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State Abortion Bans Continue To Take Effect; Clinics Decrease

By
Tom Strode
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abortion bans
Photo Maria Oswalt (via Unsplash)

NASHVILLE (BP) – State bans on abortion continue to take effect while the clinics that perform the lethal procedure against preborn children continue to decline two months after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Roe v. Wade decision.

Laws took effect Thursday (Aug. 25) in Idaho, Tennessee and Texas to bring to 14 the number of states that have enacted prohibitions on either all abortions except those to protect the life of the mother or on those when a fetal heartbeat can be detected, according to Susan B. Anthony (SBA) Pro-life America. Three nearly total abortion bans are scheduled to take effect soon, and six others are awaiting court decisions, the organization reported Friday (Aug. 26).

At least partly as a result, 62 abortion clinics have halted performances of the procedure recently, the pro-life activist organization Operation Rescue (O.R.) reported Aug. 24. The number of states without an abortion clinic in operation has reached 13, including North Dakota, though a court has blocked the state’s ban, according to an O.R. report based on a week-long investigation.

The Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization affiliated with the abortion rights movement, had reported July 24 that 43 clinics in 11 states had stopped offering abortions one month after the Supreme Court’s ruling. In its June 24 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the high court returned abortion policy to the states by overturning the 1973 opinion that legalized abortion nationwide.

Brent Leatherwood, acting president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, told Baptist Press, “These developments will continue to surface as more laws protecting lives or regulating abortion begin to take effect in the post-Roe era. The question of abortion now squarely rests with the states and, naturally, they will pursue different avenues of policy.

“While it is important for Christians to stay updated on these cases, we should not lose sight that our priority remains the same regardless of the state we live in – which is, namely, to speak up for those who have no voice and appeal to our neighbors and leaders to institute a true culture of life where innocent lives will be valued and protected, while also supporting mothers and families,” he said in written comments.

Nine days before the Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling, messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention continued a more-than-four-decade-old pattern of pro-life resolutions by urging the justices to overturn Roe and the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision that affirmed it. The resolution also urged state legislators to pass “pro-life policies that uphold the dignity and value of every human life, including both vulnerable women and children.”

Twelve states now have laws in effect that prohibit abortion with an exception for the life of the mother, according to SBA Pro-life America: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. A federal judge ruled Aug. 24, however, Idaho could not enforce its ban on abortions to protect the health of the mother.

SBA Pro-life America also reported:

  • Georgia and Ohio have enacted prohibitions on an abortion when the heartbeat of the preborn child can be detected, which is typically at five or six weeks’ gestation.
  • Florida has a ban in effect on abortion beginning at 15 weeks’ gestation.
  • Arizona, Indiana and Iowa have laws set to take effect soon that will prohibit either all abortions except to save the life of the mother or when a heartbeat is detected.
  • Similar bans are awaiting judicial action in Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

7 Ways Extroverts Can Better Engage Introverts

By
Ron Edmondson
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

I write a lot about introversion, because I’m an introvert. Introversion is a personality preference, based on the way a person has been shaped by experiences and life. In very broad terms, it means we are fueled more by our inner thoughts and reflections than a by social engagements and interactions with others. Alone time fuels us. Our idea of “fun” might be reading a book in a room—or field—all by ourselves. It’s not that we don’t like people. You can read some of my other posts about that. It’s that if we had a preference of how to use our free time, many times we would spend it in quieter or more controllable environments. But you can engage introverts.

Chances are you have lots of introverts on your team, in your church, your workplace, as your customers—even in your family. You’ll even find some people who appear very extroverted to be introverts. (Like many pastors I know—it seems especially in larger churches.)

I will often get requests to write about extroversion—specifically how extroverts can better understand introverts. (Extroverted people are seldom shy about asking for what they want!)

This is generalized. No two introverts are the same just like no two extroverts are the same. Just like no two people—period—are the same. We are all uniquely made by our Creator! And, that’s intentional on His part!

But, this is an attempt to help you understand some of the introverts in your world. And, if you want clarification if it applies to them—simply ask. We can express ourselves—often quite eloquently.

7 Ways Extroverts Can Better Engage Introverts

1. Give us advance warning

Don’t put us on the spot for an answer or opinion. We have one, but often need time to formulate our thoughts. If you want our best answer, then you’re best not to demand it immediately from an introvert.

2. Don’t assume we don’t have an opinion

We do—and it may even be the best one—but we are less likely to share it surrounded by people who are always quick to have something to say and tend to control the conversation.

Worship Drummer: How to Serve From Behind the Drum Kit

By
Cole Sawyer
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

I have been a part of Austin Stone Worship for a little over three years now. I joined the Brett Land Band when I was 20 years old and, while I had played in church for a few years, I was still in the very beginning stages of learning what it meant to lead in a church body and not just hit things with sticks. Among musicians on a stage in front of a congregation, the worship drummer is a leader.

In thinking of the most influential and helpful things I have learned over the past few years, what comes to mind is serving the worship leader, serving the audio engineer and serving the church—some things practical and some things spiritual.

Serving the Worship Leader

I have always been stubborn—the type to say, “Well, if we’ve always done it this way, why would we change now?” I didn’t realize this was a problem until I joined Brett’s band. Sometimes I would play a groove that was super cool or a fill that would make Neil Peart proud and Brett would say, “Hey man, that’s cool, but try this instead.” Or heaven forbid we be playing in a small room and Brett ask me to play with hot rods. I tend to take constructive criticism as a personal attack, so anytime a worship leader asked me to change, I resisted (because I’m the drummer and I know best) and, if I finally submitted, I did so in an embarrassed, hurt, reluctant way.

This mindset caused a lot of unnecessary self-pity and conflict, but eventually a friend pointed me to the book of Proverbs which is full of wisdom regarding correction and reproof, as in Proverbs 9:8: “Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.” Humbly accepting correction is a mark of wisdom. Solomon consistently equates spurning correction with foolishness, and I saw the spurning of correction so clearly in my own life. Worship leaders are set above church musicians as leaders, so submitting to their leadership is a must. 

Serving the Audio Engineer

The sound engineer is just as much a part of a worship service as the musicians on stage, so serving him is a huge way to show the grace and love of Christ. Two points on ways to make the engineer’s life easier:

Just talk to him

If my conversation with the engineer is limited to me asking if I can get more kick drum, then I feel like I haven’t done my job right. Especially when we are on the road with engineers we have never met, the other guys in my band are so good about engaging with the audio guy. As an introvert, this is sometimes hard for me. But I have learned it is easy to get to know the engineer a little bit and make him feel like he’s more than a means I use to change my ear mix.

Mix yourself

In general, and most definitely when I’m playing without a drum shield, it is crucial to keep cymbal volume down. In addition, I have learned that by hitting my drums with the right amount of power, I get a fuller tone from them. Try hitting a floor tom as lightly as possible and you will only activate the batter head, making it sound wimpy. By hitting it with enough force—which doesn’t necessarily mean volume—you activate the whole drum and get a much fuller sound. These two techniques can be game changers in helping the sound engineer achieve a great sound.

Serving the Church

These are a few things I have learned about serving the church by actually being a leader and not just a musician.

Be a thermostat, not a thermometer

As a team that seeks to lead genuinely and expressively, we have to be like thermostats. Thermostats set the temperature of the room, while thermometers just reflect the temperature the room already is. As leaders, we can’t let a congregation that seems like they just woke up from a nap dictate how we lead on stage. This is a struggle for me every week because it is easy to be a thermometer. But if the leaders on stage lead as if they just woke up from a nap, people will wonder why a worship service is important.

Get to the next level of engagement

One of the bands at The Austin Stone recently led with John Piper. At one point, Piper approached the drummer, Levi, and told him one of the ways he gauges a band leading worship is by watching the drummer. While the chances of me leading an event with John Piper are pretty slim, his words are worth considering in case he ever shows up at my church.

As a drummer, when I’m attending church, I naturally gravitate toward watching the worship drummer. I’ve seen a few different types. One is the person who looks bored and doesn’t want to be there. Fortunately, this is pretty rare. Then there are drummers who are really engaged in the music. The worship drummer might be “dancing” behind the set, bobbing his head, and interacting with other musicians. While this is great, drummers in rock and roll bands do the same. Ideally, we should aim for a step beyond this which is engaging in the lyrics and engaging with the God we sing to.

While it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between engaging with the music and engaging with God, some practical ways to make the leap are by singing and being genuinely expressive. When I’m at church and I see the drummer singing loudly, outwardly showing his passion for the Lord, I’m stirred to be impressed with Jesus rather than being impressed with the worship drummer.

Be present

I try to stand at the front of the room after services or go hang out in the lobby. This is an easy way for me to meet new people as they often initiate conversations. I have made several friends and have gotten to pray over people every week just by being present.

While I’m still learning and growing as a worship drummer every week, these few concepts and practices have really helped to shape me as a musician and worship leader.

 

This article on how the worship drummer can serve the church originally appeared here.

Four Types of Church That Will Die Soon

By
Thom Rainer
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Death is not a topic we enjoy. Dying churches is not a topic I enjoy.

You see, I love the local church. I love it despite its flaws, sins and hypocrisies. Jesus loves me despite my flaws, sins and hypocrisies.

But too many churches are dying. And the rate of dying churches is accelerating.

I am concerned. Certainly from a biblical perspective, I understand the bride of Christ will be victorious. I understand the gates of hell will not prevail against her (Matthew 16:18).

But that does not mean individual congregations won’t die.

They are.

They will.

Unless God intervenes.

Types of Dying Churches

In simple terms, there are four types of churches that will soon die. It is sad to watch the churches in these categories. Some congregations are in more than one category. And some are in all four.

1. The Ex-Bible Church.

These churches have abandoned the truths of Scripture. A few are explicit in their denials. But many just give lip service to the Bible. The congregation does not study Scripture. The pastor does not deal with the biblical texts and the whole counsel of God. The Bible is just another book that rarely gets read, studied or proclaimed. The Word of God has no power in these churches.

2. The Country Club Church.

Members in these churches see their membership as perks and privileges. They want their styles of music, their worship service times, their types of architecture and their preferred lengths of sermons. They pay their dues, so they should get their benefits. Or so the thinking of the members goes. Don’t ask them to evangelize, to put others first or to make sacrifices. After all, it is their church.

Online Church is a Tool, Not the Goal— Embodied Community is the Goal

By
Ed Stetzer
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

In the 2010s, we witnessed the emergence of life and community in digital spaces. The advent of the smartphone brought online community to our fingertips and, with it, a new set of questions for churches about how (or if) they would engage.  

As with most innovations, different churches responded in different ways. Some aggressively entered social media spaces and began streaming church services online. Others resisted the idea altogether.

But when COVID-19 hit us in 2020, much of the debate about whether church online could rightly even be called “church” was set aside. Churches had to shift online to remain connected during prolonged periods where they were unable to meet.

I believed every church should be online before 2020, but now I can honestly say that it is essential for every church in developed countries to have an online presence going forward, if they want to engage where people are. Your church people and your community are in digital spaces, so you should be as well.

Having an online presence is one thing. But it still begs the question: Can an online gathering of Christians be classified as a church?

Let’s think through this by asking five questions.

1. Should Churches be Online?

If a church is not online, then it is not actually engaging a significant part of the culture. A church needs to be where the people gather. Where people are is online and, specifically, on social media. So, the answer to whether churches should be online is a resounding “yes!” In fact, that was a question every church should have resolved several years ago. The question for today is, “Where should churches be online?”

Social media is a vital ministry of the church. Online community can enhance the physical community. Pew Research found that roughly seven in 10 Americans used social media in 2021. Most used social daily, on a variety of platforms (Twitter, TikTok, etc.). 

So, it is not only critical for church leaders to understand the need to engage their church and local community on social media, but also to understand where different demographic groups are gathering online. 

Pew’s research reveals several trends that are worth paying attention to:

  • The younger a person is, the more likely they are to use YouTube.
  • Hispanic and Black Americans are more likely to use Instagram than white Americans.
  • Women are more likely to use Pinterest than men.
  • Senior adults overwhelmingly use Facebook over other platforms.

I recognize that each of these new platforms represents an entirely new sort of world that church leaders must learn. But this trend of emerging social media spaces isn’t going away, and it is mission critical for churches to understand these trends and engage our communities appropriately. 

2. What is “Church Online”?

There’s a difference between a church having a presence online and “Church Online.” 

Sometimes, to Hear the Voice of God, We Should Stop Singing

By
David Manner
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Our worship actions can drown out the distinct voice of God that is often only discernible in the silence. In the midst of our self-generated noise, we can miss healing, comforting, and encouraging words of hope such as “I am with you,” “Well done,” “You are forgiven,” and “I am weeping with you.” Scripture is certainly not silent on silence: “That’s enough! Now know that I am God!” (Ps 46:10). “Don’t be quick with your mouth or say anything hastily before God, because God is in heaven, but you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few” (Eccl 5:2). There’s “a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking” (Ecclesiastes 3:7).

Gary Furr and Milburn Price wrote, “In the drama of the Christian life, worship may be thought of as the script through which the Author of us all calls forth and responds to the deepest and most important longings in us.” Until we stop to listen, how will we hear that call?

A rest is a musical notation that indicates the absence of sound but not the end of music. John Ruskin, a Victorian-era English art critic, said this of the silence of music and rests:

There is no music in a rest, but there is the making of music in it. In our whole life-melody the music is broken off here and there by rests, and we foolishly think we have come to the end of the tune. God sends a time of forced leisure, sickness, disappointed plans, frustrated efforts and makes a sudden pause in the choral hymn of our lives, and we lament that our voices must be silent, and our part missing in the music which ever goes up to the ear of the Creator. Not without design does God write the music of our lives. But be it ours to learn the tune, and not be dismayed at the rests. They are not to be slurred over nor to be omitted, nor to destroy the melody, nor to change the keynote. If we look up, God Himself will beat the time for us. With the eye on Him, we shall strike the next note full and clear.

Musical rests add depth and emotion to a musical score through the use of silence. They both create and relieve tension. They allow the players and singers to take a breath before the next difficult musical passage. Rests create a deliberate pause or temporary break in the action and keep the notes from being strung together in breathless chaos. Playing music without rests is like driving a car without brakes.

