Movements with Steve Addison

A conversation with Carter and James about why church matters. It begins with a great case study from Carter. Listen to the end for another compelling case study from Iran.

A conversation with Nathan Shank and Jeff Sundell on ecclesiology — why church matters in a multiplying movement.

Josh Husmann interviews Steve Addison on Acts and the Movement of God. Recorded at Exponential 2024 in Orlando. amzn.to/42IWrCr

A conversation with Terry Solley about movements of disciples and churches behind bars. Terry's ministry: texasprisonoutreach.org

What do you do when the vision outstrips reality? A conversation with Matt Foshee in New York. In an earlier podcast, Cassie and Matt Foshee talk about NoPlaceLeft in the Mormon heartland of Utah: https://www.movements.net/blog/blog/2021/7/13/254-noplaceleft-utah

What happens when all hell breaks loose on a growing movement of disciples and churches? That’s our topic of conversation with Chris who served somewhere in Asia.

The second conversation with James and Hope about their call and how they are going after NoPlaceLeft in the Arab world. The first interview: movements.net/blog/blog/2024/1/29/320-james-and-hope-the-call

A conversation with James and Hope around their call to the Arab world. In the next episode, we'll hear how the work unfolded.

A conversation with a young man we’ll call Matthew. He and his friend Hugh spent three months in a Muslim-majority country sharing the gospel and making disciples.

A conversation with my friend Dave Lawton on losing my wife Michelle and finding the goodness of God.

Session 1: A Shepherd for Every Flock From the first church(es) in Jerusalem and consistently emerging from each subsequent harvest field, recognizing elder/overseers in each field is a part of the work of mission (Titus 1:5-6). Paul carried greatly for this task. Paul often returned the venue of persecution to see that elders were appointed (Acts 14:23). What plans and patterns have you and your disciples made for leadership recognition in the midst of your church planting? How do your plans fit with the biblical example and/or expectation? Are we satisfied with the qualifications detailed in scripture? Are these qualifications sufficient? Why or why not? Session 2: Sent Ones Who Join the Task The task of mission is multiplied as “sent ones” take up the task of repeating the process of church planting. Developing and releasing such laborers does indeed find precedent in the pages of the NT. In today’s study we consider the use of the word ‘apostle’ beyond the 12 apostles qualified in Acts 1. As we acknowledge both the closed group of eye-witnesses to Christ’s ministry and resurrection and the seemingly ongoing role of “sent-ones” across the Mediterranean world, how might the use of these terms challenge our thinking regarding leadership roles in the NT? Do you and your ministry anticipate and make provision for those called to “go”? How might the ongoing role and expectation for such calling inform our reading or re-reading of the NT? Watch the series on Youtube: youtube.com/@DiscoveringtheMissionaryTask

Session 1: Pictures of Church Identity One of the most overlooked aspects of church planting is the introduction and local ownership of church identity. Beginning in Acts 2, today’s study considers the matter of local commitment to “the number.” The New Testament utilizes numerous word pictures to catalyze church identity. Today’s study considers these metaphors for church identity and challenges listeners to consider how such passages might be leveraged to call for church identity. To be sure, beyond doing or not doing, being church is a clear expectation across the NT. Session 2: Discerning NT Venues for Church There is no example of churches in the NT lacking a venue to gather. In today’s study we consider the simple, practical question: where did NT churches meet? Though many options exist for venue in the 21st century, how might the NT (universal) precedent offer insight into the efficiency and advance of NT church planting? Surely, amidst multiple options available today, beginning new churches in the homes of new believers remains a viable option for church planting in our fields. Session 3: Decision Making and Church Discipline Across the NT record, decisions are presented as catalyst to local responsibility for various congregations. In today’s study we consider a variety of such decision. Examples of choosing leaders, designating offering, the confrontation of false teaching and finally, and finally the stand of the local church for holiness each call for congregational responsibility. Where we consider such decisions, how might we employ the NT precedent of local responsibility? Have you considered such responsibility as a catalyst for maturity? Are your default responses to such needs or decisions consistent with this NT precedent? Session 4: The Value of the Lord’s Supper The NT ordinances are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Each of these introduce and demand identification with the Lord’s sacrifice. Just as Christ died and rose again baptism pictures for us a chance to associate with Christ as we to have died to our old way of life and live in the power of his resurrection (Rom. 6). Similarly, the Lord’s Supper serves as a reminder of the Lord’s death, but also platforms self-examination, confession, unity and worship. How have your disciples and church planting efforts benefited from the Lord’s Supper? How might you leverage its many lessons as a reminder of the Lord’s expectation for his bride? Watch the series on Youtube: youtube.com/@DiscoveringtheMissionaryTask

