Doug Logan, Pastor of Church Planting at Remnant Church, and Jen Oshman, an experienced missionary and author, engage in a vibrant discussion about the inclusivity of the gospel. They dive deep into Titus 2:11, exploring how God’s grace reaches all people and the significance of unity in diversity. The conversation highlights the importance of empowering women in ministry and the value of engaging communities beyond church walls. Personal stories shed light on cultural challenges and the impact of sacrificial service on spiritual growth.
The podcast highlights the radical inclusivity of the gospel, emphasizing that salvation is available to all people regardless of cultural background.
A central theme is the importance of elevating women's roles within the church, recognizing their dignity as vital to embodying the gospel's transformative message.
Deep dives
The Inclusion of All People in Salvation
The podcast emphasizes the radical nature of Paul’s message in Titus regarding salvation being available to all people, not just Jews. This notion is critical for church leaders to understand and communicate, especially in a diverse cultural context. Jen Oshman shares her personal transformation upon realizing that God offers salvation to everyone, which fostered a profound sense of dignity and hope. Similarly, Doug Logan reflects on how this inclusive gospel has the power to dissolve racial tensions, fostering unity among diverse congregations.
The Dignity of Women in the Church
A significant insight presented is the importance of recognizing the dignity of women within the church, particularly in the context of biblical teachings. Jen Oshman discusses how the gospel liberated her from skepticism about God's view on women, reinforcing her worth based on divine love rather than societal expectations. The conversation highlights that the early church included marginalized individuals, where women found respect and value that was often lacking in society. As church leaders, fostering an environment that acknowledges and elevates women's roles is fundamental to embodying the transformative message of the gospel.
Practical Steps for Church Planting and Community Engagement
The speakers discuss practical strategies for church planters to engage with all people in their communities, underscoring the need for authenticity in outreach efforts. Doug Logan advises church leaders to focus on planting gospel-centered churches that reflect the diversity of their neighborhoods. There's an emphasis on prioritizing community involvement, suggesting that pastors encourage their congregations to integrate outreach into their regular activities, making it part of their lifestyle. Jen Oshman adds that families should put effort into mission together, which can have lasting positive impacts on their children's faith and worldview.
The Call to Multicultural and Multiethnic Ministry
The discussion illustrates that reaching all nations goes beyond race and includes a recognition of global diversity and varied cultural backgrounds. Both Jen and Doug stress the necessity of breaking down racial barriers within the church, asserting that the gospel unites people across societal divisions. They encourage young leaders to embrace an inclusive vision that reflects the richness of God's creation. Importantly, they highlight that true multiethnic ministry involves a commitment to seek representation from diverse communities while remaining centered on the mission of the gospel.
Host Matt Carter teams up with Doug Logan and Jen Oshman to dive more deeply into the “all people” that Paul addresses in Titus 2:11. See how this “all people” vision for planting the church is essential for every church plant in every context, as well as how verse 14 offers a gospel flavor to speak comfort and correction to you when you need it most.
Matt Carter is Send Network’s Vice President of Mobilization and was the founding pastor of The Austin Stone Church in Texas. Matt earned an master’s of divinity from Southwestern Seminary, as well as a doctorate in expositional preaching from Southeastern Seminary.
Doug Logan, Jr. serves as the Pastor of Church Planting at Remnant Church in Richmond, Virginia, and he has authored On the Block: Developing a Biblical Picture for Mission Engagement and The Soul-Winning Church: Six Keys to Fostering a Genuine Evangelistic Culture.
Jen Oshman is an author (Enough about Me, Cultural Counterfeits, Welcome, andIt’s Good to be a Girl), podcaster (All Things), church planter’s wife, and mom of four daughters. She has served as a missionary and church planter for over two decades on three continents.
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