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5 Simple but Effective Ways of Dealing With the Naysayers in Your Ministry

July 18, 2018

“When Sanballat heard that we were building the wall of Jerusalem, he was very angry and upset. He started making fun of the Jews.Sanballat talked with his friends and the army at Samaria and said, ‘What are these weak Jews doing? Do they think we will leave them alone? Do they think they will offer sacrifices? Maybe they think they can finish building in only one day. They cannot bring stones back to life from these piles of trash and dirt. These are just piles of ashes and dirt!’” Nehemiah 4:1,2

When Nehemiah began to rebuild the broken down walls around Jerusalem, a few naysaysers began to say “nay!” They yelled “nay!” to Nehemiah’s vision of restoring Jerusalem to its former glory; “nay!” to bringing the scattered Jews back to Jerusalem; and “nay!” to helping this city on a hill shine the glory of God to the nations like it once did.

They mocked, conspired, accused and, ultimately, planned an assassination on Nehemiah and an attack on the city. How Nehemiah responded to these naysayers gives us some strong clues and cues on how we can respond to the naysayers in our ministries.

Oh yeah, you will get naysayers in your ministry by the way. That’s something most seminaries don’t teach. But it will happen…probably several times over the course of your ministry career.

And, by the way, the more you seek to build a Gospel Advancing, disciple-multiplying ministry, the more the naysayers will nay. There’s something about a ministry that is advancing God’s kingdom that brings out the Debbie downers and the negatives Neds in droves.

5 simple and effective ways to deal with the naysayers

So, as you seek to build your ministry according to God’s Acts blueprint, here are five simple and effective ways to deal with the naysayers that will inevitably attack you:

1. Pray them quiet.

“Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.” Nehemiah 4:4,5

Every time Nehemiah’s naysayers attacked him with words, Nehemiah took it to the throneroom of God in prayer. He asked God to shut them up and shut their efforts down. He asked God to intervene on his behalf. He took their threats seriously enough to ask God to take swift and decisive action.

The book of Nehemiah is sprinkled with Nehemiah’s prayers. Many of these prayers are intercessory prayers on behalf of the Jews and in response to the verbal (and potentially physical) attacks of their enemies.

Is your life and ministry sprinkled with prayer? Are you consistently in his presence, bringing your requests, praying on behalf of those you are ministering to? Are you asking God to shut down the plans of the naysayers and advance his kingdom agenda through you and your team?

Make intercessory prayer a habit. It’s like an Air Force that protects the battleground of your ministry efforts. And recruit others to join you in prayer.

2. Don’t waste too much time responding to the naysayers.

“But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. ‘What is this you are doing?’ they asked. ‘Are you rebelling against the king?’ I answered them by saying, ‘The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.’” Nehemiah 2:19,20

Nehemiah tried to quickly shut them down and their false accusations of his efforts. He made it clear that he and the Jews had a historic right to the city. In the same way you and I have a historic right to make and multiply disciples.

In Matthew 28:18-19 Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations...” Talk about a historic right? Two thousand years ago the King of kings and Lord of lords gave you and I the right to share the Gospel with everyone everywhere!

Kindly, gently and firmly affirm this right to anyone who tries to keep you from doing this in your ministry. Lovingly remind them that you are called to carry out the last and lasting mandate of Jesus…no matter how much resistance it brings.

3. Make sure the leadership of the church is fully behind you.

“If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?’ And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.” Nehemiah 2:7-9

Long before Sanballat and Tobiah began their attack on Nehemiah, he had strategically gotten a permission slip from the King. Not only did the King give him permission to build the wall in Jerusalem, he also graciously gave Nehemiah the provision and protection to carry it out.

Early on, talk to your church leadership about your vision, philosophy and strategies. Make sure there is full alignment up front (and, just in case, request a copy of the notes from that particular meeting!).

This preemptive step is crucial to keep the “nays” at bay when things go astray.

4. Pray and take defensive action when things turn ugly.

“But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” Nehemiah 4:7-9

Nehemiah and crew prayed to God and posted a guard when the threat of a military attack turned from possible to probable. Later on in this chapter we find out that all the laborers armed themselves. They had a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other. All the Jews kept building the wall (although slower) and, at the same time, kept a vigilant eye out to the horizon for the impending attack.

When you know that things have moved beyond just words to action, it’s time to play defense. That may mean calling a meeting with the church leadership. It may mean documenting all that has happened up to that particular point. It may mean getting the power brokers of the church involved.

This is when we must be both wise and shrewd. I call shrewdness wisdom’s streetwise cousin. If you don’t, like Nehemiah, deal shrewdly at these critical times, you could potentially lose all forward progress up to that particular point.

You could also lose your job.

5. Put the focus on celebrating God, not gloating over the naysayers, as your ministry vision gets accomplished.

“When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.” Nehemiah 6:16

“Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

God used Nehemiah to accomplish a very specific mission, building a wall around the city of Jerusalem. God wants to use you to accomplish a very specific mission, multiplying disciples in and around your city.

Nehemiah didn’t allow the naysayers to stop him, neither should you. But, when God comes through, don’t gloat over them. Instead, celebrate all that God has done and put the focus on Him, not them…or yourself.

Hopefully, these handful of hints from the book of Nehemiah will help you, as they’ve helped me, deal with the naysayers in ministry.

This article originally appeared here.

Jesus’ Small Group Was a Dysfunctional Mess

Mike Mack

July 18, 2018

Jesus’ small group was a mess. It was often a dysfunctional small group. Except for its leader, this leadership training group seemed to lack any observable spiritual leadership potential.

A Dysfunctional Small Group

Within two pages in my Bible, Jesus had to…

rebuke his leader-intern (Mark 8:33). Actually, this verse says he looked at all the disciples as he addressed Peter: “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
deal with Peter missing the bigger vision during their mountaintop experience (9:5-6).
stop an argument between some of his group members and the religious leaders (9:14-16).
rescue his group members when they could not do what he had told them to do (9:18, 25-28).
correct his disciples who were arguing about which of them were the greatest (9:33-34; also see 10:35-45).

The next time you feel like there are tensions and problems in your group, look again at Jesus’ group!

