Why Become a Disciple-Making Small Group Church?

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December 4, 2023

Some have asked, “Why would I want to lead my church to become a disciple-making church when the people I lead are happy with the status quo?” There are many undeniable and essential reasons.

Why Become a Disciple-Making Small Group Church?

1. The western church is declining due to a lack of disciple-making.

Only 9 percent of people who call themselves born again believe absolute moral truth exists. (Barna survey, 2009) Biblical illiteracy is at an all time high. Being a witness for Christ has diminished to simply hanging out with someone who is an unbeliever. Spiritual babes are not only the average believer in the average church, because the church has been slow to make disciples, many churches are led by spiritual babes. Making disciples is the only way the church in the post-Christian era is going to be the church Jesus envisioned when He told us to “go and make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19)

2. Jesus expected His church to make disciples.

Jesus never anticipated that His bride would become a people who simply hosted church events and held weekend worship experiences. He declared that we should, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19 – 20)

3. Mature disciples evangelize.

Every biblical church is passionate about making the gospel known to the world allowing those who are in the world to start an eternal relationship with Christ. Mature disciples intuitively tell others about the Jesus who has transformed their own lives.

4. A disciple-making church is never void of leaders.

One of the most tragic realities in the present day church is that she is void of the leaders necessary to accomplish the vision the senior pastor has been given. A disciple-making church produces leaders who produce leaders.

5. Disciple-making transforms the church dynamic.

Many churches suffer with a church full of immature followers of Christ. Because of this, the church is constantly dealing with petty arguments and unhappy congregants. At the same time, those who visit the church are hesitant to join as they sense the tension and immaturity of the people who make up the church. A church that makes disciples is full of people who exhibit “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22 – 23) A church made up of people exhibiting these characteristics is a magnet for both believers and unbelievers.

6. Disciple-making transforms households.

Many families are made up of husbands and wives that are church attenders but have never been discipled. Because they have never grown to maturity spiritually these couples live a life of carnality often leading to divorce. For those who do stay together and raise children, their children are void of parents who nurture them spiritually so, when they reach adulthood, these children often leave the faith for the rest of their lives.

7. Disciple-making engages the entire church body in the meeting of one another’s emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.

Many pastors are overwhelmed with an unending number of counseling sessions, mediating conversations between those who are at odds with one another, and easing the tensions of immature believers concerned that the church isn’t “meeting my needs.” Over time, a disciple-making church is filled with people who need less counseling as those who have been discipled depend more and more on the power of God and the Holy Spirit, are mature in Christ so they are less conflictual and when conflict does arise they follow biblical directives to singularly clean up the mess that has been made if possible (Matthew 18:15 – 17), and who realize that it isn’t the churches role to meet their needs, rather, it is their role to serve Christ through the church and in so doing, they will be fulfilled.

These seven why’s of a disciple-making will make a church a church that makes the gospel known, is a magnet for those far from Christ and believers seeking to be part of a healthy congregation, and makes it possible for a pastor to give his time to study of God’s Word, prayer, and leadership.

6 Traits of a Biblically Faithful Preacher

By

Ben Mandrell

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December 4, 2023

You probably have noticed that preachers come in all shapes and sizes. There are big, gregarious, sweaty foreheaded preachers. There are short, slim, soft-spoken preachers. There are creative preachers who always have a slick gadget or a clever object of illustration. There are King James preachers who love Thees and the Thous of Thy Holy Word. So, what makes for a faithful preacher?

Because God has called preachers to be faithful rather than successful, how can we be sure we are staying true to the call? Here are a few biblical criteria to keep us on track:

6 Traits of a Biblically Faithful Preacher

1. The faithful preacher should give people a bigger picture of God.

“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord.” (2 Cor. 4:5)

Ultimately, people need to be told repeatedly that the God of Scripture is bigger than all of our earthly problems. While preachers are wise to speak about complex issues of the culture, the need for people on Sunday morning is actually quite simple: Their minds need to be reprogrammed to the idea that God is in control, that He loves them immensely, and that nothing is impossible for Him. How quickly we forget these truths!

With the constant barrage of media messages, the average person struggles to maintain a biblical perspective about life. Our world drifts off kilter fast, but the preacher has a powerful role in bringing the listener back to the center while proclaiming the unchanging gospel.

2. The faithful preacher should train people to turn to the Bible when problems arise.

“All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

The question I must answer as a pastor every Monday morning is, “Are people being pointed to the Word when work dries up, the child is diagnosed or when in-laws sabotage a vacation?” The Bible is able to meet all of their needs; a pastor is not. As the preacher brings forth the Word week after week, people increasingly should be convinced that “all Scripture is God breathed” and that His Word is able to equip them for every good work.

3. The faithful preacher should show people how to read, study and handle the Bible for themselves.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)

The Bible is a very difficult book to read. Let’s face it, we find it easier to read a New York Times’ bestseller than Leviticus or Amos. A keen understanding of Scripture requires a certain level of skill and a special illumination of the Spirit. In corporate worship, the preacher should challenge people to cry out to God for the wisdom that flows from Isaiah, Deuteronomy and Revelation.

Does YOUR Church Have Social Media Guidelines (You Should!)

By

James Emery White

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December 4, 2023

Do you have social media guidelines for your church/staff? You should. Unfortunately, as this is such new territory for churches, few do. In the hopes that it might serve, allow me to share with you the social media guidelines we use at Mecklenburg Community Church (the Meck):

7 Social Media Guidelines Inform Our Practices

1. Don’t post anything that could potentially undermine your reputation or the church’s reputation for Christ-like character. For example:

Sharing a link to a popular video that’s inappropriate
Liking or linking to a website that, while popular, often features sketchy content
Liking or following organizations that are not in keeping with biblical, Christian values
Posting pictures that are immodest
Key Idea: When you become a staff member at Meck, you are no longer a private person. As ministers, we are a reflection of the church to a watching world. When in doubt, ask a pastor.

2. Do actively engage with all of Meck’s social media accounts.

Share, retweet, follow and be active on all things related to Meck and its ministries.
When sharing, retweeting or adding to your story, be sure to include similar language to the original tweet or post.

3. Don’t post anything that would potentially undermine the maturity and gravitas accompanying your staff role.

People will Google you, search you, find you on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, and then make an evaluation. Does your online presence support your staff role or undermine it? Does it breed confidence in you as someone who is wise and mature?
Go back through your accounts from time to time and clean up things that may still be there from earlier eras that are no longer relevant or reflective of your age and staff position.
Have everything about your social media presence support your position in the church. This is particularly important if you are a young leader, as you may still have a “college-y” feel to your online presence that makes you seem juvenile to older adults you are attempting to lead.

Christian Christmas Music Your Congregation Hasn’t Grown Tired Of

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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December 4, 2023

Christian Christmas Music — Screengrab Youtube @WorshipTogether

Hearing the same old songs on the radio for weeks in a row can turn anyone into a Scrooge. Finding new, good, worship-ful Christmas music can make the difference between getting burned out by mid-December and singing along joyfully through Christmas. Below, we’ve listed some information on the newest Christian Christmas music on the market.

Hillsong Worship – ‘The Peace Project’

Featuring:

Joy to the World
O Holy Night
Prince of Heaven
10-week devotional

Watch an acoustic performance for “Prince of Heaven”

For King & Country – ‘Christmas Live from Phoenix’

Featuring:

Angels We Have Heard On High
Baby Boy
O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Check out this great performance of “Little Drummer Boy” live from their A Glorious Christmas tour with Casting Crowns.

5 Christmas Planning Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

By

Maurilio Amorim

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December 4, 2023

Christmas Eve is a great opportunity to reach those outside the church that often goes unused. I’m usually arguing with several pastors during this time of the year. Seems like every year I have to convince a senior pastor that Christmas Eve is a powerful and great opportunity for outreach. Catholic churches have known this for centuries. Evangelicals are just now waking up to it. Here are the top five Christmas planning mistakes churches can make.

5 Christmas Planning Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Give the staff Christmas Eve off.

That’s a critical mistake a lot of churches make. Christmas Eve is a great opportunity to reach out to people who want to connect with God and their families and who are looking for an opportunity to do so. Done well, your Christmas Eve service could be one of the best-attended services of the entire year.

If you are in ministry, working on Christmas should be expected.

2. Have only one Christmas Eve service.

Different time options give people a reason to say yes to an invitation to come to your service.

Don’t Miss

Even if you only have two services, say one at 3 p.m. and another at 5 p.m., they give people a chance to come to church and then hit the road to visit relatives and friends without forcing people to choose between a church service and dinner at Grandma’s.

By the way, Grandma wins every time.

3. Go “Cutting-Edge” creative.

Well, if you know me, you realize I’m drawn to high-energy, creative environments.

But when it comes to Christmas, I’m looking for traditional, warm, chestnuts-roasting-on-an-open-fire type of service. And most of everybody else is looking for the same thing as well.

A lot of people I talk with around Christmas time are displaced from most of their families and are looking to make traditions of their own.

Christmas Eve, for those of us, is a very sentimental time, and we want to feel like George and Mary Bailey and not like Homer and Marge Simpson.

Lost Men

By

James Emery White

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December 3, 2023

“Barbie” dominated the summer movie scene becoming not only the highest grossing film of the year, but also the highest grossing film Warner Brothers has ever released. It’s already the 14th highest grossing film of all time.

But “Barbie” wasn’t just a fun movie.

It raised questions about what it means to be a woman and, maybe even more, what it means to be a man. Ken goes from living in a matriarchal world to then wanting to create a patriarchal world; then the Barbies take back control but work for more equality for the Kens…just see the film.

But “Barbie” wasn’t creating those questions of identity and place for men—it was mirroring them. Right now, there seems to be more confusion than ever about what it means to be a man. The Kens of the world really don’t know what it means to be a Ken.

If you start typing “What it means to be” in Google, you’ll find it auto completes with things like:

What it means to be an American;
What it means to be a leader;
What it means to be a friend.

What you won’t find is, “What it means to be a woman.” But what you will find, right at the top of the autofill, is, “What it means to be a man.”

It brings to mind an article that came out a few months ago in the Washington Post that was simply titled, “Men Are Lost.” In writing about the men who were interviewed for the story, it was found:

They struggled to relate to women. They didn’t have enough friends. They lacked long-term goals. Some… just quietly disappeared, subsumed into videogames and porn or sucked into the alt-right and the web of misogynistic communities known as the “manosphere.”

The weirdness manifested in the national political scene, too: in the 4-chan-fueled 2016 campaign, in the backlash to #MeToo, in amateur militias during the Black Lives Matter protests.

Misogynistic text-thread chatter took a physical form in the Proud Boys, some of whom attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Young men everywhere were trying on new identities, many of them ugly, all gesturing toward a desire to belong.

It felt like a widespread identity crisis—as if they didn’t know how to be.

One doctoral student who was interviewed told of an undergraduate student asking, “What the heck does good masculinity look like?” He said, “I’ll be honest with you: I did not have an answer for that.”

13 Habits That Torch Pastors With Burnout Like You Every Day

By

Thom Rainer

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December 3, 2023

Perhaps the autopsy metaphor is not the best choice. After all, the person is not deceased. But the pastor who is burned out feels like life is draining out. Unfortunately, I have spoken with too many pastors for whom pastor burnout is a reality or a near reality.

Lessons from Pastor Burnout

What lessons can we learn from those pastors who burned out? Allow me to share 13 lessons I have learned from those who have met this fate. They are in no particular order.

1. The pastor would not say “no” to requests for time.

Being a short-term people-pleaser became a longer-term problem.

2. The pastor had no effective way to deal with critics.

I plan to deal with this issue more in the future. What types of systems do effective leaders put in place to deal with criticisms so they respond when necessary but don’t deplete their emotional reservoirs?

