How to Evaluate Worship at Your Church

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May 22, 2023

evaluate worship — Adobestock #243140832

Some worship leaders don’t consider evaluating their worship services until they receive complaints about something they are or aren’t doing or singing. Consequently, their responses are usually defensive rather than evaluative. A preemptive strike is an action that is intentionally initiated to keep another inevitable action from occurring. To evaluate worship — from the inside — is preventive and proactive in order to deter a more unfavorable action or attack from transpiring.

Evaluation is already occurring in the halls and parking lots. So why wouldn’t we want to preempt those conversations with a process that encourages worship renewal instead of just as a response to worship conflict?

4 Current Realities That Challenge Meaningful Relationships

By

Dan Reiland

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May 20, 2023

meaningful relationships — Adobestock #522163620

The human soul longs for intimacy and connection, yet genuine community seems to become more and more difficult to attain. Why might this be true?

There are a number of factors we could address, but let me share something I hear nearly every day.

“I don’t have enough time” is the most common statement I hear leaders say.

(I say it too.)

But the truth is, we all have the same amount of time. It’s really about the decisions we make about how to use that time, and under pressure, that’s not easy. What often suffers is time for relationships.

I recently asked a pastor to tell me his story. The story of his life. He looked at me with uncertainty. Not like he didn’t know his story, but more like he was caught off guard because no one had ever asked him to tell more than the three-minute version. When I told him I wasn’t in a hurry and I wanted the unabridged version, it seemed as though he was just presented with a sacred opportunity.

The demands of ministry can cause leaders to forfeit genuine community, and inadvertently drift toward isolation. It’s not intentional, but it seems to come with the territory. What is the path toward a healthier lifestyle?

Again, there many issues and they are complex, so perhaps it’s best to start with the foundation.

We all have a deep soul level need:

To be seen and valued – to be noticed as an individual of worth and value is core to our self-esteem and ability to give ourselves to others.
To connect and be in community – to experience human connection at a heart level and be in genuine relationship with others establishes a baseline for healthy human interaction.
To be known and loved – to be known as the real you and be fully accepted, and receive the most profound gift of all, to be loved unconditionally, is truly lifegiving.

We intuitively know these things to be true, but find it challenging to consistently live them out.

Why is that?

Some of the larger issues are things like the basic human condition, the fears and insecurities we face, and the pressures life presents.

But let’s break that down to a few of the more current and practical realities that cause relationships to suffer.

And also provide insights to healthier and more enjoyable relationships.

4 Current Realities That Challenge Meaningful Relationships

1. The Tension Between the Speed of Life and the Speed of Love

The speed of life demands that we keep up. The speed of love requires that we slow down. These two realties carry a tension to manage. Which one do you surrender to most?

Leaders have to keep up. In fact, we actually need to stay out front in order to set the pace. We are also responsible to make progress. Yet, Jesus modeled the greatest of these things is love, and for that, we must slow down.

For example:

Leading any organization to realize their mission requires the speed of life.
Playing with your children and grandchildren requires the speed of love.

However, the danger in these two statements is they paint a simplistic perspective.

Life doesn’t allow itself to be neatly compartmentalized. The challenging art is how to blend both the speed of life and the speed of love in our daily, weekly, and monthly rhythms.

5 Spiritual Dangers of Skipping Church

By

Nathan Rose

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May 20, 2023

I read recently that my denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, has a total of 16 million members, but on a typical Sunday, only 6 million of those members attend their local church’s corporate worship gathering. Considering the importance and necessity of corporate worship for the Christian, this is a very discouraging statistic. Not only is it disheartening, but it is also spiritually dangerous for those who profess Christ, but regularly end up missing church.

Dangers of Regularly Missing Church

Below, I want to list some reasons and explain why missing church is a really bad idea. [1]

1. You will miss out on God’s primary design for your spiritual growth and well-being.

The central aspect of corporate worship is the preaching of God’s Word. The proclamation of Scriptures is God’s primary means for a disciple of Jesus to grow in spiritual maturity. When a professing Christian misses church they are missing God’s prescribed process for spiritual growth.

2. You disobey God.

Corporate worship is not optional for the Christian, according to the Bible. Hebrews 10:24-25 makes this clear:

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some…”

Author and pastor, Greg Gilbert comments on this passage, “At the very least, therefore, we have to say that, for every Christian, attendance at church gatherings is not optional. The author of Hebrews—and therefore the Holy Spirit himself—commands Christians to be present when the believers to whom he or she belongs gather.”

At my church, we reflect this biblical command in our church covenant, which states:

“We commit, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to…continue meeting together regularly [and] work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church, as we sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines.”

God’s people ought to strive to keep God’s commands. One of his commands is meeting together regularly for corporate worship.

3. You make a statement to the world that God is not worthy of worship.

What we spend our time on shows what we truly value. If you miss church in order to sleep in or to attend a sporting activity, what does this say about the worth you ascribe to God? Replacing your church’s regularly scheduled worship time with some other activity demonstrates that God is not actually worthy of our worship; something else is. Unfortunately, this is the attitude and conduct of unbelievers, not God’s people.

Father’s Day Devotional Ideas: Crowned as Heavenly Heirs of God

By

ChildrensMinistry.com

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May 19, 2023

Need Father’s Day devotional ideas? Here’s one that children in your Sunday school classes and children’s church will love!

Use this fun Father’s Day devotion to help kids celebrate dads and recognize our heavenly Father. Children can take the craft home for dad or a special man in their life.

You’ll need:

a Bible
two 2 x 24-inch strips of yellow construction paper per child (If children are younger, tape the ends of two paper strips together ahead of time to form a crown.)
shiny stickers
markers

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7

Father’s Day Devotional Ideas: Fit for a King!

Before class, make a sample crown.

Ask:

What kind of father might wear a crown like this?
What would it be like to have a king for a dad?

Say: The Bible tells us something important about our heavenly Father. (Read the Scripture.) According to these verses, who is our heavenly Father?

Ask:

How are our fathers and the special men in our lives here on earth like our heavenly Father?

Distribute the supplies to create the crown and the shiny stickers. Say: Let’s make a special crown for our father or a special man in our life here on earth. Put a sticker “jewel” on this crown and finish the sentence, “I love you because you’re…” You might say, “I love you because you’re kind.”

