In the Desert Above the Dead Sea, Evidence of Jewish Rebels’ Capture of Roman Weaponry

September 11, 2023

Bar Kokhba revolt — Archaeologists remove newly discovered Roman swords from a cave near the Dead Sea in eastern Israel in Aug. 2023. Photo by Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority

JERUSALEM (RNS) — Fifty years ago, Israeli archaeologists discovered an ancient Hebrew inscription on a stalactite in a remote cave in the desert east of Jerusalem, where the land begins to slope down toward the Dead Sea. In June, hoping to find additional inscriptions not visible to the naked eye, three researchers—an archaeologist, a geologist and a photographer trained in multi-spectral photography—returned to the cave.

While exploring a new level of the cave, one of the researchers discovered the iron head of a Roman javelin, known as a “pilum,” in a hidden narrow crevice.

The trio immediately contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority, which has been conducting a systematic search of Judean desert caves for the past six years with the goal of keeping any remnants of Dead Sea scrolls or other ancient artifacts in the archaeology-rich region out of the hands of looters and off the black market.

Soon after discovering the javelin, the archaeologists discovered a cache of four 1,900-year-old swords, all of them remarkably well-preserved. Even more remarkable were the swords’ wood and leather accessories, which the desert’s arid climate had prevented from decaying.

Three of the swords were identified as Roman spatha swords, with 2-foot-long blades, and a shorter weapon, a ring-pommel sword, with an 18-inch-long blade.

The weapons were most likely left in the cave by Jewish rebels involved in the 132 to 136 C.E. Bar Kokhba revolt, the Jews’ final attempt to force the Romans out of the ancient land of Israel after nearly two centuries of occupation. During the revolt, bands of Jewish fighters and refugees lived in the caves that dot the forbidding Judean landscape.

The uprising failed, and the Romans expelled most of the surviving Jews and changed the territory’s name from “Judaea” to “Syria Palaestina.”

The swords may represent a small victory amid this defeat. “It appears that the weapons were hidden by the Judean rebels, after they were seized from the Roman army as booty,“ the IAA said in a statement.

For the archaeologists, the discovery is a major triumph. “Finding a single sword is rare—so four? It’s a dream! We rubbed our eyes in disbelief,” the researchers wrote.

The swords were discovered in what is today the En Gedi Nature Reserve, about 100 miles from Jerusalem, according to Eitan Klein, who co-directed the IAA’s sweeping excavation of the cave after the first weapon was discovered.

‘You Can Count on Us.’ Synod Organizers Attempt To Dismiss Fears Ahead of Fall Meeting

Claire Giangrave

September 11, 2023

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As Catholic bishops and lay people prepare to gather in Rome this October to begin discussions on the main challenges facing the church, tensions over the topics — and the stakes — of the summit have grown.

Papal allies and organizers of the October 4-29 event — the “Synod on Synodality: Communion, Participation and Mission” — are trying to defuse the tension and reassure faithful that the church has nothing to fear from the discussions even if they will take place behind closed doors.

“The way we will communicate the synod is very important for the discernment process of the entire church,” said Paolo Ruffini, who heads the Vatican communications department and will conduct briefings on the event during the month of October, at a press conference at the Vatican on Friday (Sept. 8).

With its unassuming title, the Synod on Synodality could be easily dismissed as a gathering of no consequence. When describing the event, organizers use the terms “walking together,” “enlarging the space of our tent” and “ecclesiology.” But the summit is actually the culmination of a three-year process initiated by Pope Francis to engage the church at every level and has the opportunity to not only radically subvert power structures in the traditionally hierarchical institution, but also to create a new system of governance that can overcome growing polarization.

The success of this ambitious project greatly relies on how much people who participate in it believe in it, organizers said. Members of the Vatican’s Synod office have structured the event in such a way as to promote healthy dialogue, with short discussions interrupted by prayer and meditation, group retreats and small working groups. Individuals trained in synodality, called facilitators, will guide the event and help participants engage in a spirit of unity and fraternity.

Despite the efforts the Vatican has made to ensure the discussions at the synod occur in a collegial and thoughtful way, the church has little to no control of how the event is perceived from the outside. The Catholic Church is currently addressing controversial issues concerning the welcoming of LGBTQ Catholics, the creation of leadership roles for women and female ordination, and the accountability of bishops on questions ranging from sexual abuse to financial mismanagement. Anxieties abound over how the synod will grapple with these polarizing topics.

Local synodal expressions, such as the Synodal Way in Germany, have taken a very progressive stance on some of these issues and even defied Vatican recommendations by blessing same-sex couples.

Pope Francis talks to reporters during the return flight from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, at the end of a historic four-day visit to a region where the Holy See has long sought to make inroads. (Ciro Fusco/ANSA via AP, Pool)

Pope Francis talks to reporters during the return flight from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, at the end of a historic four-day visit. (Ciro Fusco/ANSA via AP, Pool)

To ensure attendants can speak freely, the Vatican Synod office has maintained that the speeches and conversations within the hall will remain secret. “We have to preserve the synodal environment,” Pope Francis said, answering questions by journalists on his return flight from Mongolia on Monday (Sept. 4). “This isn’t a television show where everything is on the table, no, it’s a religious moment, a religious exchange.”

Ruffini quoted the pope’s words during the conference on Friday, underlining the need to preserve “the sacredness” of synodal discussions. He also underlined that most institutions don’t publicly share the internal debates leading up to a decision.

At the end of the synod event, attendants will approve a synthesis document that will be made public. But it won’t be the final report, Ruffini specified, since there will be a second synod meeting at the Vatican in the fall of 2024 that will issue a final document.

“We are really counting on how media will be able to communicate this communal effort of ours,” he said, before adding: “You can count on us.”

Ruffini specified that the opening Mass, the first general assembly meeting and the opening sessions of each sections, or modules, will be livestreamed. The five modules will focus on the topics of synodality, participation, mission and communion and a final synthesis and approval of the synod report.

Former AFA Vice President Sues Christian Right Group for Alleged Sexual Harassment

Bob Smietana

September 11, 2023

(RNS) — A former vice president of the American Family Association, a Mississippi-based conservative group that promotes “the biblical ethic of decency in American society,” has sued the religious-right group, accusing leaders of firing him after he reported alleged sexual harassment and financial irregularities.

In a complaint filed Tuesday (Sept. 5), Robert Chambers, former vice president of policy and legislative affairs for AFA from 2015 to 2022, alleges that another staffer, Ron Cook, made repeated sexual advances toward him, beginning in January of 2022.

Those advances allegedly included grabbing hold of Chambers’ face and ear and making comments about masturbation, according to the complaint.

“I see you’re really good with that wrist action,” the complaint alleges that Cook told Chambers. “You’d really like me to take you and get a hold of you.”

Chambers claims he was fired for reporting the harassment. The complaint alleges that AFA and its leaders violated federal law by retaliating against him as a whistleblower, creating a hostile work environment, unlawfully terminating him and slandering him.

The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, names Cook, along with AFA President Tim Wildmon, several of Wildmon’s family members who are on AFA’s staff, AFA Vice President Ed Vitagliano and others.

AFA denies all of Chambers’ claims.

“Since 1977, our ministry has continued to maintain the highest standards of morality and personal conduct for our staff and leadership,” Steve Crampton, AFA’s assistant general counsel, told Religion News Service in an email. “The claims made against our organization by a disgruntled former employee are unfounded gross mischaracterizations of the facts. We will use every tool at our disposal to prevail in this matter. Due to current enquiry, we cannot comment further.”

