Relational Wisdom for the Ekklesia by Steve Crosby
Apr14

Relational Wisdom for the Ekklesia by Steve Crosby

Posted By on Apr 14, 2014 in Community | 0 comments

Many years ago, a poem of sorts called “The Actual and the Ideal” caught my attention while visiting a friend’s home. I cannot give original credit to the author as I do not know who wrote it, and different sources attribute it to different people. Its profound implications on all of life, within and without the Church, are worth considering. The terms “incarnate and incarnation” used in this article mean: to give flesh to, to embody,...

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Difference between Cultivating Community and Building a Church by Kathy Escobar
Apr11

Difference between Cultivating Community and Building a Church by Kathy Escobar

Posted By on Apr 11, 2014 in Community | 5 comments

I originally wrote this post in 2010, and it’s part of down we go. but in the past couple of weeks I’ve had some interesting conversations that reminded me of it and i thought i’d pare it down and re-post it. it’s funny, still, after these years, my thought is pretty much the same except for adding one more point at the end. There’s a huge difference between cultivating community and building a church....

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Does Five Fold Ministry Exist Today?
Apr01

Does Five Fold Ministry Exist Today?

Posted By on Apr 1, 2014 in Ministry | 0 comments

I’m often asked: “Frank, do you believe in ‘the five-fold ministry’? And do you believe that God is restoring it today?” In this post, I will attempt to answer that question. First off, my answer is largely hinged on what one means by “the five-fold ministry.” In other words, what “five-fold ministry” are we talking about? Are we talking about the two-hundred-year old doctrine of the restoration of “the five-fold ministry?” Or are we...

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The Early Church and the Pagan Conversion to Christianity by Steve Crosby
Mar31

The Early Church and the Pagan Conversion to Christianity by Steve Crosby

Posted By on Mar 31, 2014 in Foundations | 0 comments

Have you ever wondered why hundreds and thousands joined the early communities when it would cost them everything? Great grace, power, and fear were upon the ekklesia (church). We’re not too crazy about #3 these days-it’s not church growth seeker friendly. “None dared to join them,” doesn’t fit our “church growth strategies.” Yet even with great fear, people joined themselves. Why? What would motivate folks to join themselves to a...

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When Church Tradition And The Holy Spirit Disagree
Mar14

When Church Tradition And The Holy Spirit Disagree

Posted By on Mar 14, 2014 in Transition | 1 comment

Most of us young pastors in the 1940’s were taught that portions of the New Testament lost their validity when the Apostles died. For example, I was instructed to ignore teachings about the Holy Spirit’s miraculous gifts in I Corinthians 12 and 14. Chapters 11, 13, and 15, were o.k. but not the others. Had I disobeyed and taught them anyway, I would have been excommunicated. As a result, I lost nearly thirty years of precious...

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