‘Above All, He Loved Jesus’—Ministry Leaders Pay Tribute to Dr. Timothy Keller

By

Jessica Lea

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May 19, 2023

Believers and church leaders are honoring Dr. Timothy Keller, who passed away Friday morning at age 72 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Outreach Magazine editor-in-chief, Dr. Ed Stetzer, said Keller’s death felt like losing a “spiritual father.”

“Sad to hear @TimKellerNYC has died,” said Stetzer. “It feels like the loss of a father to so many of us.”

Sad to hear @TimKellerNYC has died.

“There will be a city.
There is going to be a just society.
Beauty will be there.
Poverty and war will be gone.
We are not the saviors.” –@timkellernyc https://t.co/uxkih4INuL

It feels like the loss of a father to so many of us. https://t.co/q4JlXl6hSF

— Ed Stetzer (@edstetzer) May 19, 2023

Dr. Timothy Keller’s Impact Was Profound

Tim Keller is the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and the author of numerous books, including “The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism,” “The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith,” and “The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God.” His latest book, “Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I?” was published on Nov. 1, 2022.

Keller, who cofounded The Gospel Coalition (TGC) with D.A. Carson, was known for valuing winsomeness in expressing his beliefs, a characteristic that came under criticism in the past year. TGC recently announced the launch of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, which aims to help “Christians share the truth, goodness, and beauty of the gospel as the only hope that fulfills our deepest longings.”

“Two years ago I had the honor of interviewing Tim Keller on the topic of hope after his stage four cancer diagnosis,” Outreach Magazine editor-at-large Paul J. Pastor tweeted Thursday. “I would like to share our conversation again.”

In the interview, titled “Timothy Keller: Becoming Stewards of Hope—Part 1,” Keller said, “If I am sure of the resurrection, then basically, I am OK. I can handle anything that life—or death—throws at me.”

Keller was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020 and during that time pursued various treatments, including chemotherapy. He was in and out of the hospital this week, and on Thursday his son, Michael, announced that Keller would be receiving hospice care. Michael said that some of his father’s final words Friday morning were, “There is no downside for me leaving, not in the slightest.”

“It feels a bit like a great light has slipped beyond the horizon,” said Trevin Wax, Vice President of Research and Resource Development at the North American Mission Board. “It’s a sunset that has long been coming, and yet it still feels strangely sudden.”

Hip hop artist Lecrae responded to the news of Keller receiving hospice, saying, “True story I’ve only been star struck by Michael Jordan, Jay-Z, and Tim Keller. There are things he’s shared that have changed me forever.”

Collin Hansen, TGC’s vice president of content, called Keller his “hero.” “Tim’s death leaves a void I can never fill,” said Hansen. “I’ll miss his encouragement. I’ll miss his teaching. I’ll miss the books he never got to write. I’ll miss his friendship, the long conversations about anything and everything in ministry.”

CCM artist Steven Curtis Chapman posted a video of himself singing part of his song, “With Hope,” in tribute to Keller. “Today, while so many grieve the loss of this incredibly brilliant teacher and faithful shepherd and pastor,” said Chapman, “please join me in praying for comfort and peace for his wife and family…as Tim is now dancing joyfully with the Jesus he so deeply loved and helped me come to know and love so much better while on this side of the veil.”

Live in the light of the resurrection and renewal of this world, and of yourself, in a glorious, never-ending, joyful dance of grace.

Tim Keller

Today, while so many grieve the loss of this incredibly brilliant teacher and faithful shepherd and pastor, please join me in praying… pic.twitter.com/S0N7eWx0n5

— Steven Curtis Chapman (@StevenCurtis) May 19, 2023

Alabama Pastor Harry Reeder, 75, Dies in Car Accident

By

Stephanie Martin

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May 19, 2023

Harry Reeder — Screenshot from YouTube / @briarwoodpresbyterianchurch

Tributes are pouring in for the Rev. Harry L. Reeder III, who was killed in a car crash in Alabama on May 18. The longtime senior pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham was on his way home from speaking at a legislative prayer service in Montgomery.

Reeder had led Briarwood since 1999, after the retirement of the Rev. Frank Barker, a founder of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Reeder, 75, also wrote several books and hosted the podcast “Today in Perspective.” He is survived by his wife, Cindy, three children, and nine grandchildren.

Church, State Leaders Mourn Pastor Harry Reeder

Authorities in Shelby County, Alabama, said Harry Reeder’s vehicle crashed into the back of a dump truck that had stopped to make a turn. Reeder died at the scene; the truck driver wasn’t injured.

In a statement shared with congregants, Briarwood Executive Pastor Bruce Stallings wrote that “our Lord has called Pastor Reeder home through a car accident.” He requested prayers for the family as well as for the church staff and church family “as we all grieve this tremendous loss together.”

Stallings added, “But we do not grieve without hope because we know our pastor is with His Savior and has been received by grace with ‘Well done My good and faithful servant.’”

Greg Davis, radio host and director of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP), expressed shock and devastation at the news. On Facebook, he explained that in January, Reeder “accepted my invitation to speak on May 18th to legislators at the ALCAP … prayer breakfast in Montgomery. He graciously accepted with nothing to gain for himself. He only came from a desire to impact legislators with the gospel and to be with [State] Senator Dan Roberts for Alabama.” Davis added, “Only God knew it would be [Reeder’s] last message as he never made it home…We hurt for his family and the church but Harry is now truly home.”

Sen. Roberts serves as an elder at Briarwood. After Reeder’s death, Roberts told Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, that Harry was “a leader who intentionally focused on the development of other leaders” and who “loved to see the church flourish.” Roberts added that his longtime friend was “the ultimate pastor-teacher whose love for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ was obvious to all who spent time with him.”

On the floor of the Alabama State Senate Thursday afternoon, President Pro Tempore Greg Reed shared the news about Reeder’s death. Congressman Gary Palmer posted a tribute to Reeder, who was his pastor as well as “a dear friend, mentor, and a man who understood and exemplified Godly leadership.”

In a May 19 article, Mohler wrote that Reeder was “a titanic figure in his denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America, and his influence reached far beyond.” He concluded by writing, “All Christians should pause to thank God for the example of a godly pastor. God’s provision of such a pastor is no small thing, and we dare not fail to take note of his passing.”

The previous day, after the tragic news broke, Mohler tweeted that Reeder had been “a stalwart for the faith and a genuinely gracious man.” Ed Stetzer, Outreach Magazine editor-in-chief, also requested prayers for Reeder’s family and congregation.