3. The pastor served a dysfunctional church.

Any pastor who leads a church that remains dysfunctional over a long period of time is likely headed toward burnout.

4. The pastor did little or no physical exercise.

I understand this dilemma, because I have been there in the recent past.

5. The pastor did not have daily Bible time.

I continue to be amazed, but not surprised, at how this discipline affects our spiritual health, our emotional health and our leadership ability.

4 Quotes About Preaching That Have Recently Challenged Me

By

Chuck Lawless

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December 2, 2023

This past August, I became the director of Southeastern Seminary’s Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership. As a result, I’ve spent some time reviewing books about preaching and renewing my fervor for the task. Below are some quotes that have challenged me (including bold highlighting showing what most caught my attention):

“The preacher must never confront his people with Bible truths that he himself has refused to face in his own life. The Bible admonishes, ‘Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves’ (James 1:22). Studying the Word of God in order to preach it to others is a deeply searching matter. The pastor’s own life will be rebuked, challenged, and expanded weekly. Be willing to allow your soul to be exposed to the teachings of the Word of God.”
“It is said that imitation is the best form of compliment. But this is not true in the pulpit. If preaching is truth through personality, to proclaim the truth dressed up as some other personality is not to preach. It is pulpit identity theft. No preacher is completely original. We are all influenced by other preachers. We are shaped by our teachers. We are reflections of our pulpit heroes. It’s inevitable. But it should not be intentional. God has called you. God has gifted you. God has prepared you. God has given you an assignment. God has given you a message to proclaim. The Lord made you an original. Don’t settle for being a cheap copy of someone else. No one can beat you being you.”
“In some ways there is a tension between our dependence on the inherent power of the Word and our need to communicate well. We dare not think that our skill and ability can save anyone or make him or her grow in grace. We must constantly check ourselves lest we lapse from a commitment to excellence into claiming a share of God’s glory. But by the same token, if we excuse our own laziness and do not use every tool at our disposal, we presume on God. We might as well not study, improve our education, learn vocabulary, or concern ourselves with our appearance. Remember: the better we are at communicating, the less people notice us and the more they see God.”
“The first exposition of a text is the reading of Scripture. The way a preacher emphasizes words, characterizes dialogue, and even holds the Bible communicates meaning. One preacher’s inflection can extol a biblical character’s actions, while another preacher’s tone when reading the same words can mock those actions. Oral reading requires and expresses interpretation. Thus, the expositor who sets a text before a congregation needs to prepare and present the Scripture reading as responsibly as any other portion of a sermon.”

What are your thoughts about these statements? Which one most grabs your attention?

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

When the Church Bully Happens To Be the Pastor

By

Joe McKeever

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December 2, 2023

What do we do when we encounter pastors who bully?

“Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock” (I Peter 5:2-3).

We have written extensively on this website about church members who take the reins of the church and call the shots, who bully parishioners and pastors alike. But a friend wrote, “What are we to do when the bully is the pastor?”

“What does your pastor do?” I asked him.

His bullying pastor demands his way in everything, tolerates no dissent and ousts anyone not obeying him. He intimidates church members and dominates the other ministers. His opinion is the only one that counts.

We could wish pastors who bully were a rare phenomenon. It isn’t.

Dealing with Pastors Who Bully

The definitive bully found in Scripture is Diotrephes. In III John, we read, “I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves the preeminence (“loves to be first among them” (NASB), does not accept what we say….unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and he forbids those who desire to do so, and puts them out of the church.”

That’s the bully: loving preeminence, rejecting outside interference, bringing accusation against the opposition, and putting people out of the church when they oppose him.

We’re thankful the New Testament churches had these problems

There’s a certain degree of comfort from knowing that the problems churches experience today are not new, not signs the church is going to the devil or evidence we’re being swamped by the world. The problems of division and strife (see I Corinthians), heresies (see Galatians) and petty egotism (III John) have been with us from the beginning.

This forever prevents us from piously withdrawing from today’s churches experiencing the same internal strife while claiming that they no longer do God’s will. There are more churches at this moment in time doing great work for the Savior than at any time in history. And likewise, more experiencing the cancers of worldliness, division, jealousies and egotism.

There is nothing new about this.

It’s not even new or unheard of that we would encounter pastors who bully. After all, there must have been a reason why Peter wrote what he did in I Peter 5. For him to have cautioned pastors not to lead in such a way indicates he had seen it happen.

The Punches Pastors Never See Coming in Vocational Christian Ministry

By

Christopher Hemmerich

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December 2, 2023

Looking back on more than a decade of vocational Christian ministry, the difficulties I anticipated are not the difficulties I have experienced.

Challenges of Vocational Christian Ministry

Would knowing these challenges in advance have helped me and my family to persevere through them in vocational Christian ministry? I’m not sure.

I do know, however, that I talk about them with every intern I oversee in the hopes that their adjustment will be smoother than mine has been.

1. Attacks from within.

Maybe I was naive. I fully expected difficulty in pastoral ministry. But I expected the attacks to come from somewhere “out there” rather than somewhere “in here.”

I had no category for sheep who bite. Somehow, I missed the fact that Paul suffered repeatedly at the hands of those who claimed the name of Christ (2 Timothy 4:9-18). Fellow Christians deserted him in a dark hour. Alexander did him “great harm.” No one came to his defense when accusations were made.

Almost every seasoned pastor I know has seen this playbook repeated in his life.

I wonder how many pastors are shocked when they get the first nasty email telling them that they are not a good teacher, a poor fit for the church or that the last pastor had real vision.

I wonder how many enter vocational Christian ministry realizing that some of the people they welcome for dinner, drink coffee with and confide in will turn around and slander them, gossip about them, betray confidences and even mobilize support against them.

Amid this hardship, pastors must pray for the ability to love people and to walk into God’s courts with them with mutual affection, having forgiven them as the Lord forgave, even if they must forgive over and over and over again. Pastors must humbly ask the Lord whether or not they have themselves sinned in the process, or if there is even the smallest validity to the accusations.

