Vatican Conference Ponders Who Really Holds the Power of AI

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June 28, 2024

Photo credit: BoliviaInteligente / Unsplash

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Experts on Artificial Intelligence met at the Vatican on Thursday to discuss the implications of this ascendant technology — which Pope Francis hopes to inject with Christian morals and ethics — while calling for international regulation.

“What has happened in the past 70 years is that society is guided by software,” said Fr. Paolo Benanti, a Franciscan and a theologian who advises Pope Francis on questions of AI, during his speech at the Vatican event.

“Whoever has the software, has the power,” added Benanti, who is also a member of the United Nations’ AI Advisory Body.

The conference, titled “Algorithm at the Service of Man: Communicating in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” is the latest in a number of events organized by the Vatican to address growing concerns over AI and its applications.

Through formal and informal channels, the Vatican and Pope Francis have created networks in Silicon Valley and made connections with major players in the fields of technology and communications to promote an ethical approach to AI. In January, Francis made AI the central theme of his message for World Day of Peace, and in June he became the first pontiff to attend a G7 meeting where he spoke about the ethical ramifications of AI.

Speaking to the leaders of the U.S., U.K., Italy, France, Canada, Germany and Japan, the pope said that while AI represents “a true cognitive-industrial revolution,” the final say must “always be left to the human person.”

Francis spoke about machine learning and AI again in his public message for the World Day of Social Communication, where he warned of AI’s ability to “pollute” our understanding of reality through fake news and deep-fake images. The pope mentioned he was also a victim of the highly realistic AI replicas that can be quick to go viral online.

As soon as I saw this viral photo of Pope Francis in a puffer jacket I thought, “AI fake!” (And indeed it is.) https://t.co/S0KdzZhVyF pic.twitter.com/EQqDkSxgFN

— Chico Harlan (@chicoharlan) March 26, 2023

The world is at a crossroads, he said, where unregulated AI risks furthering discrimination, polarization and injustice. “On one hand we face the specter of a new slavery, on the other of delivering freedom; on one hand there is the possibility that a few will condition the thoughts of many, on the other that everyone may take part in elaborating our beliefs,” Francis said.

The pope’s message was the inspiring document for the Vatican conference on Thursday, where experts spoke about the power that influential financial interests will have in shaping the future of AI.

“The great tech producers are infusing our computers with artificial intelligence,” Benanti said about the increasing presence and agency of AI in everyday devices. “This is a challenge that we are not yet prepared for,” he added.

The vice director general of Italy’s Agency for National Cybersecurity, Nunzia Ciardi, also warned at the conference of the influence held by leading AI developers.

“Artificial intelligence is made up of massive economic investments that only large superpowers can afford and through which they ensure a very important geopolitical dominance and access to the large amount of data that AI must process to produce outputs,” Ciardi said.

Calvin University Board Charged With Examining Faculty Dissent

By

Ethan Meyers

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June 28, 2024

(RNS) — The denomination overseeing Calvin University has asked the Grand Rapids, Michigan, school to develop a process for dealing with faculty members who disagree with parts of church doctrine.

The charge, part of the June 18 annual synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, was described as an effort to “rebuild trust” between the denomination and its flagship school. In particular the synod was concerned with faculty members who oppose the denomination’s 2022 decision to codify in its confession of faith “homosexual sex” as sinful.

Delegates to this month’s synod also voted to instruct churches that are LGBTQ+-affirming to repent of their stance or disaffiliate with the denomination and placed church officers who are LGBTQ+-affirming on “limited suspension.”

While the synodical report recognized “Calvin’s efforts to be faithful to the Reformed confessions in the context of academic inquiry,” some members of the university faculty raised concerns about the decisions’ implications for academic freedom.

The decisions at the 2024 synod involved major changes to church policy on confessional difficulty, sometimes also called a “gravamen.” A gravamen is an official statement that church members and other officebearers may file to register disagreement with a specific part of church doctrine.

Calvin faculty are not considered church officebearers, but Calvin is one of the denominational institutions instructed to “review and revise, as needed, their gravamina policies.”

A number of Calvin faculty have submitted gravamina related to the denomination’s stance on human sexuality. The exact number is hard to ascertain since these statements of confessional difficulty are confidential. But following the synod’s 2022 decision elevating the view of LGBTQ+ sex as sinful, about a dozen faculty came together as a cohort to file formal disagreements, or gravamina.

As a denominationally affiliated school, Calvin faculty are required to sign a covenant affirming the Heidelberg Catechism. They are also required to pledge to “teach, speak, and write in harmony with the confessions,” according to the faculty handbook.

David Koetje, a professor of biology and vice-chair of the faculty senate, said the administration was “still trying to figure out what this means for Calvin faculty who’ve acted in good faith within Calvin’s longstanding gravamina process.”

James Bratt, a retired history professor, noted that the synod’s request isn’t new. Throughout the 1940s, faculty were required to submit their course outlines to the synod for review. In the 1980s and 1990s, Calvin physics professor Howard Van Til was subject to scrutiny by the denomination related to his scholarship on the Earth’s age and the publication of his controversial book, “The Fourth Day,” which opposed creationism. During the early 2010s, the synod questioned several Calvin religion professors over how they taught creation and evolution.

Some Calvin faculty are nervous about the implications of the synod’s decisions for the future.

“The CRC has provided many, many blessings and gifts in my life,” said Debra Rienstra, professor of English at Calvin. “But what happened last week is a new version of the CRC. I have never seen the complete shutting down of principled dissent like we saw this week.”

There Is Only One House of God

By

Nicholas Batzig

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June 28, 2024

There might not be a passage of Scripture more underappreciated for its rich theological, ecclesiological, and eschatological focus than that which we find in Hebrews 3:1-6.

The writer was wishing to highlight the betterness of Christ to everyone in the Old Testament economy to keep the eyes of those to whom he was writing on Christ. The danger was for them to turn back to the weak and beggarly elements of Judaism, with its focus on external ceremonies and preparatory types. All of these things having passed away, the author firsts compares and contrasts Moses and Christ. Since Moses was the typical redeemer of the Old Covenant, it would make sense for the writing to highlight the relationship between the type (i.e., Moses) and the antitype (i.e., Christ).

There is a world of theological riches that open to us when we carefully consider this text.

The first thing that the writer does is to draw our attention to Jesus as “the apostle and high priest of our confession.” Jesus is both the great Prophet, revealing the true God, to his people and the great High Priest, representing believers to God by his atoning sacrifice and continual intercession. He is the Prophet of all the prophets in that he immediately reveals God as God manifest in the flesh. Among all the other prophets, Moses stands unique. In one sense, he is like Jesus in that all the other prophets in the Old Covenant church come under his ministry. Geerhardus Vos explained,

Moses…is placed not merely at the head of the succession of prophets, but placed over them in advance. His authority extends over subsequent ages. The later prophets do not create anything new; they only predict something new. It is true, Moses can be co-ordinated with the prophets: [Deut. 18:18; “a prophet like unto thee”]. Nevertheless the prophets themselves are clearly conscious of the unique position of Moses. They put his work not so much on a line with their own, as with the stupendous eschatological work of Jehovah for his people expected in the latter days [cp. Isa. 10:26; 11:11; 63:11, 12; Jer. 23:5–8; Mic. 7:15].

Additionally, Moses authorized the building of the tabernacle with its priesthood and sacrificial system. Until the formation of the Aaronic priesthood, Moses acted in a priestly way among the people of God. He was also a kingly figure in his role as the lawgiver. Vos again noted,

According to Num. 12:7, Moses was set over all God’s house. It is entirely in keeping with this prospective import of Moses and his work, that his figure acquires typical proportions to an unusual degree. He may be fitly called the redeemer of the Old Testament. Nearly all the terms in use for the redemption of the New Testament can be traced back to his time. There was in his work such a close connection between revealing words and redeeming acts as can be paralleled only from the life of Christ. And the acts of Moses were to a high degree supernatural, miraculous acts. This typical relation of Moses to Christ can easily be traced in each of the three offices we are accustomed to distinguish in the soteric work of Christ. The “prophet” of Deut. 18:15, reaching his culmination in the Messiah, is “like unto” Moses.

Moses fulfilled priestly functions at the inauguration of the Old Berith, before the Aaronic priesthood was instituted [Ex. 24:4–8]. Our Lord refers to this as a typical transaction, when inaugurating the New Diatheke at the institution of the supper [Lk. 22:20]. Moses intercedes for Israel after the commission of the sin of the golden calf, and that by offering his own person vicariously for bearing the punishment of the guilty [Ex. 32:30–33]. A royal figure, of course, Moses could not at that time be called, for Jehovah alone is King of Israel. None the less, through his legislative function Moses typified the royal office of Christ.

He then proceeds to compare Moses and Jesus, in accord with the principle of faithfulness. Both Moses and Christ were faithful to God. They were faithful in the lives and ministries among the people of God. The author is here highlighting the sweet continuity—showing due respect to Moses as a faithful mediator, while setting him in contrast with the antitypical faithful mediator of the new and better covenant.

The contrast comes when the author notes that Moses acted servant in the house of God, whereas Christ acted as the Son over the house. The difference is one of authority. Jesus has divine authority over the church of God since he is himself the eternal divine Son. The writer notes this contrast when he says:

“Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God)” (Heb. 3:3-4).

Christ is deserving of greater glory because he built the house of God as God incarnate.

Overcoming Fear: A Biblical Perspective

By

Aaron Joseph Hall

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June 28, 2024

Fear is a natural human emotion that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. It can be a healthy response to immediate danger or threat, but it can also be irrational and crippling, causing anxiety and preventing individuals from living their lives to the fullest. The “irrational” fear happens to me more times than I’d like to admit.

In today’s world, fear is increasingly prevalent due to a myriad of reasons ranging from personal insecurities to global crises. The Bible, however, provides guiding principles for overcoming fear and living a life filled with hope and courage. God has a lot to say about fear in the Bible!

This article will delve into key Bible passages that address fear and provide practical analogies and illustrations to better understand and apply these scriptural truths in our modern context. One of the best ways to combat fear is by reading and meditating on Scripture. The verses mentioned are a great starting point!

Fear Not, For God Is With Us

One of the most recurring themes in the Bible is the assurance of God’s presence in our lives. Numerous passages remind us that we need not be afraid when we have the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe by our side.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

In this verse, God assures His people that He is their source of strength and help, and they should not fear any situation they face. Just as a parent comforts their scared child while crossing a busy street, we too can find reassurance in God’s presence and care. This is a go-to verse for me. I often pray this verse before preaching or doing something where I’m nervous. Being reminded that God is with me changes everything—including helping me overcome fear!

Trusting God’s Sovereignty

Another powerful antidote to fear is recognizing and trusting in the sovereignty of God. When we comprehend that God is in control, it subdues our anxiety and urges us to place our trust in Him. This is an area I’m still growing in. The Lord has shown me lately how he’s in control and I’m not and I can therefore trust whatever he allows in my life.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Imagine being lost on a hike, unsure of which path to take. Instead of relying solely on your limited knowledge, you decide to trust an experienced guide who knows the terrain. In the same way, trusting in God’s sovereignty means surrendering our fears and allowing Him to lead us through life’s uncertain paths. Life will take us down some dangerous (and fearful) paths, but knowing God is in control and can take care of us changes everything.

The Power of Faith Over Fear

A strong faith in God is an effective weapon against fear. When we believe in God’s promises and have faith in His power and love, anxiety has no room to flourish. Isn’t that awesome?

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

In this passage, Jesus questions His disciples’ fear during a storm, urging them to trust in Him. Just as a life jacket helps swimmers stay afloat in turbulent waters, having faith in God equips us with the buoyancy to stay afloat amid life’s storms. Trusting Jesus and having faith that he is who he says he is changes everything because that means he has the power to silence all fear. When Peter’s eyes remained on Jesus, he stayed afloat. As soon as he focused on what was terrifying around him, he sank. Focusing on Jesus gives us the power of faith over fear!

Young Adults in Church: How To Retain Your Teen Graduates

By

Josh Evans

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June 28, 2024

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Many blog posts and books cover the subject of keeping young adults in church after high school graduation. But I want to narrow it down to four practical solutions.

When congregations use these tips, they’re more likely to retain young adults in church after graduation.

4 Ways to Keep Young Adults in Church

1. Biblical Depth

Sam Rainer, who’s studied millennials with Lifeway, finds that students who hear sound sermons weekly, are involved in small-group Bible study, and study the Bible on their own rarely drop out.[1] Yet church leaders think the solution to keeping young adults in church involves cool technology, relevancy, a casual environment, and contemporary music.

I’m not against those things; in fact, they’re all good. But they cannot be the most important thing. Millennials do like these things. Yet according to research by the Barna Group and Lifeway, they value biblical depth much more. Rainer’s challenge to church leaders: Go deeper![2]

2. Mentorship

The second way to keep young adults in church is through a mentorship program. Research proves: Teens who receive mentoring and discipleship from an adult are less likely to leave church after high school. But many churches have gone away from that focus.

The best example of a good mentorship program is between the apostle Paul and young Timothy. The Baker Encyclopedia on the Bible describes their relationship this way: “The apostle Paul, undoubtedly Timothy’s spiritual father, refers to him as ‘my true child in the faith’ (1 Tm 1:2); he perhaps converted Timothy on his first or second missionary journey. The son of a Greek (or gentile) father, Timothy was yet uncircumcised; however, when Paul decided to take Timothy with him on the second journey, he had him circumcised, so as not to hinder their missionary endeavors among the Jews. Timothy, who was ‘well-spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium’ (Acts 16:2), became Paul’s companion and assistant on his second missionary journey at Lystra.”^{^[3]}

Paul invested in young Timothy. He discipled Timothy, challenged him with practical ministry application, and ministered with him. Paul did life with Timothy and gave leadership away to Timothy. That’s a good mentorship program. If we did this more, I believe more young adults would stay in church.

How to Jumpstart Your Creativity

By

Phil Cooke

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June 28, 2024

This is as good a time as any to take your creativity to the next level. You can jumpstart your creativity. So, to help get you out of the doldrums, here are 10 important steps to give your creative thinking a shot in the arm:

How to Jumpstart Your Creativity

1. Don’t be afraid to daydream. Neurological research indicates daydreaming is good for your overall health. Much like nightdreaming, daydreaming allows ideas and connect randomly in our minds. Goof off more and stop worrying about it.

2. Stop working randomly. Discover your “zone” – the time of day when you’re most creative, and don’t forget that “where” matters too. I take a deep dive into this subject in my book “Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking.” You can’t live out your intention in the wrong environment. Your energy level matters, so constantly be tweaking all the different aspects of your life to create great work, and become aligned for optimal performance. Best advice? Stop managing your time and start managing your energy.

3. Value intuition and the power of hunches. Our “gut” is often more accurate than we think. Stop analyzing everything and start really looking. See things no one else sees. Intuition must be developed, so start listening to it.

How To Create a Gospel Advancing Network in Your Town

By

Greg Stier

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June 28, 2024

Gospel Advancing Network — Adobe Stock #286913644

As you’re beginning to gain some Gospel Advancing traction in your own youth group, your God-given passion to see the teenagers in your community reached with the gospel may seem bigger than you can possibly accomplish through your own ministry (And it very likely is). So this is a great time to begin to prayerfully reach out to other youth leaders in your community and share your heart for seeing the gospel advance in and through a network of students. Whether you’re already part of an existing youth leader network, or you’re creating one from scratch, the following simple steps will help you share a Gospel Advancing network with other youth leaders in your community.

First Steps for Gospelizing an Existing Network

If you’re already part of an existing youth leader network in your community, here are a few first steps you can take to begin to cast a vision for seeing more and more teens in your community reaching other teens for Christ.

Pray for those in your network, pray that God would lead you to the right people
Be a student of the network. Learn the needs of the other pastors before you start offering solutions.
When the opportunity is right, share with the network how the Gospel Advancing values have impacted your life and ministry.
Wait to be invited. Give them a free digital copy of Gospelize Your Youth Ministry or buy them a physical copy. Then get together to talk about it.

First Steps for Creating a Gospel Advancing Network from Scratch

If there is no existing youth leader network in your area, it’s time to prayerfully consider creating one. In John 17:20-23, Jesus indicates that unity among His followers has a role to play in how the outside world sees and understands His message:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Can You Discover Your Hidden Beliefs?

By

Charles Stone

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June 28, 2024

Kevin Cashman wrote an outstanding book on leadership called Leadership from the Inside Out: Becoming a Leader for Life. In his book he writes about both conscious beliefs and hidden beliefs, which he calls shadow beliefs. He defines a shadow belief as a belief we hold deep inside, outside of our conscious awareness. Those beliefs profoundly affect us and our leadership. He provides keen insight about how to discover those beliefs.

He contends that these hidden beliefs often hinder leaders from being their best. For example, one shadow belief might be a subtle voice inside that constantly says, “You must perform better than everybody else for people to like you.” For me, one shadow belief I discovered was this. “Everybody around me needs to be happy for me to be happy. Therefore, I must try to make everybody happy.” In the past that belief often stifled my joy and peace and hindered my leadership.

Worship Unleashed: Engaging Youth in Praise and Worship

By

Stephanie Martin

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June 27, 2024

What does worship unleashed mean? And how does it apply to teen ministry? Read on for insights about engaging kids in life-changing worship.

Many distractions compete for kids’ attention and time. So worship experiences must resonate with them. Worship unleashed is innovative and exciting. It helps young people connect with God and grow their faith.

Worship unleashed begins with a safe atmosphere. Help teens feel comfortable and excited about expressing their faith. Also provide the genuine, meaningful bonds that teens seek.

Need ideas for unleashing vibrant worship experiences for teens? Then keep reading!

Worship Unleashed: Practical Ways to Engage Teens

Here are helpful tips to involve kids in praise and worship. Learn how to add impact to youth worship.

1. Use modern music and media.

Youth worship is about more than just music. But contemporary Christian music attracts today’s teens. Popular worship music for kids blends modern styles with powerful messages.

Make technology your friend. Use videos, multimedia, and livestreaming to boost interest in services. Also create playlists on Spotify or Apple Music. Then share them so youth group members can listen all week.

Create challenges on social media. Ask teens to share favorite worship songs or Scriptures on Instagram or TikTok. That fosters community while encouraging outreach.

2. Craft high-impact messages.

Tailor youth messages to issues that teens face. Relevant topics include identity, purpose, and stress. Use real-life examples and testimonies to make messages relatable.

Instead of just lecturing, promote discussions. Meet in small groups so teens can share thoughts and receive support.

3. Equip youth to lead worship.

Let teenagers plan and lead some services. Create a youth worship team or band. Kids can serve as musicians, singers, and tech support. This gives them ownership and develops leadership skills.

Pro Tip: Rotate leadership roles regularly. That way, different teens have a chance to contribute and shine.

Singing Praises: Music and Worship in Children’s Church

By

Stephanie Martin

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June 27, 2024

Singing praises together is a highlight of children’s ministry. Little ones often have big voices. And they’re excited to raise them up to Jesus!

Music and worship are powerful expressions of faith, no matter our age. By adding songs to Sunday school and children’s church, you teach kids biblical truths. Plus, you help them grow a friendship with God.

Partner with your church’s worship leader to create joyful praise experiences for kids. If you’re on your own or don’t have a musical background? Don’t worry! You can still get kids singing praises to God. Discover practical tips about children’s worship.

The Importance of Singing Praises

Children’s church songs make Bible lessons memorable and fun. Music also helps children memorize Scripture more easily. Singing together builds Christian community. Kids will want to raise their voices to join friends in musical praise.

Consider these factors for using music in your kidmin program.

Select the Right Songs

1. Find age-appropriate praise material.

First, choose songs suitable for each age group. Music should teach in exciting, easy-to-grasp ways. For younger children, simple lyrics and repetitive phrases work best. Rhymes and actions are always a hit. For older kids, add more complex themes and vocab.

Pro Tip: Make sure boys know that singing praises isn’t just for girls!

2. Focus on active songs.

Songs with catchy melodies and rhythms capture children’s interest. Upbeat songs with actions and dance moves also keep kids engaged. Include a mix of fast-paced songs and slower, more reflective songs. That helps students encounter different aspects of worship.

3. Highlight popular children’s worship artists.

Use music from well-known Christian artists. Popular options include Hillsong Kids, Yancy, and Bethel Kids. These musicians create high-quality Bible-based music just for kids.

Practical Tips for Leading Worship

1. Make worship interactive.

Encourage participation by incorporating hand motions, dance moves, and props. This not only makes worship more fun. It also helps children remember the songs and their meanings.

Use visuals, such as lyric videos or projection screens, to help kids follow along with words. This is especially helpful for new readers.

2. Create a worship team.

Involve older kids or preteens in leading worship. This gives them responsibility and buy-in. Plus, it serves as a great example for younger kids.

Train your worship team to lead effectively. Emphasize enthusiasm, clarity, friendliness, and genuine worship.

3. Use consistency and repetition.

Repetition is key for teaching. Repeat songs often so kids can learn and remember them. This also builds a repertoire of familiar songs that kids can sing confidently.

Introduce new songs gradually. Maintain a balance between the excitement of learning something new and the comfort of familiarity.

Pastor Jack Graham, Paula White-Cain Pray for Evangelical ‘Warrior’ Donald Trump Ahead of Debate

By

Stephanie Martin

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June 27, 2024

Ahead of the first 2024 presidential debate tonight (June 27), several high-profile evangelical figures gathered on an “emergency” conference call to pray for Donald Trump. The former president and current Republican frontrunner also spoke during the June 26 call.

Televangelist Paula White-Cain, a former Trump adviser, arranged the prayer meeting through her National Faith Advisory Board. On X (formerly Twitter) Intercessors for America posted audio of the 40-minute call.

Faith leaders who prayed during the teleconference included Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, and Jentezen Franklin, pastor of Free Chapel Church in Gainesville, Georgia. Rabbi Pinchas Taylor, executive director of the American Faith Coalition, also spoke.

Jack Graham Prays for Trump to Win ‘In Jesus’ Name’

Graham said because tonight’s presidential debate is on CNN, moderators will be biased against Trump. But the Dallas pastor, a former Southern Baptist Convention president, said God will “give President Trump the words and the wisdom that he needs to respond, and he’s going to confound those who oppose him.”

Graham called Trump “a warrior” for Christians. “He’s standing for us and always has and representing the principles and the precepts of God’s Word that we so strongly believe,” said the pastor. He prayed for Trump to win both the debate and the election “in Jesus’ name” and for God to overcome darkness, evil, and “every strategy of the enemy.”

During his prayer, Franklin prayed for Trump to have “the mind of the learned” and “the tongue of the wise” during tonight’s debate: “Let the spectators hear that man knows what he’s talking about; he can fix our economy; he can help our nation; he will defend our freedom; he will stand for what is right; he loves this nation.” The pastor also asked God to reveal the “wickedness” and “evil intent” of incumbent Joe Biden.

White-Cain, who called Trump “a dear friend” with “the absolute best presidency in our lifetime,” prayed Scripture over him. She asked God to “fill him with your Spirit according to Acts [4:31] and he will speak with boldness, he will have the mind of Christ according to Philippians 2:5.” White-Cain also proclaimed that God had “anointed” Trump “for this assignment supernaturally.”

Donald Trump: ‘I Defended Your Christian Heritage’

Before pastors prayed for him, Trump warned what would happen to America if Biden is re-elected in November. “America is being destroyed” by the current administration, Trump asserted.

“Pro-life grandmothers are being thrown in jail,” and Christians face prosecution by their own government. “The Left is trying to shame Christians, silence you, demoralize you, and keep you out of politics,” Trump told listeners. “If Joe Biden gets back in, Christianity will not be safe.”

The former president touted his accomplishments while in office, saying, “In the first four years, we defended religious liberty like nobody has ever defended it before.” As an example, the 45^th president said he “stopped the IRS from using the Johnson Amendment,” which bars churches from engaging in political activity. That law remains in place, however.