AFA did not respond to a question asking if Cook was still employed at AFA. Cook’s LinkedIn profile describes him as AFA’s director of localization. His Facebook page describes him as a former director of localization.

Cook declined to comment by text.

Long active in promoting conservative politics, the AFA “believes true morality flows from biblical principles” and has been outspoken in its opposition to gay marriage, LGBTQ rights and abortion. The AFA promotes its view in print publications and radio broadcasts and reported $28 million in revenue for the fiscal year ending in June 2021, according to the group’s IRS financial disclosures.

In 2022, ProPublica reported that AFA changed its tax status with the IRS and is now classified as a church.

Chambers alleges he reported the harassment to AFA’s leadership, including Walker Wildmon, son of AFA President Tim Wildmon.

“Defendant W. Wildmon provided Plaintiff with an incident report — which Plaintiff completed immediately — and articulated to Plaintiff that Plaintiff was not the first employee of the AFA to have complained against Defendant Cook’s sexual misconduct.”

AFA’s statement of faith limits sex to married heterosexual couples: “As such, any extramarital conduct is decried by God as sinful conduct and it is defined by God’s Word as fornication and/or adultery.”

The complaint alleges that Chambers repeatedly followed up on his allegations of harassment and a hostile work environment, but leaders took no action for eight months.

“During this time, Plaintiff continued to suffer increasing discomfort in the workplace due to Defendant Cook’s ongoing engagement in verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature targeted at Plaintiff, and the threat that it could happen at any time, inside or outside the office building,” according to the complaint.

Chambers, who also served on the board of AFA Action, AFA’s lobbying arm, also alleges that he had repeatedly raised concerns about the organization’s finances, including failing to file financial disclosures on a timely basis. In 2019, AFA Action’s tax exemption was revoked by the IRS because of the failures. It has since been restored.

Three Dozen NC Churches Have Agreed To Leave the UMC Under Approved Plan

Yonat Shimron

September 11, 2023

Districts of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Image courtesy UMC

(RNS) — A group of 36 United Methodist churches in North Carolina that had sued, demanding to sever their ties to the denomination, have agreed to leave using a plan approved by church leaders in 2019, the Western North Carolina Conference announced.

The group, which includes some of the biggest churches in the conference, will formally exit the denomination at a special session of the conference, or regional geographic body, on Nov. 4.

United Methodists across the country are mired in a messy divorce over theological differences, mostly regarding ordination and marriage of LGBTQ Christians.

A North Carolina Superior Court judge dismissed the churches’ case in March, but the churches and the conference continued talking and reached a resolution late last month. The churches will leave the denomination using the denomination’s exit plan. That plan allows churches to take their properties with them but requires they meet some financial obligations before doing so.

The churches were represented by the National Center for Life and Liberty, a legal ministry that is representing thousands of United Methodist churches in multiple states. In May, the center won a lawsuit on behalf of 185 churches in Georgia who challenged a decision by the North Georgia Conference to pause the disaffiliation process.

In the North Carolina case, the center’s lead counsel, David Gibbs III, had argued that some churches needed to sue because the disaffiliation plan approved by the denomination was too onerous and amounted to ransom.

Suing to leave the denomination has not been the standard practice. Most churches wanting to break away from the United Methodist Church have followed the approved plan, known as Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline. That plan expires on Dec. 31.

Since 2019, 233 churches have left the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, a region that spans the western half of the state and includes 757 churches. A conference spokesperson said another 100 churches — including the 36 that had unsuccessfully sued — may leave in November.

While most of the departing churches have been smaller and more rural, the 36 now breaking away include two of the conference’s larger churches, Good Shepherd in Charlotte and Weddington United Methodist in a suburb of Charlotte. Wesley Memorial United Methodist in High Point, a historic church, is also departing. Members of Long’s Chapel in Waynesville, adjacent to Lake Junaluska, a conference retreat center in the Blue Ridge Mountains are voting on disaffiliation on Sunday.

To date, 6,240 U.S. churches have departed the United Methodist Church, the nation’s second-largest Protestant denomination with some 30,000 churches, or about 20% of the total number.

Some of the departing churches will likely join the Global Methodist Church, a new denomination formed last year with a more conservative set of beliefs. It takes a traditional view of marriage as between one man and one woman. As of July, the Global Methodist Church counted 3,100 congregations and 3,400 clergy.

The Rev. Keith Boyette, the Global Methodist Church’s chief executive, was traveling and unavailable to comment.

This article originally appeared here.

How a Pastor Can Feed the Flock Every Day on Social Media

David Murrow

September 11, 2023

social media — Photo by Árpád Czapp (via Unsplash)

Pastor, what if there was a way to triple the number of people in your church who:

read the Bible each morning…
pray daily for the church and its mission…
remember and apply what they hear during your sermons…
…without adding a ton of work to your already busy schedule?

Interested? I thought so.

There is a way. It’s a method as old as the church itself, recorded in Acts 2:46:

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.”

The early believers didn’t rely on a once-a-week sermon. They sat under the apostles’ teaching daily. As a result, the church exploded.

Now, thanks to modern technology, you can teach your people every day—without them having to physically gather.

However, it will require a shift in how you distribute your preaching and teaching.

The Limitations of the ’40-Minute Brain Dump’

Seminary taught you to pack all your teaching into a single weekly sermon. I sometimes call this the “40-minute brain dump.”

But a growing body of evidence suggests that lengthy monologue lectures are the worst way to teach for retention. Indeed, the average churchgoer forgets most of the sermon by the time he reaches the church parking lot. As I’ve often said:

It takes 20 hours to prepare a sermon — and 20 minutes for people to forget it.

Experts are realizing that shorter messages, reinforced through repetition seem to have greater sticking power. This was Jesus’ preferred teaching method. He told short, memorable stories and repeated them over and over. Repetition leads to retention.

How To Create and Distribute Daily Devotions

Try this strategy:

Cut your sermon length by ten minutes.
Take the content you didn’t preach on Sunday and:
- Craft it into a series of four or five-morning devotions, complete with a Bible reading, a meditation, application steps, and suggestions for prayer.
- Each devotion should review and reinforce one of the main points you made in your sermon.
- These can be video devotions or simple text.
Distribute your devotions electronically at about 2 a.m. each morning.
- You don’t have to stay up all night. Automate the release time on social media, the church’s blog and the church app (if you have one).
- At the same time, send out notifications via e-mail, text message, and your church’s smartphone app.
- Train your parishioners to check their e-mail and read the devotion first thing in the morning—before they turn on the TV or read anything else.
Boom! You’ve fed your flock every morning.

