As cities continue to shape the future of culture, influence, and innovation, what does faithful gospel witness look like in an increasingly urban world?

In this Lausanne Movement Podcast archive episode, we revisit two landmark talks by Tim Keller from the Third Lausanne Congress in Cape Town 2010. Keller first unpacks why cities matter so deeply for God’s mission, then offers a practical and theological framework for how the church can faithfully engage and reach them.

• Why cities matter for mission: Cities are cultural, economic, and spiritual centers where global influence is formed.
• God’s heart for people: In cities, there is ‘more image of God per square inch than anywhere else in the world’.
• The church must follow the people: Urbanisation is accelerating faster than the church’s presence.
• Contextualised churches are essential: Effective urban ministry requires cultural sensitivity, patience, and adaptability.
• Faith and vocation must connect: Urban discipleship integrates faith with everyday work and public life.
• From churches to movements: Lasting impact comes through cooperation, prayer, justice, evangelism, and citywide gospel movements.
• Hope grounded in the gospel: Christ’s righteousness empowers believers to serve, pray for, and sacrificially love their cities.

If this episode encouraged or challenged you:

• Subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast for more voices shaping global mission.
• Share this episode with church leaders, planters, and those passionate about cities.
• Explore Lausanne’s resources on cities, church planting, and urban mission at lausanne.org.

This episode is part of the Lausanne Movement Archive, featuring historic messages from key moments in the global mission movement. These two talks were originally delivered by Tim Keller at the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town (2010).

• Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Cape Town 2010)

  https://lausanne.org/cape-town-2010-the-third-lausanne-congress-on-world-evangelization

• Lausanne Issue Networks:

  • Cities - https://lausanne.org/network/cities
  • Church Planting - https://lausanne.org/network/church-planting

• Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive

  https://lausanne.org/podcast-series/lausanne-movement

Timothy Keller (1950–2023) was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and a widely influential pastor, theologian, and author. Alongside his wife Kathy, he helped plant Redeemer in 1989 and later co-founded Redeemer City to City, which has supported the planting of more than 1,000 churches in over 150 cities worldwide. Keller authored 31 books, including The Reason for God, The Prodigal God, and The Meaning of Marriage.

Have we grown too familiar with the wonder of Christmas?

In this Advent conversation, Jason Watson is joined by theologian, author, and apologist Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing to explore why the incarnation is not only wondrous but reasonable—and why Christmas remains one of the church’s greatest evangelistic opportunities. From Mary’s courageous “yes” to the credibility of miracles and the cultural openness of Advent, this episode invites leaders and believers to rediscover the depth, wonder, and missional power of Christmas.

• The Christmas story invites honest questions and skepticism rather than suppressing them

• The incarnation is presented in Scripture as extraordinary—but grounded in evidence and eyewitness testimony

• Mary’s voice in Luke’s Gospel reveals agency, consent, and profound theological insight

• Early Christians reframed—not compromised—culture to proclaim Christ as the Light of the World

• Advent creates unique spiritual openness marked by longing, memory, and reflection

• Christmas is not just a celebration—it’s a strategic moment for gospel proclamation
• Preachers and leaders are called to recover awe, not sentimentality, in telling the Christmas story

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast, leave a review, and share it with a pastor, leader, or friend preparing for Advent. Consider how you might intentionally use the Christmas season this year to invite others to encounter Jesus.

• Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing – Website: https://www.amyorr-ewing.com/

• Advocate Collective: https://www.advocate-collective.org/

• Book: Mary’s Voice: Advent Reflections to Rediscover the Wonder of Christmas - https://a.co/d/detPL9U

• YouTube: Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing (apologetics resources, including an 8-part series on God and suffering) - https://www.youtube.com/@amyorr-ewing

• Upcoming Book (Pre-order): Forgiveness: Reclaiming Its Power in a Culture of Outrage and Fear (releasing 2026) - https://a.co/d/g0Y4maN

Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing is an international author, speaker, and theologian who addresses the deep questions of our day with meaningful answers found in the Christian Faith. Travelling internationally, Amy is a regular speaker across university campuses, businesses, parliaments, churches, and conferences as well as on TV, radio, and podcasts. She is the author of multiple books, including ‘Where is God in All the Suffering?’ (runner-up Michael Ramsay Prize, 2023), bestselling ‘Why Trust the Bible?’ and ‘Mary’s Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ.’

In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Dan Sered, Chief Operating Officer of Jews for Jesus and Lausanne Catalyst for Jewish Evangelism, shares his remarkable journey from a secular Jewish home in Israel to discovering Jesus as Messiah while studying in New York City. Jason and Dan explore the meaning of Messianic Jewish identity, how the gospel can be shared in culturally meaningful ways with Jewish people, and why peacemaking—not political partisanship—is the calling of every follower of Jesus.

Dan also offers profound reflections on the Israel–Palestine conflict, the Church’s responsibility during times of polarization, and how Jewish and Gentile believers can together bear witness to the hope of the gospel.

• Dan’s Journey to Faith: How discovering Yeshua (Jesus) through Old Testament prophecies transformed his life, calling, and understanding of Jewish identity.

• Messianic Identity Explained: The difference between Jewish ethnicity and Judaism as a religion, and why following Jesus does not erase Jewish identity.

• Contextualized Evangelism: Why Jews for Jesus prioritizes cultural understanding, deep relationships, and addressing the felt needs of each community they serve.

• Discipleship Begins Before Belief: Dan emphasizes that discipleship starts with presence, hospitality, and community—not after someone says “yes” to Jesus.

• What Messianic Jews Offer the Global Church: Insight into the Jewish roots of Christian faith, the “one new humanity,” and a renewed passion for evangelism.

• Responding to the Israel–Palestine Conflict: Dan urges Christians not to pick political sides but to embody Jesus’ way of peacemaking, compassion, and prayer for all who suffer—Israelis and Palestinians alike.

• Hope Amid Crisis: Despite devastation following October 7th, Dan shares surprising signs of gospel openness and why the Church must pray for salvation among both Jewish and Palestinian communities.

If this episode encouraged or challenged you, please follow the show, leave a review, and share this conversation with someone interested in global mission, Jewish–Christian dialogue, or peacemaking.

👉 https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-ministry-of-reconciliation-bridging-divides-between-israelis-and-palestinians-with-salim-munayer

👉 https://lausanne.org/podcast/arab-women-transforming-theological-education-with-grace-al-zoughbi-arteen

👉 https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-art-of-preaching-in-times-of-crisis-anne-zaki-on-sharing-the-hope-of-christ-when-it-matters-most

• Jews for Jesus- https://jewsforjesus.org

• Lausanne Jewish Evangelism Network (LCJE) - https://www.lcje.net/

• Lausanne Movement – Jewish Evangelism Issue Network - https://lausanne.org/network/jewish-evangelism

• Articles by Dan Sered on Jewish Festivals

• • https://lausanne.org/about/blog/understanding-your-jewish-neighbour-yom-kippur

• • http://lausanne.org/about/blog/understanding-your-jewish-neighbour-rosh-hashanah

Born in Israel and raised in a secular Jewish home, Dan Sered came to faith in Jesus as a university student in the U.S. He and his wife Dinah joined Jews for Jesus and later returned to Israel to serve in ministry. Dan now serves as COO and Global Director of Jews for Jesus and is president of the Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism.