A community conversation about the most significant church-planting movement in the early church. The study of the Ephesian movement raises many questions about Christianity today. What made that city the epicenter of the movement? And how can we replicate sustained movements in a world that feels so different? This is not another methodology or attempt to re-contextualize evangelicalism. Rather, it is a look at the story of how the Holy Spirit still changes lives, cities, and the world.
Imaginatively Missional
On this special episode of the Ephesiology Podcast, we listen in to the first Areopagus Symposium with Dr. Michael T. Cooper sharing on the topic of contextualization. Missiologists have frequently recognized the thin line between contextualization and syncretism. This symposium will introduce broad boundaries in the missionary task which account for the tendency to either over- or under-contextualize systems of beliefs and behaviors. The respective paradox of syncretism and reductionism raises the question of the value of contextualization as a missions tool. As a corrective to the paradox, Dr. Cooper will introduce a missiological theology to serve as a framework for the missionary task.
If you have a question or topic that you’d like to hear addressed on the Ephesiology Podcast, just send it to Andrew at andrew@neartownchurch.org.
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Our Podcasters
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.
Andrew is a pastor, husband and father who desires all to know the one true King. He happily serves at Neartown Church in Houston, TX with a vibrant and growing community. He is the co-host of the Ephesiology Podcast. He is currently a Doctor of Ministry student at Kairos University.
Two Free Learning Experiences from Ephesiology Master Classes
Areopagus Symposium
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.
Make Disciples
Beginning in October, a whole host of guests join the Ephesiology Podcast to explore the spiritual journey of a Christ-follower, starting with defining discipleship and concluding with the challenge of making more disciples. Each episode offers reflections and discussions with leaders who are passionate about making disciples.
Go Deeper with these Resources
Ephesiology: A Study of the Ephesian Movement
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
Educating to Shift the Tracks of History
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!
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Partner with the Pod
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 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
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.
Andrew is a pastor, husband and father who desires all to know the one true King. He happily serves at Neartown Church in Houston, TX with a vibrant and growing community. He is the co-host of the Ephesiology Podcast. He is currently a Doctor of Ministry student at Kairos University.
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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.
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