William F. Stapleton

This little series of talks is aimed, in a roundabout way, at helping us all have some common metaphors, examples and stories that will provide us with a common framework for understanding what we mean when we say “Missional.”

Part 3 continues the discussion on what it means to be missional, looking at the elements that make up church with a view to sharpening our focus. The church needs leaders, everyone knows. But how do we get transformational leaders if all we do is look at those faithful few who are still happy with the status-quo in the church? We need to look outside the box, perhaps even outside the circle of people we like, and who agree with us, to find the leaders who can carry the church into the next generation.

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On the Longing of God

I find it almost a universal truth these days that people sense an empty spot in their lives in regard to understanding who God is and what He’s trying to do, both in the world and in their own lives as well.  Through this series of teaching sessions I’ll explore the various ways of coming to know God more intimately, understanding Him as a Father of fathers, and highlighting the difference between knowing ‘about’ God and actually coming to ‘know’ Him in a personal, intimate and, some might say, dangerous way.  My goal here is more to provoke independent thought than to give pat answers, since I believe, as the book of Hebrews teaches, that the first step in faith is to “believe that He exists, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

In this introductory session we will explore the steps God has taken to draw men and women near.  God longs for fellowship with His lost creation, and finds that through the sacrifice of Christ.  In truth, we can never know God apart from what Jesus has revealed to us about Him.  But we find that as we approach Jesus, Himself very God, we come into intimate relationship with the Father as well.

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This little series of talks is aimed, in a roundabout way, at helping us all have some common metaphors, examples and stories that will provide us with a common framework for understanding what we mean when we say “Missional.”

Part 2 continues the discussion on what it means to be missional, looking at the elements that make up church with a view to sharpening our focus. The church really just consists of people, so before we look at better structures for leadership and better church management, better buildings and physical plant, etc. we’d best begin by building better Christian people who intentionally live a missional lifestyle.

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Faith and finance were never intended to get a divorce. God intended them to be in a healthy relationship. The Bible has more verses on money and commerce than it does on faith, prayer, heaven and hell combined. Go figure. The problem is that we have misinterpreted and misapplied that teaching on faith and finance. God has blessed us to be a blessing to others, and that has an economic application too. This series of teachings is aimed at helping developing leaders think through some of the scriptural issues surrounding money, wealth and mammon as a means to producing the kind of growth God’s Kingdom is all about.

In this session we’ll discuss our attitudes toward stewardship, money and wealth and define prosperity.

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