We often talk about what kinds of characteristics to look for in potential leaders: a heart for God, a servant’s heart and humility, for instance, but from all discernible measures, the guys Jesus selected did not have these qualities. And the worst culprits seem to be the men selected for Jesus’ core team: Peter, John and James.

Of course, “the Lord does not look at the things man looks at” (1 Samuel 16:7). Even when we as men try to look at the things of the heart rather than just outward appearances, however, we can miss what God sees…which is why we must pray, and ask the Lord of the harvest to send us potential leaders.

Yes, Jesus’ group was a mess and often dysfunctional, but Jesus’ group was healthy. That might seem like an oxymoron, but I don’t believe it is. Jesus understood the principle of process. He did not see only what they were, he saw what they were becoming. And often this process of becoming looks very messy.

If your group is a mess—if your group includes a bunch of dysfunctional, sinful, pride-laden, argumentative men and women—don’t give up! Ask God to help you see the process of what your group members are becoming. At the proper time—God’s time—you will reap a harvest if you do not give up!

This article originally appeared here.

11 Tensions to Manage in Ministry

J.D. Greear

July 18, 2018

One of the most important concepts in the Christian ministry is the notion of tension. I instinctively resist tension, as do most people. Tension sounds like friction or conflict, and many leaders think that if they’re doing their job well, there won’t be any tension in their organization. But there is such a thing as “healthy tension.” In fact, more often than not, I have found that many areas of ministry that seem like conflicts to be solved are actually tensions to be managed.

Now, to be clear, in many matters of ministry, there exists a clear right and wrong: We preach the gospel and not works-based righteousness; we stand upon the authority of Scripture, not the prevailing winds of culture; we call our leaders to the highest standards of biblical ethics, not the sliding scale of relative morality.

But the tougher areas of discernment in ministry are not between what is obviously good and what is obviously bad. The tougher calls happen when two good and biblical ideals seem to be competing with each other. In those moments, we are tempted to pick a side to resolve the tension. Many ministry leaders do this with gusto, and they gather great crowds at conferences arguing for their “side.” But what makes for a great conference speaker isn’t always what makes for a real ministry leader. The moment we pick a side in a godly tension, we lose.

Imagine a man balancing a six-foot pole in the palm of his hand. He wants to keep the pole upright, but to do so he always has to shift—slightly this way, now that way. The correcting and counter-correcting never stops.

So it is in our ministries. This is one of the reasons I have tried to be very intentional in structuring our leadership teams so that people don’t all think like me. Our staff is unified in our vision and mission, but we all have different leanings and passions. I want that. After all, if we all lean the same way, we’ll fall over. These various leanings reflect the different gifts that God put in the body of Christ on purpose. I believe God is honored when we experience the tension of competing (biblical) passions. He wants us to come to the table, to argue our positions with conviction, and for each of us to walk away feeling the frustration of a healthy tension.

Here are just a few of the tensions that we manage in our ministries:

Depth/Width

The term the New Testament uses for the leaders of the church is “pastor,” which literally means “shepherd.” So on one hand, our responsibility is rather clear: We must care for the flock God has entrusted to us. We are not called to grow an audience but to care for Christ’s bride. Depth matters.

But on the other hand, Jesus tells the story of the lost sheep, in which the Shepherd leaves the 99 sheep that are already his in order to pursue the one that is lost. That’s an astounding statement about the importance of pursuing width—not for our sake but for the sake of the lost. And both matter.

Attractional/Missional

For decades, there has been an argument in missiological circles about whether churches should pursue attractional or missional approaches. The attractional side points out that the church is the place where outsiders are given the chance to hear the gospel. The maddest Jesus ever got was when he saw the temple transformed from a portal to the outsider into a convenience for the insider. Our churches must attract outsiders and be ready to welcome them.

The missional side counters by pointing out that all throughout Scripture, people are drawn to the people of God primarily by their counter-cultural way of living. It is usually in the context of the community, not the church gathering, that the gospel goes forward. As Lesslie Newbigin points out, sharing the gospel in the New Testament almost always begins with the question, “What is going on with you people?”

And both are true.

Healthy Church/Sending Church

We are always trying to keep the temperature turned up on sending, because it’s far too easy to slacken that emphasis. But there’s a pace at which sending our best isn’t healthy for our people here. For instance, the group of staff members most likely to leave on new church plants is our campus pastors. But a quick turnover of campus pastors undermines our pastoral care. So we’re constantly talking with our campus pastors about ways they can go that not only serve the Great Commission but also serve their campuses well.

Empowering New Leaders/Pursuing Excellence

We are committed to developing new leaders, and part of development is putting people in a position to make mistakes. But there are smart ways to do this and sloppy ways to do this. When it comes to our weekend worship services, for example, we don’t want to approach this time as a “lab” for untested musicians and singers. If they’re going to fail (which they will) and grow from it (which they will), it’s best for us to iron some of that out before we put them on stage, say, at the Durham Performing Arts Center during Christmas at DPAC.

Do You Know the Most Dangerous Person in Your Church?

By
Erik Raymond
-

July 18, 2018

In addition to leading and teaching, pastors are called to protect or guard the flock (Titus 1:5, 9; 2:15; John 21:15-19). Therefore, it logically follows that it is important for pastors to know the most dangerous person in attendance and membership within the congregation. There are obviously many practical reasons for this, but one is certainly to prevent the creation of a dangerous church and to protect the flock from potential harm. And one of those sources of harm is dangerous people.

So I ask you, “Who is the most dangerous guy at your church?”

Recognizing the Person Who Could Foster a Dangerous Church

Here I am not so much aiming at an individual as I am looking at a type of person who can cultivate a dangerous church culture.

Sure, we all can spot the unbeliever who doesn’t fluently speak the language of Zion, we can identify the person from doctrinally anemic backgrounds because they keep cutting themselves with the sharp knives in the theology drawer, and of course, any Calvinist can sniff out an Arminian within 20 seconds.

But I submit that these types of people are not the most dangerous people that attend your church. At least, they are not in my experience.

Instead, the most dangerous person at your church is the apparently smart guy who is unteachable.

When I say ‘unteachable,’ I mean that he has it all figured out. He is the classic “Don’t confuse me with the facts, I know what I believe” guy.

