer poverty, you have not taken hold of the riches of the King.’ None of this... Continue Reading →
I recently had the privilege of reading a wonderful little book, called Opening the Bible, written by the renowned Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. His thoughts on reading the Scriptures were written decades ago but remain poignant and relevant as much today as in his time. Just to offer a taste, I will share three quotes. First,... Continue Reading →
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