Harry Reeder Helmed the ‘Mothership’ of the PCA

While attending seminary, Reeder served as pastor of an independent church in Tennessee. Next, he ministered at Pinelands Presbyterian Church in Miami, Florida. In 1983, Reeder was a founding pastor of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. That congregation first met to worship in a trailer but quickly multiplied.

Kevin DeYoung, current pastor of Christ Covenant, wrote in a May 19 Gospel Coalition tribute that Briarwood “may have been the only church that could’ve lured [Reeder] away from the congregation and the city he dearly loved.” Briarwood is “the mothership of the PCA, the place where the denomination began” in 1973, DeYoung noted, and filling the shoes of Frank Barker “was no small task.”

Pastor Tim Keller Dies at 72 After Battling Pancreatic Cancer

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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May 19, 2023

tim keller — Frank Licorice, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dr. Timothy Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, died at the age of 72 the morning of Friday, May 19, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

“Timothy J. Keller, husband, father, grandfather, mentor, friend, pastor, and scholar died this morning at home,” said Keller’s son, Michael, in a tweet Friday morning. “Dad waited until he was alone with Mom. She kissed him on the forehead and he breathed his last breath.”

Timothy J. Keller, husband, father, grandfather, mentor, friend, pastor, and scholar died this morning at home. Dad waited until he was alone with Mom. She kissed him on the forehead and he breathed his last breath. We take comfort in some of his last words…

— Timothy Keller (@timkellernyc) May 19, 2023

“We take comfort in some of his last words,” Michael said. “‘There is no downside for me leaving, not in the slightest.’ See you soon Dad.”

In a statement sent to church members, Redeemer announced that Keller “passed away this morning at age 72, trusting in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection. We are forever grateful for his leadership, heart, and dedication to sharing the love of Christ with others. While we will miss his presence here, we know he is rejoicing with his Savior in heaven.”

The statement continued:

Tim loved what he did. He loved interacting with Redeemer congregants and global ministry leaders alike. He delighted in communicating the profound wonder and transforming power of the gospel of grace. He would quickly disarm you and brush away your addressing him as Dr. Keller. “Just Tim, please.’”

Redeemer has announced Tim Keller’s passing. May he rest in peace. I went back and found another article I wrote for @nytimes about him, when he was asked to speak at St. Paul’s chapel on the fifth anniversary of 9/11. https://t.co/zcbSe1lEaj

— Michael Luo (@michaelluo) May 19, 2023

Tim Keller’s Passing and Legacy

Keller announced he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer on June 7, 2020, and immediately started treatment. In June 2021, Keller gave an encouraging update, sharing that he had been using a less aggressive form of chemotherapy and that his scans were showing no cancer growth.

On Sept. 5, 2021, Keller informed his followers that a “mystery lump” that doctors removed underneath his surgical scar “proved to be cancerous” and that his chemotherapy had to be increased.

In May 2022, Keller said, “This month, I am celebrating the 2-year anniversary of my diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. I can call it a celebration with justification as the chemotherapies have reduced the stage 4 cancer that was found and God has seen it fit to give me more time.”

The influential pastor then shared that he would be starting an “immunotherapy trial at the National Cancer Center in Bethesda, MD.” Keller said that the month-long trial had shown great promise in potentially curing cancer and described it as both “rigorous and demanding.”

A month later (June 2022), Keller’s son Michael tweeted about a “scary” moment his father experienced due to complications resulting from his cancer treatment.

Earlier this March, Keller asked for prayers after doctors discovered new tumors. “Unfortunately,” he said, they were “in some fairly inconvenient places, so the doctors encouraged us to go through the treatment again, this time targeting a different genetic marker of the cancer.”

UK Report Finds Britons’ Lack of Faith Knowledge Deeply Disturbing

By

Catherine Pepinster

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May 19, 2023

UK report — Britain’s King Charles III walks in the Coronation Procession after his coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool)

LONDON (RNS) — To outsiders watching the leader of Britain’s established church crown its new monarch, King Charles III, in a deeply religious ceremony, it might seem faith still looms large in the country. But a newly published report, commissioned four years ago by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, cites a profound need for improving Britons’ knowledge of religion in general and for protecting faith in an increasingly secularized landscape.

The title of the independent review, “Does government do God?,” harks back to a notorious episode at the start of the premiership of the Labour Party’s Tony Blair. His top spin doctor at the time advised that converting to his wife’s Catholicism would cause a media circus, saying the British government “doesn’t do God.” (Blair converted soon after leaving office in 2007.)

In 2019 Johnson nonetheless charged Colin Bloom, a former director of a Conservative Party evangelical group, with discerning how government might better engage with faith.

While Britain continues to have an established faith in the Church of England, it is a diverse, multifaith society, where Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism are particularly represented in the inner cities by immigrants from its formerly colonial Commonwealth countries. It also has a small Jewish population, many of whom have historic roots in Britain and others who arrived as refugees in the 1930s, escaping from Nazism and fascism in Europe.

The country’s broad diversity of faiths continues to be supplied by a flow of refugees from the Middle East, Ukraine and war-torn African nations.

The changes in the religious landscape have led governments since Blair’s time to increasingly recognize that religion matters, both in the welfare of its people and in how newcomers are assimilated into British life.

These issues are reflected in the government department that commissioned Bloom’s study —the Department for Leveling Up, which focuses on alleviating inequalities in the United Kingdom.

The report surveyed more than 21,000 people, more than half of whom said they believe that freedom of religion is under threat in the U.K. This view was held by Christians more than any other group, with 68% saying that people were penalized for being open about their faith in the workplace.

Bloom’s study also highlights the need for improvement of religious education. Teaching about religion in mainstream schools gets little attention, said the report, to the point that it is considered a “Cinderella subject”—a neglected stepchild of the education system. Jewish yeshivas and Muslim madrassas, meanwhile, were found to be in need of proper regulation and inspection.

Judge Clears Way for Disaffiliations From United Methodist Church in North Georgia

By

Emily McFarlan Miller

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May 19, 2023

(RNS) — The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church can’t just press “pause” on disaffiliations from the denomination by churches in its area, according to a ruling Tuesday (May 16) by a Georgia judge.

Cobb County Superior Court Judge J. Stephen Schuster ruled from the bench that the North Georgia Conference “has an affirmative duty” to assist any church wishing to disaffiliate with holding a vote or taking any other steps necessary to do so, according to a report by United Methodist News.