This is the guy who seems to have a lot of biblical knowledge. He can drop the 30 lb. words and effectively argue his point. Very often, he is quite involved and appears to have things together. However, he is dangerous because of the reason you would not think; he is unteachable.

Let me give you some reasons why and how the most dangerous person is dangerous:

1. He Is Gospel-Eclipsing

The Great Commission has learning embedded in it (Matthew 28:18-20). This means that being a disciple is being one who is always learning. Therefore, to have it all figured out is to deny who you are. As Christians, we have to be people who are learning; this includes everyone from pastors to children.

2. He Is Critical

If this guy is not being moved by the ministry of the Word, he is likely gathering bullets to shoot at leaders. He sits quietly during the sermons and teachings only to pick apart everything like a Monday morning quarterback. His unteachability looks the exact opposite of what James 1 teaches:

Know this, my beloved brothers: Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls (James 1:20-21).

(Please note this is not a repudiation of constructive criticism. This is desperately needed. There is a difference between constructive and destructive criticism, however.)

All Episcopal Churches Must Now Bless Same-Sex Marriage

By
Bob Ditmer
-

July 18, 2018

The last time the Episcopal church met as a whole, in 2015, the church assembly voted to bless same-sex unions, but dioceses that wanted to remain true to biblical teaching were allowed to refuse to conduct the ceremonies.

That changed last week when the church voted to force all Episcopal churches to allow gay and lesbian couples to “marry” in the church.

The edict had overwhelming support.

The majority of the American Episcopal Church (93 dioceses) already allows gay marriage in their churches. This vote affects eight dioceses that did not allow for religious ceremonies to be conducted inside their sanctuaries.

Individual priests may decide whether or not to religiously bless any particular marriage ceremony. But should a priest refuse to bless a ceremony, the higher clergy—the bishop, in this case—will be obligated to suggest another priest to do the job.

A previous version of the resolution would have made gay marriage a component of official theology by the insertion of new liturgies in the Book of Common Prayer. It was shelved over fears that those opposed to same-sex marriage for biblical reasons would have ensured their departure from the denomination.

But the compromise brought complaints. A few convention delegates who supported the blessing of same sex marriage worried that LGBT Episcopalians may feel like inferior citizens without the official adoption of new marriage liturgies within the Book of Common Prayer. Several Bishops felt that the liturgies would eventually be added.

Not all bishops were enthusiastic about the resolution. Some expressed grave concern that the move undermines their authority and could lead to a schism within the Episcopal Church.

Bishop John Howard of Florida said his diocese was still reeling from the 2003 consecration of openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson, which led some clergy and lay members to break from the denomination, according to a report by RNS.

Episcopal Church Overwhelmingly Approves Resolution

The dissenting bishops were part of a small minority, however.

Most voting delegates applauded the change and some likened the decision to the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

One priest said, “For 40 years our LGBT brothers and sisters have been at the back of the bus and, every so often, they are invited to move forward one row at a time.”

The eight Episcopal dioceses whose local authority the resolution was crafted to circumvent are Albany, New York; Central Florida; Dallas; New York; North Dakota; Springfield, Illinois; Tennessee; and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The resolution will not go into effect until the first Sunday of Advent, the liturgical season leading up to Christmas that starts in the fall.

Beat the Summer Slump: 15 Sermon And Worship Resources For Summer

By
Daniel So
-

July 18, 2018

Many churches experience “the summer slump,” where attendance, giving, and participation might decrease. Use these powerful sermon and worship resources to beat the summer slump. Read more…

You’ll find these sermons and more…

1. Vacation in Paradise

We are strangers in this world, on vacation in a foreign land, with advantages the natives of this world don’t even begin to understand. But do we realize what those advantages are, and what difference those blessings can mean to our lives?

2. Knowing Your Season and Its Fruit

God said that as long as the earth exists, seasons will also exist. Somewhere there will always be a summer, fall, winter and spring and thus we will continue to live our lives according to the seasons.

3. Beating the Summertime Blahs

Summer takes its toll on church attendance. The truth is that we still need one another even when the world is calling you to a season of recreation.

4. WWJD: Days Off / Vacations

What Would Jesus Do… with regard to vacations, hobbies, sports, amusements, break-times, fun & relaxing activities? For the answer, we take a trip back 6,000 years…

5. Surviving the Summer Slump

I’ve got friends who are pastors and on staff at churches all around this country, and at some point during the months of June through August…they face the same thing. I’m not saying that it is ok; but I am saying that we are not alone. So, is it possible for us to avoid the “Summer Slump” and still enjoy the summer?

6. How to Kill a Church Without Trying

Many churches find themselves in the predicament of not growing as the Lord would have them to do. When this happens many reasons are given and blame is placed on this person and on that person, usually without foundations.

7. Reverse the Curse

It is terrible and tragic to have access to your blessing yet you are blocked by your curse. For it is true that countless individuals who call themselves Christians live a seemingly picture perfect existence that appears to be marked by blessings, joys, serendipities, pleasures, and grace gifts; but in reality—from God’s perspective, the Word’s promise, and eternity’s point of view, they are stifled, held back, and handcuffed by the misery of their curse.

8. Jesus the Lifeguard

The image of Jesus as a shepherd is one that has been captured by artists and poets throughout the years. The picture of Jesus sitting in the midst of a flock of sheep with a lamb on his shoulder, captured in stained glass, has adorned many a church building. But what does that image of Jesus mean?

9. Summer Fruit

Micah longed for the time when righteousness would reign once again in Israel. He felt as though the was living in the time of gleaning the fields instead of the time of great harvest.

Media

10. PowerPoint Package: Church Attendance

Increase your church attendance with a message on the importance of a church family using these colorful backgrounds. Perfect for Back to Church Sunday.

11. PowerPoint Package: Summer Palms

Use this colorful Summer-themed media to enhance your next worship service or other community gatherings. A font file is included for simplified customization.

12. PowerPoint Package: Summer Mission Trip

Use this captivating media to help promote your church’s upcoming mission trip and to encourage members of your community to sign up. A free font file is included for simplified customization.

