By Neil ColeThirty-six years ago, as a college freshman, I began following Christ. Unconnected to any church and without anyone discipling me, I decided to just start reading the Bible. I distinctly remember reading the book of Acts one morning and being unable to put it down. I was so caught up in reading those…
By: Dave Rhodes“Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” Ephesians 4:19It feels as if our world has gone mad—in both senses of the word. Every day it seems we wake up to another news story of…
By Neil ColeWhenever a dramatic new movement transforms the church and consequently a portion of society, long overlooked scripture is viewed with fresh eyes and consequently profound application helps to empower the new work. In the last couple decades God has been unearthing ancient truth that greatly affects His church––the APEST gifts of Ephesians 4:11.…
By: Neil ColeJesus gave to the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry and the building up of the body of Christ. At times the church has thrived in movemental revival, and many of those times were marked by influential leaders who represented different…
By Alan HirschCulture is made up of many diverse symbols, forms, ideas, languages, actions, rituals, and so on. I use the term “APEST culture” here deliberately because I want it to include not only the essential issue of personal vocation and calling, but also all the various social functions associated with each aspect of APEST,…
By Alan HirschIn researching for 5iveQ, my new book on the transformative power of APEST thinking and practice, I have delved deeper into many aspects that are profound and revelatory and am amazed I have not seen them until this point.For instance, one such “revelation” relates Paul’s use of the word katartizō in Ephesians 4:12. This word is ordinarily…
By Jessie CruickshankFor three years I played on an all-women’s flat-track roller derby team. I joined the team at the behest of my husband after the MMA gym closed and I no longer had an appropriate outlet for my energies. Always up for an adventure, joining roller derby held possibility. I knew going in that…
By Neil ColeI read an article once highlighting the missional strategy of a church. At Christmas time they sent their choir to the local mall to sing Christmas carols at the patrons walking past as a means to get the Gospel out. This was presented as a successful outreach. No one was spoken to. No…
By Neil ColeWhen I was a younger man, pundits often spoke about curtains that needed to be removed so that our societies could be open and influence one another, hopefully for the better. The bamboo curtain that kept communist China from interaction with the world eventually parted. The iron curtain that separated communist Russia was…
By Alan HirschLast week I suggested that the idea of incarnational mission is grounded in the being and purposes of God demonstrated in Jesus’ life, mission, and ministry. This week I simply want to underscore how the model of Jesus must inform and shape our methodology as we seek to follow in his Way. If…