The conference also has the right to make sure those steps are followed in accordance with the denomination’s governing Book of Discipline, the judge said.

A disaffiliation plan added to the Book of Discipline by a 2019 special session of the General Conference, the denomination’s global decision-making body, allows churches to leave the United Methodist Church with their properties, which are held in trust by the denomination, over long-simmering disagreement about the ordination and marriage of its LGBTQ members.

To leave, congregations must take a vote on disaffiliation and meet certain financial obligations.

Those provisions end on Dec. 31, 2023.

But the North Georgia Conference announced late last year it would temporarily block member churches from leaving the denomination until after the 2024 meeting of the General Conference. The conference pointed to the spread of “defamatory” misinformation about the United Methodist Church and its disaffiliation procedure.

“With just 15 months until the next session of the United Methodist General Conference, which will be held April 23 to May 3, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina, this pause will allow churches to gain more information about the real, rather than the false or hypothetical, future of our church,” the conference said at the time.

Earlier this year, 185 churches sued the North Georgia Conference, claiming the right to leave the United Methodist Church.

The churches suing the North Georgia Conference claimed that pause violated their rights under the Book of Discipline, pointing to the disaffiliation plan detailed in Paragraph 2553 of the denomination’s rulebook, according to The Georgia Sun.

On Tuesday, the North Georgia Conference posted an update on its website, saying it was “exploring our opportunity to appeal.”

“While details of the order are yet to come, once they are received, the Conference Board of Trustees in conversation with Bishop (Robin) Dease and the Cabinet will communicate plans and timelines. Leaders of the Conference remain committed to handling this matter in a fair, transparent, uniform, and good faith manner,” it said.

To date, 3,215 out of about 30,000 U.S. churches have disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church, according to an ongoing tally by United Methodist News.

This article originally appeared here.

R.C. Sproul: Humiliation to Exaltation

By

R.C. Sproul

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May 19, 2023

It just hangs there. It dangles as if it were simply an afterthought attached to the second chapter of Genesis. But we know there are no afterthoughts in the mind and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Thus, we look at this passage to give us a clue about our condition prior to the misery of sin. Genesis 2:25, reads, “They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (NKJV). This tells us that before sin came into the world, there was no shame. There was no embarrassment. The experience of humiliation was completely unknown and foreign to the human race.

However, along with the first experience of sin came the awful burden of the weight of personal shame and embarrassment. Shame and embarrassment are feelings and experiences that occur to us in various degrees. The worst kind of shame, the most dreadful form of embarrassment, is that which results in utter and complete humiliation. Humiliation brings with it not merely the reddened face of embarrassment but also the sense of despair as we lose our dignity and our reputations are cast into ruin.

Yet it was precisely into this domain of shame and humiliation that our Savior came voluntarily in the incarnation. The popular hymn, “Ivory Palaces,” depicts this descent from glory—the Son of Man’s voluntary departure from the ivory palace that is His eternal dwelling place. He chose willingly to make Himself of no reputation, to become a man and a servant, obedient even unto death. It is this humiliation that Christ willingly accepted for Himself, which stands at the beginning of the entire progress that He travels on His road to glory and to His final exaltation. The progress, as the New Testament traces it, is one that moves from humiliation in the birth of Jesus to His exaltation in His resurrection, ascension, and return.

The quality of exaltation is the exact opposite, a strong antithesis, to the quality of humiliation. In exaltation, dignity is not only restored, but it is crowned with the glory that only God can bestow. And so when we look at the biblical theme of the exaltation of Jesus, we look at the way in which the Father rewards His Son and declares His glory to the whole creation.

We are told that no one ascends into heaven except the One who descends from heaven, and we are also told that in baptism, we are given the mark and the sign of our participation with Jesus in both His humiliation and His exaltation. The promise of participating in the exaltation of Christ is given to every believer—but there is a catch. There is a warning, and that warning is clear: unless we are willing to participate in the humiliation of Jesus, we would have no reason to expect ever to participate in His exaltation. But that is the crown that is set before us, that we, who have no right to everlasting glory and honor, will nevertheless receive it because of what has been achieved in our stead by our perfect Redeemer.

In 1990, I wrote a book titled The Glory of Christ. The writing of that book was one of the most thrilling experiences I’ve ever had in writing. My task on that occasion was to demonstrate that while there is a general progression from humiliation to exaltation in the life and ministry of Jesus, this progression does not run in an unbroken line that moves uninterrupted from humiliation to exaltation. Rather, the book explains that even in Jesus’ general progress from humiliation to exaltation, in His worst moments of humiliation, there are interjections by the grace of God, wherein the Son’s glory is also manifest.

For example, when we consider the nativity of Jesus, it is easy to focus our attention on the sheer impoverishment that went with His being born in a stable and in a place where He was unwelcome in the resident hotel or inn. There was an overwhelming sense of debasement in the lowliness of His birth. Yet, at the very moment that our Lord entered humanity in these debasing circumstances, just a short distance away the heavens broke out with the glory of God shining before the eyes of the shepherds with the announcement of His birth as the King.

Understanding the True Gospel

By

Scott Sauls

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May 19, 2023

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

The true Gospel is more than the “first step in a staircase” of truths. It is better likened to the hub of a wheel, the central reality around which all of life is arranged. It is not a basic truth from which we move on to deeper truths, but is the central truth from which all other truth flows. Whether you are just beginning to investigate Christianity, or are a life-long follower of Christ, the Gospel is the one, single thing you must grasp if your life is to be all God designed your life to be. Without the Gospel, life becomes distorted in many, many ways. With the Gospel, life is set to a path toward beauty and wholeness.

So what is the True Gospel?

The hard news of the true Gospel is that the universe and everything in it is wearing down all the time, and we are more sinful and broken than we realize. The freeing news of the Gospel is that God, through the person and work of Jesus, plans to restore both the universe and his people to their original beauty and glory. Following are three big truths of the Gospel—truths that are foundational for all other teaching about faith and life.

FIRST TRUTH OF THE TRUE GOSPEL

GOD WILL RESTORE ALL BROKEN THINGS

The core truth of the Gospel is that through Jesus, the love and power of God have entered history to make all things new. This renewal includes the hearts of people, but also much more. God intends to renew the entire universe. He will restore people, places, and things to their original, ‘very good’ condition as described in Genesis 3. The Bible tells us the world is not the way it is supposed to be. Because of this, people and creation itself groan in anticipation of all things being made new again—restored to their original beauty and wholeness before sin entered the world (Romans 8:18-25; Revelation 21:1-5).