When attacks come, the temptation is to circle the wagons and play defense. Not only does this approach shut down opportunities to heal your attacker with a Christlike response, but in licking your wounds, you also can also easily cut yourself off from the rest of your sheep.

2. Nature of the work.

I worked my way through college doing manual jobs. There were plenty of days that I hit the pillow at night physically spent, my limbs aching.

The beauty of that labor, though, was that I never took it home. This is not the nature of pastoral ministry, or many other careers for that matter. There are always more people to check in on.

Tauren Wells ‘Crazy About You’ Lyrics Labeled ‘Biblically in Error’ by Christian Radio Programmers; Wells Defends

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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December 1, 2023

Grammy-nominated and multi-Dove Award-winning Christian singer Tauren Wells shared earlier this week that his song “Crazy About You” has been denied airplay from at least 13 Christian radio stations because radio programmers claim it is theologically incorrect.

“Is my song ‘Crazy About You’ biblically in error? Sound off! I’m here to learn! #crazyaboutyou,” Wells captioned his Instagram video.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @taurenwells

Wells, who announced in April that he and his wife Lorna will be the lead pastors of Church of Whitestone (a church plant coming to Georgetown, Texas, in 2024), told followers that the criticism has surrounded lyrics in the song that describes God’s love.

The lyrics in question read, “He’s never been mad at you, he’s only been madly in love,” and, “He’s never held your past against you, he’s only held you close.”

Wells said he is open to correction if his lyrics are in error and shared that the criticism has forced him to dig deeper into the lyrics, but he still can’t find anything theologically wrong with them. “Listen to ‘Crazy About You.’ Tell me if you think I’m biblically in error. Let me know,” he said.

The future lead pastor also demonstrated his teaching abilities throughout his 30-minute video, sharing scripturally why he believes the lyrics in question portray Jesus’ character accurately.

One of the passages of Scriptures he shared was Matthew 11:28-30, which was prompted because Wells is currently reading Dane Ortlund’s book “Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers.” Wells also alluded to Jesus healing the paralytic in Matthew 9 and the thieves hanging beside Jesus on the cross. He rhetorically asked whether Jesus was mad at them or if he loved them.

Wells said that Jesus showed the paralyzed man love by healing “his spiritual condition before he healed his physical condition” and “he called him son before he forgave him.”

The “Joy in the Morning” singer explained what goes into his thinking when he writes songs like “Crazy About You.”

Perry Noble’s Second Chance Church Is Moving Forward With Second Location

By

Stephanie Martin

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December 1, 2023

Perry Noble, founder and senior pastor of Second Chance Church in Anderson, South Carolina, recently shared that his ministry continues to grow. On Nov. 27, he posted that the church celebrated 81 “salvations,” a record-breaking attendance of 2,858 worshipers, and “having a contract on land in Greenville so we can launch our first satellite campus!”

In April, Noble revealed that a Greenville, South Carolina, branch of Second Chance Church was in the works, noting the launch was “AT LEAST a year away.” He wrote on Facebook, “I am pumped because I know we are going to see more and more people come to Christ!”

Perry Noble: ‘The Lord Kept Pressing Into Me’

On Nov. 28, Noble wrote on Instagram that he’d been hesitant to announce an addition to Second Chance Church. He said, “Heck, for the longest time I actually didn’t want to start another campus at all!”

The reason, he added, is he “never thought I would ever pastor again!” Noble admitted he didn’t know if people would show up to the church’s first location in Anderson. When they did, he was “so content with it all,” feeling “blessed way more than I ever deserved.”

Noble added, “But the Lord kept pressing into me—a lot.” He “kept reminding me that the local church has more to bring change to the world than anyone or anything! He kept reminding me of the Great Commission! And—He made a way for Greenville to happen!”

With the continued growth of Second Chance Church, Noble described his outlook as “both excited and a little scared” about the ministry’s next season. “I know the accusations of not being qualified are coming,” he wrote, “as well as reminders of my past! But I also know the grace of God, His mercy to me and His relentless pursuit (He never gave up on me!) So here we go @thesecondchancechurch with our next step of faith.”

Perry Noble Wants To ‘Walk in Faith, Not Fear’

Noble launched the original Anderson campus of Second Chance Church in 2017, branding it as “an environment where people (all people) can experience the presence of Jesus every single week.” That launch came without the blessing of elders at NewSpring Church, which Noble founded in 2000 and was fired from in 2016.

Reasons given for his dismissal were “unfortunate decisions,” including alcohol abuse. At the time Noble was ousted from his megachurch, it had 17 locations and 30,000+ weekly attendees.

Noble has been forthcoming about his fall and recovery process. In June, he admitted he continues to battle alcoholism, noting that people “can’t do life alone” amid earthly temptations.

Popular Atlanta Pastor Sam Collier Announces Divorce, Accuses Wife of Abuse; She Accuses Him of Infidelity

By

Dale Chamberlain

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December 1, 2023

Popular Atlanta pastor Sam Collier announced on Friday (Dec. 1) that he and his wife, Toni, are getting divorced.

Sam Collier founded Story Church in Atlanta last year. The church formed in the wake of the shuttering of Hillsong Atlanta, of which the Colliers had been pastors.

Sam Collier became Hillsong Church’s first Black lead pastor when Hillsong Atlanta formed in 2021. Roughly a year later, he resigned the post in light of the slew of scandals surrounding the global megachurch, which included accusations of mishandling sexual abuse allegations, financial impropriety, and severe moral failures at the highest levels of the church’s global leadership.

At the time, Collier indicated that these scandals, which were taking place outside of Hillsong Atlanta, were nevertheless hindering the congregation’s ability to gain trust in the community.

Hillsong Atlanta closed upon Sam Collier’s resignation. Story Church launched a few weeks later on April 17, 2022.

Announcement of Sam Collier’s Divorce

Sam and Toni Collier announced their divorce in separate social media posts on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. In her post, Toni accused Sam of infidelity.