Worship is a conversation that requires not only speaking and singing but also hearing and listening. The noise of our sermons and songs as our only act of worship can create monological worship. Our offering of one-sided worship sound can monopolize the conversation, potentially causing us to miss the voice of God. The foundation of a meaningful worship is instead dialogical. It is an interactive exchange of two or more participants. Healthy conversations include a balance of discussion and response, listening as well as speaking. Since God began the conversation and graciously invited us to join in it, our worship could then be enhanced and renewed when we stop trying to monopolize the conversation with our responsive noise only.

We rely on the words of our sermons and songs to manage and control others. A frantic stream flows from us in an attempt to straighten others out. We want so desperately for them to agree with us, to see and sing things our way. We evaluate, judge, condemn, and devour congregants with our words. Silence—as one of the deepest spiritual disciplines—puts a stop to that. To again hear and listen to God’s side of the conversation, maybe it’s time to concur with Samuel in our services of worship, “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:9).

TEAM DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  • How can we incorporate silence as a part of our services when it hasn’t been part of our worship culture?
  • What are we presently doing that is contributing to worship noise?
  • How is our worship encouraging our congregation to not only hear but also listen?
  • What can we do differently to give time for the various worship elements to breathe without interrupting our worship flow?


The above post is an excerpt from David Manner’s book, Better Sundays Begin on Monday: 52 Exercises for Evaluating Weekly Worship, Copyright ©2020 by Abingdon Press. Print and E-Version copies are available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Books A Million, Cokesbury, and Christian Book.

Matt Chandler To Take Leave of Absence Following Inappropriate Online Behavior; Chandler ‘In Glad Submission’ to TVC Elders

By
Dale Chamberlain
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Matt Chandler
Screengrab via The Village Church livestream

On Sunday (August 28), The Village Church (TVC) announced that Matt Chandler would be taking a leave of absence from preaching and teaching following an inappropriate direct messaging relationship with a woman who is not his wife. While not romantic or sexual, Chandler described the messaging relationship as being characterized by “familiarity” and “coarse and foolish joking.”

Chandler further described his online behavior as “unguarded and unwise,” and his leave of absence is both “disciplinary and developmental.” He further expressed his agreement with and submission to the elder board’s decision, which came after an independent, third-party investigation.

The announcement was introduced by fellow TVC pastor Josh Patterson.  

RELATED: SBC Abuse Survivor Shares How Survivors Can Be ‘Triggered’ by News of Matt Chandler’s Inappropriate Online Behavior; Boz Tchividjian Agrees

TVC Pastor Josh Patterson: ‘This Is the Day the Lord Has Made’

“I want to share this with you as I welcome you to our time together,” Patterson said. “This is the day the Lord has made. And there’s great hope in just that small, simple, little sentence, because it’s true. This is the day the Lord has made.”

“I do want our hearts to be anchored in that truth, because where we’re going with our time today is gonna be hard. This is going to be a challenging service,” Patterson went on to say. 

Patterson emphasized that TVC has always sought to be a welcoming place that seeks to love God, love people, and make disciples, adding, “There’s a phrase we have at this church: it’s okay not to be okay; we just don’t want to stay there.”

RELATED: Pastor Matt Chandler: The Church’s Post-Roe Moment Is Bigger Than Legislation

“As we find ourselves in spots of not being okay, we have to be okay as a congregation with people not being okay. And I’ll say this, and it’ll lead to where we’re going. If that’s true for you, but not true for me, we have missed the gospel,” Patterson said. “If that’s true for you as congregants, but not true for pastors and leaders, then we have somehow missed the reality of our shared humanity, and missed the reality of our shared need for the gospel.”

Matt Chandler Announces Leave of Absence

After Patterson prayed, Chandler took the stage. 

“Hey, guys,” Chandler said. “I plan on being the pastor here for another 20 years, but I do need to loop you in on some things, okay?”

RELATED: Matt Chandler Responds to Deconstruction Controversy

“Several months ago, a woman…met me out here in the lobby, and she had some concerns about how I was using the DM function on Instagram to message with one of her friends,” Chandler said. “At the time when she brought it up, I saw no issue with it. My wife knew about it. This woman’s husband knew about it. And so I kind of pushed against that not being okay. She said some things in that conversation, though, that were really disorienting for me.”

What Does the Bible Say About Divorce? Let’s Start Believing the Scriptures

By
Joe McKeever
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Most SBC churches I know have in their bylaws a statement that divorce disqualifies a church member from being considered as a pastor or a deacon. I’m suggesting we need to start asking what does the bible say about divorce — then believing God’s word and quit making divorce the unpardonable sin.