What does this mean? It means that life in the present world can include seasons of joy and splendor (a satisfying friendship or romance, a new car, straight A’s, an athletic victory, a delicious meal, beautiful music, etc.). But there is also much of life that is broken and difficult (frustration in work, pain in relationships, financial strain, sickness, death). In spite of the fact that all things eventually break down, even in the worst of circumstances, those who live inside the Gospel can also live with hope (2 Corinthians 4:7-18, 12:7-10). Though things aren’t perfect now, it will all be made right when God renews all things.

There is also room for a kind of redemptive discontent for those who believe the Gospel. Think of the last improvement project you set out to complete (remodeling a kitchen, dusting off furniture, weeding a lawn, strengthening a relationship, healing an illness, getting a haircut, editing an essay, etc.). Both the frustration you felt before the work was done (this isn’t how it’s supposed to be…it could be so much better!), and the sense of satisfaction you felt when the project was completed, are glimpses of God’s image working in and through you. He is a God who eagerly desires, as the rock band U2 sings, to “make beauty out of ugly things.”

SECOND TRUTH OF THE TRUE GOSPEL

GOD WILL RESCUE A PEOPLE FOR HIMSELF, BY GRACE AND THROUGH FAITH

At the center of the Gospel is not a list of ideas, rules, commands or propositions, but a Person. That Person is Jesus Christ, who, being in his very nature God (Philippians 2:6; 1 John 5:20), took on human flesh to bridge the otherwise insurmountable gap between the holiness of God and the sinfulness of humanity (Isaiah 6:1-7).

Religion focuses on behavior (“You won’t be accepted unless you perform and keep our rules and embrace our cultural norms”).

Irreligion focuses on personal autonomy (“You can be happy apart from God’s rule in your life”).

But the Gospel focuses on personal trust in God’s heroic rescue. The average person believes that a Christian is someone who follows Christ’s teaching. But the Bible says this is impossible. You don’t rescue people unless they are in a perishing condition and are unable to recover themselves. For example, how many times have you seen a corpse do CPR on itself?

Jesus, knowing the helplessness of the human condition (Genesis 6:5; Ephesians 2:1-10) gave himself as a sacrifice for those who would place their trust in his gracious gift—a gift both unmerited and unearned by us. What was this gift? His life. Jesus came, lived a perfect life, and died a sacrificial death, not to buy us a second chance but to stand in our place as our substitute. Everything we needed to do to achieve peace with God, Jesus did for us—in our place and on our behalf. He died the death we should have died so that we would never be condemned (Romans 3:23-26), and he lived the life we should have lived so that God would declare us blameless and lovely in his sight (2 Corinthians 5:21). Because of what Jesus did as substitute, those who trust in and receive his free gift can truly say, “As far as God is concerned, everything that’s true about Jesus is true about me. God regards me as blameless and beautiful. He loves me as much as he loves Jesus. He gives me credit for the good that Jesus did, and he puts all the blame on Jesus for the wrongs I have done and will do.”

The Christian Gospel gives us a “who,” not just a “what.” Christianity is not something that we do as much as it is a Person we trust—the doing merely flows out of the trust. Jesus lived the life we should have lived, and Jesus died the death we should have died. It is on this basis alone (John 14:6) that anyone can stand blameless and fully accepted in the sight of God. The Reformer Martin Luther likened all people to a caterpillar caught in the middle of a ring of fire. For us, just as for the caterpillar, the only hope for deliverance is rescue “from above.”

THIRD TRUTH OF THE TRUE GOSPEL

GOD WILL PERFECT AND BEAUTIFY HIS PEOPLE—EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM

Returning back to the first point above, it is not only God’s plan to rescue his people, but to start them on a life-long journey of becoming restored to their original beauty, to reflect his image in all of its radiance, perfection, and glory. Believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ will one day actually be like God in their character, way of life, and deepest, most fundamental desires (1 Corinthians 13:8-12; Ephesians 4:24). This will happen in the New Heaven and New Earth, where there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:1-5).

So the Gospel is a healing journey that leads us to a life-giving and abundant destination. It is a journey that we do not embark upon alone, but alongside others who share with us a common trust in Jesus. As fellow sojourners, we are here to help each other along toward the destination of knowing and becoming like Jesus, having first been with Jesus and having first enjoyed the riches of his mercy, lovingkindness, and grace. In this life, God’s ultimate purpose for us is to shape us, to renew us, to re-make us into Christ-like people. This is therefore to become our goal and vision for our own lives, and it enables us to see everything that happens to us, even suffering, as a tool in the hands of God to artistically mold us into the beautiful workmanship he intends for us to be and to become (Ephesians 2:10).

This article originally appeared here.

John Piper: Why PhDs in Theology Commit Adultery

By

Megan Briggs

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May 19, 2023

commit adultery — Screengrab via YouTube / @desiringGod

It is a dangerous thing to participate in “graduate school sins” while having a “grammar school knowledge of God.” In a provocative video of a sermon preached by John Piper, he asserts that there are probably more people with graduate degrees in theology that commit adultery than people who are less educated. Piper’s blunt answer to why PhDs in theology commit adultery is that “they don’t know God!”

An individual can read theology for 10 hours a day for 40 years straight and not know God as beautiful, all satisfying, and the highest treasure of one’s life. Who cares about knowing God the way the devil knows God. The devil hates everybody and knowledge about God helps him hate people. We must remember that there are more pleasures at God’s right hand and more eternal joys in His presence than to commit adultery in ten thousand sexual trysts. The question is, do you know that?

When we truly understand this truth, then sin will have lost its dominion in our life.

Questions to Ask Graduating Seniors: 10 Topics for an ‘Exit’ Interview

By

Youth Ministrycom

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May 18, 2023

At this time of year, it’s important to know what questions to ask graduating seniors. As teens leave high school, why not take time to learn about their experiences? After all, that’s a great way to keep improving your youth ministry. Plus, it can help you keep in touch with graduates as they head out into the world.

Why You Need Questions to Ask Graduating Seniors

Companies and organizations often do exit interviews for many reasons. But the biggest is that they get really honest answers. They do this so they can learn, become better, and more faithfully care for employees.