Before You Go Down This Road…

Now, before you walk down this path, here are four things to consider…

You have to promote your devotions every week from the pulpit. Explain to people: It’s essential that you start every day with God’s word, prayer and a reminder of what you learn here on Sunday. Make it easy for people to sign up by putting a QR code on the screen that allows them to download your app, sign up for emails, etc.
If you’re the type of guy who writes his sermons on Saturday night, this is not for you. Writing and preparing devotions requires you to think ahead, plan ahead and work ahead. Ideally you should have all the devotional material written and queued before you preach on Sunday. You don’t want to be writing Monday’s devotion on Sunday evening.
You have to be committed. Once you open this communication channel, you have to maintain it. You wouldn’t just decide not to preach some Sunday because you were too busy or tired. Nor can you flake out and choose not to feed your flock for a couple of days. People are going to expect their daily devotion.
Once your flock gets used to reading a daily devotion from you, you’ll have opened a valuable communication channel you can use for a variety of other purposes. You can send out urgent prayer requests. You can ask for volunteers. You can publicize upcoming events and opportunities at the church. In short, these daily emails can become a platform that drives church involvement as well as personal spiritual growth.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

16 Tips for Recruiting Children’s Ministry Volunteers

Holly Pippin

September 11, 2023

Volunteers are essential for every children’s ministry program, but finding them can seem intimidating. Recruiting children’s ministry volunteers who genuinely want to serve kids and teach them about Christ’s love isn’t as difficult as it seems, though. Successful recruitment starts with the right attitude.

By successfully recruiting children’s ministry volunteers, you’re helping people find a place to serve at church. Now that’s an exciting endeavor!

Try these 16 ideas for recruiting children’s ministry volunteers:

1. Start with prayer.

Pray for the volunteers God wants you to approach about serving. Also ask potential leaders to pray about serving.

2. Create a vision statement.

The goal is to inspire and inform potential—and current—leaders. Include the ministry’s purpose, philosophy and expectations.

3. Plant seeds.

Celebrate current leaders in front of the congregation, parents and kids. Express lots of appreciation for volunteers, and specify the impact people are having. As a result, others may want to get involved too.

4. Elevate the role.

Make sure kids know that serving in children’s ministry is a wonderful opportunity. That way, they’ll look forward to serving when they’re old enough. Then recruit them! Teens make excellent assistants too. Serving in ministry gives them opportunities to practice leadership skills.

5. Look beyond parents.

Although parents make great leaders, other positive role models are available. For example, seniors have more discretionary time and can contribute skills and experience. Singles often want deeper connections to the church, and involvement with a team of leaders is appealing. How about young couples and empty-nesters? Couples are often eager to serve together.

6. Consider grads.

How many church members and young people once belonged to the children’s ministry? Set out to find them. They may be happy to give back!

7. Get referrals.

Encourage outgoing leaders to recommend other people who might step in and fill their shoes.

8. Try social media.

Put your children’s ministry on Facebook or Twitter. Invite leaders, pastoral staff, parents and others to become fans. Their “friends” will see they’re involved in your ministry and may want to investigate. This is especially true if your ministry pops up as a suggestion online.

8 Elements Common to Answered Prayers

Clint Archer

September 11, 2023

There are 8 elements common to answered prayers that we do not see in the Greek mythos.

Eos fell in love with the mortal man, Tithonus, and asked Zeus to make him immortal. Zeus granted the request—with a catch. Eos forgot to specify her request as wanting eternal youth for her beau. So Tithonus did live forever but kept aging until he was so old that he couldn’t move or think and just lay still, babbling in dementia forever.

Another character, Chiron, learned from Eos’s mistake and asked for eternal youth and immortality, but forgot to include in his request immunity from pain. He was shot with a poisoned arrow that couldn’t kill him, so he endured the perpetual agony of dying without escape in death.

On another occasion, Midas was granted his wish to be able to turn whatever he touched into pure gold, and Midas immediately went to work creating a vast treasure of golden objects. But then he became hungry and sat down to eat. His food grew rigid and his drink hardened into golden ice. Midas realized he was starving to death and also that he would never embrace his wife or daughter again.

The fictitious gods of the Greek pantheon were unbelievably capricious and vindictive. The true and living God of the Bible is the exact opposite.

Our God tells us what to ask for, and even when we ask amiss, he grants us only that which is good for us and for his glory. And that is why the longest and most comprehensive Psalm in the Bible is all about how we can love God’s law. Today we examine another stanza from Psalm 119 that tells us how to know what requests to make of God for answered prayers.

8 elements common to answered prayers

1. ANSWERED PRAYERS LEAD TO EDUCATION

Psalm 119:33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.

If you ask God to make you godly, to teach you truth, and to grant you knowledge about him and his will and his ways…do you think he will answer that prayer? Of course he will. So pray, and then pursue that knowledge.

But notice the point of knowledge—obedience. If you don’t apply what you are learning you are missing the point of reading your Bible.

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

So, get a Bible reading plan, read your Bible, every day, and learn what God has to say.

2. ANSWERED PRAYERS LEAD TO ILLUMINATION

Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

You can’t just read the Bible and hope to understand it, believe it, and apply it on your own. You need the help of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, …

I used to read the New Testament and scratch my head. I would read and have no idea what it meant. I fumbled clumsily from verse to verse, stubbing my toe on hidden gems, and bumping my head on obscured theological concepts. But when I got saved I perceived the meaning of Scripture like it was on display in a well-lit room. I started to understand it, find it precious, find it challenging, and find it enjoyable. The Holy Spirit had turned on the light.

Post tenebras lux, as the Reformers would say.

When you read your Bible, start by asking the Spirit to illuminate your mind.

3. ANSWERED PRAYERS LEAD TO NAVIGATION

Psalm 119:35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.

The Bible is a map and compass for navigating this life. It is like having a GPS navigation system as opposed to following your nose. Asking for wisdom is a request God always answers.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

So ask God for wisdom, read your Bible, get counsel from godly leaders and friends, and know that this is how God wants to guide you.

4. ANSWERED PRAYERS TAKE DETERMINATION

Psalm 119:36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

Here the psalmist is praying that God will help him love God over his selfish desire for increasing his net worth. This is a great prayer. There is nothing wrong with riches per se, but to be selfish with your riches is a sin.

So, you can give all your money away, or you can ask God to change your heart so that you are not selfish.

A generous rich person is a great blessing in a church, to his/her friends and family, in the community, and in the kingdom. If you give it all away, you are just one more poor person we need to look after.

But it doesn’t help to try keeping the commandments of God if your heart isn’t in it. You need to be sincere. You need to mean it.

5. ANSWERED PRAYERS REQUIRE DISAPPROBATION

Psalm 119:37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

Disapprobation means disapproval of bad morals. The point is that it doesn’t help to know what God wants, and even to want what God wants, but then to immerse yourself in what God hates.

You might say, “I know lust is wrong, I truly want to be pure in my thought life,” but then you watch movies with graphic scenes, you imbibe hours of lewd humor on sitcoms, and you marinate your mind in magazines that are plastered with air-brushed, scantily-clad women.

You can’t pursue God’s will without a commitment to avoid temptation.

If you want to become godly, ask God for what he wants to grant, that he helps you to turn your eyes away from worthless frivolity.

6. ANSWERED PRAYERS PROVIDE VALIDATION

Psalm 119:38 Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.

One of the prayers God loves to answer is when you ask him simply to be true to his promises. We see Moses frequently praying to God simply that he keeps his covenant with Israel. Joshua based his confidence in the conquest of Canaan on the promises of God to grant victory. That’s why he marched around Jericho instead of attacking the walls.

When God keeps a promise it provides validation for your faith. God loves to validate your faith in him. So pray for God to keep his promises.

7. ANSWERED PRAYERS MAY INVOLVE VINDICATION

Psalm 119:39 Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.

We all dread receiving reproach. We fear an accusation that might ruin our reputation. But here the psalmist prays that God would turn the reproach away through his rules.

