Metro District Podcast

Many Christians want to talk about their faith but quietly leave evangelism to the "experts." Jennifer Chan of City to City New York, who trains churches in evangelism and disciple-making, offers practical ways to help a whole congregation grow more confident in spiritual conversations. She begins by naming three forces shaping our cities: migration, post-secularization and digital life. She then looks at how Jesus engaged people in John 1, John 4 and Luke 10. From there she shares simple way...

Should a church focus on sending its people out, or on giving people a reason to come in? Brian McMillan, Director of Church Planting, argues for both. He draws on 25 years at CenterPoint Church on Long Island, which he planted in 2002 with little more than a sense of calling and his parents' minivan, and which now has seven campuses. Brian makes the case that reaching people far from God has to be part of a church's DNA, not just a slogan. Being missional means training people to see themsel...

What if your mission field was right outside your front door? Dry Bar comedian and author Jonathan Weibel starts with the Great Commandment and what he calls the "theology of place" in Acts 17: God has put each of us where we are on purpose. He also shares how he came to faith at 19 through next-door neighbors who kept inviting him to dinner. Jonathan widens "neighbor" into three circles: the people next door, the global church, and the affinity groups we share work, hobbies and interests wit...

Jesus sent his disciples out with an unusual order: "Heal the sick who are there, and tell them the kingdom of God has come near to you" (Luke 10:9). In this closing session, District Superintendent Rev. Michael Plunket, D.Min., calls the church to step into the spiritual authority Jesus has given. Mike begins with a story from 1993, when, as a struggling Presbyterian church planter, he cried out, "Heal me or take me home." He then teaches that a believer's authority is delegated, exercised i...

In 1926, a West Texas couple close to losing their land learned they had been sitting on one of the largest oil fields in North America all along. Rev. Jonathan Schaeffer, D.Min., President of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, uses the Yates family's story to ask whether many believers, leaders included, live like spiritual paupers when Christ has made them spiritual billionaires. Working from 1 Corinthians 6:17-20, Jonathan traces "the biggest change of address in all of history." It ru...