The qualifications for deacons are found in I Timothy 3:8-13. Verse 12 says, “Husband of one wife.” The “one wife” business, of course, has been interpreted in a dozen ways, everything from a deacon must be married (no unmarried person, whether single or widowed, can be a deacon), to no divorced person at all  (no matter how many years ago and what kind of record of faithfulness you have achieved over the decades; sorry, Charlie!), to no in a polygamous relationship, and so forth. On a related subject, some churches have women deacons because, while verse 11 says “the women also”—traditionally interpreted to mean wives of deacons—no similar statement is given in I Timothy 3:1-7 where qualifications for pastors are found. If verse 11 refers to the deacons’ wives there should be something earlier about pastors’ wives. But there isn’t. So many a church has decided verse 11 is referring to women deacons. (Argue all you wish, but Paul is not here to tell us what he had in mind.)

The point is: Since these verses are not clear, faithful brothers and sisters in Christ interpret them in various ways. So, why then do our churches so consistently insist that I Timothy 3:12 prohibits a divorced person from becoming a deacon?

What does the Bible Say About Divorce?

I suggest the answer is found in Matthew 19:9. “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” This clearly states that unless a person has “grounds” for divorce, a remarriage is adultery.

A group of deacons in one church I served decided the church needed a line in the bylaws prohibiting a man married to a divorced woman from becoming a deacon. They cited this passage as evidence. I urged against this, saying the Timothy passage was sufficient.  (Long story short, they took it to the floor of the church anyway and a huge fight erupted. Finally, they dropped the matter, and grew angry at the church for not following them. I asked, “What do you think about deacons not following their pastor?” No answer.)

Divorce continues to divide the church today. Many a man or woman who has seen their marriage break up has had to learn first hand how poorly our congregations deal with this issue.

A man told me, “Had I murdered my wife, I’d have served maybe 20 years in prison, then got out and joined the church and could have become a deacon. But all I did was divorce her.” He was calling the church out for its hypocrisy, that divorce is a harsher crime to many in the church than murder.

All of the above is just to prepare us to look at one text. I Corinthians 6:9-11 deserves to be carved in stone and erected in the front yard of our churches. It’s that pivotal.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Such were some of you.

Such. Were. Some. Of. You.

You may have been those things at one time. You might have been a thief or drunkard, a idol worshiper, and promiscuous. But no more. You are saved. Born again. A new creation.

What does the Bible say about divorce? You have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, you have been set apart as holy by the Lord God (sanctified), and you have been made righteous (justified) in Jesus’ name by the Spirit of God.

You may have been an adulterer. Matthew 19:9 says you were if you did what Jesus said. But you’ve been forgiven. You are no longer an adulterer. You are pure in the sight of God.

What does the Bible say about divorce? If we believed Scripture we would quit holding people’s past against them so long as they qualify in godliness and holiness.

This article originally appeared here.

Teacher Training Activity Idea: How to Create Clear Messages

By
ChildrensMinistry.com
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teacher training activity idea
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Check out this helpful Sunday school teacher training activity idea. The object lesson, titled “Creating Clear Messages,” helps teachers understand different learning styles. Knowing this information will help people teach children of all ages more effectively.

Point: Understanding children’s learning styles
Scripture: Psalm 49:3

You’ll need:

  • 1 clear bowl
  • 4 clear cups with a different color of water in each (red, yellow, green, blue)
  • 1 cup of diluted bleach for each group

Teacher Training Activity Idea: Creating Clear Messages

Give your teachers examples of learning styles. These include visual, kinesthetic, and auditory.

Form groups of four. Give each person a cup of either red, yellow, green, or blue water. Then place an empty bowl in the center of each group.

Ask teachers to identify which learning style most represents their teaching style. Then have them share examples of how they use a particular style to teach. As each teacher talks, he or she pours the colored water into the bowl. The water should become very dark.

After everyone shares their teaching style, have each person in the group hold the bowl of colored water and look through it.

Ask:

  • How easy or difficult is it to see through your group’s water?
  • How is this like or unlike how our teaching styles may look to children who learn differently?

Have one person from each group add the bleach to the water.

Debrief

Ask:

  • What happened when the colors mixed?
  • How is this like or unlike how kids understand information when it’s presented in a way other than how they learn best?
  • What happened when bleach was added to the murky water?
  • How can we make our messages clear to kids who learn in different ways?

Is Satan Real: Use This Free Bible Lesson With Preteens

By
ChildrensMinistry.com
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is Satan real
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Preteens today are asking is Satan real. They’re very aware of evil. All kids have to do is watch the news or go online to see the most recent tragedy. This Bible study for preteens will temper the fear that comes with knowing that evil exists.

Being aware of Satan and his tactics can help kids avoid evil when possible and face it with God’s help when necessary. Use this free lesson to assure preteens they can rely on God’s victorious power in their lives.

Bible Background for Leaders: Is Satan Real?

