Imaginatively Missional
Ever since C. Peter Wagner declared church planting as the greatest strategy for the spread of the gospel around the world (1990), church planters have taken up the banner of what is no doubt one of the most obvious results of making disciples in the book of Acts. Indeed, Tim Keller writes, “The continual planting of new congregations is the most crucial strategy for the growth of the body of Christ” (2012). Pick up any church planting text these days and you’ll hear similar remarks. In fact, Ed Stezter and Daniel Im go so as far as to say, “We are most like Christ when we join him in the mission of reaching the unchurched by planting new churches” (2011, p. 26). Both domestically and internationally, the need and opportunity to make disciples who gather in community has never been greater.
Yet, church planting is not all that disciples do . . .
Continue reading “How we make a difference”Christian history is a story of innovation. From Paul’s innovative expression of the people of God to the creedal formulations of the early ekklesia, faithful disruptors have always challenged conventional wisdom to ensure the gospel remains intelligible in new contexts. Innovation, however, was never an end in itself—it was a means of aligning the church more fully with God’s mission.
Today, we face another pivotal moment. The structures, strategies, and assumptions that have long defined Western missions are increasingly misaligned with a rapidly changing world. We cannot afford to be tethered to methods that no longer serve the movement of the gospel. Like our spiritual ancestors, we must reorient ourselves—not toward novelty for its own sake, but toward faithfulness in our time.
This series is an invitation to rethink missions. Drawing from historical insights, theological reflection, and contemporary challenges, we will explore how the church can once again become an agent of innovative disruption—disrupting cultural captivity, institutional inertia, and missiological drift to rediscover our participation in the mission of God.
Continue reading “Innovative Disruption”Ready to explore the heart of missiological theology? Join us weekly for insightful conversations, wisdom from seasoned leaders, and a deeper dive into the essentials of following Jesus. Find out how discipleship, missions, and the Church are richer through the lens of missiological theology. Check out all the episodes here or your favorite podcast app so your passion for Jesus, his mission and his church can be ignited!
Imaginatively Missional
In this episode of the Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew Johnson, Michael, and Matt Till engage with Dr. Steve Bezner, exploring the implications of Bonhoeffer’s theology for contemporary church leadership. They discuss the importance of maintaining a distinct Christian identity in a politically charged environment, the role of pastors in shepherding their congregations, and the need for deeper community engagement. Bezner emphasizes the necessity of mentoring in discipleship and the church’s responsibility to address social justice issues while remaining faithful to the teachings of Jesus.
Steve Bezner, Bonhoeffer, church, pastoral ministry, political engagement, discipleship, community, theology, American Christianity
“Your Jesus is too American.”
“We need to focus on loving our enemies.”
“We need fewer algorithms and more mentoring.”
00:00 Introduction to the Ephesiology Podcast
02:19 Steve Bezner’s Background and Transition to Academia
05:10 Bonhoeffer’s Relevance to the Church Today
07:35 Bonhoeffer as a Pastor and Theologian
10:10 Navigating Political Issues in Pastoral Ministry
13:09 The Role of Pastors in a Polarized Society
15:35 The Importance of Community Engagement
18:23 Bonhoeffer’s Influence on Social Justice
20:45 The Need for Shepherding in Modern Ministry
23:22 Discipleship and the Role of Mentoring
25:56 Theological Foundations for Political Engagement
28:32 The Kingdom of God vs. Secular Politics
31:10 Conclusion and Encouragement for Pastors
If this episode encouraged you, please leave a review and share it with others exploring missional living in post-Christian contexts. Thanks for doing theology in community with us today!
If you have a question or topic that you’d like to hear addressed on the Ephesiology Podcast, just send it to Andrew at thediscfan@gmail.com.
Michael is the missiologist in residence with East West where he focuses on equipping and empowering church leaders in evangelism, discipleship, leadership, and catalyzing church planting movements in the most difficult to reach places on the planet. He is the author of Ephesiology: The Study of the Ephesian Movementas well as many other books and academic articles. He has lectured at universities around the world and serves as affiliate faculty at Kairos University where he facilitates the degree programs in partnership with Ephesiology Master Classes.
Andrew is a proud husband, father and pastor who desires all to know the one true King. He is honored to serve at West Village Church in Victoria, BC. Previously, he’s ministered in Houston, Chicago, Indy, Flagstaff and Tempe in a variety of church contexts. Andrew has a BA in Christian Ministry from Trinity International University and an MA from Phoenix Seminary. He is currently a Doctor of Ministry student at Kairos University and is the co-host of the Ephesiology Podcast. When not at work, he’s an avid disc golfing, vinyl playing, Spider-Man following/collecting fellow. Go Pacers.
Matt Till has woven together roles as pastor, professor, podcaster, and Emmy Award–winning writer and producer. With over 25 years in ministry—including church planting, higher education and administration, and co-hosting the Ephesiology podcast—he has dedicated his life to engaging people and communities with compassion, justice, and inclusion. Today, as Senior Director for Social Justice and Community Engagement at TelosGO, Matt continues that calling. He and his wife are raising three children in South Florida, where he can often be found reading on the beach, sipping Cuban coffee, or savoring lechón asado with yuca con mojo.
The Ephesiology Podcast comes to you from a desire to engage in community conversations about the intersection of theology and culture. We do not believe such dialogue should come with a cost so the podcast will always be free.
