Relief and Redevelopment

by Roger Sandberg

Natural disasters—like this weekend's devastating Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines—make us feel beyond helpless. What can we do in the face of such tragedy? What should we do? What is the immediate need to be met and how do we participate in longterm recovery?

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The End Of Suffering

by Christopher Heuertz

Be challenged as Chris Heuertz describes the sources of poverty in our world and how believers can embrace their role to become the beginning to the end of suffering.

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Cultural Commission

by Charles Colson

In our continued tribute to Chuck Colson and his influence on Q, we are sharing his Q Talk for the first time since Q New York. In this exclusive 18-minute presentation, he argues that everybody has a worldview. Everyone has a grand story that forms what one believes about oneself, life, the world, and reality. He then challenges us to embrace a worldview that addresses not only individuals, but also God’s redemption of entire systems and cultures.

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Spiritual Conversations: Understanding the Cultural Language

by Ron Martoia

Finding spiritual conversations in American culture is not hard, but conversations about the Christian God can be a different story. Consider the Gospel as a 4-part story and be introduced to a new language that can bring Christianity back into the spiritual conversations of our day.

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Consumerism

by Chris Seay

There is a counterfeit story that culture is telling us: when we get what we want, we will be happy. How can we get beyond faux happiness and realize authentic joy in pursuing a Kingdom oriented way of life? Consider how a deeper understanding of the Gospel could reshape your decision-making in a consumer-driven society.

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The Problem Of Good

by Scott Kauffmann

Why can artists, filmmakers and musicians who seem personally unredeemable create paintings, films, music and books that are so unmistakably transcendent? Why are so many unbelievers more honest, more sacrificial, more joyful, more committed to other people than many believers are? Scott Kauffmann,  Executive Director of Labs for Redeemer City to City, explores God’s second greatest gift: common grace.

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The Prodigal's Father Shouldn't Have Run

Putting the Famous Parable in Context

by Matthew Williams

Most of us have missed a critical aspect of one of Jesus' most famous parables. Author and professor Matthew Williams says the secret to discovery is reading the familiar story from an ancient Middle Eastern perspective. When we read this parable in context, he says, we uncover an important truth about the Christian gospel.


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God, Freedom, and "The Adjustment Bureau"

by Russell Moore

Watching the trailer for “The Adjustment Bureau,” you might sense you’ve seen this film before. You have, kind of. The thriller follows the same narrative pathways as such previous films as “The Matrix,” “The Truman Show,” and “Inception.” Hollywood never makes the same movie only once, if that movie makes money, so this is hardly surprising. But Russell Moore says the real question is why movies about escaping from an illusory universe, of recapturing free will, resonate with filmmakers and moviegoers?


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A Hidden Mural, A Reminder of God's Resources

by Margaret Feinberg

Rhodri and Angie Powell of Milverton, Somerest (UK) discovered a priceless 500-year-old mural of King Henry VIII while working on a DIY remodel of their living room. Author Margaret Feinberg explores how their story of discovery is a metaphor for God's resources in our own lives.


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It's All About the Neighborhood

by Aaron Fortner

The Church is abuzz today about reaching cities, but “impacting cities” can sound like an insurmountable task. How can one person or one church shape a bustling metropolis like New York, Atlanta, or Dallas? City planner Aaron Fortner says the secret can be summed up in one word: neighborhoods.


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Is the Orphan My Neighbor?

Why justice for the fatherless is worth the risk

by Russell Moore

Orphans are unpredictable. Often we don’t know where they’ve come from, what kind of genetic maladies and urges lie dormant somewhere in those genes. For these reasons, fear has become an obstacle to addressing orphans. A leading theologian and adoption advocate says we must fill in the gap left by a contemporary Western consumer culture that extends even to the fatherless.


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What role should the Bible have in society?

by Q Ideas

How should we interpret the Bible as God's word for our culture today?


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Incarnational Ministry

by Q Ideas

What made Jesus so amazing was not just that he was an eloquent, adroit speaker who had mastered the law. It was his willingness to take those skills into the darkest, most broken places and put them to work among the helpless, hungry, and hurting.Q spotlights an organization that is following the same pattern.