Bible Truth: God is all-powerful. (1 Chronicles 29:11)

“He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

Who is Satan?

Satan in action.

Resist Satan.

Pray for Preteens

Talking about Satan may bring out some fear-based feelings in preteens. So pray that kids will rely on God’s power in their lives. Ask God to give them peace and joy in this troubled world.

Begin Boldly

You’ll need:

  • snacks
  • hidden pictures and Where’s Waldo? books
  • whiteboard or poster board
  • markers

Arrival Activity

Greet preteens warmly as they arrive. Have healthy snack stuff on a table.

Supply hidden picture pages and Where’s Waldo? books. Encourage them to work together to see how many hidden pictures or Waldos they can find.

As you’re ready to move on, move the snacks and pictures out of sight.

Teacher Tip

Preteens are notoriously insecure and uncertain, no matter how hard they try to hide it. Providing a simple activity that harks back to an earlier time in their development, such as finding hidden pictures, offers preteens an almost surefire way to succeed and fit in—and have fun doing it! Throw in a little sincere praise and encouragement, and you’ve created a congenial atmosphere where learning can happen naturally.

Welcome Kids

Ask a willing reader to read aloud these BE BOLD Values:

  • You’re accepted just as you are.
  • We respect each other’s thoughts and struggles.
  • We’re all in this together.
  • God is here, ready to be your friend because you matter.

Say: I’m glad you’re here, and I’m glad we get to follow these values together. I want our class to be a place of respect—a place to honestly say what we think and feel, and a place where we can learn from each other. Thank you for making it that way!

Question Collection: Is Satan Real?

Say: You were pretty good at finding those hidden pictures! Just as in hidden pictures, sometimes a thing can be right there in plain sight. But we don’t see it at first. Today we’ll explore a topic that might seem sort of hidden. People don’t talk about it a lot.

BREAKING: Saddleback Church Evacuated After Receiving Electronic Threat

By
Jesse T. Jackson
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saddleback church
Saddleback Church screenshot via Google Maps

On Friday (August 26), Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, was evacuated after receiving an electronic threat. According to an Orange County Sheriff’s Department tweet, the county’s hazardous devices sections is conducting a search of the area.

“Deputies are at Saddleback Church after they received an electronic threat. The church is being evacuated while our Hazardous Devices Section conducts a search. Please avoid the area while we work to clear the facility,” the tweet said.

SoCal reporter Hannah Lykke tweeted that the Sheriff’s Department informed her that the Lake Forest campus has been cleared, adding, “Deputies & K9 teams found nothing on site, but also checking out San Juan campus as a precaution.”

A spokesperson told her that no arrests have been made in connection with the threat, but authorities are continuing to investigate.

“For investigative purposes, they are not discussing how the threat was made or received,” Lykke posted.

Saddleback Church is among the largest Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) churches in the nation and averages a weekly attendance of 23,000 across its 14 California campuses.

RELATED: ‘Love Kept Me Going All These 43 Years of Painful Preaching,’ Rick Warren Shares During His and Kay’s Farewell Message

The megachurch has been led by pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren for the last 43 years. Warren and his wife, Kay, gave their last joint sermon together this past Sunday.

In that message, Rick shared about his physical struggles with speaking in public, which included preaching, saying, “I don’t love to preach, but I love the people I preach to, so I keep on doing it for their benefit. And I am addicted to changed lives. And I have endured the 43 years of pain because of love.”

This Sunday (August 28), Warren will deliver his last sermon as lead pastor before retiring. Andy and Stacie Wood have been chosen to replace Warren as Saddleback Church’s next lead pastors.

Recovery from Sexual Trauma: What Every Counselor Needs to Know

By
Heather Davediuk Gingrich, Ph.D.
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sexual trauma
Image source: Adobe Stock

 

“#MeToo!” Since October 2017, these two, simple words have sparked an exponentially expanding movement that has caught worldwide attention. Survivors of sexual assault are breaking the silence that has bound them with shame and are broadcasting the secrets that have protected their perpetrators. What the long-term effects of the “#MeToo” movement will be are yet to be determined. There is a good chance, however, that it may become less stigmatizing for those who have been abused to admit to having been victimized. As a result, Christian counselors may experience an influx of counselees who present with a background of sexual trauma. We need to be prepared.

How is Sexual Trauma Different from Other Trauma?

Our sexuality is integral to who we are as individuals. Therefore, trauma of a sexual nature is violation against a core aspect of the self. While sexual assault by a stranger is horrific, it is more common for the perpetrator to be someone known to the victim. The added sense of betrayal experienced by victims at the hand of someone they thought they could trust adds to the sense of injury. When abuse is chronic, and/or happens in childhood, the sexual trauma has the potential to impact every area of an individual’s life, including difficulty regulating emotion, an inability to develop a fully integrated sense of self, and problems developing healthy, secure attachments to others. 