However, if you’ve benefited from the Ephesiology Podcast, would you consider a nominal $5 per month donation? All proceeds from the podcast go toward helping bring needed theological education to the majority world through our Ephesiology Master Class initiative to end a theological famine. We’d be honored to partner with you to continue providing solid biblical, theological, and missiological content for listeners around the world.
Imagine a world where passionate, equipped Christian leaders spread God’s Word in areas with the greatest need—leaders grounded in both deep theology and practical ministry skills, trained to make a lasting impact in their communities. Through your support, this vision can become a reality for students from countries like Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Nepal, and India who are eager to teach and multiply disciple-makers in their own regions.
If you want to understand principles for the growth of Christianity in the first century, the place to begin is the city of Ephesus. In this winsome study, Ephesiology offers readers a comprehensive view of the empowering work of the Holy Spirit in the most significant city of the New Testament, and compels us to ask the question: how can we effectively connect Christ to our culture?
“Masterfully handling the book of Ephesians and using its content as a definitive guide, Michael Cooper lays a theologically strong foundation that is both corrective and directive to disciple making movements. The principles he gleans from the book of Ephesians and related texts, help to ensure the on-going multiplication and maturation of a movement. Because these are supra-cultural principles, they are applicable anywhere in the world.”
Marvin J. Newell, Staff Missiologist, Missio Nexus, Author of Crossing Cultures in Scripture
To shift the tracks of history requires leaders who are equipped to critically assess and engage the contours of contemporary culture. As a new initiative in collaboration with the Movement Leaders Collective, Kairos University, and Ephesiology, we deliver just-in-time theological education focused on issues important to you, mxAcademy is designed as the theological and missiological foundation to unlock your potential as a movement leader and catalytic thinker. mxAcademy is a dynamic and innovative educational experience rooted in mDNA.
We dream of a church fully equipped, fully mature, fully mobilized, and fully alive. A church that lives and breathes the Good News of Jesus!
Taking its inspiration from the historical and philosophical legacy of Athens, Greece, the Areopagus Symposium focuses on intellectual and philosophical topics related to Christology, missiology, and ecclesiology. We invite scholars, theologians, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds to engage in a profound exploration of the theological landscape at the intersection of these vital disciplines. Sign up for an Ephesiology Master Classes account and gain free access to the Areopagus Symposium.
The Ephesiology Podcast and Ephesiology Master Classes are ministries of TELOS.GO, a registered 501c3 non-profit agency committed to imaginatively missional ways of engageing culture, church planting, and theological education. Your donation to the podcast is tax deductible.
Our podcasters are dedicated to not only the study of a New Testament movement but the application of timeless principles in the 21st century. More than anything, they are sold out to seeing more people worship God (Rev 5:9). If you are interested in movements in the United States and around the world, please feel free to connect with them.
Michael is the missiologist in residence with East West where he focuses on equipping and empowering church leaders in evangelism, discipleship, leadership, and catalyzing church planting movements in the most difficult to reach places on the planet. He is the author of Ephesiology: The Study of the Ephesian Movement as well as many other books and academic articles. He has lectured at universities around the world and serves as affiliate faculty at Kairos University where he facilitates the degree programs in partnership with Ephesiology Master Classes.
Andrew is a proud husband, father and pastor who desires all to know the one true King. He is honored to serve at West Village Church in Victoria, BC. Previously, he’s ministered in Houston, Chicago, Indy, Flagstaff and Tempe in a variety of church contexts. Andrew has a BA in Christian Ministry from Trinity International University and an MA from Phoenix Seminary. He is currently a Doctor of Ministry student at Kairos University and is the co-host of the Ephesiology Podcast. When not at work, he’s an avid disc golfing, vinyl playing, Spider-Man following/collecting fellow. Go Pacers.
Matt Till has woven together roles as pastor, professor, podcaster, and Emmy Award–winning writer and producer. With over 25 years in ministry—including church planting, higher education and administration, and co-hosting the Ephesiology podcast—he has dedicated his life to engaging people and communities with compassion, justice, and inclusion. Today, as Senior Director for Social Justice and Community Engagement at TelosGO, Matt continues that calling. He and his wife are raising three children in South Florida, where he can often be found reading on the beach, sipping Cuban coffee, or savoring lechón asado with yuca con mojo.
The Ephesiology Podcast comes to you from a desire to engage in community conversations about the intersection of theology and culture. We do not believe such dialogue should come with a cost so the podcast will always be free.
However, if you’ve benefited from the Ephesiology Podcast, would you consider a nominal $5 per month donation? All proceeds from the podcast go toward helping bring needed theological education to the majority world through our Ephesiology Master Class initiative to end a theological famine. We’d be honored to partner with you to continue providing solid biblical, theological, and missiological content for listeners around the world.
The Ephesiology Podcast is a ministry of TELOS.GO, a registered 501c3 non-profit agency committed to imaginatively missional ways of engageing culture, church planting, and theological education. You donation to the podcast is tax deductible.
We are too! The study of the Ephesian movement focuses on empowering people to use their gifts (2 Tim 1:3-6), inspiring them to join in hardship (2 Tim 1:8-14), entrusting them to teach faithful people to carry on the mission (2 Tim 2:1-7), and reminding them to preach the word in season and out of season (2 Tim 3:16-4:2). These are mission critical characteristics of spiritual multiplication and lead to innovating ways that you and your team can engage contemporary culture with the story of God.
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