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Born to Sin

What can science teach us about bad behavior?

by Jonathan Merritt

In 1984, Van Halen released their sixth album with eye-catching cover art featuring an angelic baby . . . casually smoking a cigarette. It raised a profound, theological question about the nature of human beings: Does even a seemingly innocent child possess an innate predisposition for bad behavior (aka "sin”)? It's a question that theologians and anthropologists struggled with long before the 1980's, and one that was recently revisited in the June 2010 issue of BBC Knowledge.


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Advancing the Common Good

by Jon Tyson

A lot of people today talk about the "common good"--a term coined by Aristotle, popularized by Thomas Aquinas, and defined as “the most good for all people.” But what does this ancient idea look like in contemporary culture? Pastor and author Jon Tyson paints a picture of how this concept can shine in a pluralistic, postmodern society.

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Social Activism

by Antonio Carlos Costa

What does activism look like in the life of a Christian? From Wilberforce to Martin Luther King Jr., Christians have an array of forbears to which to look for wisdom. Should we expose the evil in the world through an all out cultural assault or slowly and methodically work towards systemic solutions to  corruption? In Brazil, Antonio Carlos Costa has had to decide that for himself, and the result is truly inspiring.


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Bonhoeffer

by Eric Metaxas

As Adolf Hitler and the Nazis seduced a nation, bullied a continent and attempted to exterminate the Jews of Europe, a small number of dissidents and saboteurs worked to dismantle the Third Reich from the inside. One of these was Dietrich Bonhoeffer—a pastor and author. After writing the first biography on him in over forty years, Eric Metaxas ensures we remember a man determined to do the will of God radically, courageously and joyfully - even to the point of death.


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Discover the Rescued

by Soledad O'Brien and Jonathan Olinger

Through the power of a documentary platform, the lives of two Haitian orphans are elevated and their stories told. CNN correspondent Soledad O’Brien and Jonathan Olinger of "Discover the Journey" open the world’s eyes to the complexities of caring for children in the midst of one of the greatest disasters the world has ever seen.

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Observing the Sabbath

by Matthew Sleeth

Are Christians really supposed to keep the Sabbath, or is that just an Old Testament idea with no meaning in our world today? If we did, what would be the effect on our families, our health, our consumption and our world? Matthew Sleeth helps us imagine what role the Sabbath might play in a restored life in the twenty-first century.


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What Role Should the Bible Have in Society?

by Tim Keller and Alister McGrath and Brian McLaren

Interpreting the Bible has become a divisive issue for some and little more than sport for others. Some want to talk about the “authority” of Scripture. They’re asking questions like, “How is the Bible authoritative in our lives today?” Others are wondering if the word “inerrancy” is making a comeback. Is it? Or is the term only useful for theological debates, to separate those who are “in” and those who are “out”? How then should we interpret the Bible as God’s word for our culture today?


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Did Jesus Preach the Gospel?

by Scot McKnight

The most influential piece of literature in the twentieth century was the gospel tract. Why? Because it reduced the gospel to sound bytes and because it has framed how many Christians now understand the gospel message. What might surprise us is that the central idea of Jesus’ teaching—the coming kingdom of God—does not appear in any of the gospel tracts. Why is that? Have we only relied on Paul’s version of the gospel? Is it possible, many are asking, to combine the gospel of Paul with the gospel of Jesus? Which leads to this question: What is the gospel? And to this one: Did Jesus himself preach the gospel or not?


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Being Provoked to Engage

by Jo Saxton

For decades, it’s been described as “holy” and “disciplined” for Christians to remove themselves from anything corrupt, evil or broken about society. But Christians are left wondering how to navigate the terrain of being salt and light in a twenty-first century world. How are followers of Christ called to respond to sin and corruption found all around them? Do we run towards it or preserve our purity and holiness in the midst of a fallen world?


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Green Like God

by Q Ideas and Jonathan Merritt

“God is green. The idea seems bizarre, almost trivial. Yet, I'm as sure of that statement as I am that two plus two is four and the mixing of red and yellow makes orange.”