“I’m in the middle of the hardest season of my life. I am heartbroken, yet still hopeful. If you could see all the ways God has been kind to me and my kids, your jaw would be on the floor,” Toni wrote. “After years of discovering and enduring repeated acts of infidelity, l’ve chosen to end my marriage with Sam.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Toni Collier (@tonijcollier)

“Despite seasons of hope, attempts at reconciliation, and counseling, after recently discovering more infidelity, I realized this wasn’t a sustainable or God-honoring marriage anymore,” Toni continued. “I’m at a point where I have to say ‘no more.’”

“I’m taking time off the stage and social media to focus on healing with my kids. I have no desire to hurt Sam, but do want to vigorously protect my heart and my children,” she added. “Thanks for giving us privacy to do that, and for prayers that will undoubtedly be felt. Love y’all.”

In a separate post that has since been deleted, Sam fired back at Toni.

“Toni Collier is a liar and abuser. It is documented that she has abused me our entire marriage and wants to continue to. I asked Toni not to do this. As well as our team and ‘our’ lawyers. She is not divorcing me, we are divorcing each other,” Sam wrote, according to The Christian Post. ”AND I tried to divorce her 7 times and she begged me to stay and kept abusing me. I will tell more of the story later.”

In a subsequent post, Sam took a more diplomatic approach.

Amid War in Israel and Polarization in America, the Telos Group Seeks Peace

By

Bob Smietana

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December 1, 2023

Amid-war-in-Israel-and-polarization-in-America-the-Telos-Group-seeks — Tour members have an educational meal during a stop on a Telos Group trip to the Holy Land. (Photo by Kevin Rogers via Telos)

NEW ORLEANS (RNS)— When Greg Khalil and Todd Deatherage co-founded the Telos Group, a peacemaking nonprofit, in 2009, they began by shuttling back and forth between the U.S. and Israel, hoping to help Americans — especially the evangelical Christians who remain staunch supporters of Israel — rethink how they see the seemingly unsolvable conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

The two have since taken more than 2,000 people to the Holy Land, each trip built on the premise that peace depends on mutual flourishing and that a peaceful future for the Middle East is one where freedom, security and dignity are available for every human being. They named their effort after the Greek word for aim, or goal.

But in recent years, the nonprofit has begun addressing another seemingly intractable problem: America’s growing polarization and enduring racial divides.

On a recent Telos bus tour from New Orleans to Birmingham, Alabama, Khalil gave a group of about a dozen New Yorkers a brief introduction to Telos’ principles of peacemaking. Quoting from theologian Paul Tillich, physicist Niels Bohr and Sufi poet Hafiz, Khalil told them that ending any conflict begins with listening.

Greg Khalil. (Photo courtesy Telos Group)

That’s a rare practice, especially in modern-day America, where most people would rather debate than hear someone else’s point of view, especially when encountering painful issues, or simply tune out. “When we turn away from each other and we turn away from these problems they don’t go away,” said Khalil.

Khalil also reminded his audience on the bus that none of us has the whole story. All of our perspectives are incomplete. Listening — even to our enemies — can help us see things we would have otherwise missed. Another core idea: You never know when someone you once dismissed might become a valuable ally.

That’s something Telos’ founders experienced firsthand. The two first met in Jerusalem in 2004, when Khalil was a young progressive lawyer advising Palestinian leaders during Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, where Khalil has family. Deatherage was the chief of staff in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Policy Planning, and a conservative Republican. He’d previously served as chief of staff to Tim Hutchinson of Arkansas during Hutchinson’s time as a congressman and U.S. senator.

Khalil had often written off conservatives like Deatherage, who grew up in the town of Fifty-Six, Arkansas, in a church that was so fundamentalist, he said, that they regarded Southern Baptists as liberals.

But the two shared a desire to move their fellow Americans’ understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict beyond partisan camps that tended to side with either Israel or the Palestinians. They set about seeking solutions that serve both sides. “There could be no good future for anyone if there is no good future for everyone,” said Khalil.

‘Jesus’ Film Producers Plan Release of New Animated Version in 2025

By

Adelle M Banks

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December 1, 2023

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Cru, the evangelical Christian organization that created the “Jesus” film four decades ago, is producing an animated version that is set to release in theaters around Christmas 2025.

“Do you realize that there are more people in the world today who have little to no knowledge of Jesus than ever before in history?” asked Pastor David Platt, an international missions expert who spoke at the announcement of the new project at the Museum of the Bible in Washington on Thursday (Nov. 30), where Jesus Film Project staffers joined animators and supporters.

“What an opportunity we have to use a medium that God has ordained to reach not just people, but the next generation with the gospel,” said Platt.

Similar events announcing the film were held in South Korea and Japan.

The original “Jesus” film, released in 1979, has been translated into more languages than any other movie, according to the Guinness World Book of Records. (The 2,100th translation was recently completed.)

Josh Newell, executive director of Jesus Film Project, said he views animation as a fitting means to speak to younger generations about the life of Jesus. “Animation is a compelling way to tell stories,’’ said in an interview ahead of the event. “There’s a moral resonance that people have with the story of Jesus, that what he teaches is good and is true, and is relevant for kids and for families.”

The new film’s director, Dominic Carola, who has worked on films such as “The Lion King,” “Mulan” and “Lilo & Stitch,” said the animators are working closely with historical experts to depict the faces and clothing of characters living in the time of Jesus, including Jesus himself.

A “concept image” of the Jesus character from the forthcoming animated version of the classic “Jesus.” (Image courtesy Jesus Film Project)

“He’s from the Middle East, he’s Jewish, so we knew there’s certain skin tones, textures, things that we can lean into, because this is the part of the world he came from,” Carola said in an interview ahead of the launch, noting the importance of getting confidential feedback from global focus groups.

“We don’t want him to be a surfer from Malibu or looking like somebody from a GQ magazine. He walked among us, and he lived in the flesh. So we went through a very strict process of trying to stay in these bumper rails.”