13. PowerPoint Package: Summer Events

Summer is here! It’s a great time to get your congregation together over shared meals, shared events, and shared interests. Use this ‘Summer Event Pack’ to promote fellowship in your congregation. Use one image or all the images to promote your plans and get your church engaged.

14. PowerPoint Package: The Time is Now

Use this background set to talk about the importance of using time wisely and making urgent spiritual decisions.

15. Video: Don’t Go to Church (Summer Edition)

It’s Summer! Time for vacations, sunshine, and trips to the beach. Time to let your Bible collect some dust and maybe sleep in on a Sunday. After all, you’ve worked hard. You deserve a church break…right? This summer, don’t ignore the God who has never once ignored you. It’s summer…see you at church!

Find all of these here.

25 Easter Ideas for Sermons and Worship After Easter

By
Daniel So
-

July 18, 2018

Once Easter is over, these 25 Easter ideas for sermons and worship will keep the momentum going.

One of the best ways to follow up with your Easter guests, as well as to encourage your church members, is by preaching about living out the new life we have in Christ. Read more…

Sermons

1. Resurrection Power

Scripture: Acts 1:1-3

Summary: Jesus has unleashed resurrection power on the earth. What happens because of that resurrection power?

2. A New Life

Scripture: Isaiah 1:18

Summary: There is a power that each believer can receive and attain from Almighty God. According to the Bible, we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Our greatest need is the forgiveness of Almighty God, that we may walk in his will.

3. Our New Life in Christ

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-11

Summary: Our New Life in Christ: What’s it all about? Right living, regular praying, rich loving, rich giving, and radiant serving.

4. What Should I Leave Behind?

Scripture: Joshua 6:15-7:15

Summary: This sermon deals with letting go of our past so that we can find freedom to enter a new life in God.

5. New Life in the Spirit

Scripture: Romans 8:1-4, Romans 8:1-6

Summary: The New Life in the Spirit, made possible through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of Life, brings deliverance from the old bondage of sin and death.

6. A New Creation

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Summary: God has given us newness of life through Jesus Christ, therefore (1) do not live in the past, and (2) live with a renewed purpose.

7. New Life on Purpose: Worship

Scripture: John 4:23-24

Summary: We were created to worship our creator in spirit and in truth.

8. New Life on Purpose: Work

Scripture: John 13:3-17

Summary: We are committed to minister to each other and our community in humble service.

9. New Life on Purpose: Witness

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-29:18

Summary: We were commanded to share the truth of the gospel with every living creature.

10. Change What You Are Wearing

Scripture: Genesis 41:14-46:14

Summary: Something must change when God wants to do a new thing. Look at story of 3 people who experienced a new thing. They had to change something. Everyone in scripture who experienced a major New Thing had to change something.

11. New Life, New Way

Scripture: Acts 4:32-35

Summary: As we emerge “this side of Easter,” Luke’s description of the early church community in Acts makes us think deeply about the effects Jesus’ resurrection might actually have on our lives.

12. Get Out of Those Grave Clothes

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-5:17

Summary: Paul in these verses tells us how to walk in this new life. (Ephesians 5)

13. Count Yourselves Dead to Sin

Scripture: Romans 6:11-14

Summary: A strategy for spiritual victory is given that focuses on appropriating Christ’s power in your life.

14. Beating Controlling Habits

Scripture: Galatians 5:1

Summary: People struggle with controlling habits. The Lord wants to set us free.

15. Paul: A High Impact Person, Moving From Success To Significance

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-4:4

Summary: We all can learn from Biblical characters/scoundrels because they were all thoroughly changed when they encountered God. From the example of Paul we can see how God can change and use us to be “High-Impact People” for Him.

Worship

16. Video: Let’s Go

Jesus is alive! That powerful Easter moment was not an ending but a beginning. After His resurrection, Jesus commanded us to go and tell the world. To share the hope of Easter with everyone, everywhere. Easter may be over, but our commission is clear…Let’s Go!

17. PowerPoint Package: Transformation

A perfect set of preaching backgrounds for a message about Transformation.

18. Graphic: New Life

An exciting, high resolution image of new spring leaves. Great for use in your church bulletins or to display worship lyrics, announcements, and key sermon points.

19. PowerPoint Package: From Death to Life

Bring the message of the new life to your congregation and visitors.

20. Video: Transformation is Possible

We are easily captivated by imaginary stories brought to life on the big screen and yet these stories pale in comparison to the story of a life transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This video draws that comparison in an entertaining and humorous way. It’s the perfect intro for a message on the power of the cross to change and transform us.

21. PowerPoint Package: Grafted Into New Life

This simple but elegant image of a leaf falling reminds that we can come into New Life.

22. Video: Follow the Call of Jesus

Life can seem like a constant race. This film tells us to follow God and our paths will be made straight. We can walk by faith and not by sight.

23. Video: Work in Progress

We are all a work in progress and our fears and failures have not won. God has made us a new creation in Him. Let us go out and show the world what Jesus can do through us.

24. Video: Love is Alive

At the cross, they thought it was over. Jesus was dead. Hope was lost. Love was dead. Three days later, all of that changed. Jesus was victorious. Sin and death were defeated and hope was restored. Jesus couldn’t stay in the grave because love is alive!

25. Video: We Will Rise

Churches will celebrate the resurrection of Christ, and for good reason. But what if the resurrection is inviting us – even challenging us – to allow the life of Christ to rise up within us, for the sake of the world? His story didn’t end in the grave. Neither will yours.

Update: Andrew Brunson Allowed to Leave Turkish Prison

By
Bob Ditmer
-

July 18, 2018

UPDATE: July 25, 2018

American pastor, Andrew Brunson, held for two years on terrorism and spying charges, is leaving his prison cell.

A Turkish court has ruled that Brunson should be moved from Kiriklar prison to house arrest in Turkey, according to World Watch Monitor.

Brunson’s release comes a day after his daughter described Turkey’s two-year persecution of the pastor to delegates at the US State Department’s first-ever religious freedom ministerial being held in Washington, D. C.

Brunson will remain in pre-trial detention until the next hearing, scheduled for October 12.

UPDATE: July 18, 2018

A Turkish court has ruled that Andrew Brunson, an American pastor being tried on terrorism and spying charges, will be kept in jail pending trial.