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"Rescued": A Redemptive Documentary

by Q Ideas

The 7.0 earthquake in Haiti devastated millions of lives. Compassion-fatigued American's have become over saturated. The natural questions ensue. Can Haiti change? Is there hope for Haiti's most vulnerable children? Through the power of a documentary platform, the lives of two Haitian orphans are elevated and their stories told.

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Revisting Christ and Culture with D.A. Carson

by Jonathan Dodson

A review of D.A. Carson's recent reexamination of Richard Niebuhr's seminal work.


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The Violence of Bees | An Easter Reflection

by Tim Willard

I ran too fast. So, I decided to make it fun and throw myself down the hill—a perfect head first grass-stain. I slid right by her. She kept running and threw herself on me, “Yeah!” her two-year old lungs bellowed. The mountains sang.

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Finding Reconciliation After Genocide

by Laura Waters Hinson

What can we learn from the forgiveness happening in Rwanda? How can the church get involved in advancing reconciliation? Filmmaker, Laura Waters Hinson converses on her film, As We Forgive, developing the craft of storytelling, and the latest projects she’s been working on.

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Epic Friendships

by JR Kerr

What does true friendship look like and why should we have it in the church?


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Friendship Evangelism

A Betrayal of Friendship

by Christopher Heuertz

Become friends with people, share the gospel with them, and pray that they respond. It beats shouting through a bullhorn or handing out tracts. Is it possible, though, that it's still a betrayal of what Jesus taught us?


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Embracing Grace

by Q Ideas

What can we, the church, learn from the Haggard's experience about the importance of relationships, demonstrating grace, giving people a second chance and making the church a welcome place for those who are hurting?


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The Union of Life, Work and Marriage

by Jose and Nikolle Reyes

People often ask, “What’s it like working with your spouse?” My usual response is that working with my husband is easy; it’s living with my business partner that’s hard.  

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Conversion and Contextualization

Re-examining our Expectations of Gospel Change

by Jonathan Dodson

According to Andrew Walls, the word "conversion" has been used in two main ways throughout Christian history .^[1]  The first meaning of conversion denotes "an external act of religious change." This act reflects a movement towards Christian faith, individually or collectively. The other meaning of conversion refers to "critical internal religious change" within the Christian community. This meaning of conversion gets at what we might call “gospel change.”

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That Which is Visible, Must Be Hidden

by Tim Willard

"How," asks Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "… do the disciples differ from the heathen? What does it really mean to be a Christian?" He answers this with the word perissos—extraordinary. Used in Matthew 5:47, the word calls for the Christian to go beyond what is expected in the culture. It is a term of differentiation, a term for uncommon living.

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Prodigal God: Finding Your Place at God's Table

by Q Ideas

"The Prodigal God is for both curious outsiders and established insiders of the faith as it is meant to lay out the essentials of the Christian message, the gospel. If the teaching of Jesus is likened to a lake, this famous parable would be one of the clearest spots where we can see all the way to the bottom."

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Who is my Neighbor?

by Gideon Tsang

Well past midnight one Sunday night, my wife, Karen, and I were beginning to wind down. Earlier that week, police helicopters had been canvasing our neighborhood in search of a runaway criminal, so when we heard our iron gate open and footsteps walk up to our front porch, we glanced at each other suspiciously.

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Eat This

by Glenn Paauw

Eugene Peterson has written persuasively about our need to devour the Bible and take it deeply into our lives as nourishing and essential spiritual food. This insight is shared with his usual wit and wisdom in his 2006 title Eat This Book.

Yet I have to ask: how likely is this to happen when the meal itself is typically served up in the form of small bits and pieces - crumbs, as it were?

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Post-Christendom Mission

by Alan Hirsch

The church as we know it is changing. We live in a post-modern, post-Christian and post-American world, where the church is no longer placed at the center of society. Our influence is waning and our basis for ecclesiology will drive the way we interact in this new reality. It begs the question, what should the church look like and how does the mission of the church adapt within this context?