An example of this is seen in the qualifications of an elder…

Titus 1:6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers [faithful] and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

To be above reproach doesn’t mean that no accusations of wrongdoing will ever come your way. It just means that the accusations don’t stick. The reproach may come, but it is deflected by a good reputation and actions and character.

Pray that God uses his rules to keep you above reproach.

8. ANSWERED PRAYERS REQUIRE SALVATION

Psalm 119:40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!

The ultimate request is for life. This is referring to life in abundance, including length of days on earth and eternal life in heaven.

It doesn’t help to know, understand and want God’s ways. It doesn’t help to have proof of God’s promises, and to enjoy the vindication of your reputation, but still not have real life.

You must be saved. And this is a request God loves to grant.

Rom 10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Asking God for these requests he promises to answer is a way of honoring him. He loves to answer them. So fill your prayers with requests God loves to answer, and you will know his blessing.

This article about answered prayers originally appeared here.

What Does It Mean to Be Free to Worship?

David Santistevan

September 11, 2023

As worship leaders, we talk a lot about freedom. We want our churches to be free to worship. But what does it actually mean? Is freedom the liberty one feels to wield a “Lion of Judah” flag across the front of the church? Is freedom a boisterous dance? Is freedom the right to be crazy? What does it mean?

We all love to quote 2 Corinthians 3:17: Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.

We’ve taken that to mean, “When we are in church we can do whatever the heck we want. Run, dance, shout, sing, sway, moan and groan.”

What Does It Mean to Be Free to Worship?

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with letting go of hindrances to expressive worship. But expressive worship on its own isn’t anything particularly Christian. Other religions worship expressively.

Remember Elijah and prophets of Baal? Here’s what happened as they called upon their god:

“And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.”

What are the grounds for our expression in worship? Any human being with breath can dance, sway, sing and lift their hands to a catchy Christian pop song. That’s called being human.

But if the Spirit of Lord is present, there is freedom. What is that freedom and how does that influence our worship?

Free to Worship

Here’s my humble attempt to answer what it means to be free to worship:

1. Freedom to Draw Near

Before Christ, we had no business approaching the throne of grace. As a matter of fact, it was impossible. Because of the cross, we have freedom to approach a holy God without shame. Access is now possible.

Check out Hebrews 10:19-22:

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.

What does this understanding bring to our worship? We don’t walk flippantly into a gathering. We don’t taking singing to Jesus for granted. We don’t cast our cares on the Lord lightly. It’s the highest honor and privilege that was only opened because of the shed blood of Jesus.

I love how Psalm 2 says it: Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.

So as children of God we come. We come with confidence. We come with boldness. But we also come with trembling, grateful hearts.

2. Freedom from Sin

When we worship, we don’t need to be held back by our past sins. We aren’t just free to draw near but are free from the tyranny of sin, our previous ruler. We have been liberated by the King of Glory and can step into new life.

Consider Galatians 5:1:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Christ set us free to walk in freedom. But this verse reveals that it’s possible to be slaves again. We need to stand firm. Corporate worship is a means by which we stand firm—day after day, week after week. The songs we sing ignite our faith in the face of doubt. We learn to sing in the midst of our suffering. We learn to trust in the midst of our trial.

10 Christian Leader Qualities From the Scriptures

Ron Edmondson

September 11, 2023

Christian leader qualities, as indicated in 1 Timothy 3:1-15 and Titus 1:5-9, should be the core of the approach to leadership.

10 Characteristics of Christian Leader Qualities

1. Recognizes the value in other people

Good leaders see a large part of their role as developing other leaders. Christian leader qualities and their development takes place in an organization as good leaders begin to share their experiences, good and bad, with others.

2. Shares information with those in the organization

There is a tendency of some leaders to hold information because information is power, but a good leader knows that the more information the team has that collectively the team is better, which directly benefits the leader.

3. Has above-average character

There are no perfect people, but for a leader to be considered good, they must have a character that is unquestioned within the organization. Leadership always draws criticism from someone, so a leader may not be able to get everyone to believe in him or her, but the people who know the leader best should trust the leader’s character.

Faithful to his wife: The emphasis is not so much on whether the leader is married or single but whether his/her relationship with the opposite sex is above reproach. Christian leadership is costly and no Christian who aspires to leadership can afford to heed worldly rather than Biblical attitudes to sex and sexual relationships.

4. Uses their influence for the good of others

Good leaders are as interested in making a positive difference in people’s lives as they are in creating a healthy profit margin. This doesn’t mean that balance sheets and income statements aren’t important. In fact, they are vital for the success of an organization (even nonprofits), but a good leader doesn’t separate a desire for helping others from the desire for financial success. Good leaders find ways to leverage financial health to strengthen the well-being of others.

Convenience or Connection: What’s Our Ministry Motivation?

Christina Embree

September 10, 2023

kids curriculum — Photo by Marisa Howenstine (via Unsplash)

It’s a request I see posted fairly often. It goes something like this: “Looking for a user-friendly curriculum. Video-based preferred. Something easy for volunteers, low-prep and easy-to-follow. We don’t have a huge budget so free or low-cost a must.”

There’s nothing inherently wrong with this request, but the request itself reveals some underlying concerns about how we approach children’s and youth ministry on Sunday morning or during mid-week.

Restriction of Budget: This concern has two fronts; first, that larger churches don’t often give these ministries enough of a budget to adequately meet the needs of the ministry and second, most high-quality, resource-rich curriculum is priced too high for small churches on a shoestring budget.
Reliance on Volunteers: Most children and youth ministries are primarily run by volunteers and those are not generally easy to come by. Need for volunteers always ranks high in lists of stressors for children’s, youth, and family ministers. As a result, one of the “selling points” that is often used is “Don’t worry. It’s really easy to use the curriculum. Everything will be prepped for you. You don’t really need to do much, just make sure the kids are occupied. There’s even a video for the lesson so you don’t need to worry about teaching.”
Significance of Ministry: While almost every church with a children’s or youth ministry will inevitably state on their website that these ministries are of high importance to the church, the actual weight of the spiritual formation of children and youth within the church tends to fall on a few volunteers and one or two staff members and, due to the previously stated limitations, there’s a willingness to emphasize convenience to ensure that the ministry stays viable. In other words, to do literally anything to get volunteers and make sure that there is a kids’ ministry or youth group of some sort.

I think it is worth our time to take a second and consider this situation and ask some hard questions. To pause from the push to keep Sunday school going or youth group looking like youth group “should” look. To take a deep breath and consider if begging and pleading for volunteers and seeking out the easiest, most user-friendly curriculum is doing anyone, but most especially, our kids and youth, any favors?

Is there an alternative to the now-traditional approach to Sunday mornings and mid-week that would utilize the budget (whatever it is) in an impactful way, reduce the reliance on reluctant volunteers, and increase the significance of the ministry within the congregation?

I’m not a “one shoe fits all” kind of a person, but I do think in this case, there is an answer that could be not only transformative for the kids and youth but for the entire congregation.

Bring the congregation together. Bring the family together. Bring the generations together.

How would bringing the congregation together impact the concerns above?

Restriction of Budget

In his book, Youth Ministry That Last a Lifetime, Dr. Richard Ross advises approaching the youth ministry budget with a “Ministry in Thirds” mindset. One-third of the budget focused on parents and at-home discipleship, one-third of the budget focused on the whole congregation and establishing relationships between the youth and the church, and one-third of the budget on age-specific youth “Bible-drenched” activities. Why? Because these are three areas that young people who remained in church pointed to as integral to their discipleship. But how does spreading out an already minuscule budget help?