The Second High Penal Court in İzmir decided to continue listening to the testimonies of witnesses in the next hearing on Oct. 12. Turkish judges previously denied his requests for release on April 16 and May 7.

In the courtroom, Brunson said the court had no concrete evidence as he denied the testimony of two witnesses who claimed he supported Kurdish militants. “The disciples of Jesus suffered in his name, now it is my turn,” he said, Reuters reported. “I am an innocent man on all these charges.”

The trial of a North Carolina pastor facing up to 35 years in prison over terrorism charges began on Monday.

Andrew Brunson, a 50-year-old evangelical pastor from Black Mountain, North Carolina, has spent the last 23 years living in Turkey, where he and his wife raised their daughter and two sons.

Brunson was arrested in October 2016, shortly after a failed military coup. Turkish officials claimed recently that Brunson took part in the attempted overthrow of the Erdogan government by aiding terrorist groups or spying. At the time of the uprising Brunson was leading the Resurrection Church in the western city of Izmir and applying for permanent residency.

“I don’t accept any of the allegations or accusations,” the state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Brunson as telling the court. “I did not engage in any illegal activity. I had no relations with anyone engaged in such activity.”

He added: “I am a Christian pastor. I did not join an Islamic movement. Their aims and mine are different.”

The agency said the pastor delivered his defense statement in Turkish.

The pastor’s lawyer, Ismail Cem Halavurt, told NBC News before the trial that he’s not been told who the witnesses are and that Brunson denies the charges.

Brunson, 50, appeared in court on Monday in the town of Aliaga for the first day of his trial. Also in court were Sam Brownback, the U.S. ambassador at large for religious freedoms, and U.S. Senator Thom Tillis.

Brunson’s lawyer, Cem Halavurt, has called the charges “totally unfounded,” saying they are based on testimony from secret informants. He told the AFP news agency ahead of the hearing that his client was “both nervous, but also excited because it is the first time he will appear before a judge. He has expectations and a hope.”

Brunson’s daughter, Jacqueline Furnari, told NBC News that relatives were happy the case was moving forward but concerned it could drag on further. “I’m not sure exactly why my dad was chosen. He’s a pawn in a political game between Turkey and the U.S.”

The case has strained relations between the U.S. and NATO ally Turkey.

Meanwhile, it appears the U.S. government hoped Brunson would be released, avoiding a trial. U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chairman Dr. Daniel Mark issued a statement saying he was disappointed that Turkey decided to prolong their prosecution and unjust imprisonment of Pastor Andrew Brunson.

“Pastor Brunson is an innocent religious leader whose imprisonment for over 18 months on false allegations is an abomination. This latest development is yet another reason for the international community to condemn his imprisonment and for Congress and the administration to consider stronger steps against Turkey, including the imposition of targeted sanctions against those involved in this miscarriage of justice.”

According to CeCe Heil, executive senior counsel at the American Center for Law and Justice, Brunson has lost 50 lbs during his detention and been denied private meetings with his lawyer.

Jacqueline Furnari told a U.S. commission investigating the crackdown in Turkey that she had postponed her wedding in her father’s absence.

“I’m still waiting for my dad to walk me down the aisle, and I’m still waiting for that father-daughter dance,” she said.

Brunson is facing up to 35 years behind bars if convicted.

Numbers of Enslaved Predicted to Explode. What Can the Church Do?

By
Bob Ditmer
-

July 18, 2018

It is estimated that 45.8 million people alive today are enslaved. But a new report suggests the number is about to get a lot bigger thanks to the onset of robot manufacturing.

The annual Human Rights Outlook suggests automation will result in drastic job losses, especially in South East Asia.

The report predicts that slavery and trafficking will spiral as a result.

“Displaced workers without the skills to adapt or the cushion of social security will have to compete for a diminishing supply of low-paid, low-skilled work in what will likely be an increasingly exploitative environment,” says Verisk Maplecroft’s Head of Human Rights, Dr. Alexandra Channer. “Without concrete measures from governments to adapt and educate future generations to function alongside machines, it could be a race to the bottom for many workers.”

But it’s not just governments that should respond. Gary Haugen, Founder, CEO and former President of International Justice Mission, sees an opportunity for the church.

It’s an opening that Haugen believes the church has missed for too long. He told the ChurchLeaders podcast that although Christians have responded to evangelism and many charitable needs, “the one category where we could not see where the body of Christ had very much capacity to respond was where the poor were the victims of violence. One of the biggest forms of violence that the poor suffer around the world is slavery.”

Recalling the biblical story of the Good Samaritan, Haugen asks, what if the person in need is not laying injured in the aftermath of an attack but being beaten as you walk by? What would Jesus have you do?

Haugen said the answer lies in the Golden Rule. “If I’m being beaten up on the side of the road and a Christian comes along, what do I want him to do? I don’t want that Christian to just wait until the beating is done and give me care…I would want that beating to stop.”

“If I could transport our congregations to those places,” Haugen says of the brothels or the fishing villages that enslave children, “no one would be wondering, ‘does Jesus really think this is important? What should we do?’”

He said, instead, “love would compel us is to raise our voices and do what we can to bring rescue.”

The Effort to Stop Slavery Will Be a Big Job

One of IJM’s primary points of emphasis is ending the sex trade; a daunting task. President Donald Trump recently called human trafficking worse “than it’s ever been in the history of the world.”

Statistics from government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) back Trump’s claim to a certain extent. Some studies say that global human trafficking is, in nominal terms, at a historic high point. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) estimates that there are more than 21 million victims of human trafficking worldwide as part of a $32 billion industry. Five and a half million of these 21 million victims of human trafficking are children, according to UNICEF estimates.

Social media is helping the traffickers. In the past year, the UN reports, sex traffickers have used the encrypted communications app Telegram to set up online slave auctions, circulating photos of captured Yazidi women, including their age, marital status, current location and price.

Recently, a member of Islamic State attempted to sell two enslaved women on Facebook. Displaced female Syrian refugees in Lebanon have been traded on WhatsApp, and Islamic State relies increasingly on secure apps such as Surespot and Threema for its communications.