I think student ministry pastors should do this too. Asking graduated seniors the following questions can help you become better. Your team can be more in tune with the actual needs of students. Also, conducting exit interviews provides a natural way to give teens things to think about as they move on to the next stage of education.

Mostly, the process is about asking great questions and keeping your ears open. Here’s a list to get you started:

10 questions to ask graduating seniors

What is one thing you would NOT want to see our ministry change?
If you were me, what two things would you do differently in our student ministry?
What questions are you thinking through right now? (Note: This can clue you into which questions you should answer for next year’s seniors!)
What do you think is the biggest need of students in our ministry?
What aspect of our ministry do you think is the most effective in helping students grow in their faith? Why that one? Anything we can do better?
What do you think the students at (school name) want the most out of life? How can our ministry specifically meet or address that desire?
What helped you best connect in our ministry?
Do you feel like we invested in you the way you expect churches to invest in people? What could we do better?
Did anything in our ministry make you feel uncomfortable or discouraged?
Do you feel like we encouraged you in our ministry? If so, what was most encouraging?

This article about questions to ask graduating seniors originally appeared here.

How to Teach Children to Pray: Bible-Based Tips for Parents & Teachers

By

Jody Capehart

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May 18, 2023

Are you wondering how to teach children to pray and grow closer to God? Prayer is an adventure—a life-creating, life-changing journey. That’s why it’s so important that parents, teachers, and children’s workers know how to guide kids into a life of prayer.

Prayer is the main avenue God uses to change us and to guide our lives. Richard Foster says it well: “Prayer catapults us into the frontier of the spiritual life.”

As Christians, we know the importance of prayer in our own lives. But are we using prayer as God intended it to be—the way to plug into his power? Corrie ten Boom offers a good word picture: “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” Consider that image as you explore how to teach children to pray.

Insights About How to Teach Children to Pray

A child’s heart is tender to the teachings of God, and young children are eager to pray. Prayer becomes a spiritual security blanket where we learn to turn to God and trust in Him.

Jesus is real to children as they get to know him as their friend first and then as their Savior. Remember: Kids are eager and excited to converse with Jesus!

Jesus Models Prayer

Through the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches his followers how to pray. Children need us to model prayer for them because that’s how they learn best. Nothing is more effective than praying with and for your children each day.

John 17 reveals the progression in prayer that Jesus models. He prays for himself—that he might bring honor and glory to the Father. Then he prays for people closest to him, the disciples. Finally, Jesus prays for all believers.

Partnership in Prayer

In the Bible, we read about young Samuel, who hears God’s voice. Yet Samuel still needs Eli’s loving encouragement to guide and teach him how to obey what he hears from God. As parents and teachers, let’s embrace the God-given partnership we have in training children to hear and obey God. It’s more difficult today because our culture is so immersed in activity, saturating our senses.

How, then, can we hear God’s still, small voice? How can we train children to listen quietly when we’re bombarded by sound? We need to show kids how to listen to the silence so they can hear God. We also want children to learn to pray Scripture.

A good starting point is to read Psalm 46:10 to children and invite them to pray the first part of the verse quietly. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

How Should We Pray?

Set aside time each day in your home or classroom for prayer. Begin by simply being quiet, helping children become comfortable with silence. Then they can begin reflecting on the presence of God, the person of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.

Share a short Bible verse to reflect on, or a quality of God, or something Jesus said in his teachings. Or sing a short hymn or song and then ask children to think about the words during a brief time of silence.

Young children’s attention span is short, so keep the time for reflective silence age-appropriate. Perhaps start with 15 seconds, then 30 seconds, then one minute. Gradually add short increments of time as children mature. After a quiet time of reflection, lead the children into spoken prayer. This is a simple, effective way for how to teach children to pray.

5 Ideas for How to Teach Children to Pray

In my book Cherishing and Challenging Your Children, I share specific techniques and examples for how to teach children to pray. Use and adapt these with your kids!

1. Five-Finger Prayers

This simple idea also serves as a helpful reminder for adults.

“Wiggle your thumb and say something in praise to Jesus. This is our J.”

“Wiggle your middle finger for O for others and pray for others: family, friends, teachers, pastors, missionaries, etc.”

“Finally we wiggle our little finger for Y, and Y is for you. We pray for ourselves last.” (That can be confusing for little ones. You may have to explain that the “y” is for “u,” which is how they will hear it.)

We find JOY when we remember to put Jesus first, the needs of others next, and finally, ourselves. I admit I have to regularly remind myself of this simple method. Otherwise, my prayers begin to sound like a “to-do list for God.” This JOY system helps me keep my priorities in order.

‘This Generation Needs Fathers’—Michael W. Smith and John Crist Talk Faith, Deconstruction, and Smith’s Prodigal Son Moment

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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May 18, 2023

One of contemporary Christian music’s most recognizable household names, Michael W. Smith, sat down with popular Christian comedian John Crist last week on Crist’s “Net Positive” podcast to discuss Smith’s career, faith, Billy Graham, and this generation’s desperate need for fathers.

Crist, who entered rehab after he was accused of sexual misconduct and harassment in 2019, said his conversation with Smith was like sitting down with a family member. The comedian said that Smith’s words were filled with a lot of wisdom and encouragement, and it felt as though he were listening to the words of his own father.

Smith credited his parents’ faith and devotion to Jesus for making such an impact in his life that he made a decision to follow Christ when he was 10 years old.

The Grammy Award-winning singer also shared about how he walked away from the Lord during his late teen years, playing music in bars and doing drugs until he was 21. “I thought could play with the fire and I got burned,” Smith said.

During his “prodigal son” phase, Smith recalled how much his parents loved him and never kicked him out of the house. He remembers his dad telling him that he needed to “pull it together,” but was always rooting for him to succeed.

“I think that’s the way God is, and people have a misconception of who God is because they think if you screw up, and all of a sudden you’ve got the rod and you’re in deep trouble,” Smith said.

In November 1979, Smith experienced a nervous breakdown that had him shaking and crying on the floor for 3 1/2 hours. “I say this, and I know it’s true,” Smith said. “Abba came and laid on the floor with me and I have not been the same since that night—I’m convinced it was because of the prayers from my mom and dad.”

Crist shared the text Smith sent him the day he got “canceled,” a day that the comedian described as the “darkest day of my life.” Smith and Crist had met before, but didn’t have each other’s cell numbers. Crist said that Smith sought out Crist’s number in order to tell him, “Just want to let you know that we love you. We care for you. And you’re not alone.”