Session 1: In Matthew 28 disciple-making assumes, or is even initiated by, the acceptance of Baptism. In today’s study, we survey post Pentecost examples of Baptism. As we consider these examples, we intend to wrestle with three key questions; who received baptism? When was baptism performed? And finally, who gave baptism in each example? As you consider the NT examples, how do your own thoughts or commitments to practice Baptism come into view? Are there reasons we diverge from NT precedent? Are we free to adapt, or wise to consider universal examples across the NT? Session 2: Matthew 28 sets a high bar. We are to teach our disciples to “obey all that Christ has commanded.” Amidst the breadth of the NT where might we begin? Today we celebrate the example of Acts 2:42 where new disciples “devoted themselves to the apostles teaching.” Have you considered the personal disciplines initiated in the first churches of Jerusalem? These personal disciples observed in the obedience of the 3000 baptized in Jerusalem were organized in what we call the first church following Pentecost. How might you commit, introduce, and expect such mobilization of disciples and disciple-making in your ministry setting? Session 3: There is no tool for disciple making like the Word of God. Today’s study challenges each of us to reconsider how we might campaign, commit to, and benefit from regular planning and accountability to scripture intake. As you gather your disciples, what commitments have you made? How might the descriptions of the Word of God you read together prompt you to commit again to sit under its authority? Watch the series on Youtube: youtube.com/@DiscoveringtheMissionaryTask

Nathan’s first study examines a survey of passages across the New Testament to clarify the Biblical Gospel. What could be more important than sowing the right seed? Our goal is to answer the question, what do we say? Answer: the core elements of the Gospel must be our message. Considering the biblical Gospel, how might you revisit your seed sowing to ensure fidelity to the message that gives life? Second session: As we seek to share a biblical Gospel, we ought also to allow the New Testament to instruct us regarding the right response. In today’s study we survey a variety of passages to consider the call to respond. Have you considered the variety of terms used in the NT? How might the variety of terms used relate or support each other? As you go about Gospel ministry, which of these passages inform or provide questions worthy of attention in your seed sowing? Third session: As we go about seed sowing we are fully dependent on God to give life. Today we have gathered various verses describing the power of the Gospel to accomplish what we cannot. Have you ever considered the Gospel a “powerful, personal force?” The use of active verbs across the NT led Robert Plummer to suggest the Gospel is active, on the march and taking the enemy's ground wherever it is faithfully sown. Have you considered the stewardship you carry as you share? Have you considered the privilege to carry the very “power of God unto salvation” in your hand? Fourth session: Have you considered the consistent pattern of Gospel advance in the first century? The Bible is the inspired account of Gospel advance from early examples of addition in and around Jerusalem to various examples of multiplication. As we shall see, the NT details entire provinces saturated with the ‘Word of the Lord.’ How might NT precedent inform our expectations for Gospel advance? Have we seen the Gospel ring out among new believers? How might we pray and posture for such multiplication? Watch the series on Youtube: youtube.com/@DiscoveringtheMissionaryTask

We continue the series with Nathan Shank on Discovering the Missionary Task. In today’s study, consider a survey of Old and New Testament descriptions of the targets of God’s mission. If sin causes separation, missions cross the resulting barriers to initiate God’s mission. Were there passages or promises you considered for the first time? As we examine our own targets how do they compare with the consistent message and targets of scripture? In the second look at the empty field, we consider God’s investment ahead of our missions efforts. How might we join him as we cross barriers and mobilize our disciples to follow his lead and fish for men? Consider with us passages across the Gospels demonstrating Jesus’ sending of his own disciples amidst towns and villages “he himself was about to go.” What principles or patterns might we discern, how do these examples compare with the tools and ideas we employ for engaging new fields? Watch the series on Youtube: youtube.com/@DiscoveringtheMissionaryTask

This is the first installment in a series on Discovering the Missionary Task by Nathan Shank. You can listen to the audio on the Movements podcast. If you’d like to view and work through the content as a team, the video is available on Nathan’s Youtube channel. This first video sets the stage for the series. Objectives are clearly detailed along with suggestions for format as you gather your disciples to study God’s word. As detailed in this video the series is intended to assist you as you: define core convictions in missionary practice, focus on Biblical priorities for mission, examine assumptions and traditions, and equip your disciples wherever you engage mission. Watch the series on Youtube: youtube.com/@DiscoveringtheMissionaryTask

A conversation with Charlie Burke of Exponential Australia about my book, Acts and the Movement of God. youtu.be/UEym347gOxU

Cynthia Anderson talks about her new book, The Multiplier’s Mindset. She unpacks the shifts in our thinking we need to navigate as we pursue movements of disciples and churches. Cynthia is a trainer, coach, podcaster and friend. Links multipliersmindset.comMindset questionnaireDare to multiply podcast

A conversation with Zeth and Hannah Hill about their calling to London.

David Cervenka felt like he was hitting his head against a brick wall until a phone call sent him on a journey of discovery and breakthrough in Japan.