Haugen is undaunted. “On our best days God is calling us to lead our churches in the tough things because that’s when we’ll need God.” He told the podcast audience that church leaders want this challenge, “Pastors yearn for their people to be revitalized and alive to God. There is nothing that revitalizes that experience of God more than being his witness in difficult places.”

Churches Unite to Stop Slavery

In fact, Haugen thinks slavery can be ended in this generation, if the church gets involved. More than 3,000 churches around the world agree with him and have dedicated themselves to Freedom Sunday.

On September 23rd, churches around the world “will focus on God’s passion for the fight against slavery,” Haugen announced.

Haugen believes the effort is not only what Jesus would have the church do, but will also help them grow and increase their influence in the world. In fact, he said it’s not a new plan, it’s rooted in Scripture. “The early church grew because of the supernatural way Christians loved the weak and vulnerable that couldn’t be explained.”

He’s praying for a repeat performance.

This Is Why the Church Needs a Better Narrative About Sex

By
Bob Ditmer
-

July 18, 2018

Two items in the news this week highlight the ongoing debate in culture over sexuality. Is it possible that sexual norms are changing drastically because Christians don’t know how to answer the question, “what does the Bible say about sex?”

Recently, the United Methodist Church appointed a transgender deacon. Rev, M Barclay, as the appointee requests to be called, is the first non-binary member of the clergy in the one of the largest denominations in America.

“I understand the rules of the church,” Barclay said. “But here’s the truth: I’m queer, and I’m called to this. I tried to walk away”.

Barclay identifies as neither male nor female and prefers to be called by the pronoun “they”.

In the other development, pedophiles are rebranding themselves as “MAPs” or “Minor Attracted Persons” in an effort to gain acceptance and be included into the LGBT community, according to several reports from LGBT news sites.

According to Urban Dictionary, the blanket term MAP includes infantophiles (those attracted to infants), pedophiles (pre-pubescent children), hebephiles (pubescent children), and ephebophiles (post-pubescent children). Some MAPs also refer to themselves as NOMAPs or “Non-Offending Minor Attracted Persons”.

The stories will likely make many churchgoers uncomfortable but clinical psychologist Juli Slattery says that’s because sexuality, outside of a list of do’s and don’ts, isn’t discussed on Sundays.

“Sexuality from the very beginning was created with this embedded spiritual significance that nobody really talks about”.

Slattery, the author of Rethinking Sexuality was recently a guest on the ChurchLeaders podcast.

She told host Jason Daye that her passion is helping people make the connection “about why God cares so much about sexuality and how we steward our sexuality”.

“Why did God create sexuality the way he did? What’s the purpose of our sexuality if everything in creation has something spiritual to teach us; what’s the spiritual thing our sexuality is supposed to teach us? Why is spirituality so passionate; why is it so vulnerable? Why does it embody so much of who we are as people? Why is it constantly under spiritual attack? As I’ve studied this in Scripture what I’ve come to learn is sexuality is first and foremost, not just to have babies, but to teach us about the nature of God’s covenant love”.

Why Isn’t the Church Asking ‘What Does the Bible Says About Sex?’

The vacuum left behind by those unasked questions is being filled by the culture.

“Christians just don’t talk that explicitly about sexual things. We’re far more comfortable with secular talk related to sexuality than spiritual talk related to sexuality and that has accelerated in the last decade or so.”

“The culture at large has a narrative to help us understand the purpose of our sexuality” Slattery pointed out. “It’s a narrative rooted in humanism and individualism, but it’s a story that helps us make sense of why I might be attracted to women instead of men or what do I do if I’m in an unhappy marriage. They tell you what to do with that and how to make sense of that.”

“The church at best has given us a list of do’s and don’ts about sexuality that don’t involve a narrative. So when you’re looking at that list and it doesn’t make sense for your life….you tend to view your sexuality through the cultural narrative.

“We need to embrace a biblical narrative that helps us make sense of sexuality not just a list of rules that we keep reciting.”

The recent news stories feature people who claim they are simply being true to themselves and in some cases only acting the way God made them.

“This whole idea of being true to yourself has evolved because we have rejected God as a reliable source of truth and shifted to humanistic society where I can be the source of truth,” Dr. Slattery countered. “Even if you are a committed Christian, you can’t underestimate how that has affected how we reason with ourselves. You don’t find truth by looking inward, the heart is wicked, but you can find truth by looking to God.”

What the Bible Says About Sex Is More than Just Homosexuality and Porn

But Slattery also feels the church is being hypocritical when it wades into the sexual debates of the day.

“A church that has never considered a theology of sexuality will start talking about why gay marriage is wrong or why pornography is such a great evil. It smacks of hypocrisy because now all of a sudden we’re talking about this one issue that isolates a few people. Instead what we have to start with is laying the groundwork for a holistic theology of sexuality including how all of us are at some level broken, including the pastors, including the leaders, how we struggle. All of us need God’s grace.”

Juli Slattery: Embracing a Biblical Narrative of Sexuality

By
Jason Daye
-

July 18, 2018



Juli Slattery is a recognized expert in the integration of biblical truth and sexuality. She is a clinical psychologist, author, and speaker, with over twenty-five years of experience counseling, discipling, and teaching women.

Key Questions for Juli Slattery:

– How do questions about our sexuality relate to our spirituality?
– How does what we find in scripture relate to sexuality?
[SUBSCRIBE] For more ChurchLeaders podcasts click here!
Key Quotes from Juli Slattery:

“Not only are my opinions and actions about sexuality based on my beliefs about God but also my sexual experiences impact how I view God.”

“Understanding how God created our sexuality teaches us about his covenant love.”

“We’re far more comfortable with secular talk related to sexuality than spiritual talk related to spirituality and that has accelerated in the last decade or so.”

“The church, at best, has given us a list of do’s and don’ts about sexuality that don’t involve a narrative…you tend to view your sexuality through the cultural narrative.”

“We need to embrace a biblical narrative that helps us make sense of sexuality not just a list of rules that we keep reciting.”

“We have rejected God as a reliable sense of truth and shifted to humanistic society where I can be the source of truth.”

“If I worship the creator and strive to live with integrity to him that will get me further to a place of fulfillment and joy than trying to be try to what I want.”