Post-traumatic symptoms, such as flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of trauma triggers, hyperarousal, and so on, may be experienced by survivors of sexual trauma just as they are by those who have gone through a natural disaster or have witnessed a fatal car accident. However, for the reasons previously mentioned, the consequences of sexual assault are much more pervasive. This places sexual trauma, particularly in cases where there is chronic sexual abuse in childhood, under the broader category of complex trauma.

 

Phased Treatment

Judith Herman, in her groundbreaking book, Trauma and Recovery (2015), was the first researcher to discuss differences in treatment approaches between what is now commonly known as complex trauma (or complex PTSD) and PTSD. Her concept of phased treatment has become the standard of care for complex PTSD, including sexual abuse. Its use has been shown to lessen the risk of counselees decompensating emotionally to the detriment of day-to-day functioning by ensuring that adequate coping mechanisms are in place prior to processing the trauma.  

Following, I briefly discuss how to approach each phase of treatment, using slightly modified labels for each phase. A more detailed description, with practical suggestions and examples of session transcripts, is given in my book, Restoring the Shattered Self (2013), for readers who want to more fully understand the process. 

The time spent in each phase will vary depending on the particular client. A young woman who was healthy emotionally and spiritually prior to a single incidence of date rape may need to spend only a session or two in Phase I before spending several sessions processing her trauma in Phase II, and ending counseling with a couple of sessions in Phase III. On the other hand, a man who was sexually abused several times a week from early childhood into adolescence may require years in both Phases I and II, and another year or two in Phase III for a total of a decade or more.

Faith in Jesus Carries Little Leaguer Who Hit World Series Grand Slam—And Is Legally Blind in One Eye

By
Jessica Lea
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little league world series
Nolensville, Tenn.'s Josiah Porter follows through on a grand slam during the second inning of a baseball game against Pearland, Texas, at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Josiah Porter, who is 12 years old and legally blind in his right eye, hit a grand slam Thursday and helped bring his team to victory during a crucial game in the Little League World Series. Following the grand slam, Josiah’s father, Brandon, told ESPN that it is not possible to talk about his son’s achievements without talking about Josiah’s faith in Jesus.

“God had a big thing to do with all of this, keeping our focus on Jesus walking on the water, like Peter walking on the water in the Bible, and being positive,” said Brandon Porter, a former pastor. “That’s been something for Josiah that’s just so critical to his story.” 

Little League World Series and Josiah Porter’s Faith

In June 2017, when Josiah Porter was just shy of his seventh birthday, he suffered a devastating injury in his right eye. He was following his father across the street past a work truck when Josiah walked into the corner of the truck’s tool shelf, which cut into his right eye. 

“I will never forget the screams,” Brandon told the Kingsport Times News. “He was bleeding out of his eye. I got ice on him and put him in the truck. I drove fast. Too fast. He was holding his eye and crying. It was one of the worst days of my life.”

The doctor told Brandon not to expect that Josiah would ever be able to see again. “I can’t tell you how devastating a blow that was,” said Brandon. “Josiah was very active and talented beyond his peers. Your mind starts jumping to the worst-case scenario, like never getting to play sports. But God had different plans.”

Josiah had to stop being active for six months and endured five surgeries in order to prevent his retina from detaching. He also has to periodically get his cornea scraped in order to prevent calcium buildup. But he is now able to see some light through his injured eye. He got back to playing sports and is now doing better at baseball than many people who have sight in both of their eyes.

The night of Thursday, Aug. 25, Josiah’s Southeast team from Nolensville, Tennessee, faced off against the Southwest team from Pearland, Texas, in a pivotal game of the Little League World Series. If Josiah’s team had lost, they would have been out of the series. But in the bottom of the first inning with two outs, Josiah Porter hit a grand slam, giving his team the lead at 4-1. The Southeast team would go on to win the game at 7-1. 

In the interview with ESPN following Josiah’s grand slam, Brandon recounted how his son had injured his eye and said, “We’re a family of faith…We can’t talk about this story without talking about [Josiah’s] faith. Josiah stayed positive. Instead of focusing on the storm, the bad things, what he can’t do, he focuses on what he can do.”

GOD TV Apologizes to Sean Feucht and Ron DeSantis, Clarifies Mission; Feucht Responds

By
Jesse T. Jackson
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sean feucht god tv
(L) Sean Feucht screengrab via Facebook @Sean Feucht (R) Tweet screengrab via Twitter @seanfeucht

After publicly criticizing “Let Us Worship” leader and activist Sean Feucht on Sunday, GOD TV issued an apology on Thursday (August 25).

GOD TV’s post from earlier this week criticized Feucht for sharing an image of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis quoting a scripture. They called the post “exactly the opposite of what Paul is communicating in Ephesians 6.”

