Jon Tyson on Principles of Revival, the Primal Path and What It Will Take for Generations to Work Together
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In this episode Jon Tyson joins us to discuss the challenges of ministry during the COVID crisis, the role of the church as a Creative Minority, and the importance of contending prayer. He urges us not to miss the unique opportunity that both individuals and the church have in this COVID season of limitation, struggle and uncertainty. He invites us into intentional and deep engagement with prayer, Scripture and those we love and live with on a daily basis.
More than that, Tyson explores the role of the church as a Creative Minority in culture — living both as a faithful and fruitful presence that brings life to the city. He encourages church leaders to keep the strength of their convictions, but also engage the world in a way that shapes and bends it back towards God’s vision of human flourishing.
In the end, the thread that weaves together all that is shared in this episode is a call to pray, as individuals, church staffs and whole congregations. The listener is challenged to embrace a deep commitment to prayer, birthed out of a hunger for God’s reality and transformative presence.
Jon Tyson
Jon Tyson is a Pastor and Church Planter in New York City. Originally from Adelaide Australia, Jon moved to the United States over 2 decades ago with a passion to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western Church. He is the author of Sacred Roots, A Creative Minority and The Burden is Light. Jon lives in the Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood of Manhattan with his wife and two children. He serves as the Lead Pastor of Church of the City New York.
“Church would be three and a half hours and you’d be on your face at the end saying, please don’t ever let this end.”
You can pre-order Jon’s new book Beautiful Resistance today.
Beautiful Resistance is Jon’s forthcoming book that explores what Christian conviction looks like in a culture of compromise. Drawing insights from the life of Bonhoeffer, Tyson paints a picture of rigorous discipleship that empowers Christians to reject the forming power of culture — in a way that is not bitter, but beautiful and hope-filled.
Episode Links
If you are looking for Biblically faithful, culturally accessible teaching, done in an urban context with an eye to the seeking and skeptical, check out Jon’s catalogue of sermons.
Jon Tyson has also written and released 3 incredibly helpful, well-thought out books that are all listed below:
A Creative Minority - In the post-Christian west, how should the church reengage culture? The heart of Jesus is that his people would influence culture through redemptive participation in His kingdom dream for the world — a Creative Minority that is a faithful and fruitful presence in a secular culture. Rather than seeking control over the culture, or abandoning the surrounding world, this book invites the church to love people into new life through redemptive participation in the culture.
Sacred Roots - Recent data indicates a massive exodus of young people from the church, especially in urban contexts. In Sacred Roots, Jon Tyson shows that the church still has much to offer cities — and individuals — in the 21st century. Whether a person is a committed church goer, a dechurched skeptic, or an open-minded seeker, in Sacred Roots, Tyson makes a compelling care for why the church still matters.
The Burden is Light - Many people in the modern world find themselves living and breathing within a system where value and worth is derived from accomplishments, upward mobility and human validation. In The Burden is Light, Jon Tyson paints a picture of an alternative reality. He offers an expansive invitation to the human soul to once again breathe in the fresh air of God’s kingdom dream, where His voice is the voice that establishes our worth, and His call is what determines our purpose.
“Hunger creates an environment that draws and attracts the presence of God.”
Conversation Links
In this episode, Jon mentions two resources that he developed recently:
Altar’s Podcast - This podcast features a robust discussion on revival throughout church history. In this podcast Tyson tours around the world and visits sites of revival, speaking about a hunger for God’s presence and the renewal it brings.
Primal Path - This resource is for those who might feel overwhelmed with the task of walking their son into manhood, and at the same time feel this deep sense of determination to raise him with skill, passion and integrity. In the Primal Path course, you will be empowered to build a custom pathway based on your own story and your sons needs to help walk him from adolescence into manhood.
We have also posted some of our favourite sections of this interview on our Youtube Channel - here is one of them:
This episode was brought to you by…
Briercrest College and Seminary has been committed to raising up and developing Christians leaders for the last 85 years. With a goal to serve and bless the local church, Briercrest’s programs help the leaders of the future develop a biblical worldview, and hone the practical skills needed to succeed in the world of church leadership and nonprofit management. Every year hundreds of young adults choose Briercrest and experience an intentional discipleship community that helps them deepen their faith in such a formative time in their journey. If you know someone who could benefit from an education that focuses on spiritual formation, Biblical learning, and the practical skills needed to succeed as a leader, Briercrest is the place for them.
Coming Up Next
Matt Menzel
Matt Menzel is the Lead Pastor of Westside Church in downtown Vancouver. He and his wife Melissa are passionate about calling and equipping Jesus' people to 'Make Him Known' through the ordinary, Spirit-empowered rhythms of following Jesus in everyday life. They're thrilled and beyond blessed to be part of what Jesus' Spirit is doing in the city.