Pope Francis Asks Theologians To ‘Demasculinize’ the Church

By

Claire Giangrave

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December 1, 2023

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Speaking to members of the International Theological Commission at the Vatican on Thursday (Nov. 30), Pope Francis asked theologians to “demasculinize” the church in an unscripted remark.

“There is something I don’t like about you, if you excuse my honesty,” said Pope Francis, pointing out that there were only five women among the 30-plus theologians. “We need to move forward on this! Women have a way of reflecting on theology that is different from us men,” he added.

The International Theological Commission is part of the Roman Curia and advises the Vatican doctrinal department on theological issues. The pope appoints its members, and women have been allowed to become members since 2004.

The pope said he studied the Italian theologian Romano Guardini through the work of a woman, Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz, who impacted his understanding of women in theology. Francis also noted that at the next meeting with the Council of Cardinals, a body that advises him on church matters, they “will reflect on the role of women in the church.”

The general secretary of the commission, Monsignor Piero Coda, said Francis’ words were “an additional encouragement for something that is very dear to the pope but is also at the heart of the journey that the church is undergoing though the synodal process.”

Bishops and laypeople, including an unprecedented number of women, took part in October’s Synod on Synodality at the Vatican which in its final report demanded a theological reflection on the role of women in the church, as well as the possibility of allowing women to become deacons.

Catholic deacons preach at Mass and perform marriages and baptisms but do not celebrate the Eucharist or hear confessions. Those who oppose allowing female deacons claim it would represent a first step toward opening the priesthood to women.

The pope’s words on Thursday underlined “the need to increase the space given to women in positions of authority and decision-making in the Christian community, in order to treasure the sensibility and intelligence that is typical of the feminine genius and experience,” Coda told Religion News Service.

Women have always been important in the church, the theologian said, but “it’s time for this to become part of the culture” to address modern challenges and the “male-dominated view that still exists in the church and in society.”

The small number of female theologians in the church is related to the roles women are offered in the church today, Coda said. “It’s true that women and laypeople are still underrepresented in theology, because theology remains too centered on the formation of presbyters,” or priests, he explained.

“The church is woman,” Francis told the theologians, “and if we cannot understand what a woman is, what is the theology of women, we will never understand the church. One of the great sins we have witnessed is ‘masculinizing’ the church.”

The pope charged those present with the task of reflecting on the role of women in the institution. “This is the job I ask of you, please: Demasculinize the church,” he said.

One Team Is Changing Costa Rica. They’re an Example for Us All

By

Margaret Sharpe

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December 1, 2023

My team and I met Javier Brenes during our first year running WinShape Camps International in Costa Rica. He was intentional, capable and reliable. He was a distinct leader while serving with us as a volunteer, and clearly had a tender heart for children and families.

Little did we know how many lives he and his wife would change in his home community after we left—and with time, how far the work of his team would travel.

Javier took the skills he had learned at our international camp experience and used them to continue investing in the children and families where he lived. He faithfully continued to serve the Lord, and we were overjoyed upon returning to his community to hear how the Lord worked through him. But Javier didn’t stop there.

He created a modified camp experience to reach children who’d never had a camp experience before, as they lived in areas accessible only by foot. He developed a community of volunteers who loved and served children with the same joy and insight as he did.

Javier is a tremendous gift to us, to his community and to the children he’s reached. He, his wife and the other leaders in his community ran camp on their own this year. They’ve been bringing camp—and the message of Jesus Christ—to Costa Rican children outside of the reach of most people and organizations. To us, this is the best possible outcome for cross-cultural ministry.

The core of cross-cultural ministry is, of course, sharing the gospel with others. But the key that we sometimes can miss, despite our best intentions, is empowering local communities. Rather than entering already-established communities to show them how we do things, we must listen, learn, and then steward shared resources, tools and partnerships to serve the church well.

That’s because an essential part of Javier’s success is that he knows his community like we never could. Over the past four years leading WinShape Camps International, I’ve seen over and over again that locally-led summer camps can empower communities all over the world, in an honoring and unique way.

We work alongside our partners at ThriveWorx and Lifeshape Brasil, for instance, to execute fun day camp experiences in Brazil and Costa Rica during the spring and summer. However, that isn’t our final goal—though the joy of summer camp is undeniably a benefit of the work.

Our long-term focus is to come alongside local leaders and volunteers like Javier to model, partner, coach and equip them with the skills necessary to run transformative camps. After three years of training, these leaders are equipped to plan and execute locally-led camps in their communities on their own.

Then they go out and they impact the world. In Javier’s case, they hike into remote reaches of Costa Rica and bring the delight of play and hope of the Gospel to children who’ve never been to camp before.

This work is our shared joy. But it’s also a serious task, one with wide-reaching implications for the local church.

Ephesians 4:12 says, “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”

When Is an Elder Disqualified from Ministry?

By

Josh Weidmann

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December 1, 2023

elder disqualified — Adobestok #328928143

We all have treasured items we keep for special events. It may be a shirt, a dress, a pen, dishes, or a piece of jewelry. We pull them out to be used for something unique, but otherwise, we leave them tucked away and protected from daily use. These items are set apart. In the same way, the person who is called to Gospel ministry is “set apart” for God’s special purposes. We call these men pastors or Elders, in many, if not all cases, these titles are interchangeable. This does not mean these individuals are more special or more loved than any of God’s other children. However, God has “set them apart” for His special use.

As early as the tabernacle period, it seems God set certain people aside, namely the Levites and other individuals throughout history, for His special purposes. However, God loved all people equally, such as the eleven other tribes. Think about the set apart tribe of the Levites for a moment. They were to live, eat, dress, make money, and serve others in a specific way that was different than the other tribes. They didn’t have all the same privileges as the others, such as inheriting their own land, but they did have the special privilege of mediating between God and man.

When Is an Elder Disqualified from Ministry?