Perhaps on Sunday morning, the kids and youth remain in the service, maybe helping to run the sound board or serve on the worship team or lead prayers or run the coffee bar, and the money that was once used on a budget-conscious, user-friendly curriculum is used on Sermon Notes for kids, a Kids Worship Team, Activity Packets, gift cards for coffee meet-ups with mentors, or tables and bulletin boards for coloring and displaying artwork. And the individuals who were once volunteers become mentors and Pew Pals and prayer partners.
Or during mid-week, instead of splitting all the kids up into different ages and grades, the whole family stays together for a time of Family Faith Formation led by the children’s and youth pastor(s) where a meal is shared together and then the family worships around a table through shared discussion, learning, and prayer?
Or maybe youth group meets bi-weekly instead of weekly and on the off week, engages in a service project or meets with mentors in small groups or joins a church small group or Bible study with other ages?

Reliance on Volunteers

Let’s be honest—it can be a scary thing to be asked to go into a classroom and teach a bunch of kids or hang out with a group of teens. It’s uncomfortable especially in today’s age-segregated culture and it can lead churches choosing to sacrifice quality teaching, tools, and theology in order to just get someone in the room. That devalues everyone involved but can actually be quite harmful for our kids and youth. But what if we offered less scary scenarios for our kids and youth to connect with the church and more opportunities like the ones listed above that don’t rely on a volunteer base?

For instance, the Pray for Me campaign connects kids and youth up with prayer partners in the church, three for each child/youth, in order to help relationships based on praying for each other to form. There’s no pressure to teach or perform, simply pray. But the benefits of intercessory prayer on a community are innumerable (Source).
What if your mid-week gathering was one where an older person came and shared a favorite hobby or activity with the group? Where the focus was simply learning from one another and being together, forming relationships that can lead to intentional discipleship?

It’s Time for a Relational Inventory

James Emery White

September 10, 2023

relational inventory — Adobestock #369642479

It has been said that what you will be like in five years is based on two things: The books that you read and the people you spend time with.

It is difficult to underestimate the impact of the people who surround you.

I once heard one of my college professors make a passing reference to a marketing study of teenagers. Apparently, several high school students were asked to give their opinions regarding a particular style of jeans. Overwhelmingly, the students thought that they were the ugliest jeans they had ever seen! The researchers waited a few months and then went back to the same high school.

They took key opinion leaders—the captain of the basketball team, the head cheerleader, the first-string quarterback, the homecoming queen, and the student body president—gave each one a pair of the jeans and asked them to wear them regularly to school for a month without telling anyone why they were choosing to wear the new style.

By the end of the month, local stores were besieged by students wanting to know where they could find the new fashion.

The influence of others doesn’t diminish as we grow older.

Baseball fans are familiar with the name of Casey Stengel, famed former manager of the New York Yankees. When Billy Martin took over as manager, Stengel had some interesting advice for him.

He said, “Billy, on any team there will be 15 guys who will run through a wall for you, five who will hate you, and five who are undecided.”

Stengel then said: “When you make out your rooming list, always room your losers together. Never room a good guy with a loser. It won’t spread if you keep them isolated.”

If you are surrounded by spiritually positive and healthy people, you will find your own spiritual life and development boosted. The opposite is equally true—there are those who can actually weaken you spiritually, lowering your commitment and resolve.

This is the importance of maintaining a relational inventory in your life at all times.

This is not meant to exclude people who need our influence. As John Maxwell has wisely pointed out, there is a difference between helping those with perpetual attitude problems and enlisting them as our close friends. The closer our relationships, the more influential their attitudes and philosophies become to us.

Consider the life of Jesus.

He cared about everyone, but there were certain people whom He was drawn to relationally. For example, Jesus pulled Peter, James and John off to the side to be with Him at spiritually important times, such as the raising of a little girl from the dead, as well as the transfiguration where Moses and Elijah came and spoke with Jesus. It was also Peter, James and John whom Jesus called to be with Him at His most difficult times, such as in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion.

You could also make a case that Mary, Martha and Lazarus were important to Jesus in terms of strategic relationships. An interesting statement in the Gospel of John says, “Jesus loved Martha and her sister [Mary] and Lazarus” (11:5). In fact, Jesus seemed to purposefully orient His travel plans in order to stay at their house.

What Is Christian Meditation?

Mike Myers

September 10, 2023

What Is Christian Meditation?

“I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.”
— Psalm 119:15 —

Reading through the Bible in a year is a good practice, but one can easily fall into the trap of reading merely for distance. While there is value in covering the vast mountain range of Scripture, one must not neglect the important work of Christian meditation. Some may balk at this term, since it often refers to pagan or new age disciplines (like yoga), but the Word of God clearly teaches that meditation has a vital place in the Christian life. In this article I will define, explain, and offer some helps for Christian meditation.

I propose the following definition: Christian meditation is the focused contemplation of the renewed mind upon the treasury of divine truth. The Old Testament uses two primary words that our English Bibles translate as meditation. The blessed man of Psalm 1 delights in the Lord’s Law and upon it “meditates (הָגָה, hâgâh) day and night” (Ps. 1:2). Most basically, this term means to murmur or ponder, that is, to mull over carefully. The word translated meditate in Psalm 119:15 (שִׂיחַ, śı̂yach) seems to refer a bit more to a preoccupation of the mind, often spilling over into speech. The NKJV translates the word as pray (Ps 55:17), complain (Ps 77:3), and even talk (Ps 119:27). Psalm 143:5 includes both words in parallel, showing their close thematic relation, “I remember the days of old; I meditate (hâgâh) on all Your works; I muse (śı̂yach) on the work of Your hands.”

Practically speaking, meditation is to the soul as marination is to a fine cut of meat or as soil assimilation is for healthy crops. For the process to have its full and ideal effect, it simply cannot be rushed, skipped, or replaced. So how should we think about this discipline of Christian meditation?

The Work of Christian Meditation: focused contemplation

Psalm 119:15 says, “I will meditate,” which is a commitment in response to the Word of God and the God of the Word. To maintain focused contemplation on anything takes effort, but for the Christian, this effort is necessary. It is not reserved for monks, pastors, or published theologians, but for believers in every walk of life. And while one can be a Christian without a consistent discipline of meditation, one cannot be a maturing and vibrant Christian without it. Focused contemplation, nevertheless, is difficult. Robert Dabney once wrote, “To hold the thought fixed upon the same idea is the highest function of will; it is one to which none but the noblest souls are competent” (Discussions, Vol 1, 646). Have you ever considered why this is so difficult? Circumstantially, we are excessively busy, endlessly distracted, and constantly interrupted. Obstacles also lie in the heart. Often laziness, carelessness, and especially to worldliness keeps us from this work. May the Lord grant us more Spirit-enabled discipline to plan our circumstances and repentance to purify our hearts! Finally, Christian meditation is extremely useful. God graciously blesses devoted meditation with vibrancy and fruitfulness (Ps. 1:3), prosperity and success in His service (Josh. 1:8), wisdom and safety (Prov. 6:20-24), and especially Christlikeness. Those who gaze at Him by faith now will be made like Him then (1 John 3:2, cf 2 Cor 3:18).