“Pastors are in a real difficult spot related to sexuality because it’s divisive but also because we have no models to follow.”

“God’s word is always divisive. Jesus told us the world hated hm and it will hate us.”

“We have to start laying the groundwork regarding how we all struggle with sexuality.”

“Humility toward God helps me stay grounded in truth. Humility toward people keeps me grounded in love.”

Links Mentioned by Juli Slattery in the Show:

Rethinking Sexuality

Authentic Intimacy

Juli Slattery on ChurchLeaders:

The “Why” for Every Sexual Question

Juli Slattery: The True Purpose of Discipline

5 Tips for Evaluating Your Worship Experience

By
Carl Barnhill
-

July 17, 2018

Evaluation is a vital part of making your Worship Experiences better.

There are times, as media leaders in our church, where I believe we may feel timid about critiquing the work of a volunteer. Although I do think that we need to be more delicate in our approach with volunteers, knowing that they are serving for free, I believe volunteers do want to serve our church with the best of their ability. To lovingly come alongside them to cast vision and evaluate Worship Experiences to make them better is to their benefit, to the benefit of your team, and to the benefit of your congregation.

Let me give you 5 ways I have found to improve the way you evaluate your Worship Experiences with your team.

1. Ask Your Volunteers their thoughts before Telling Them Things to Fix.
I started to use the approach of asking questions to the team first instead of going down my list of critiques. For example, during Run-Through on a Sunday morning, I would make a list of things that I saw that needed to be tweaked or fixed going into the first service of the day. When our production team met before the start of the first service, instead of running down my list of tweaks, I would ask the team what they thought of the Run-Through and what areas we might could [sic] tighten up.

What I found with this approach is that most of the time, the team members vocalized with each other exactly what was on my list. If they didn’t, I would ask questions to steer them to think about possible improvements. Asking questions instead of rattling off my list of fixes allowed them to feel ownership in the process. It also allowed them to think for themselves and not rely on me for all the answers. It allowed me to let the team operate on their own.

2. It’s okay to Push for Excellence.
I’m not sure where our mentality to think that just because we are working with volunteers means we need to ‘accept the inevitable’ that our Worship Experience is going to be sub-par, but I’d like to bust this stigma. Why not strive for the most excellent Worship Experience we can craft as a team together ever, every Sunday? When did it become not okay to push for excellence with our team, staff members or volunteers?

If we set the expectations for our team, cast compelling vision, I’ve found that the team can rise to the occasion. If I act like I don’t want to be there, that I have a million other places I’d rather be than on church on Sunday morning, that I don’t care if the Experience for our guests is the best it can be, my team feeds off that.

It’s okay to push for excellence. Don’t be a jerk. Be loving and kind. Encourage a lot more than you critique. But lead your team.

3. The Details Matter.
At the risk of sounding too picky, details in our Worship Experiences matter. Fix the extra space, the typo, the wrong font size in the lyrics for that worship song. Adjust that light fixture where it is balanced on both sides of the stage. Fix the choir or worship band so that [they’re] symmetrical or in a great place to be lit on stage. The details show you care.

I am not saying to be overly sensitive about every little, tiny thing, especially if the audience will never be distracted by it.

I am encouraging us to take pride in everything that is presented on Sunday. If we, as leaders, care about the details, our team will pick up on that. They start caring about each element as well. If the details start to slide, our experiences can start to look sloppy and not well put-together. Details matter.

4. Look for common Themes and Mistakes.
Common mistakes from multiple team members could be a great opportunity to plan a training event to cover that topic. If your camera operators are consistently struggling with the focus of their camera shots, take note of that. If your ProPresenter Operators are continually behind on lyrics or missing cues, plan a training night for ProPresenter Operators only to work through common mistakes and possible solutions.

A good time for a training night could be the same night your band rehearses. This provides live people on stage to practice with. Be sure to talk with your Worship Leader and explain your vision to them so they know what you are thinking.

Common themes and mistakes might give you an opportunity to add items to your training guides or checklists for each position. Finding solutions to common problems help when newcomers are added to your team. It allows you to speak into possible mistakes before they happen.

5. Be specific.
I have struggled in the past with either not wanting to hurt someone’s feelings or not communicating well what I’d like to see in the Worship Experience. One thing I’m realizing more and more as I serve in ministry, is that at times ‘to be unclear is to be unkind’. Meaning, it can cause more confusion or heartache to be vague about something you want changed in the Worship Experience than to be specific.

Sometimes, this is extremely hard. We are dealing with volunteers. We are dealing with people.

Try asking questions to your team as I suggested above first.

But there are times when we need to lead and we need to be specific about what we want to see. Be kind, be loving, but be clear and specific.

BONUS TIP:
If you video record your services, try uploading your service to Vimeo. You can make your video private and only give the password to your team members. Then you can type notes in the Description section in the Settings of your video. When typing in a timecode in the comments, Vimeo automatically makes the timecode clickable and will jump straight to that timecode in your video.

So when evaluating your Worship Experiences, you can point to specific times in the service and make a note to encourage your team or challenge your team through a critique.

For example:

4:15 – Great stage camera shot! That’s what I’m talking about! Wow! The rack focus shot into the keys was amazing!

24:12 – Let’s work on leading lyrics here, I felt like the congregation struggled singing because our lyrics were a touch behind.

I have found these tips useful for evaluating the Worship Experiences I’ve been involved in. I hope they help you as you lead your team to excellence this Sunday!

This article originally appeared here.

The Growing Church Series | Reflections on Church Governance

By
Chris Pascarella
-

July 17, 2018

In 2016, Brandon Kelley introduced 10 Characteristics of Churches that Grow. Reading over the list reminded me that my own church implemented many of the same changes recommended in the series, even though I didn’t know of Rookie Preacher at the time! So I wanted to look over the list again and implement all of the recommendations and see if the church would continue to grow. The model of church governance commended in the series had actually already been installed in the church before I arrived on staff. Here are some reflections on how a “staff led, elder protected” governance model has worked for us.

