Has the church been called to separate ourselves from the world, to change the world, to fix the world, or something else entirely?
In this episode I interview John C. Nugent about this subject, which is at the root of some of the biggest challenges pastors are facing today.
Dr. Nugent is the author of several books including Endangered Gospel: How Fixing the World Is Killing the Church. He is a professor of Old Testament studies at Great Lakes Christian College, and co-host of the After Class Podcast.
John’s approach helps us understand where common misunderstandings about these issues come from so we can address them lovingly and biblically. He also frames these issues according to the entire story-arc of scripture, rather than just proof-texting.
This is a great way to see the church for what Jesus called us to be. Not isolated from the world, but as a representation of the Kingdom of God within the world.
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Credits
Producer
Veronica Beaver | Veronica@KarlVaters.com
Editor
Phil Vaters | Phil@KarlVaters.com
Music composed and performed by
Jack Wilkins | JackWilkinsMusic.com
Correspondence
Shelley Vaters | Shelley@KarlVaters.com
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Author
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Karl produces resources for Helping Small Churches Thrive at KarlVaters.com.
He's the author of five books on church leadership, including his newest, De-Sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next. His other books include The Grasshopper Myth and Small Church Essentials.
Karl also hosts a bi-weekly podcast,The Church Lobby: Conversations on Faith & Ministry, featuring in-depth interviews about topics that concern pastors, especially those who minister in a small church context.
Karl has served in small-church ministry for over 40 years, so he speaks and writes from decades of hands-on pastoral experience. He and his wife, Shelley have three children and two grandkids.