The Organ of Christian Meditation: of the renewed mind

Christian meditation is only possible for those who are born again. The unrenewed mind loves the darkness and hates the light (Jn. 3:19-20). Further, Psalm 10:4 informs us that the wicked simply do not think of God, for “God is in none of his thoughts.” I encourage you to pause for a moment and take a careful inventory of your thought life. If your mind rarely or never turns to God, His ways, His glory, and His grace, then you are either an unbeliever or are living as one. Repent, and stop being conformed to this world; instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Learn to gaze lovingly and longingly at the altogether lovely one (Song. 5:16). While the primary organ of meditation is the mind, this focused contemplation involves the activity of the whole man. There is the engagement of the soul, the exercise of the will, the ordering of the affections, and the exercise of self-control. This means that to be successful and fruitful in meditation, you will need to be intentional and thoughtful in planning (more on that below).

The Object of Christian Meditation: upon the treasury of divine truth

Pagan versions of meditation “focus” either on emptying the mind or filling the mind with self; biblical meditation emphasizes filling the mind with truth. Just as a beautiful diamond is the object of the jeweler’s gaze, the truth of God is the grand object of the Christian’s thought. The Christian should humbly consider the unfathomable wisdom of God or the inscrutable righteousness of God. Take any attribute of God, turn it this way and that, all the while praying, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law!” (Ps. 119:18). While setting our minds upon the boundless treasury of divine truth, remember that Jesus Christ is the Arkenstone of those riches. He is the brightness of the glory of God (Heb 1:3), the one transfigured on the mount (Lk. 9:29), whose glory surpasses human description (Rev. 1:13-18). He is fairer than ten thousand (Song 5:10), riding forth in majesty for the cause of truth, meekness, and righteousness (Ps 45:4). He is the Crucified One, the love gift of the Father to this wretched and sinful world (Jn. 3:16-17). Those who see Him have seen the Father (Jn. 14:9), for He has exegeted the Father to us (Jn. 1:18). Dabney helps us here again, “Our adoration is assisted by having its object both softened and defined for us, so that its severer glories are veiled without observing them, and adapted to our feeble eyes” (Discussions, Vol 1., 652). Thinking of Jesus Christ is both the highest work of the Christian mind and the greatest delight of the Christian soul.

The Goal of Christian Meditation

As you think upon the truth of God in general, and the Son of God in particular, here are three goals for you prayerfully to pursue. First, from a heart of devotion, seek the acquisition of the knowledge of God in truth. Spend time focusing upon Jesus with the eyes of faith, learning from Him and storing up His riches in your heart. The spiritual knowledge you acquire will be of great value and of lasting impact upon your life. Second, with a view to joyful duty, seek the application of the Word of God in power. This is the intended fruit of all true Christian meditation. We are not after vain speculation, philosophical nuance, cold logic, or fanatical mysticism. Rather, God would have the observable and life changing effect of a will directed by His Word. Finally, with great delight of soul, seek the apprehension of the glory of God in Christ. The great minister and meditator Samuel Rutherford once wrote, “Go where you will, your soul shall not sleep sound but in Christ’s bosom. Come in to Him and lie down, and rest you on the slain Son of God, and inquire for Him. I sought Him, and now, a fig for all the worm-eaten pleasures, and moth-eaten glory out of heaven, since I have found Him, and in Him all I can want or wish” (Letter 127). May the Lord direct you to such delight in the One whom heaven adores (Rev. 5:12-13).

A Way to Christian Meditation

I will close with a few practical suggestions. First, make time. Busy schedules, “smart” phones, entertainment, and a host of other invaders constantly pillage your time. Be intentional about carving out sufficient minutes here and there for uninterrupted thought. Second, find quiet. This can be difficult, for moms especially. Wisely consider changes. Can going to bed earlier enable to wake up a little earlier? In the evening, instead of gazing at a screen, try meditating on the Son. Third, prayer. Pray meditatively, meaning, talk to God about His glory and grace. Also, if you struggle, pray for help. The Spirit loves to illumine the Son! Fourth, use a pen, a literal pen. With paper. Charles Spurgeon once said that the pen is the scalpel of the mind. Write down your thoughts, mull over the words on the page. Writing things by hand slows down your thought process and enables you to think more carefully. Finally, you need resolve. With God’s help, commit yourself to this discipline. You will be richly rewarded.

David Wells once insightfully observed, “The fundamental problem in the evangelical world today is that God rests too inconsequentially upon the church. His truth is too distant, his grace is too ordinary, his judgment is too benign, his gospel is too easy, and his Christ is too common” (God in the Wasteland, 30). I believe that one of the underlying conditions causing this problem is the lack of Christian meditation. Let us, therefore, pursue the focused contemplation of the renewed mind upon the treasury of divine truth.

This article originally appeared here.

12 NFL Players Who LOVE Jesus (and Football)

Stephanie Martin

September 9, 2023

christian football players in the nfl — Left: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Center: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Right: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When pro athletes talk, people tend to listen. With social media, the “megaphone” of sports stars now reaches even farther, and many Christian football players use their platform to spread the Gospel.

An estimated three-fourths of NFL starting quarterbacks are evangelical Christian football players. Russell Wilson, Nick Foles, and recently retired Drew Brees are among the QBs that ChurchLeaders has previously profiled.

12 Christian Football Players in the NFL

Here’s a closer look at 12 other gridiron greats, team president, and recent retiree who are not only Christian football players but are also outspoken about their Christian faith:

Patrick Mahomes

All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Super Bowl LIV MVP, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes faces high expectations this season as his team aims to appear in it’s third straight Super Bowl. But the 25-year-old, who recently became a father and engaged to be married, says glorifying God remains his priority, as it does for many Christian football players.

“Faith is huge for me,” says Mahomes, who became a Christian during middle school. On a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) video, he says, “Before every game, I walk the field and I do a prayer at the goalpost. I just thank God for those opportunities, and I thank God for letting me be on a stage where I can glorify him.”

R.C. Sproul: Biblical Scholasticism

R.C. Sproul

September 9, 2023

biblical scholasticism — Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino (via Unsplash)

In an age wherein the ground of theology has been saturated by the torrential downpour of existential thinking, it seems almost suicidal, like facing the open floodgates riding a raft made of balsa wood, to appeal to a seventeenth-century theologian to address a pressing theological issue. Nothing evokes more snorts from the snouts of anti-rational zealots than appeals to sages from the era of Protestant Scholasticism.

“Scholasticism” is the pejorative term applied by so-called “Neo-Orthodox” (better spelled without the “e” in Neo), or “progressive” Reformed thinkers who embrace the “Spirit” of the Reformation while eschewing its “letter” to the seventeenth-century Reformed thinkers who codified the insights of their sixteenth-century magisterial forebears. To the scoffers of this present age, Protestant Scholasticism is seen as a reification or calcification of the dynamic and liquid forms of earlier Reformed insight. It is viewed as a deformation from the lively, sanguine rediscovery of biblical thought to a deadly capitulation to the “Age of Reason,” whereby the vibrant truths of redemption were reduced to logical propositions and encrusted in dry theological tomes and arid creedal formulations such as the Westminster Confession of Faith.