While pastors and Elders of today are not the same type of Levites, they do seem to have a special set of explanatory Bible verses on how they are to be “set apart” for serving God’s people. We desire for every man at Grace Chapel to be Elder-qualified if he may never be Elder-called.

SET APART FOR A PURPOSE

In 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, we are given a list of qualifications and standards for an Elder in the Church. They are as follows:

1. A pastor is to be above reproach. (Titus 1:6; 1 Timothy 3:2)
2. A pastor must be devoted to his wife – a one-woman man who demonstrates exclusivity in action, intent, and thought. (Titus 1:6; 1 Timothy 3:2)
3. A pastor’s children must be in submission, though not perfect. (Titus 1:6; 1 Timothy 3:4–5)
4. A pastor is to be a faithful steward. (Titus 1:7)
5. A pastor must be humble—not arrogant. (Titus 1:7)
6. A pastor must be gentle—not quick-tempered. (Titus 1:7; 1 Timothy 3:3)
7. A pastor must be sober—not a drunkard. (Titus 1:7; 1 Timothy 3:3)
8. A pastor must be peaceful—not violent. (Titus 1:7; 1 Timothy 3:3)
9. A pastor must have financial integrity—not greedy for gain. (Titus 1:7; 1 Timothy 3:3; 1 Peter 5:3)
10. A pastor must be hospitable. (Titus 1:8; 1 Timothy 3:2)
11. A pastor must be a lover of good. (Titus 1:8)
12. A pastor must be self-controlled. (Titus 1:8; 1 Timothy 3:2)
13. A pastor must be upright. (Titus 1:8)
14. A pastor must be holy. (Titus 1:8)
15. A pastor must be able to teach. (Titus 1:9; 1 Timothy 3:2)
16. A pastor must be spiritually mature. (1 Timothy 3:6)
17. A pastor must be respectable. (1 Timothy 3:7)
18. A pastor must be an example to the flock—many relationships and any other way. (1 Peter 5:3)
19. A pastor must be respectable. (1 Timothy 3:7)
20. The qualifications of an Elder are clear and have not changed since Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, penned them nearly 2,000 years ago.

But let’s be honest – can any man actually meet these standards all the time?

Every year when we install new Elders on our Elder Council, we ask hand-selected men if they have read and met the biblical qualifications of an Elder. Nearly every candidate hems-and-haws because they realize they do not meet them perfectly. We even have men who say, “I can’t be an Elder because I have failed those standards countless times in my life.”

It is the man who admits his own failure humbly that I take the most interest in becoming an Elder. The men who say, too confidently, that they have met and upheld all these qualifications in perfect perpetuity is lying or self-deceived. 1 John 1:8 and 10 says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us… If we say we have not sinned, we make [God] a liar, and His Word is not in us.”

One of my mentors and biblical counselor Randy Patten said it well, “If every pastor and Elder had to meet those qualifications in ongoing perfection, there is not a man who could stand in a pulpit and preach this weekend.”

All Elders are first and foremost sinners saved by our gracious Savior. Jesus makes it clear that even looking at a woman with lust is considered adultery (Matthew 5:27). Certainly, most, if not all, pastors could say they have done that. Jesus also said that if we have anger toward someone, it is equal to committing murder (Matthew 5:21); yet, most pastoring men have experienced unrighteous anger at some point.

Sin is pervasive in us all. A pastor friend told me on the phone yesterday, “If every instance of my falling under the qualifications of Eldership were measured [by Jesus’ standard], I would be disqualified every day.” He was right; we all fall short of the qualifications.

ANY CHRISTIAN, PASTOR, OR ELDER WHO SAYS HE MEETS THESE QUALIFICATIONS PERFECTLY IS LYING.

Pastors and Elders are not supposed to be perfect; rather, they need to show humble, repentant hearts that propel them to abhor wickedness and pursue righteousness. As Bryan Hodge says, “We’re not looking for one who has never sinned, nor are we looking for one who will never sin again. However, he should be one whose pattern of life is to shun sinful things and strive to live righteously. This is one who walks in the light maintaining fellowship with God.” (Bryan Hodge, “Qualifications of Elders”)

If we read the qualifications of an Elder as “one strike and you are out,” then we are grossly underselling the Gospel of Jesus Christ — and we wouldn’t truly understand grace in light of godly living. The qualifications are meant to be taken in light of the Gospel, not to replace the Gospel. Jesus is looking for men who are quick to repent and have their overall character across the course of their lives be above reproach and set apart for His purposes.

As author and pastor Daniel Henderson pointed out to me, Paul’s language here is talking about ongoing character, not momentary instances. The original Greek, in both Timothy and Titus, is using the present tense, active voice, meaning that it is ongoing over time, as opposed to the imperfect tense, passive voice, as happening once and for all. The qualifications of a man’s life are to be looked at as a whole—as over the course of five, ten, or fifteen years. Yes, Elders men will have their mistakes—I certainly do! But, if their sins are momentary lapses, something that has a confined number of moments or days, that is far different than ongoing character issues. “The biblical qualifications for an elder don’t require an elder to be sinless (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-10). Otherwise, we wouldn’t have elders! Rather, an elder must be marked by the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy and Titus. They must characterize his life as a whole. But elders do sin, and sometimes an elder can be tempted towards certain sins because of the position he holds.” (Steve Boyer, Capitol Hill Baptist Church Elder and 9 Marks author)

BIG LETTERS—“HOWEVER…”

If there is perpetual ongoing unrepentance in an Elder, then the qualifications are compromised and the Elder is indefinitely disqualified. For example, I have spoken publicly about a pastor I served under at a church in the Chicago-area who I believe was disqualified from ministry. Why? Because he did not repent for decades, and his actions were perpetually falling under reproach with so many people, leaving a wake of spiritual death behind him, for years. This showed a character issue, not an instance of immoral relapse.