Some Charges Dropped Against 18-Year-Old Arrested in Connection With Shooting of Pastor Clemmie Livingston Jr.

By

Dale Chamberlain

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June 27, 2024

Several charges have been dropped in the case of an 18-year-old arrested in connection with the shooting of Pastor Clemmie Livingston Jr. of New Zionfield Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee.

On Sunday, Feb. 25, Livingston, 71, was critically injured while witnessing a car theft happening outside his church. Shortly after the shooting, Livingston’s wife, Gwendoline, told FOX13 that Livingston heard car alarms and went to investigate. He was shot in the mouth as he was walking out the door.

The assailants drove off in a stolen 2019 Chevrolet Corvette.

While initial reports suggested that Livingston had been attempting to stop the theft, Gwendoline said that he never had the opportunity.

“He never talked to anybody,” Gwendoline said. “He never went to anybody. He didn’t try to stop anything. He didn’t deserve that. He didn’t confront anybody.”

“When the bullet hit, it shattered his entire jaw,” Gwendoline said of Livingston’s injury. “So where that bone is supposed to be straight, it’s like a lot of little pieces of rocks, so that’s unrepairable.”

No one has been charged with shooting Livingston, but R’shunio Greer was charged with theft and aggravated robbery after police reportedly found pictures on Greer’s phone of Greer in the car that was stolen on the day Livingston was shot.

According to FOX13, police discovered the photos after arresting Greer on May 17 in connection with unrelated auto burglary and aggravated assault cases. Police said that Greer admitted to being present on the day of the shooting.

All told, Greer had racked up 14 felony charges and six misdemeanor charges across several cases. Now, 12 of the felony charges, including the aggravated robbery from the day of Livingston’s shooting, have been dismissed due to lack of prosecution or lack of evidence. Four misdemeanors have also been dropped.

A spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office said that witnesses failed to appear for a hearing. The district attorney will investigate why the witnesses were unavailable to testify before deciding what charges can still be pursued.

Remarkably, Livingston not only survived the shooting but returned to the pulpit on Easter Sunday, March 31—just five weeks after being shot.

Police Reveal Shocking Details Following Arrest of SBC Pastor on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges

By

Dale Chamberlain

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June 27, 2024

Jonathan Elwing — Screengrabs via Manatee County Sheriff's Office

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office in Florida has revealed shocking details involving charges against former Southern Baptist Pastor Jonathan Elwing, who was arrested last week on child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges.

Editor’s note: This article contains information about child sex abuse and assault that some readers might find disturbing and/or triggering.

Elwing, 43, was arrested after an investigation revealed that he allegedly purchased CSAM with cryptocurrency. He resigned as pastor of his church, Palm View Baptist Church in Palmetto, Florida, prior to being taken into custody.

Elwing was initially charged with four counts of possession of CSAM. Earlier this week, 14 additional charges were brought against him.

On Thursday (June 27), the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office revealed in a statement that investigators reportedly found images on Elwing’s phone of him sexually abusing a child, resulting in two capital sexual battery charges.

Additionally, Elwing has been charged with six more counts of possession of CSAM and six counts of production of CSAM.

“A forensic search of the former pastor’s cell phone revealed images of him sexually battering a child along with the production and possession of 12 images of child pornography,” the statement said. “This is in addition to the four sexually explicit images of children found in his possession last week.”

“Detectives continue to examine Elwing’s cell phone and expect to find more illegal material on his computer,” the statement continued. “Additional charges are forthcoming.”

Prior to his arrest, Elwing had been involved with Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) denominational politics. Elwing had been a member of the Florida chapter of the Conservative Baptist Network (CBN), a group formed in 2020 to combat what it sees as “liberal drift” in the SBC.

Leaked Email Reveals Robert Morris Told Abuse Survivor Cindy Clemishire That ‘God Will Not Be Mocked by Deceit’

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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June 27, 2024

A leaked email from 2005 confirms that Cindy Clemishire made at least one elder of Gateway Church aware that Pastor Robert Morris had allegedly sexually abused her.

In the email correspondence, Clemishire had requested that Morris cover the cost of the counseling she needed following Morris’ alleged sexual abuse of her. The email was addressed to Morris and the church elder.

Clemishire previously referenced this correspondence in a statement she published last week (June 18). Clemishire first went public with her story on June 14, and she alleges that Morris abused her over a period of several years in the 1980s, starting when she was just 12 years old.

In the leaked 2005 email, Morris told Clemishire that he and his wife cared for her and “sincerely want[ed] God’s best” for her.

Morris further said that God “has poured out” blessings on his life because he was honest and forthright with others about the past sins he committed against her.

“You see the blessings God has poured out on my life and conclude that it is because I have hidden my past,” Morris told her. “God does not work that way. He will not be mocked by deceit.”

“I confessed my sins to you and your family 18 years ago and I have continued to share it with those who need to know as per the counsel of your father. I did what he asked me to do,” he added. “I thought I obtained your forgiveness as well as your family’s.”

Morris, who had been serving as Gateway Church’s senior pastor for approximately five years when this correspondence took place, said that if Clemishire wished to make her story public, he also was “willing to do so.”

Morris then suggested that Clemishire consult her father first before doing so because Clemishire’s father had asked Morris not to share publicly about what took place between Morris and Clemishire.

“You should talk to your father also about disclosing the matter beyond those who already know since he has your best interest at heart and his counsel should, at the least, be considered, if not honored,” Morris said.

The email that Robert Morris sent to the one he abused, the one he molested. She was 12. She was a sixth grader!!! pic.twitter.com/X8B5n3jWhi

— Julie Meyer (@JulieAMeyer) June 26, 2024

Clarity is Kindness: Christian Witness in a World of Pride [Part 1]

By

Ed Stetzer

-

June 27, 2024

This is part one of a two-part series on how church leaders can faithfully engage LGBT conversations.

June is Pride Month in the United States, which is now nearly over. The topics of sexuality and gender are at the fore of the conversation in this cultural moment. These are incredibly challenging topics for pastors and church leaders who are unsure of how to respond to LGBT-related concerns in a way that is both faithful to Scripture and seeks the dignity of those people for whom these topics of discussion are a very lived and present reality.

Some church leaders prefer to keep quiet and hope this month passes without impacting their churches or upsetting too many people. But that sort of cultural hibernation is not realistic anymore, and it will become increasingly difficult in the years ahead. We can’t hide in the basement and hope this new sexual revolution passes us by.

We can’t hide for two reasons. First, the new sexual revolution isn’t going away. It has forever altered the landscape of our dialogue around sexuality and gender. Second, conversations around sex and gender ethics are not like a tornado that rips through an Oklahoma town—from which you take cover and hope for the best. It involves real people with real struggles and questions, many of whom are young people in your churches. Therefore—if I may be so bold—hiding out and avoiding LGBT conversations is pastoral malpractice.

The New Sexual Revolution

Between the 1960s and 1980s, the “sexual revolution” movement impacted our culture significantly in the way we perceived behavioral codes, sexual liberation, and sexual repression in heterosexual and homosexual relationships.¹ In large part, the sexual revolution catalyzed changes in a variety of cultural norms, including the appropriateness of dress, relationships between genders, the casual nature of sexual encounters, and more—things that are mainstays in American culture today.

Now, nearly 60 years from its onset, we are amid a new sexual revolution. Sexuality has become significantly individualized and commodified. However, this new sexual revolution goes beyond sexual relationships and is a declaration of autonomy, asking society, “Is it anyone’s right to question an individual’s gender and sexual preferences?” We see this throughout our society, not simply on television or in academia. The new sexual revolution has profoundly affected people in our churches as well, especially our young people.

Pastors can’t respond to every issue that comes across our newsfeeds. Another extreme to hiding out exists, and that is deputizing oneself as a cultural commentator on every outrage du jour that trends on social media. That is an exhausting life, and that distracts you from your primary duties of proclaiming the gospel, teaching the Word, and shepherding God’s flock.

However, part of shepherding God’s flock often necessitates speaking to some issues as a matter of discipling our people out of the outrage of the culture wars and into the patient, loving, but ever-engaged life that we see Jesus live in the culture of his time (a Greco-Roman Culture which, by the way, resembled more of what we experience today in American society than the Victorian modesty codes of centuries past²). This pastoral engagement requires wisdom and sensitivity, with a commitment to pointing people to Christ. The LGBT conversation is one issue that demands pastoral discipleship if the church is to dialogue with LGBT persons with faithfulness and gentleness.

So, this is not an issue we can pass on. We need to teach an unapologetic call to a vision of sexuality that is faithful to God’s design for humankind. And we must do this in a culture that has abandoned such views and sees them as out of touch—even dangerous. Please hear me; the answer to this is not an extreme and marginalized purity culture such as the one that has been prominent in evangelical circles of the past. We need to equip our congregations better on what it means to live out our faith in this new sexual revolution and to do so clearly and with grace. We need a better vision for a cruciform theology of desire that includes but transcends the topic of sex alone.

Clarity Is Kindness

As a pastor, you may wonder how often to speak up and speak out. It’s worth noting that my role is a bit different now than when I pastored a local church. I’m here to support a public Christian witness in places where most pastors are not. I’ve defended the traditional Christian view of sexuality in the pages of USA Today, on countless news programs, and my own podcasts and publications. Why? Because sexuality is one of the defining issues of our day. I want to equip people as they are most certainly impacted by this new sexual revolution.

Yet, this is also (and primarily) a local church issue. Recently, I led our staff at Mariners Church in a discussion addressing three areas where society most frequently challenges orthodoxy today. They included 1) biblical authority, 2) gospel exclusivity, and 3) Christian sexuality. The reason I write and speak on issues of sexuality often is because many in our churches struggle with their sexuality or know someone personally who struggles. Pastors and church leaders must discern how best to address these issues in a biblical yet non-combative way.

¹ http://www.glbtqarchive.com/ssh/sexual_revolution_S.pdf
² L.L. Welborn, “Paul, the Fool of Christ.” (New York, NY: T&T Clark, 2005), 6.

Embrace Immanuel Imagery for Healing

By

Josh Spurlock

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June 27, 2024

Immanuel Imagery, as practiced within Neuroscience Informed Christian Counseling® (NICC) and Neuroscience Informed Relational Discipleship (NIRD), is a therapeutic approach that integrates the profound truths of Christian faith with the principles of modern psychology. This method emphasizes creating a vivid, interactive experience of Jesus Christ’s presence, aimed at fostering both spiritual and emotional healing. For Christians seeking deeper connection with their faith while addressing emotional wounds, Immanuel Imagery offers a unique and transformative pathway.

Theological Foundations of Immanuel Imagery

God With Us: The Promise of Immanuel

The concept of “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us,” is foundational in Christianity, rooted in the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 and fulfilled in the New Testament (Matthew 1:23). This promise underscores God’s enduring presence with his people, a presence that is both comforting and transformative. Immanuel Imagery taps into this promise, encouraging participants to experience and interact with Jesus in a personal and meaningful way.

The Healing Ministry of Jesus

The gospels are replete with accounts of Jesus’ healing ministry, where he healed not just physically but also emotionally and spiritually. In Matthew 9:35, Jesus is described as teaching, proclaiming the good news, and healing every disease and sickness. By invoking the presence of Jesus through guided imagery, participants connect with his healing power, echoing the holistic care Jesus demonstrated during his earthly ministry.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The New Testament speaks of the Holy Spirit as a Comforter and Counselor (John 14:16, 26). The practice of Immanuel Imagery invites the Holy Spirit to activate the imagination, which is a gift from God, to visualize and experience the healing presence of Jesus. This aligns with the biblical understanding that the Holy Spirit works within us to bring comfort and transformation.

Practical Aspects of Immanuel Imagery

Cultivating Presence

Immanuel Imagery begins with guiding participants to cultivate a conscious awareness of Jesus’ presence. This might involve calming exercises and initial prayer, setting a tone that is receptive and focused on the spiritual reality of Christ with us.

