Category Archives: Evangelism

Planting Large Churches

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Richard Heyduck

One of the curious things I observe in some talk about church planting is the goal of planting “large churches.” Since I’ve never been a church planter (and have only read a few books on the subject), I’m obviously ignorant, … Continue reading →

Hanging with Jesus

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Richard Heyduck

Mark 2:13-17 is a short passage with two connected stories. In the first story Jesus is out by the lake. The crowds come so he begins teaching them. No classroom is depicted, no “sit down and do your lesson,” for … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Evangelism, Jesus, United Methodism | Tagged Evangelism, Jesus | Leave a comment

The “Most Revealing Indicator…”

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

One of the claims Will Willimon makes in his book Bishop is that, “The most revealing indicator of congregational vitality is the trend in worship attendance.” Worship attendance sure is important. I remember many years ago reading a biographical blurb … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Ecclesiology, Evangelism, United Methodism, Will Willimon | Leave a comment

Ed Stetzer’s Subversive Kingdom

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

The best thing about Ed Stetzer’s Subversive Kingdom is that it’s true. First, it’s true that Jesus has inaugurated the kingdom and that the kingdom has not yet eradicated all the competitors. Second, it’s true that the best way for … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Culture, Ecclesiology, Evangelism, Local church | Leave a comment

Who Do You Ask?

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Richard Heyduck

If you want to learn how to bake, whom do you ask? Ask a baker. It’s obvious. If you want to learn how to paint, whom do you ask? Ask a painter. That’s a no-brainer. If you want to learn … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Evangelism, Jesus | Leave a comment

Set Talk

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

I don’t remember when I first ran into Paul Hiebert’s idea of contrasting bounded sets and centered sets in our understanding of evangelism. It was either shortly before I finished seminary or shortly after, making sometime in the late 1980s. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dave Schmelzer, Evangelism, Theology | 3 Comments

Global Faith Forum

Posted on November 16, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

Last week I attended the Global Faith Forum in Keller, Texas. As a United Methodist, I’m part of a tradition that loves dialogue. We tend to be universalists, if not in theory, then in our ethos and our practice. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Clash of Civilizations, Culture, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Friendship, Globalization, Islam | 2 Comments

Learning from North Point, part 9

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

(Picking up from an old series) North Point’s fifth “Principle for Effective Ministry” is “Listen to Outsiders.” Pretty strange idea, isn’t it? After all, what can we expect outsiders to know? If we want to know what to do as … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Evangelism, North Point Church, Spirituality | 2 Comments

Our Audience

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Richard Heyduck

Eric Bryant asks, “Has listening to church attenders led to the decline of the church?” Declining churches, in his experience, focus on the people they already have. What do they want? How can we keep them happy? Innovative churches, on … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Discipleship, Ecclesiology, Evangelism, Jesus | 1 Comment

Wanting It

Posted on August 17, 2009 by Richard Heyduck

Dan Dick has another good post at United Methodeviations. Talking about growing a church, he observes that mainline churches tend to go after the same group of people over and over again. We have trouble moving beyond the middle class … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Evangelism, Worship | 1 Comment