Fourteen years ago, when I was in seminary, a professor made a startling confession. The truth came out during a chapel service on campus, where he was the keynote speaker of the day. The professor began his sermon by stating that he had a confession … [Read more]
What Makes Me a Postmodern Christian
Posted on March 14, 2014 // 2 Comments
I admit it: I’m postmodern. And despite the negative connotations the word has amongst Christians, particularly conservative Christians, “postmodern” is a term I embrace. In this post I’ll explain the foundational difference between a modern and a … [Read more]
What the Church Can Learn From “The LEGO Movie”
Posted on March 7, 2014 // 4 Comments
It’s hard for me to believe that the smartest, most forward-thinking commentary I’ve ever heard on American culture came in the form of a movie. And it wasn’t an artsy, indie film. It was a hilariously clever children’s movie. Now I realize I’m a … [Read more]
“Postmodern” is Not a Dirty Word
Posted on February 28, 2014 // Leave a Comment
If you could walk into a thousand, randomly selected, churches around the country on a Sunday morning, I bet you’d be surprised by two things. First, you would be struck by how segmented the church has become. Two hundred years ago there were only a … [Read more]
What is a “Next Generation” Christian?
Posted on February 6, 2014 // Leave a Comment
In attempting to define a “Next Generation” Christian, let me begin by saying culture is fluid, always changing, adapting, evolving. Look at American culture today compared to what it was like in the 1980s (the greatest decade ever), and then … [Read more]
Doctrine: When the Need to Be Right is Wrong
Posted on November 1, 2013 // Leave a Comment
(Written by Dying to Control contributor, Mike Ballman) The gospel of John tells us that Jesus, in his final hours of freedom before his arrest, trial and execution, devoted himself to prayer. I would guess that most of us, faced with a similar … [Read more]
Sermon 5: For the Shame of It All
Posted on October 25, 2013 // Leave a Comment
For the month of September I was the guest speaker/preacher on Sunday mornings at Cypress Bible Church. The five-week series was titled "A Faith That Can Change the World." Here's a brief summary of the final sermon: For the Shame of It All For the … [Read more]
Sermon 4: Don’t Be Fooled
Posted on October 12, 2013 // 1 Comment
For the month of September I was the guest speaker/preacher on Sunday mornings at Cypress Bible Church. The five-week series was titled "A Faith That Can Change the World." Here's a brief summary of the fourth sermon: Don't Be Fooled Over the … [Read more]
Sermon 3: Blessings of “The Curse”
Posted on October 1, 2013 // Leave a Comment
For the month of September I'll be the guest speaker/preacher on Sunday mornings at Cypress Bible Church. The five-week series is titled "A Faith That Can Change the World." Here's a brief summary of the third sermon: Blessings of "The Curse" The … [Read more]
Sermon 2: Breaking the Sin Cycle
Posted on September 20, 2013 // Leave a Comment
For the month of September I'll be the guest speaker/preacher on Sunday mornings at Cypress Bible Church. The five-week series is titled "A Faith That Can Change the World." Here's a brief summary of the second sermon: Breaking the Sin … [Read more]
