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A Fresh Look At Why The Ascension Really and Truly Matters

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Acts 29 Europe

After the resurrection, Jesus taught his disciples about God’s kingdom for forty days (Acts 1:3) and then he was “taken up” to heaven (Acts 1:2, 11). The cross and empty tomb are at the very heart of the gospel message proclaimed by Jesus’s followers throughout history (see 1 Corinthians 15:1–4). However, for many evangelical Christians and churches, Jesus’s ascension is simply an afterthought to Easter and Good Friday.

We believe church planters must see and preach Jesus’s ascension and exaltation with the firm confidence that this significant and climactic event in Jesus’s life really and truly matters. The ascension is of massive importance for understanding the gospel today.

This is why we are excited about the new West Porterbrook book series and encourage you to watch this video of Jonny Woodrow and Tim Chester talk about their new work on the Ascension.

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Acts 29 Europe Discovery Team Programme

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Acts 29 Europe

CompassWorld-map

Is Europe in need of the gospel?

Europe is where the reformation was unleashed, where the doctrines of grace exploded onto the public arena where revival after revival broke out. From this continent ships sailed carrying men and women with their Bibles and the faith that the Lord would reach the nations. They saw bold daring gospel expansion across the world.

But now Europe finds itself spiritually dark and cold with church attendance dramatically falling. Secularism has a far greater influence than the gospel. Now Europe is a context of pressing need, massive opportunities and urgent, gospel importance.

In this sorry situation the gracious Lord has not stopped his work. We see and hear stories of the gospel growing and going out, stories of hope and inspiration, stories of churches taking risks for the gospel and stories of people coming to Christ.

Acts 29 Europe is all about planting churches, planting communities of light right across the continent of Europe to see many more people come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. All for the fame and glory of Jesus.

To make this happen we need to create awareness of the need and opportunities that exist within Europe. Perhaps you are feeling led to pray and support the mission of God in Europe, perhaps you are exploring opportunities to serve current Acts29 churches through our internship programme, to be apart of a church planting team or to lead a church plant.

If that is you, then this is for you…

The Acts 29 Europe Discovery Team Programme

This programme will run from 1st July – 22nd July 2013.

This new initiative is open to all who want to understand the European context and  to explore opportunities to better support, pray and resource Acts 29 churches in Europe.  We hope it will be valuable also for those who are considering moving to Europe to plant churches to understand, test their calling and explore the where, how and when.

Through our Discovery Team Programme you will be exposed to what is happening in Europe by experiencing an urban church plant and a rural church plant in the UK, as well as the mainland Europe context. This will ensure you leave well informed about the European situation as a whole while gleaning a vast range of experiences and knowledge from planters on the ground.

Acts 29 Europe is eager to train and equip men to be able to plant more churches that will plant more churches. We also want to raise people up to be part of church planting core teams in the future. We need more people to help resource this mission and vision and this is why we are investing in the Discovery Team Programme. We view this as a key part of our vision to see Jesus proclaimed in all the villages, towns and cities of Europe.

For more information and to receive an information pack that details the cost and practical information please contact:

Josh Walsh via josh@cornerstonechurchliverpool.org

John Hindley via john@broadgrace.org.uk

Steve Robinson via steve@cornerstonechurchliverpool.org

– Josh Walsh, Steve Robinson and John Hindley

Posted in Church Planting, Rural Church Planting, Urban Church Planting | Leave a comment

Church Planting: Key Principles (revisited and continued)

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Acts 29 Europe

This is the third of three posts in which I identify 7 key principles for church planting.

Part I of this series can be found here.

Part II of this series can be found here.

Key Principle #5: Think Strategy

In Acts, Luke gives us an insight into what we might call, Paul’s pragmatic strategy. Take a look at his first missionary journey. He and Barnabas travel from Antioch to the port of Seleucia from which they sail to the island of Cyprus. There they preach the gospel in the principal city of Salamis, before travelling through the island to Paphos, the centre of the provincial government. They then land on the coast of Asia Minor and visit Perga, the chief city of the region of Pamphylia. From there they went on to Pisidian Antioch, a military centre for the surrounding territory.

Paul had spoken of Christ to those who would listen, both Jew and Gentile, and established churches in strategic locations around the eastern Mediterranean, his assumption being that the gospel would radiate from these centres to the outlying regions. This sort of strategy was so effective that Paul could say that “from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ” (Rom 15.19).

Paul was also driven by a principled strategy, which was his resolve “to preach the gospel where Christ was not known” (Rom 15.20). He was only interested in virgin territory. He wasn’t inclined to ride on the back of someone else. Reaching the lost at whatever cost was his passion, and the strategic gospel choices he made related to that end.


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Ask Steve: What is a gospel priority area (GPA)?

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Acts 29 Europe

We believe targeting GPA’s is the way to get the gospel out into the everyday lives of those living around us. Listen in as Steve elaborates.


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Deploying Gospel Warriors in South Wales

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Acts 29 Europe

Acts 29 Europe is excited to be a part of this church planting initiative.

Follow @ValleyCommandos on twitter.

You can view the A29E country profile for Wales here.

And while you’re at it, visit Hill City Church in South Wales.

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Interested in an internship with Acts 29 Europe?

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Acts 29 Europe

We are looking for men and women to work hard in small churches in difficult situations. There will be small reward, constant confusion and frustration. You will be misunderstood, misrepresented and maligned.

You will receive training and mentoring in an Acts 29 Europe church plant. This will equip you for a life of unknown, unsung, heart-wrenching and often unfruitful ministry. And an undying joy and wonder in the presence of Jesus Christ.

You will be a nobody who has nothing to offer. But you will follow Jesus, and you will know you need nothing else.

Work-Hard

Are you one of the men or women who we are looking for to take up an internship in September 2013 to serve and be served in one of the Acts29 Europe church plants?

As a network we long to see the whole of Europe (and beyond!) reached with the Gospel of Jesus by planting communities of light planted across the continent. To facilitate this we begun an internship programme in September 2012. After a successful pilot this year, we are hoping to expand the programme in 2013.


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Ask Steve: What are the lies that keep us from mission?

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Acts 29 Europe

Every man is tempted toward greatness, greatness in his own eyes, the eyes of his peers, and the eyes of history. Yet the Lord has called us to live for his glory. Let us not trade loving his glory for craving a name for ourselves here on earth. Be encouraged as Steve exposes some lies that tempt us and redirects our hearts toward God’s glory.

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Ask Steve: Why do you place such an emphasis on eating together? What do meals have to do with the mission of God?

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Acts 29 Europe

Food has a profound capacity for fostering community. Why is this? Steve answers the question and points us toward God’s grace in our shared meals together.


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Acts 29 Europe Explicit Conference Video

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Acts 29 Europe

Acts 29 Europe Explicit Conference from Acts 29 Europe on Vimeo.

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Show busy Christians how to serve joyfully, not wearily.

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Acts 29 Europe

Many of us are serving, and feel like we’re sinking. We feel joyless, weary and burdened.

In his new book, Acts 29 Europe church planter, John Hindley, shows how Jesus was telling the truth when he offered people an “easy yoke”—a way of serving him that is joyful and liberating. He explains why serving is so often joyless—and how our identity in Christ changes everything.

If you are serving, but sometimes feel as though you’re sinking… you need this book!

If you know someone who has burn out, or is heading in that direction…they need this book too.

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