I love what a fellow blogger at DrivenNails.com shared the characteristics of an elder in how they live their lives:

“This doesn’t mean elders never sin, never blow it, never get carnal, but refers to the pattern of a man’s life. What is a man’s life characterized by? We all have our bad moments and we don’t want others to characterize us by our worse day of the year. When the elder qualified man blows it, he repents and confesses his sin quickly, and strives to do better immediately after those bad moments, which are exceptions in his life.” – DrivenNails.com, “What God Requires of Elders”

Perpetual sin is never to be excused, but if it is repented of biblically and there is a proper restoration with the Lord and others (this should include changes put in place to safeguard it from happening again), then he may still be qualified for Gospel ministry. The discernment over a man’s qualification for ministry is ultimately left up to the local church to decide (Matthew 16:18, 18:15–20; John 21:23). After an instance of failure, his restoration may need to come in stages. It may also include the pain of natural consequences. It may come with humbly answering probing questions from others to ensure there is genuine repentance.

For us to assume that a man is done and disqualified for ministry because of an instance, rather than because of a character issue, sells short the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is about restoration. God’s entire redemption plan is based on us humbling ourselves and seeking His face for salvation. He is quick to forgive us when repentance is present.

If God is willing to forgive and restore broken men to Himself, who are we to think that we are bigger than God and entitled to harbor unforgiveness or legalistic standards over a person deeming them as “done” or “disqualified.” Only God can have that final word and His final word happened at the Cross of Jesus Christ.

The man who is “set apart” may fail us from time to time. However, that man can also be gently restored (Galatians 6:1) if repentance is present, and he can be useful again for the Gospel ministry. His only hope of doing so is by the grace of Jesus Christ, which is accepted by his repentant attitude to take the mercy of Jesus and “Go and sin no more…” (John 8:11)

This article about when is an elder disqualified from Ministry originally appeared here.

Becoming a Multi-Generational Parent

By

Andrew Linder

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December 1, 2023

multi-generational parent — Adobestock #518465213

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children. (Proverbs 13:22)

Question: Is it possible that we are in a sense parenting our grandchildren and great-grandchildren by the way we parent our own children now? Is it possible that our life and the decisions associated with it will have a ripple effect upon multiple generations to come?

If it’s true that the choices we make in our families today affect future generations tomorrow, then yes, it’s not only possible, it’s inevitable.

It’s amazing how much can be lost in just one generation. Take for example our own nation a generation or two ago, and consider this as it pertains to moral issues in our society today. In just the last decade or two of one generation, the pendulum has swung so far, more than possibly in any other time frame of history.

And we can count on it, that the ripples of today will seem more like waves in the future generations for our children and grandchildren. God’s Word has already told us this (2 Timothy 3). And while this certainly does not mean that we are without hope, it should raise awareness for us as parents.

When we only think about the moment we’re in, we miss the point of the bigger picture. The enemy is playing for keeps, and he knows the power of each generation.

Whether it be as a nation, a church, or a family, for us to ever think that we are the only ones whose lives are affected by our current choices is not only naive, but foolish.

So with every decision we make, we must also consider its long-term consequences for generations to come. We must ask ourselves the question, “How will this impact my children’s children and beyond?” Because our parenting will outlive us whether we realize it or not.

As parents, we can’t afford to just think in generalities. We must think in generations.

We have to intentionally choose to be a multi-generational parent. (Psalm 78:1-7)

So What Does a Multi-Generational Parent Look Like?

Here are a few ideas.

1 – A multi-generational parent relies upon the promised power of prayer more than on the power of their personal parenting.

4 Simple Decisions to Boost Productivity

By

Charles Stone

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December 1, 2023

I’ve adapted and used the Getting Things Done productivity process for years, but sometimes it seems cumbersome. Recently, however, I discovered insights from a Microsoft employee who wrote the book, Getting Results the Agile Way. (I highly recommend it) It’s a simple process that helps improve personal productivity. I’ve summarized below the 4 simple decisions he suggests that can help boost our productivity. I’m beginning to apply them and they really work.

4 Simple Decisions to Boost Productivity

Monday vision: every Monday look at your week and determine the top three things you hope to accomplish. Write them down.
Daily Outcomes: every day determine the top three things you want to accomplish. Write them down.
Rule of Three: as you might have guessed it, practice the rule of three. That is, keep your high priority daily and weekly task/project lists to three items.
Friday Reflection: on Friday look at what you accomplished, what you learned, and what you hope to do differently the following week.

Why Become a Disciple-Making Small Group Church?

1. The western church is declining due to a lack of disciple-making.

2. Jesus expected His church to make disciples.

3. Mature disciples evangelize.

4. A disciple-making church is never void of leaders.

5. Disciple-making transforms the church dynamic.

6. Disciple-making transforms households.

7. Disciple-making engages the entire church body in the meeting of one another’s emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.

6 Traits of a Biblically Faithful Preacher

1. The faithful preacher should give people a bigger picture of God.

2. The faithful preacher should train people to turn to the Bible when problems arise.

3. The faithful preacher should show people how to read, study and handle the Bible for themselves.

7 Social Media Guidelines Inform Our Practices

1. Don’t post anything that could potentially undermine your reputation or the church’s reputation for Christ-like character. For example:

2. Do actively engage with all of Meck’s social media accounts.

3. Don’t post anything that would potentially undermine the maturity and gravitas accompanying your staff role.

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5 Christmas Planning Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Give the staff Christmas Eve off.

2. Have only one Christmas Eve service.

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Lessons from Pastor Burnout

1. The pastor would not say “no” to requests for time.

2. The pastor had no effective way to deal with critics.

3. The pastor served a dysfunctional church.

4. The pastor did little or no physical exercise.

5. The pastor did not have daily Bible time.

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Challenges of Vocational Christian Ministry

1. Attacks from within.

2. Nature of the work.

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When Is an Elder Disqualified from Ministry?

SET APART FOR A PURPOSE

ANY CHRISTIAN, PASTOR, OR ELDER WHO SAYS HE MEETS THESE QUALIFICATIONS PERFECTLY IS LYING.

BIG LETTERS—“HOWEVER…”

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4 Simple Decisions to Boost Productivity

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