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Pluralistic Evangelism

by John Burke

The church is a place where you can ask questions, seek answers, and grow in your relationship with Christ. It is not a place for perfect people. As a pastor or congregation, how are you to treat those who are struggling with public sins or questions about God? What does a church who lovingly accepts those who are lost look like? How can we create an environment of grace so that those who are hurting can find a place within our pews? Pastor John Burke, along with his congregation, understands that no matter what your past (or present) looks like, you are welcome in the church.

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People of a Second Chance

by Ted and Gayle Haggard

Ted Haggard seemed to have it all: everyone loved Pastor Ted. However, underneath the smile was a broken and hurting man. Eventually, his secrets were uncovered and the world was exposed to his brokenness. For almost three years, Ted and Gayle have been on the journey back to restoration. What can we, the church, learn from the Haggard's experience about the importance of relationships, demonstrating grace, giving people a second chance and making the church a welcome place for those who are hurting?

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Science and Faith at Odds?

by Alister McGrath

Do the natural sciences pose a challenge to the Christian faith? This is a hot question at the moment, given the high profile by works such as Richard Dawkins’ God Delusion. Real scientists do not believe in God! This sound byte will be very familiar to Dawkins’ readers.

Supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this report are by the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.


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Trees Of Hong Kong

by Louie Giglio

The church is like a living organism, existing in a symbiotic relationship with culture at large. But unless we’re careful, our mission will be driven more by our desire to keep up with culture than our conviction to be grounded in One who transcends culture.

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To Write Love On Her Arms

by Jamie Tworkowski

121 million people worldwide struggle from depression. 18 million of these cases are happening in the United States. 2/3 of those suffering with depression never seek treatment. Listen as Jamie Tworkowski dialogues on depression, the Gospel, brand development, and honesty with stories woven in from his personal experiences with, To Write Love On Her Arms.

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New Neighbor

by Leroy Barber

How do you relate to the people who live in your community with vastly different backgrounds? By creating spaces where conversations like this are possible in a society that is becoming more diverse, Leroy Barber converses about the Biblical mandate to love our neighbors.

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Reframing The Gospel

by Tim Keel

Tim Keel is convinced that many of us have come to believe in a gospel that is limited. And then we go out and pitch our limited gospel to others in ways that devalue the holistic nature of the message itself. Keel challenges us to return to the Bible, and specifically to the Old Testament, to get a better picture of the stories that Jesus used to frame God’s gospel message.

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A Theology of Place

by Mel McGowan

An individual's theology of space and community really does effect the way we live. Listen as Mel McGowan talks about the necessity of having sacred spaces where genuine community can be fostered.

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God’s Banquet Table

by Ruth Padilla Deborst

In Jesus’ world, there were clear borders between insiders and outsiders. Into this atmosphere, Jesus raised a challenging issue: does God’s love know any borders? As the church continues to wrestle with this issue today, we must become a community that welcomes unexpected guests at God’s banquet table.

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Fringe

by Jose and Nikolle Reyes

Fringe is about art—about crossing social, cultural, and ethnic divides through music by purposely melding worlds to create something entirely new. Fringe puts gifted composers, musicians, and visual artists together to showcase their talent in a fresh experience of the arts.

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Social Engagements

by Jim Wallis

When ordinary people come together in movements, mountains are moved. Trusting that God is neither a republican or a democrat how can a local church balance doing the Gospel and sharing the Gospel? Learn the importance of social responsibility and personal responsibility as Jim Wallis dialogues about Christians, politics, and social movements.

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Social Movements

by Jim Wallis

When it comes to politics, Christians often feel frustrated. How can God’s people make an impact against the immovable mountains of injustice, poverty, war, and the degradation of human life? Jim Wallis believes that the answer comes from a new, yet historical perspective on the nature of movements.

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Lord, Save Us From Your Followers

by Dan Merchant

Why is the Gospel of love dividing America? Dan Merchant talks about his new movie, Lord Save Us From Your Followers, which is due out in theaters September 2009.

