Pastor, Church Communications Guy, Church Website Designer & Blogger
In 1975, Bill Hybels assumed the leadership of a fledgling church plant that would grow into the rather influential Willow Creek Community Church. Under Bill's leadership, the church pioneered many concepts in the seeker-sensitive strain of worship and ministry. In 1997, Bill and his wife, Lynne, co-wrote Rediscovering Church, an inside … [Read more...]
http://vimeo.com/34939079 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following … [Read more...]
There various viewpoints on the best church planting model. Some launch fast and large to attract the masses. Others launch slowly and intentionally with more of a one-on-one disciple-making mentality. There are probably cautions with any approach to planting, and one of the cautions I would raise is simply don't neglect the power of … [Read more...]
I've never really considered this before, but Gary Molander makes a pretty deep point about where our audience is when we go into the holiday season. As we design communication pieces, craft messages, and plan services, it's a good idea to think about the perspective from which our audience is listening - not for the purpose of making the … [Read more...]
The biblical text should be the grand centerpiece of every sermon. But we often take what should be the centerpiece, and move it to the front of what we have to say. In most cases, reading the text should come first in importance, but not first in the order of a message. Whether you're looking back at Plato or Jesus, virtually every … [Read more...]
Go ahead. Accuse me of being pragmatic. I'm guilty, just as Jesus and Paul were. I often scratch my head trying to figure out what's so bad about that anyway. Biblical theology never changes. God never changes in His character and attributes. But culture changes, so the means of communicating the unchanging gospel to an ever-changing … [Read more...]
You know what my problem is? I think too small. Every time I expect big things from God, He surprises me with more, which is both a delight as well as a shame. I need to think bigger! In a recent ten-minute message I gave at a church planting assessment, I address this very issue of thinking past today, past the visible, and past the … [Read more...]
[audio url=http://www.brandonacox.com/wp-content/uploads/audio/03%20God%20Created%20You%20For%20Christlikeness.mp3|titles=God Created You For Christlikeness|artists=Brandon Cox] From the series Life: God’s Way, Part 3... BIG TRUTH: God loves you exactly like you are, but doesn’t want to leave you as you are. He has high … [Read more...]
This message is part one in a series of five on living life God's way. We’re beginning a new teaching series today called Life: God’s Way, and it’s essentially a brief journey through some key points about what it means to live the way God intended. We’re starting out today with this simple principle: GOD PLANNED YOU FOR HIS … [Read more...]
I recently read the quote of a skeptical unbeliever that stopped me in my tracks... The church is a parasite. It owns the best property, doesn't pay any taxes, and doesn't help anybody. As a Pastor who loves the local church rather deeply, everything in me wants to argue. Who does this anonymous skeptic think he is? He's just never … [Read more...]
