In this series of posts, we will consider the practices of other churches that share some similarities with the OPC, though also some significant differences. With some of the examples (ten in number), we may see some ways in which their practice is inconsistent with our doctrinal commitments, but also hopefully learn from these brothers […]
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Podcast Episode #4 (John Shaw Part 1)
John Shaw is the OPC General Secretary of Home Missions. He is a former church planter in St. Paul, MN that now (along with the Committee) oversees OPC church planting. In this role over 4 years, he brings a breadth of understanding and awareness of what is happening in OPC church planting that is both […]
Rosaria Butterfield: How Do We Respond?
An earlier post shared an in depth video by Rosaria Butterfield regarding her testimony and view of hospitality in a time when there is great division. (Rosaria: Bridging the Divide) Here is a simple, straightforward complement to that. This is about your initial reaction when a friend or family member shares something that is radically […]
10 Things: Part 3 (A Different Perspective on Street Fairs & Festivals)
In this series of posts, we will consider the practices of other churches that share some similarities with the OPC, though also some significant differences. With some of the examples (ten in number), we may see some ways in which their practice is inconsistent with our doctrinal commitments, but also hopefully learn from these brothers […]
10 Things I’ve Seen: Part 2 (An Opportunity to Receive Prayer)
If you are new to Outward OPC or this series, the introduction is here (10 Things I’ve Seen: Intro). In this series of posts, we will consider the practices of other churches that share some similarities with the OPC, though also some significant differences. With some of the examples (ten in number), we may see […]
10 Things I’ve Seen: Part 1 (Entering Into Worship)
Last time, I (Brad Hertzog) gave you the background to this series of what we can learn from some “missional” churches about welcoming people into our churches. Particularly those churches that have some Reformed leanings or commitments (Intro & Background). My work, requiring travel and temporal stays in an area, as well as particular projects […]
10 Things I’ve Seen: Intro & Background
We are going to begin an extended series throughout the summer on practical ways to be more effective and helpful for visitors. Before digging into the ideas and examples, this series needs some context. (Note: This is Brad Hertzog writing) My work has provided a unique opportunity. Multiple times, I’ve spent a couple of months […]
How Are Things Going?
It’s been 3 months since the wider release of Outward OPC, initiated by the New Horizons feature article (March New Horizons). Your response as a community is very encouraging to us. We are about to share a couple of numbers, but not because we think this is all about numbers. But some numbers tell us […]
Podcast Episode #3 (Dave Crum)
Dave Crum is the OPC Regional Home Missionary for the Presbytery of Southern California. He joins Outward OPC to talk about how foreign missions service affects home missions service, doing evangelism and building up core groups in an ever-changing world, urban church planting, and gives updates on a couple Southern Cal church plants. Dave has […]
Rosaria Butterfield’s Hospitality & Bridging the Divide
A fantastic video featuring Rosaria Butterfield—her testimony, how hospitality was the patient means God used to draw her to Himself, and how that has affected her views of hospitality in an antagonistic world. Check it out: This video is a promotion for her new book, “The Gospel Comes With a House Key,” which is highly […]
On The Frontlines: Eric Watkins Part 4
As always, this can be viewed as a stand alone video, but we are deep into this discussion with Eric that builds on prior segments. (Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3). Today, Eric dissects how we think about church planting and how our distinctives as a Reformed Church relate to evangelism. He has […]
Outward Stories From the Field: San Francisco
A man walked up and asked, “Do you have free Bibles for atheists?” We assured him we did and had a short conversation about how they are really free and we are happy to give one to him. He ended up taking a “Confessing Christ” as well. He seemed pleased that his atheism didn’t faze […]
Helping Visitors Enter a New World – Eric Watkins Part 3
Here is the next installment of our interview with Eric Watkins. This can be viewed as stand alone, but it’s building on previous segments (Part 1 || Part 2). Today, Eric gets very practical with thoughts and examples on how to be more welcoming to visitors and helping them enter into a new world of […]
On The Frontlines: Eric Watkins – Part 2
Last week, we released Part 1 of the Eric Watkins interview. Eric talked about how 2 church plants shaped his view of building an evangelistic culture. Each part is somewhat self-contained and can be viewed individually, but they are building on each other. Below is part 2. In a fairly short clip, Eric lays out […]
On The Frontlines: Eric Watkins – Part 1
We sat down with Eric Watkins, pastor of Covenant OPC in St. Augustine, FL to talk about a wide range of topics related to outreach, evangelism, and the culture in which we live. We are excited about this interview. It is packed with thought-provoking and practical content. We will be releasing the interview in smaller […]
Outward Stories From the Field: Sterling, VA
What would it take to get a group of maybe 5 non-Christians along with 5-10 Christians into your home to talk about spiritual things for a few hours every Friday night? For Phil Proctor at Sterling Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Sterling, VA it’s a free dinner and some intentionality. Two months ago, he started a […]
Conversation That Opens Doors (and Hearts)
Our post several weeks ago about how well-intended questions could be unwelcoming to visitors (“Unwelcoming Welcome”) received a lot of good feedback, was passed around congregational email lists, and led to requests for more help in this area. Today, let’s look at questions and conversation once you get beyond the initial chitchat phase. These may […]
Podcast Episode #2 (Stephen Doe)
Stephen Doe is the OPC Regional Home Missionary for the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic. He joins Outward OPC to talk about encouraging a church planting mindset, understanding people who are very different from us, and practical steps he’s taking to encourage and develop an outward focus in his work. This episode is for all Christians, […]
You Are What You Love – Part 3 (Applying the Principles)
Before we get too far along in this series, let’s think about how to apply what we’ve considered so far. We’ve laid out the overall topic and thesis: James K. Smith wants us to realize that people are first and foremost lovers. That even more than what they think or believe, what people love or […]
You Are What You Love – Part 2 (The University)
In Part 1 of our series on James K. Smith’s You Are What You Love (Part 1), we considered Smith’s thesis that people at their very core are most significantly formed by what they love. What a person loves is more formative even than what they think or what they believe. We narrowed our focus […]