Will Reformed Evangelicalism Divide Over Racial Politics? The 19th-Century Stone-Campbell Movement Offers a Clue
Maintaining Christian unity will require a concerted effort to look past the political labels of the Christians on each side of a political divide and focus on the orthodox Christian principles.
I still believe that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and a determination to resist the siren songs of the partisan slogans on both sides of a culture war divide, Christian unity can be maintained even among those with sharp partisan differences… The Stone-Campbellites failed to look beyond the partisanship a century and a... Continue Reading
To Those Who are Frustrated with the Church
You will be more at home in the presence of Christ, as a believer, fully redeemed in heaven... than at any time and any place you ever have been in your entire life in this world.
You may come to church and say, “I’m not so sure that I’m like other people here.” Then I would respond, “That is exactly why you are needed there.” God created you as a one-of-a-kind. He redeems what he created. What He has placed in believers by creation, He has now redeemed for the good... Continue Reading
Seven Fascinating Minister Types and Preaching
How would you describe the preaching you listen to on Sunday morning? Is it one of these seven types of preaching?
We want you to be our minister. We don’t care about your accent, where you grew up, from what seminary you graduated, whether you like football or ride a motorcycle. We are anxious to hear you preach God’s Word, and happy to be enlightened, encouraged, challenged and convicted. We want to be brought into the... Continue Reading
Burdening Ourselves to Death
We are more informed than ever, and simultaneously more stressed out and outraged than ever.
God calls us to focus on what He has placed in front of us in our personal lives, families, and the church. If we are not neglecting these, and we have time left over, we are called to care about the needs of the community. However, we should never reverse the order. As Paul told... Continue Reading
How Will COVID Permanently Change Churches?
"I am recognizing the value of sacred space—of being able to say, ‘This space is set apart for God’s purposes in the heart of the city.’" - Treat
Certainly, 2020 has been different, Smith said. The pandemic affected more people for a longer period of time. And it’s not over yet. “Here’s what we know about trauma: the hard part comes later on,” Treat said. “If this season has been traumatic, the worst part is going to come out in the next couple... Continue Reading
What Church Statistics Conceal
Church statistics usually reveal little about why someone leaves. How many are repelled is a guess and perhaps a wildly inaccurate one.
Discernment in how to achieve numerical growth is necessary. And ACNA’s approach so far reminds me of a town so eager to grow that it invites a large bar and outdoor music venue and hastily locates it in the middle of a residential neighborhood, impelling the residents to move away. The new misplaced venue may... Continue Reading
4 Blind Spots that Sabotage Organizational Culture
Relationships are the core of your team's health and effectiveness.
If you lack purpose, it’s difficult to find common goals and the bonding that takes place in achieving those goals together. If you lack clarity of structure, roles and processes, then your team doesn’t know what to expect and therefore can’t trust decisions. If you lack leadership development, your team may not feel valued and... Continue Reading
Liturgy In The New Testament Church
In the book of Acts we find numerous references to the Apostles continuing to observe the Jewish liturgical hours of prayer
The New Testament documents leave us in no doubt that liturgical creeds, prayers and hymns formed an integral part of the Christian church’s worship from the very beginning. One must therefore ask the question, if the Apostles and early Christians placed such importance and saw such value in liturgy, why have some modern traditions discarded... Continue Reading
Why Do Christians Pray, “Our Father Who Art in Heaven”?
When you pray “Our Father in heaven,” you address God with good and proper intimacy and awe.
As Father, God is like our loving earthly fathers; yet, unlike our fathers, God is our Father in heaven. He’s the Creator, the God of the universe, eternal, infinitely powerful, loving, wise, just, beautiful, and holy. “Our Father who art in heaven…” — Matthew 6:9 The opening sentence of the Lord’s Prayer is more or less... Continue Reading
Church of Atlanta Shooting Suspect Distances Itself, Urges ‘No Blame’ on Victims
The church of the alleged gunman in the fatal shootings of eight people in the Atlanta area, stated it was “absolutely distraught when we found out that the shooter was a member of our congregation.”
“Aaron’s actions are antithetical to everything that we believe and teach as a church,” the congregation’s statement reads. “In the strongest possible terms, we condemn the actions of Aaron Long as well as his stated reasons for carrying out this wicked plan. The shootings were a total repudiation of our faith and practice, and such... Continue Reading