Interactive Engagement

Participants are encouraged to visualize Jesus in a detailed and sensory-rich context, making the experience as vivid and personal as possible. This could be a peaceful setting or a place of past emotional significance. The key here is the interactive nature of the practice—participants engage in a dialogic exchange with Jesus, sharing their thoughts, fears, and desires.

Emotional and Spiritual Support

Through this interaction, participants experience a sense of emotional support and nurturing they recognize as coming directly from Christ. This can be particularly comforting and reassuring, especially in addressing deep-seated fears, traumas, or feelings of isolation.

Encouragement to Trust and Lean Into the Experiences

While engaging in Immanuel Imagery might be a new or even challenging practice for some, trusting in this process can lead to profound personal and spiritual growth. Here are a few encouragements for those considering this practice:

Trust in the Promise of God’s Presence: Remember that the promise of Immanuel, God with us, is a cornerstone of Christian faith. Engaging in Immanuel Imagery is a way to experience this promise in a deeply personal manner.

Lean Into the Experience with Openness: Approach Immanuel Imagery with an open heart and mind. Allow yourself to be led by the Spirit, and be open to whatever insights or healing might come from the interaction.

Seek Continual Growth: Like any spiritual discipline, Immanuel Imagery can deepen and enrich your relationship with Christ over time. Regular practice can transform abstract beliefs into lived realities, enhancing your commitment to and understanding of your faith.

Sean Rowe, Leader of Episcopalians in Penn., NY, Elected Next Presiding Bishop

By

Adelle M Banks

-

June 27, 2024

(RNS) — Bishop Sean Rowe of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania and the Diocese of Western New York has been named the next presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, succeeding Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who concludes a nine-year term later this year.

Rowe, 49, received the vast share of votes from the bishops at the church’s General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, on Wednesday (June 26). He received 89 votes when 82 votes were needed, while the four other nominees received between nine and 24 votes each. After the House of Bishops completed their votes on the first ballot, the House of Deputies confirmed the results of the election, with the bang of a gavel, cheers and applause.

Rowe, who will be the 28th and youngest ever elected presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, became bishop of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania in 2007 and has been bishop provisional of Western New York since 2019. A native of Sharon, Pennsylvania, he is a graduate of Grove City College and of Virginia Theological Seminary. He also has a Ph.D. in organizational learning and leadership from Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania.

In a video posted on the General Convention website as nominees were considered, Rowe said the next presiding bishop must be attentive to voices that can “breathe fresh air and new light and life into our beloved church,” helping the church “hear the testimony of the women at the empty tomb” and “recognize Jesus on the road.”

The gathering of Episcopalians at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky, has been attended by about 3,500 people, including 160 voting bishops and 829 deputies, clergy and lay representatives of more than 100 dioceses, or regional districts, of the 1.4 million-member denomination.

In his first public remarks as presiding bishop-elect, Rowe compared the shifts swirling around the church — which he said is facing an “existential crisis” — to the changes he saw occur in the Rust Belt where he watched steel industries close as an elementary school student.

“God is calling us ever more deeply into the unknown,” he said. “If we’re honest with each other and ourselves, we know that we cannot continue to be the Episcopal Church in the same way, no matter where we live.”

As he made initial proposals about considering restructuring in the denomination to further support on-the-ground ministry, he suggested finding new ways to speak to one another as well.

“We must commit to creating a beloved community in which we can disagree with each other without shaming or blaming or tearing each other apart,” he said, drawing applause. “And here’s an idea: Let’s use our anger at injustice instead of turning it inward on each other.”

He also said that he would follow and expand on Curry’s commitments to evangelism, “creation care,” and racial reconciliation.

On the day before the election, the co-chairs of the committee that nominated a slate of four bishop nominees — a fifth, and the sole woman, was added through a petition process — described what a survey completed by some 6,000 Episcopalians had said about their wishes for the next bishop.

“You’re looking for a strong leader — and I might add a strong leader in adaptive thinking to meet the changing church of our time,” said Bishop Mark Lattime of the Diocese of Alaska, who led the committee with Dr. Steve Nishibayashi, a lay leader and retired pediatrician from the Diocese of Los Angeles. “Also looking for somebody who has a love of preaching and communicating the good news of Jesus Christ and his love. And of course, a person of strong faith.”

The Idol of ‘How It Should Be’

By

Michael Kelley

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June 27, 2024

how it should be — Adobestock #455709245

What is an idol?

We typically think of idols like totem poles—wooden or bronze or iron statues with grotesque faces that people bow before while chanting in low, hushed tones. But the idols of today are less visible, but no less insidious.

In fact, an idol can be anything that you look to for complete and total fulfillment. It’s that thing that you look at and say, “If I could only have…or do…or be…” And one of the idols that looms the largest in our culture today is the idol of “how it should be.”

At one point or another, all of us wake up and look at our lives and think:

How did I get here? This certainly isn’t how I imagined my life turning out. In fact, it’s more than that—this isn’t how it ought to be at all!

Whether we are thinking of our job or house or spouse or wealth, we somehow had a different dream about life than what we are living. Now there are certain schools of Christian thought out there that argue that as followers of Christ, you just need to chase that dream. Live with reckless abandon. Get out there and make it happen.

That’s probably not wrong, at least to a point. But that aggressive posture is only helpful and healthy as long as it’s a goal; many times, though, it ceases to become a goal and starts to become an idol.

That happens when you put all your stock in whatever that vision is, to the point that you feel as though you will never truly be fulfilled unless you posses _______________ .

You fill in the blank.

But what is the antidote for such a thing? How can such an idol be smashed to bits? It’s difficult because when “how it should be” is formed into our thinking, it has happened through countless hours of daydreaming and disappointment. It has been built on the foundation of starry-eyed gazes and bitterness in equal measure.

7 Powerful Sermon Topics You Should Repeat Often

By

Joe McKeever

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June 27, 2024

heart touching sermons and topics — Lightstock #319285

The powerful sermon topics in this article about simple preaching topics flow from these Scriptures:

“Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift that is in you … ” (II Timothy 1:6). “Of these things, put them in remembrance … ” (II Timothy 2:14).