The Christian music pioneer said that people have asked him how he has “survived success” throughout his career.

One specific area Smith has advice on is to how people, especially musicians, can keep their families together. “Because you got a lot of families that are falling apart,” he said. “These guys and bands are on the road for 200 to 250 days out of the year and they got three kids. That ain’t gonna work. Not gonna work.”

Tim Keller Will Now Receive Hospice Care at Home: ‘I Can’t Wait To See Jesus’

By

Jessica Lea

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May 18, 2023

Editor’s note: Dr. Tim Keller passed away the morning of Friday, May 19. See the following article for further information: “Pastor Tim Keller Dies at 72 After Battling Pancreatic Cancer.”

Dr. Tim Keller is being discharged from the hospital and will now receive hospice care at home. His son, Michael Keller, posted the news on Twitter Thursday afternoon.

“Today, Dad is being discharged from the hospital to receive hospice care at home,” said Michael Keller. “Over the past few days, he has asked us to pray with him often. He expressed many times through prayer his desire to go home to be with Jesus.”

Health Update: Today, Dad is being discharged from the hospital to receive hospice care at home. Over the past few days, he has asked us to pray with him often. He expressed many times through prayer his desire to go home to be with Jesus. His family is very sad because we… 1/3

— Timothy Keller (@timkellernyc) May 18, 2023

“His family is very sad,” Michael continued, “because we all wanted more time, but we know he has very little at this point. In prayer, he said two nights ago, ‘I’m thankful for all the people who’ve prayed for me over the years. I’m thankful for my family, that loves me. I’m thankful for the time God has given me, but I’m ready to see Jesus. I can’t wait to see Jesus. Send me home.'”

Tim Keller is the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and the author of numerous books. He has been in and out of the hospital this week, battling complications from treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Please join us in praying for Tim Keller and his family during this difficult time.

From ‘War Room’ to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’—Karen Abercrombie Calls Acting a ‘Ministry’

By

Janna Firestone

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May 18, 2023

Fans around the globe raved about Karen Abercrombie’s performance in “War Room.” The movie tells the story of a family attempting to fix its problems. As she portrayed Clara Williams in the film, audience members were drawn into the wisdom of this older woman. Now, Abercrombie is on the big screen yet again as Grandma Quill in “Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.”

Abercrombie spoke to Christian Headlines about her profession. “It is a ministry to me,” she said of acting. “My gifts as well as my life [are] God-given, and so, to the best of my ability, I want to use the gifts that He’s given me in a way that would honor the Giver.” She continued, “I may be saying someone else’s words, but while I’m doing it and trying to do it in excellence, it’s a form of praise.”

Karen Abercrombie Plays Grandma Quill in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’

Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” empire includes films, TV specials, a series, and, of course, hundreds of comic books. The superhero team was first introduced in the 1969 comic book, “Marvel Super-Heroes” no. 18. As part of superhero films at their finest, the “guardians” comprise a team of intergalactic mercenaries that work together and defend the Andromeda galaxy.

In “Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3,” Peter Quill (played by Chris Pratt) returns to Earth to visit his grandfather. And, of course, Grandma Quill is the one who greets him at the door.

Abercrombie recalled, “One of my agents reached out to me…and asked if I would be interested. And I was like, ‘Yeah, sure.’ And then I did the audition. And we started communicating with Marvel [the studio].” She continued, “And then everything went quiet. And then I got another email—‘We’re going to start taping in Atlanta.’”

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to play Grandma Quill in the new Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3,” the star posted on Facebook.

Hundreds of friends, family, and fans have liked and reacted to Abercrombie’s post. “I had no idea that door of opportunity was ‘Yours!'” posted Gwen. “Congratulations!! Wow! The Lord just keeps on “Blessing” you and extending your borders! Much Love!!”

And, Abercrombie’s own sister, Rosemary said, “Hey sis I’m going to watch it since you’re in it.”

Abercrombie said that she believes “God is going to start taking back territory”—territory “from darkness—all of entertainment, all of the media.”

“It’s an opportunity to be what we profess to be. Even if you’re not running, grabbing people, taking them to the back and trying to save them or share the message of Christ, we can do that in how we respond,” she told Christian Headlines.

Jill Duggar Dillard Speaks on the Record for the First Time in New Docuseries From Prime Video

By

Jessica Lea

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May 18, 2023

Jill Duggar Dillard Speaks on the Record for the First Time in New Docuseries From Prime Video — Photo courtesy of Prime Video

Jill Duggar Dillard is going on the record about her family in a new docuseries titled, “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets,” releasing on Amazon’s Prime Video June 2. The trailer frames the worldview the Duggar children were raised in as part of a broader threat to American democracy—and even the world.

“‘Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets’ is a limited docuseries exposing the truth beneath the wholesome Americana surface of reality TV’s favorite mega-family, The Duggars, and the radically controversial organization behind them: The Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP),” says a press release from Prime Video. “A number of ex-IBLP survivors bravely come forward and reveal the abusive practices that kept them in a living nightmare.”

“For the first time, Jill Duggar Dillard will go on the record with her own story and be joined by family and close family friends who witnessed what went on behind the scenes firsthand,” the press release continues. “While details of the family and their scandals unfold, we realize they’re part of an insidious, much-larger threat already in motion, with democracy itself in peril.”

Jill Duggar Dillard Wants To Tell Her Story

“There is a story that’s going to be told, and I would rather be the one telling it,” said Jill Duggar Dillard, commenting in the docuseries trailer on her decision to speak to the show’s creators. Dillard’s husband, Derick Dillard, and cousin, Amy King, also appear in the docuseries.

The Duggars are a homeschool family from Arkansas who were featured in TLC’s reality show, “19 Kids and Counting” (2008-2015) and in the spin off, “Counting On” (2015-2020). Dillard is the fourth of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children.

TLC canceled “19 Kids and Counting” after news broke that Jim Bob and Michelle’s oldest child, Josh, had molested five girls, including four of his sisters. The network later canceled “Counting On” after Josh Duggar was charged with receiving and possessing child sex abuse materials. Josh was convicted of those crimes on Dec. 9, 2021, and was sentenced to over 12 years in prison.

The trailer for “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” highlights the Duggars involvement with the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), founded by Bill Gothard. “We were part of IBLP as early as I can remember,” said Dillard. Jim Bob and Michelle’s sixth child, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, recently spoke to ChurchLeaders about Gothard and IBLP while discussing her new memoir, “Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear.”

