Resources on David Fitch

... the wake of scandals involving leadership at megachurches, David Fitch critiques three aspects of evangelical ecclesiology: hierarchical structure ...

Leadership, Power, Ecclesiology, Scandal

Signs the Spirit Has Left the Building

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

David Fitch suggests that trying to control the activity of the Holy Spirit, or judging the spirituality of others, may be signs that the Holy Spirit has left.

Community, Holy Spirit, Spirituality, Fruit Of The Spirit

Preaching and the Shaping of a Church Into Mission

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

Article about Preaching

In an image driven culture, why do we still have sermons? What is preaching for anyway? In this podcast, David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw discuss preaching as proclamation and how the imagination is essential for transformation.

Preaching, Sermon, Imagination, Proclamation

Membership Has Its Practices

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

Article about Worship and the Sacraments

David Fitch presents a new perspective on church membership: instead of requiring a specific level of sanctification upon joining, congregations should make the commitment to practices of community central to membership after joining.

Community, Missions, Church Membership, Sanctification

3 Characteristics of Missional Preaching

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

Article about Preaching

Emphasizing the importance of missional preaching, David Fitch says a multi-site cannot be missional for three reasons: preaching is always local, preaching demands a response, and preaching is better when we know the person.

Preaching, Missions, Video

On Making Justice Local

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

Backed by various scriptures, David Fitch speaks of justice, the Christian life, and the Kingdom of God by arguing that God's righteousness is relational, and therefore cannot be promoted as a church program alone.

Justice, Kingdom Of God, Righteousness Of God, Relationship

Project Versus Presence

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

David Fitch, church planter and pastor, discusses the difference between "Looking for a Project" and "Developing a Presence" and how that shapes congregational formation and discipleship within a local context.

Love Your Neighbor, Evangelism, Missions

Building Blocks for a Missional Ecclesiology

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

In this article, David Fitch writes on how the theology of the mission of God, or "Missio Dei," affects church leadership and ecclesiology.

John 20:21-23

Trinity, Missions, God's Will, Doctrine

On Why Reconciling Conflict is Ground Zero for the Inbreaking of the Kingdom

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

David Fitch argues that conflict should be welcomed because it is a sign of the inbreaking of the Kingdom and offers advice for ministry leaders on handling conflict well.

God’s Journey into the Far Country

Sin, Submission

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

Sermon Preparation or Illustration

David Fitch describes the incarnation as “an invitation into the journey into the far country.” He lists five practices where the church joins Christ in mission to reveal Christ. (Based on Luke 15:13; 1 Corinthians 15:25.)

Luke 15:13; 1 Corinthians 15:25

Incarnation, God's Presence, Body Of Christ, Human Race

Crime-Ridden Neighborhood Transformed by Praying Church

David Fitch | Preaching Today

Sermon Preparation or Illustration

In this sermon illustration for Matthew 18:19, Mark 9:28-29, or Luke 18:1, David Fitch shares how the a crime-ridden neighborhood was transformed by prayer and an eventual church plant.

Prayer, Crime, Community, Intercession

Making Space in the Neighborhood for Reconciliation

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

David Fitch explores Matthew 18:15-20, challenging us to consider that reconciliation with others and social change starts with our own personal confession of sin after a genuine encounter with Christ.

Matthew 18:15-20

Reconciliation, Confession Of Sin, Example Of Christ, Healing

Search Results for "David Fitch" on Hymnary.org

Mid [midst] scenes of confusion and creature complaintsPD
My days are gliding swiftly byPD

Do I lead as one “ahead” or as one “among”?

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

Article about Preaching

David Fitch considers a pastoral posture of "among" rather than "ahead" and how it applies in the context of preaching. Fitch notes benefits to this model include avoiding burnout and encouraging spiritual formation.

Leadership, Pastoral Leadership, Preaching, Sermon

How Not to Make Justice into a Program at Your Local Church

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

David Fitch draws from Isaiah 58:3-7; Ezekiel 18:5-9; Amos 5:21-24; and Micah 3 to explore justice and righteousness. By basing justice in individual rights, we may support a method that undermines the very justice we seek.

Isaiah 58:3-7; Ezekiel 18:5-9 Amos 5:21-24

Politics, Justice, Reconciliation, Righteousness

When They Will Not Come

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

Scripture Meditation or Sermon and 1 more types

David Fitch writes on Acts 2:42-47, arguing that community is the foundation for all we are as the church and for God’s mission to the world.

Acts 2:42-47

Discipleship, Church, Community, Missions

The Incarnational Approach to Leading in Our Disagreements

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

David Fitch describes an incarnational approach to church leadership, in contrast to autocratic and democratic styles. Its goal is to say "it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us" (Acts 15:28).

Incarnation, Conflict, Disagreement, Pastoral Leadership

A Time to Say Nothing and Be Present

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

David Fitch observes how Jesus doesn't directly answer the chief priests as an example to show it may be appropriate at times to say nothing and be present in claims for justice (Mark 11:27-12:12).

Mark 11:27-33, 12:1-12

Justice, Violence, Evil, Works

Organize Gifts for the Neighborhood, Not the Church

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

David Fitch suggests that churches organize the gifts of the Spirit in community members (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) around "what God’s doing in the neighborhood," rather than around Sunday worship and programs in the church building.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Gifts Of The Spirit, Missions, Neighbor, Discipleship

Making Space for Alternative Sexualities

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

David Fitch uses Jesus' encounter with the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) as a model for being the healing presence of Christ with those who are suffering due to condemnation for "alternative sexualities."

John 8:1-11

Reconciliation, Lgbtq, Healing, God's Presence

Missional Church is Nothing But …

David Fitch | Missio Alliance

David Fitch argues against a conception of missional church as just regular Sunday worship with some justice projects added on. Rather, missional church is focused on being present among our contexts.