A Brief History

My church began (before I was born!) as a nondenominational Bible church. The founding pastor was the senior pastor for a long time. He then left to do missions work but eventually came back for a second stint. After he left the second time, the church went through senior pastor after senior pastor. So about 10 years ago, the deacon board decided to move to a “plurality of elders” model of church leadership. In many ways, my church operates as a “staff led, elder protected” church as detailed in the article. The results have been astounding. The church has continued to grow sustainably over the last 10 years. There has been much less staff “turbulence” with pastors coming and going. I am the least tenured staff member and I have already been on staff for five years!

Church Governance and Growth

I have actually seen a direct correlation between church governance and growth. I went back to our attendance archives and averaged out the attendance year-by-year. I also overlaid the tenure of the senior pastors on top of the attendance and what I discovered was that every time the senior pastor left, the church declined!

Church governance matters. It matters not just from a biblical-faithfulness perspective but also from a fruitfulness-growth perspective.

How “Staff Led, Elder Protected” Works on the Ground

The first article in the series lays out the various church governance models and suggests that a “staff led, elder protected” model is the best way to go. I agree. In fact, when the church moved to a plurality of elders model, it also began to function as being lead by the staff and protected by the elders. Here’s how our church governance handles the practical realities of ministry.

Money

In our model, the entire church membership gets one major vote every year: the overall budget. The elders develop the budget for the year and once the budget is passed, the entire church does not weigh in on every expenditure. Each ministry is given a budget and then the pastors and/or ministry leaders are free to use that money as they see fit. Such a process keeps the leadership accountable to the wider church but also streamlines the day-to-day functionality of the budget.

Vision

The elders and staff pastor collaborate on the vision for the year. We, as staff pastors, will usually “pitch” a vision going into our summer leaders retreat. We then refine the vision for the year with input from the elders. We present the refined vision at our annual vision meeting in September (which kicks off our ministry year).

Controversy and Criticism

The number one way the elders protect us as staff pastors is by taking on controversy and backing us up when criticized. They will often meet with those going through difficult times or confront those in serious sin without the staff pastors having to shoulder the load. This frees us up for more ministry and service to the body. They also provide unflagging public support for us as pastors. Although they may not agree with every decision we make, they will back us publicly. In doing so, we can minister with confidence and courage.

This article originally appeared here.

21 Questions to Ask Those You Lead

By
Kathie Philips
-

July 17, 2018

I have had the privilege of being a wife and mom for over 20 years now. One of the (many) things I’ve learned during that time is how important it is for me to ask great questions when I communicate with my family. Stress and strain can result in my relationships if I don’t communicate well. Can you relate?

Healthy relationships thrive on being able to reciprocate good, healthy communication strategies. My mom refers to this as ‘tossing the ball back’ when having a conversation. I speak, you listen. You speak, I listen.

Sure, there are lots of ingredients that go into having a conversation with someone (talking, listening, eye contact, body language, tone, etc.) but I think some of it boils down to asking great questions. Great questions can often determine the course of the conversation. Some conversations can come to a screeching halt before they even start if we’re not careful! I certainly haven’t mastered this, but I have made significant strides in this department. For example, I now ask open-ended questions that don’t garner a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response. Sometimes I push the “How did you feel about that?” question and sometimes I don’t. More often than not, I find that pausing to pray before speaking and asking God for wisdom has saved me quite a few times! I’ve learned, too, that it’s not always what I’m saying but how I’m saying it.

This same principle applies to ministry relationships. Effective communication is vital in leading others and to the health, growth and success of our ministry. In addition, good communication develops trust between a leader and those they care for.

If you want to engage someone in conversation, you have to be intentional about setting both of parties up for success. Here are just a few questions to help get those important conversation started:

Questions for Your Staff

What do we do well?

What can be improved?

Who can we invite to be part of our ministry team?

How does this program or event fit into our ministry vision and goals?

Who should we invite to be part of this discussion? Who needs to be around the table?

How can I pray for you?

How can we grow together as a team?

Questions for Your Volunteers

What worked well?

What can be improved?

How can we better equip you to lead well?

Is there anyone you know who would be a great addition to our team?

We are thinking of [insert idea]. What are your initial thoughts about that?

Do you feel challenged in your role right now?

How can I pray for you?

Questions for Parents/Families

How would you describe our ministry?

How can our ministry better serve our church’s families?

What can we do to better equip you to disciple your family?

What conversations are your family having? Where are these conversations taking place?

How can we pray for you?

What is your child struggling with?

How can we better strengthen the relationship between your home and the church?

Of course, there are risks involved when questions are asked. We see vulnerabilites in people and become vulnerable ourselves. We also have to be open to receive feedback (both positive and negative) that might trigger a certain response. But think about this…how much are you and I missing out on because important, strategic questions aren’t being asked?

This article originally appeared here.

For more great articles on leading volunteers, check out 25 Best Articles on Leading Volunteers (That Get Them to Stay and Thrive!)

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Fear of Christians Leads to Chinese Church Demolition

5 simple and effective ways to deal with the naysayers

1. Pray them quiet.

2. Don’t waste too much time responding to the naysayers.

3. Make sure the leadership of the church is fully behind you.

4. Pray and take defensive action when things turn ugly.

5. Put the focus on celebrating God, not gloating over the naysayers, as your ministry vision gets accomplished.

A Dysfunctional Small Group

Here are just a few of the tensions that we manage in our ministries:

Depth/Width

Attractional/Missional

Healthy Church/Sending Church

Empowering New Leaders/Pursuing Excellence

1. Put blinders on.

2. Remember Jesus’s Unfair Calling

Our Choice: Bitterness or Joy?

Recognizing the Person Who Could Foster a Dangerous Church

1. He Is Gospel-Eclipsing

2. He Is Critical

Episcopal Church Overwhelmingly Approves Resolution

Media

Sermons

Worship

The Effort to Stop Slavery Will Be a Big Job

Churches Unite to Stop Slavery

Why Isn’t the Church Asking ‘What Does the Bible Says About Sex?’

What the Bible Says About Sex Is More than Just Homosexuality and Porn

Key Quotes from Juli Slattery:

Links Mentioned by Juli Slattery in the Show:

Juli Slattery on ChurchLeaders:

A Brief History

Church Governance and Growth

How “Staff Led, Elder Protected” Works on the Ground

Money

Vision

Controversy and Criticism

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