Vuolo explained that Gothard gained influence during the 1960s and 1970s when parents were concerned about protecting their kids from sex, drugs and rock and roll. He “came on the scene as the man with every answer to every problem in your family and how you could have a family that was set up for success long-term,” she said. “He promised that if you lived by his seven basic life principles, that God would bless your life. And not only would he bless your life, but you would be kept from harm.”

Nashville Presbytery Indefinitely Suspends Scott Sauls, Pastor Already Put on Leave by Church

By

Stephanie Martin

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May 18, 2023

Less than a week after Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, announced it had placed Scott Sauls on indefinite leave, a local denominational body indefinitely suspended the pastor. During a special meeting on May 12, the Nashville Presbytery voted to bar Sauls from any ministry-related duties until further notice.

The suspension comes amid concerns about a toxic workplace culture—something Sauls admitted to in a video shown to congregants on May 7. “I verbalized insensitive and hurtful criticism of others’ work. I’ve used social media and the pulpit to quiet dissenting viewpoints,” he confessed. “I’ve manipulated facts to support paths that I desire.”

Current leaders at Christ Presbyterian reportedly received a letter from a former staff member who described high turnover and alleged that Sauls cultivated a difficult working environment. That led to investigations by the church and by the Nashville Presbytery.

Scott Sauls Remains Pastor of Christ Presbyterian

Scott Sauls, 55, remains pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church. But according to Tennessean reporter Liam Adams, church members were told that during Sauls’ suspension, “The pulpit will be filled with elders and preachers in our family.”

According to The Tennessean, the Nashville Presbytery won’t interview witnesses during a “trial” for Sauls, probably because he is not disputing the allegations. The governing body, comprised of local pastors and elders, formed a committee “for Scott’s care and shepherding,” explained a tweet from byFaith magazine.

That official publication of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) added: “The [Nashville] presbytery emphasized that there has been no alcohol or substance abuse, theft, violence, broken marriage vows, or anything related to pornography or sexual sin.”

Sauls, who served with Pastor Tim Keller in New York City before coming to Christ Presbyterian in 2012, is also an author and speaker. He has appeared several times on the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast, discussing topics such as authenticity, accountability, character, and brokenness.

Pastor Had Advocated for ‘Christianly Gentleness’

The PCA’s Book of Church Order sets forth disciplinary actions ranging from suspension to excommunication. Sauls’ suspension is significant due to his stature within the denomination.

Christ Presbyterian was the first PCA church in the Nashville area and has been involved in several PCA church plants. The church indicated it won’t be commenting on personnel issues. When ChurchLeaders emailed Sauls for comment, an automated response stated, “I am currently on leave for rest, renewal, and personal growth.”

Reporter Adams wrote that Sauls has benefitted from many connections within conservative evangelical circles. “He’s built a reputation advocating for a Christianly gentleness as a response to public outrage,” he added.

Sauls’ books include “A Gentle Answer,” “Jesus Outside the Lines,” and “Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen.”

Former ‘Quiverfull’ Church Members Push the Needle on New York’s Care Act

By

Kathryn Post

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May 18, 2023

New York’s CARE Act — CFCtoo members demonstrate outside the Christian Fellowship Center in Potsdam, New York, in September 2022. Photo by Abbi Nye

(RNS) — Last May, shock waves rippled through Christian Fellowship Center, a nondenominational church in New York’s North Country, when Sean Ferguson, who’d attended the church for decades, was charged with first-degree sexual abuse of a child. Then came the accusations that church leaders had been aware of the abuse five years ago — and failed to report it.

As church leaders defended their decision, a group of ex-CFC members formed the anti-abuse advocacy group CFCtoo. The group uncovered a growing number of allegations — its site has 14 stories related to abuse in the community — and began to advocate for the Child Abuse Reporting Expansion Act, a bill making its way through the New York state Legislature that, if passed, would make clergy mandated reporters.

Last week, a plea deal was finalized for Ferguson, who admitted in 2022 to sexually abusing two young family members, then ages 2 and 4, in 2015. Ferguson, 43, will be required to register as a Level 1 sex offender — a designation that is not included in the online sex offender registry — and to serve six years of probation. He will not be imprisoned, though the charges brought against him carried a prison sentence of up to seven years.

The decision has further galvanized CFCtoo, which hopes to urge lawmakers to pass the CARE Act before the session ends next month.

“I was outraged,” Bonnie Ogilvie, Ferguson’s mother, told Religion News Service in a recent call from her home in Florida. “It’s a slap on the wrist. … I think he should have gone to jail, or whatever institution would have been removing him from the family and getting rehabilitation, whatever that looks like. He should not be living with his family.” Ferguson did not return requests for comment.

Rick Sinclair, CFC’s senior pastor, told RNS via email that he trusts the wisdom of the state and commends the courts and local law enforcement for their work.

“The Ferguson family is moving forward, and I continue to pray for and support them. I believe and have seen that Jesus is able to heal and restore both abused and abuser. The Gospel message is Good News — Christ alone is our very real hope!!” Sinclair wrote.

But Ogilvie, who attended CFC from 2000 until roughly 2002, agrees with the anti-abuse advocates at CFCtoo, who say the actions of Sinclair and other church leaders allowed Ferguson to evade accountability.

Days after Ferguson was charged in 2022, his sister tweeted that CFC leaders had known about his abuse since 2017. At a congregational meeting in May 2022, Sinclair defended his decision not to report Ferguson’s abuse to police, child protective services or to the broader CFC community.

Ogilvie believes CFC leaders have normalized abuse by treating it as a spiritual sin that can be healed within church walls. In the early 2000s, Ogilvie attended CFC, a charismatic church some former members have described as promoting a “Quiverfull” ideology, which typically rejects family planning and often promotes large families, home-schooling, purity culture and female submission. While there, she told RNS, she turned to Sinclair for help with her then-husband, who was physically abusive.

4 Current Realities That Challenge Meaningful Relationships

1. The Tension Between the Speed of Life and the Speed of Love

Dangers of Regularly Missing Church

1. You will miss out on God’s primary design for your spiritual growth and well-being.

2. You disobey God.

3. You make a statement to the world that God is not worthy of worship.

You’ll need:

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SECOND TRUTH OF THE TRUE GOSPEL

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