Today, I spent the morning hours in a school in North Carolina giving my little presentation we call “Lessons in self-esteem from drawing 100,000 people.” I sketch a lot of students, then segue into the talk which, among other things, urges the kids to stop comparing themselves with others, accept themselves as the persons God made them to be, and to smile. Then it happened again.

Only five minutes after the talk, we invited the students to crowd around and I would sketch as many as possible in the remaining time. “Look at me and smile,” I said to the first teenager. “I don’t smile,” he said. I stopped, looked at him sternly and said, “You didn’t hear a thing I said, did you?”

In truth, he had heard, but the lesson had not penetrated.

I said to the young teacher, “By telling the students these things once is not enough for them to get through. The only way to change their behavior is for you to say it over and over again. Eventually, the lesson will ‘take’ with some of them.”

Some lessons have to be repeated ad infinitum.

“Let me remind you … ” is a phrase that shows up a lot in the epistles of the Apostle Paul.

The most important spiritual truths need to be emphasized again and again if the hearers are to truly learn them and benefit from them.

7 Heart Touching Sermons and Topics to Keep On Repeat

(The list is not meant to be exhaustive. You’ll think of other essential truths that need hammering home again and again.)

Sermon Topic #1) Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the only Savior.

That is the theme of so much Scripture anyway, isn’t it? How could we not keep the focus on the Lord Jesus — His identity, His life and ministry, His teachings, His headship over the church, and His place in our lives — if we are being true to the Word?

Pastor, keep telling them — over and over again; the theme never wears out — ”Why we make so much of Jesus.” Just last evening, a man here in North Carolina (where I’m in revival) told of the state legislature voting to make a certain Baptist preacher their chaplain, then firing him when he refused to take “in Jesus’ name” out of his prayers. And they call this perversion “inclusiveness.” Go figure. (Note: Many a New Testament prayer did not use the actual words “in Jesus’ name” and we should not feel ours must always either. However, tell me that I must leave Jesus out of the prayer and I’m gone.)

Jesus Christ is Lord, for now and for eternity, and no one else is.

Always stay focused on the Lord Jesus with your people.

Here’s a free sermon series on the topic: Jesus Is Our Savior of the World

Sermon Topic #2) The church is an essential part of the Lord’s plan, for now and forever.

And we are most definitely not referring just to your local congregation. As important as that is — this will come as a surprise to a lot of lonely myopic pastors — the Kingdom of God is more than your church.

When Jesus saved you, He knew something you were about to find out: “You cannot live this new life in isolation. You need the family of God.” They hold onto you, you hold onto them. They instruct and nurture you; you turn around and do the same. This symbiosis has been God’s plan from early on.

“I will build my church,” the Lord said in Matthew 16:18. It’s His and He builds it. The Christ-follower who claims to be able to live for Christ better without the church is insulting His Lord. The church-leader who would run the Lord’s church “for Him” is asking for big trouble fast.

Here’s a free sermon from Rick Warren on the sermon topic: Church Is Essential

Leaders Pray Expectantly

By

Mark Altrogge

-

June 27, 2024

Leaders pray Expectantly. Are you a leader? How do you pray?

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:13-16)

Have you ever thought about the fact that James doesn’t qualify these statements? When he says, “The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up,” he doesn’t add, “but sometimes people die.” When he says, “Pray for one another, that you may be healed,” he doesn’t add “but it might not always be God’s will.”

How Leaders Pray Expectantly:

Daniel Doriani points out that James encourages us to pray expectantly:

Either the sick person or a close friend should expectantly call the elders. And the elders themselves should trust in God’s goodness and power. God will not heed a gathering of skeptics who spin out a dead ritual.

I was arrested by that word “EXPECTANTLY.” The sick person or a close friend should EXPECTANTLY call the elders. And the elders, too, should have expectant faith – they “themselves should trust in God’s goodness and power.” So often, when I pray for others, I have little or no expectation that anything will happen.

James doesn’t qualify his statements because his emphasis is on faith.

He wants us to trust in our God of awesome power. James knows that not everyone is always healed. James knows that eventually everyone will die. God didn’t heal Timothy – he had frequent stomach ailments (1 Ti 5:23). Paul left Trophimus ill at Miletus (2 Ti 4:20). God didn’t deliver Paul from his thorn in the flesh. Yet James also knows that many times God DOES heal and raises people up from their sickbeds. When we pray, we should try to focus on God’s goodness, power, and compassion, and not be dismayed because he doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we’d like him to.

So continue to pray expectantly. Keep asking him to bless, and even heal, unless God makes it perfectly clear that’s not his will. God would not give us means to receive blessing (e.g. prayer) if there were no blessing to receive.

Fear Not, For God Is With Us

Trusting God’s Sovereignty

The Power of Faith Over Fear

4 Ways to Keep Young Adults in Church

1. Biblical Depth

2. Mentorship

How to Jumpstart Your Creativity

First Steps for Gospelizing an Existing Network

First Steps for Creating a Gospel Advancing Network from Scratch

Worship Unleashed: Practical Ways to Engage Teens

1. Use modern music and media.

2. Craft high-impact messages.

3. Equip youth to lead worship.

The Importance of Singing Praises

Select the Right Songs

1. Find age-appropriate praise material.

2. Focus on active songs.

3. Highlight popular children’s worship artists.

Practical Tips for Leading Worship

1. Make worship interactive.

2. Create a worship team.

3. Use consistency and repetition.

Jack Graham Prays for Trump to Win ‘In Jesus’ Name’

Donald Trump: ‘I Defended Your Christian Heritage’

The New Sexual Revolution

Clarity Is Kindness

Theological Foundations of Immanuel Imagery

God With Us: The Promise of Immanuel

The Healing Ministry of Jesus

The Role of the Holy Spirit

Practical Aspects of Immanuel Imagery

Cultivating Presence

Interactive Engagement

Emotional and Spiritual Support

Encouragement to Trust and Lean Into the Experiences

7 Heart Touching Sermons and Topics to Keep On Repeat

Sermon Topic #1) Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the only Savior.

Sermon Topic #2) The church is an essential part of the Lord’s plan, for now and forever.

How Leaders Pray Expectantly:

James doesn’t qualify his statements because his emphasis is on faith.

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