The besetting sin of men like Francis Turretin and John Owen was their penchant for precision and clarity in doctrinal statements. As J.I. Packer observed in his introduction of John Owen’s classic work, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ:

Those who see no need for doctrinal exactness and have no time for theological debates which show up divisions between so-called Evangelicals may well regret its reappearance . . . . Owen’s work is a constructive broad-based biblical analysis of the heart of the gospel, and must be taken seriously as such . . . . Nobody has the right to dismiss the doctrine of the limitedness of the atonement as a monstrosity of Calvinistic logic until he has refuted Owen’s proof that it is part of the uniform biblical presentation of redemption, clearly taught in plain text after plain text.

The “monster” created by Calvinistic logic to which Packer refers is the doctrine of limited atonement. The so-called “Five points of Calvinism” (growing out of a dispute with Remonstrants (Arminians) in Holland in the early seventeenth century) have been popularized by the acrostic T-U-L-I-P, spelling out the finest flower in God’s garden: T—Total Depravity; U—Unconditional Election; L—Limited Atonement; I—Irresistible Grace; P—Perseverance of the Saints.

Many who embrace a view of God’s sovereign grace in election are willing to embrace the Tulip if one of its five petals is lopped off. Those calling themselves “four-point Calvinists” desire to knock the “L” out of Tulip.

On the surface, it seems that of the “five points” of Tulip, the doctrine of limited atonement presents the most difficulties. Does not the Bible teach over and over that Jesus died for the whole world? Is not the scope of the atonement worldwide? The most basic affirmation the Evangelical recites is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world.”

On the other hand, it seems to me that the easiest of the five points to defend is limited atonement. But this facility must get under the surface to be manifested. The deepest penetration under that surface is the one provided by Owen in The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.

First, we ask if the atonement of Christ was a real atonement? Did Jesus really, or only potentially, satisfy the demands of God’s justice? If indeed Christ provided a propitiation and expiation for all human beings and for all their sins, then, clearly, all persons would be saved. Universal atonement, if it is actual, and not merely potential, means universal salvation.

However, the overwhelming majority of Christians who reject limited atonement also reject universal salvation. They are particularists, not universalists. They insist on the doctrine of justification by faith alone. That is, only believers are saved by the atonement of Christ.

If that is so, then the atonement, in some sense, must be limited, or restricted, to a definite group, namely believers. If Christ died for all of the sins of all people, that must include the sin of unbelief. If God’s justice is totally satisfied by Christ’s work on the cross, then it would follow that God would be unjust in punishing the unrepentant sinner for his unbelief and impenitence because those sins were already paid for by Christ.

A Simple but Radical Shift in Small Group Formats

Jim Egli

September 9, 2023

small group formats — Adobestock #212308988

Every once in a while a new discovery comes along that changes everything. Change experts call these paradigm shifts. A paradigm shift is a fundamental change that radically changes how we approach and do things. I’ve recently gone through a small group paradigm shift regarding small group formats. I thought I knew a lot about groups. I have led groups for almost 40 years, written small group training for 30 years, and extensively researched groups for more than 20 years.

I thought I was an expert, but something is happening in the world of small groups that is radically changing how I think about and do them. And, as they say, “When a paradigm shifts everyone goes back to zero.” The paradigm shift shaking the small group and church world is the “Disciple-Making Movement.” Here are some basic changes introduced by the DMM movement.

The Radical Shift in Small Group Formats

1. Small Groups for Everyone

Discipleship isn’t just for believers. People often—and ideally—start to follow Jesus before they fully surrender their lives to him. (If you want to dig into this more read this post.

2. More than Bible Study

Small groups shouldn’t study the Bible to learn more, to be enriched or to grow spiritually. (Though these may also happen.) The primary reason to study the Bible is to immediately obey it. Jesus said, “Make disciples…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

3. God’s Already at Work

God is already at work in the lives of unbelievers around you and right now some of them are extremely open to exploring spiritual things, including a relationship with Jesus. You need to connect to these people that the Holy Spirit is drawing, and they—not you—will reach a bunch of other people currently far from God.

4. You Don’t Need “Experts”

When you use a simple small group format that zeros in on people hearing and responding to the Bible themselves, without the need for a trained expert, new followers of Jesus—and even unbelieving seekers—can lead a great Bible study that helps people encounter and follow Christ. (To learn more about what how a Discovery Group, one of the small groups at the heart of the DMM movement works, check out this post.)

When you combine the principles together you get powerful small group formats that can easily multiply new groups and leaders.

Although the Discovery Group format is simple, it takes a while to get the hang of it and to start actively doing the accountability that is a part of it. Once you get it though, I am confident that you will love it and never turn back.

This article on the shift in small group formats originally appeared here.

15 Time Management Tips

Chuck Lawless

September 9, 2023

I make no claim to be an expert at time management. What I am is a seminary dean, education consultant, church consultant, and local church pastor who has been forced to learn how to budget time. Here are some time management tips that have worked for me:

Review your calendar each night. I take a few minutes each night to review my schedule for the next day. That way, I can begin planning how to use my time before I ever get to the office.
Get up an hour earlier each day. Think about it – one extra hour each gives you essentially one more workday per week. Use that hour wisely, and you may find you have more free time throughout the week.
Pray as you start the day. God gives all of us the same amount of time. We need His wisdom to use that time effectively and efficiently. Consider also praying briefly about each event scheduled for the day.
Use a “to do” list. This tip surely seems elementary, but I’m surprised how little attention some folks give to stewarding their day well.
Do less exciting tasks first. If I do the tedious work first, I’m always looking forward to something I enjoy to do.
Calendar deadlines before the actual deadline. If you know something must be done by June 1, for example, set the deadline two weeks earlier—and pay attention to the calendar notices about the work due.
Move papers one time. If a paper needs filing, file it. If a signature is required, sign it. If it’s a bill, pay it. By its very nature, delay will hinder your finishing your work.
Schedule time to check email. My goal is to check email when I first arrive at the office, after lunch, and just before I leave.
Take regular breaks. The break need not be long, but even a few minutes can help you re-focus your efforts. Take a walk, go to the restroom, call a friend, throw a baseball, read the paper, go outside – do something that re-energizes you for the rest of the day.
Close your office door when needed. Give yourself permission to close the door occasionally and concentrate on a task. You’ll be more comfortable with unexpected visits if you are not behind in your work.
Limit the duration of drop-by visits by standing. Remaining standing – even going to the door and standing in the office doorway – is a simple way to say, “I’m happy to visit, but I have only a few moments.”
Limit the duration of meetings with good calendaring. Plan meetings back-to-back, and be clear about your time limitations. A simple, “Glad to see you. I have only thirty minutes before my next appointment,” can quickly establish your boundaries.
Use the telephone. Most of the time, a simple phone call rather than an ongoing email exchange would have saved time.
Complete at least one task per day. Doing so releases some pressure, and we’re usually more prepared then to face the next task. It’s also a good idea to thank God briefly when you finish a task.
Clean your desk or work area every day before you leave. Finish a task, and get the work off your desk. Beginning the day with work already on my desk implies I’m behind before I get started.

What other time management techniques have worked for you?

This article originally appeared here.

Capture the Flag: Play This Fun, Active Team Game With Teens

Joel from YouthGroupGames

September 8, 2023

Capture the Flag is one of the most popular youth group games ever. It works great at youth camp or in any location that has plenty of running space. Plus, Capture the Flag is versatile, as you can see from all the gameplay variations below. So check them all out. Then have a blast playing Capture the Flag with your kids!