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Every Monday Matters

by Matt Emerzian

Monday is everyone's least favorite day of the week. What would happen if people began their week with purpose by doing projects in their communities? Every Monday Matters promotes the fact that people have the power. People matter. No matter how big or small the actions, they matter. And not only do people have the power to make change, they have a social responsibility to do so. Not out of guilt, but out of an appreciation for every living thing in the world. Together, we will make a difference in the world and raise the collective consciousness, thereby creating a legacy worth participating in…one Monday at a time.

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Living The Gospel In Culture

by Michael Metzger

In recent years, Christian societal engagement has been negatively influenced by a truncated view of the gospel. In this interview by Gabe Lyons, Mike Metzger discusses the importance of recapturing a historic view of the gospel, the difference between being provoked or offended by culture, and how your worldview expands when you work together in community.

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Judgmental

by Mike Foster

Christians talk about hating sin and loving sinners, but the way they go about things, they might as well call it what it is. They hate the sin and the sinner. In the book, unChristian, 8 out of 10 people see Christians as judgmental.

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Anti-Homosexual

by Shane Claiborne

Many people in the gay community don't seem to have issues with Jesus but rather with those claiming to represent him today. It's very much an "us-versus-them" mentality, as if a war has been declared. In the book, unChristian, 9 out of 10 people see Christians being anti-homosexual. How can Christians change this perception by showing compassion and love to all people, regardless of their lifestyle?

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Get Saved!

by Rick McKinley

Christians are too concerned with converting people. They seem more concerned with keeping a toll on the people who they "get saved" rather then create genuine relationships with them. In the book, unChristian, 7 out of 10 people see Christians being insensitive to others and concerned only with converting people.

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Hypocritical

by Jud Wilhite

It's been said, "Do as I say, not as I do." Many people see Christians doing things they believe they shouldn't. It is true that everyone is a hypocrite is some sort of fashion. However, we as Christians need to seek honesty in how we relate to people and the struggles we face. In the book, unChristian, 8 out of 10 people see Christians being hypocritical.

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Unchristian

by David Kinnaman

Groundbreaking research into the perceptions of 16 to 29-year-old non-Christians reveals that Christians have taken several giant steps backward in one of their most important assignments. Christians are supposed to represent Christ to the world. Young Americans share an impression of Christians that’s nothing short of unChristian.

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Ecclesial Conviction

by Chris Seay

What does it mean for a local church to be woven into the community it lives in? Ecclesia Houston is a unique church that is an essential part of the city. With a fair trade coffee shop, organic food co-op, and bookstore people are always able to gather and commune with one another. It is a place where people can create and contribute to advancing the Kingdom of God.

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Embracing Shalom

by Ron Martoia

Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace and completeness. It is easy to forget Those who bring Shalom to others are ushering God's original design to humanity. Listen as Dr. Ron Martoia explores the missional component of Shalom and how the Gospel and Shalom go hand in hand.

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Redeeming Justice

by Catherine Rohr

Put prisoners together with some Harvard MBA students, a business plan competition, and a gutsy New York investment banker and amazing things happen. This idea turned into a national program and is reshaping the justice system’s commitment to prisoners reentering society.

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Radical Integrity

by Mike Foster

The Gospel is not about building another organization or ministry. It is about helping people come closer and closer to Jesus. Doing work like this requires both radical integrity. It is vitally important to our faith that we personally engage God and prepare our hearts in doing His good work on the earth.

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An Apologetic for Justice

by Gary Haugen

Authentic Christianity demands the church to work against any genre of injustice. Christians must trust that God will bring joy and power when they are willing to look at the pain of the world. God's heart is on the side of those who are oppressed and we cannot ignore our commission to redeem the world.

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Common Grace

by Charles Colson

The term "common grace" has fallen at a disuse in modern times. However, the Reformers understood it be God's grace spilled out in life for the benefit of non-believers, as well as, believers. Saving grace is the grace that transforms us. Common grace is what the just and unjust alike experience when God's people work to restore things back to God's original design. Learn as Charles Colson dialogues about the call that all Christians have to cultural renewal.

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