How to Play Capture the Flag

Materials Needed

Flags
Team uniforms (see point #7 below)
Boundary markers

Set Up

1. First, find a location to play. The ideal area has lots of objects scattered around (so it’s not completely open). Campgrounds, fields, and forests are good options. In the end, you can play Capture the Flag almost anywhere. You may just need to adapt the rules for maximum effectiveness.

2. Get two flags (or similar objects) of different colors. Then hide them at either “end” of the playing field. Make sure they’re relatively easy to find (i.e., not buried underground).

3. Next, divide the group into two even teams.

4. Then designate a home base at either end of the field where each team will start. Also designate the boundaries of the playing field and a halfway mark, splitting the field into two halves.

5. Finally, explain all the rules to players and make sure they’re aware of the boundaries.

Capture the Flag Rules

1. The aim is for a team to capture the opposition’s flag. Players achieve this by finding the flag and bringing it back to their team’s home base safely.

2. When a player is in their defensive half, they can tag a player from the opposite team. The tagged player must walk back to their team’s home base before they’re “in play” again.

3. If a player is carrying the flag, they can be tagged by the opposite team in either half. Once they’re tagged, the opposite team must return the flag to their base straight away. The player who was tagged must walk back to their team’s base before being back “in play” as per normal.

7 Variations of Capture the Flag

Capture the Flag is a beloved game with many variations of play. Depending on your location, the participants, the group size, and the weather, tailor these options to make the game work for your kids.

1. Jail

Instead of having a tagged player walk back to their base before returning to play, you can have a jail (or two). Have tagged players go to the jail, where they’ll be kept for a few minutes by a jailer (leader) before returning to play.

A fun aspect of this variation is that the jailer can make the player do something funny before being released. For example, make the jailer laugh, perform a silly dance, act like a chicken, etc.

2. Stuck in the Mud

Players who get tagged can be forced to stand still and be “stuck-in-the-mud” until someone from their team tags them free.

Jason Young: Pain, Peace, and Thriving in Ministry

Jason Daye

September 8, 2023

Ministry can be exhausting. So how do our past hurts and our present peace relate to thriving in ministry for the long haul? In this week’s conversation on FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye is joined by Jason Young, keynote speaker, coach, and consultant who works with churches and businesses. Jason is the co-author of several ministry leadership books, including his latest, “Don’t Burn Out, Burn Bright.” Together, Jason and Jason uncover some of the often-overlooked realities of exhaustion in ministry. You’re definitely going to want to listen to what Jason says about how better understanding our past hurts can lead to flourishing in both life and ministry.

FrontStage BackStage Podcast With Jason Young

View the entire podcast here.

Keep Learning

Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed. Find your Weekly Toolkit here… Love well, Live well, Lead well!

Podcast Links

Video links to this week’s episode – easily share with the ministry leaders in your church
Audio links to this week’s episode – easily share with the ministry leaders in your church
Additional resource links from this week’s conversation – so you and your team can easily find what is mentioned or referenced
Ministry Leaders Growth Guide – key insights and concepts from this week’s conversation as well as engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process
Full-text transcript of this week’s episode – review something you heard, pass along snippets, post tweets, create presentations to share, or use in whatever way you find most helpful in developing your ministry leaders
Shareable Social Graphics – Feel free to post them on your church social accounts, your personal accounts, or use them as graphics in your communications

Lauren Daigle’s New Album ‘Was Very Restorative and Redeeming’ As She Battled Anxiety, Depression

Jessica Mouser

September 8, 2023

Lauren Daigle dropped the second part of her self-titled album on Friday, Sept. 8. In an appearance on the “WHOA That’s Good” podcast, Daigle discussed with host Sadie Robertson Huff the significant mental health challenges she dealt with while writing the album and shared how God brought her through them.

Right before the pandemic began, Daigle said her career was “rocket launching. And when I mean rocket launching…it wasn’t just a rocket. It was a missile. It was headed too fast in the wrong direction.”

From 2020 through part of 2022, the artist experienced some of the darkest moments of her life. But she sought God through it all and said he used her new album “to rejuvenate me and to remind me of the pure things” that matter to his kingdom, as opposed to what matters to the music industry.

“The process of making this record was very restorative and redeeming,” Daigle said. “My dream for this record is that it would bring peace and solace and comfort.”

Lauren Daigle: ‘I Really Had To Fight for Joy’

Lauren Daigle is a former “American Idol” contestant and a Grammy Award-winning Christian artist. She released the first part of her newest album on May 12 and dropped the rest of it (there are 23 tracks total) today, the day before her birthday.

Daigle explained to Huff that she is the type of person who likes to listen to albums from beginning to end, and as she was working on her new record, she came up with approximately 20 songs that she was not willing to cut from it. Concerned that people would not have the stamina to listen to all of the album at once, Daigle’s manager suggested splitting it in half. Daigle had gone five years without putting out an album, so releasing the self-titled album in two parts also allowed her to give her fans a lot of new music.

At the beginning of 2020, Daigle’s career was taking off, a process that she says was “beautiful” but moving too fast. When the pandemic hit and everything shut down, it was like running into a brick wall while going 100 miles an hour. “I feel like God really used that time to reposition my heart, reset my mind and my thinking,” she said. “I was in a space where I really needed to finesse that in my life. I needed to surrender so many things.”

Secular Rapper Hopsin Enraged After Realizing Satanic Image Was Displayed During Concert

Jesse T. Jackson

September 8, 2023

Secular rapper Hopsin, whose birth name is Marcus Jamal Hopson and who has collaborated with Dove Award-winning rapper NF, recently made it clear that he did not approve the satanic imaginary displayed during his concert in Colorado Springs on Aug. 26, nor was he even aware it was on the screen.

Although Hopsin doesn’t profess to be a Christian, he is open about his faith struggles and has shared that Christian rapper Lecrae reached out and spoke to him about God when Hopsin talked about “being lost” on social media.

In fact, before Hopsin’s song “Ill Mind of Hopsin 7,” during which a satanic image of an upside down cross was displayed, the rapper told the audience that he wanted to express some his views on life, God, and everything.

Hopsin said that it wasn’t until his friend questioned him about the “antichrist image” at his Colorado show that he actually became aware it had been projected behind him.

Disbelieving that such a thing would happen without his consent, Hopsin reached out to the people he had worked with and soon confirmed the reports.

“I trusted that they would know what I don’t represent,” Hopsin told his Instagram followers. “And to know that this was projected behind me while I’m rapping, and I’m performing songs like ‘Ill Mind of Hopsin 7,’”—a song where Hopsin talks about his faith struggles, the Bible, and religion—”and it has an antichrist logo behind me.”

Hopsin said, “That’s not the f***ing vibe, man. That’s not what the f**k I’m on. That’s some satanic s**t that I don’t f**k with.”

Hopsin expressed frustration that concertgoers could have gotten the impression that the song is about Satan, which isn’t accurate.

“I take full accountability,” Hopsin said. “I genuinely apologize if any of that makes you uncomfortable because it would have made me uncomfortable. It really would have. It makes me uncomfortable just knowing that it existed.”

Hopsin said that the satanic imaginary behind him now makes him looks like “one those industry plants that do some satanic ritual [stuff],” and although he mentioned he isn’t quite sure Satan is real, he wanted to make very clear he doesn’t “mess with” satanic stuff. “Never have, never will!”

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Lauren Daigle: ‘I Really Had To Fight for Joy’

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