“In fact, this could be considered blasphemous,” GOD TV’s post continued. “The passage is specifically saying that our battle is NOT against ‘the left’ or ‘the right’ or anything that could be considered ‘flesh and blood.’ Our battle is against Satan.” (Read the entire message here.)

Feucht didn’t take the criticism lightly, firing back by telling his 67,800 Twitter followers that GOD TV has gone “full woke.” Feucht said that the Jerusalem-based evangelical Christian media network doesn’t “have the guts to be honest about what some crazy politicians want to do to our country.”

RELATED: GOD TV Calls Sean Feucht ‘Blasphemous’ for Posting Ron DeSantis Tweet; Feucht Leads 11,000 in Worship Over Weekend

“I’ve seen behind the curtain in the political realm and I believe that was for the purpose of telling the TRUTH about motives, agendas and principalities working,” Feucht stated.

GOD TV Apologizes

After considerable criticism, GOD TV addressed their fans, saying, “Please accept our sincere apology for our post on Sunday Aug 21st which was never intended to be seen as an attack on Sean Feucht or on Governor Ron DeSantis.”

“The intention of our post and the results of the post were certainly not the same, and we sincerely regret any hurt, confusion or offense that this may have caused. We love both Sean Feucht and Governor Ron DeSantis and pray for everyone who is calling America back to God,” GOD TV said.

The media network assured its followers that they haven’t compromised their mission or turned into a “woke left-wing network.” GOD TV said that they “understand very well that there is intense spiritual warfare taking place all across America and the world and recognize the deep political issues that we are fighting against.”

RELATED: Sean Feucht Leads a Worship Rally in Front of Disney’s Headquarters; Tells ChurchLeaders ‘It’s Time for the Church To Be Bold’

“More importantly,” they expressed, “we also recognize that revival and godly repentance is the only solution to America’s apostate condition and pray for righteousness to prevail and for unity in the Body of Christ.”

Dave Ramsey, Rachel Cruze Encourage Caller To Refuse Biden’s Student Loan Relief

By
Stephanie Martin
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dave ramsey
Screenshot from YouTube / @The Ramsey Show - Full Episodes

Personal-finance author and radio host Dave Ramsey has strong feelings about this week’s student-loan forgiveness news. After President Biden announced on August 24 that student-loan debts of between $10,000 and $20,000 will be eliminated for Americans making less than $125,000 per year, Ramsey addressed what he calls an “obvious political ploy.”

Ramsey, whose messaging focuses on debt-free living, admits having mixed reactions to the news. On one hand, he says, “We’re happy for you” if your debt will be erased, because we “want good things for you.” Yet Ramsey also empathizes with people “who paid off their loans and feel screwed,” saying, “We’re as pi–ed off as you are.”

Ramsey rails against student loans themselves, calling them “evil” and the industry “dumber than crap.” If these loans “are so bad that you have to cancel them,” he asks, “then why are you continuing to make them? You should at least stop making them before we start forgiving them.”

Dave Ramsey: Student-Loan Plan Is an Economic ‘Burden’

On “The Ramsey Show,” the Dave Ramsey criticizes the heavy “burden” this plan adds to the U.S. economy. “It’s all put on the backs of your grandchildren,” he says of the estimated $300 billion cost. “It’s all added to the deficit.”

Of Biden, Ramsey says, “The president is strutting around, proud that he just added to the American…burden.” The administration is “economically failed,” he says, calling it the “greatest failure” economically since Jimmy Carter. Ramsey also criticizes “this slide toward socialism” that’s “out of control.”

Ramsey says he expects legal challenges to the debt-relief plan, which he calls an “obvious political ploy.” Although it was a campaign promise of Biden’s, it took 18 months to fulfill, Ramsey notes. “The Biden administration is doing this to get your attention and make you love them, because the midterms are coming up,” he says. It’s “a hail Mary to try to get back in the [good] graces of voters.”

Rachel Cruze to Caller: ‘Write a Check and Pay It off’

On this week’s shows, Ramsey was joined by his daughter, author Rachel Cruze. In response to a caller who asks whether she should continue paying off student loans or accept the debt relief, Cruze says, “Write a check and pay it off. Don’t wait.”

Then Cruze addresses the mixed emotions, saying, “I think the heart behind [the plan] is relief.” Yet, she adds, there’s a “personal responsibility” component. “The idea of taking money from the government when you have it,” she explains, “that doesn’t sit well with me.”

‘America’s Got Talent’ Finalist To Sing at Luis Palau Association’s Evangelistic Festival

By
Dale Chamberlain
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Amanda Mammana
Screengrab via YouTube @ America's Got Talent

“America’s Got Talent” semifinalist Amanda Mammana is set to perform at CT CityFest, an evangelistic event organized by the Luis Palau Association. The Christian festival will be held in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on the weekend of August 26-27. 

The event will feature Andrew Palau, son of the late famed evangelist Luis Palau, and will have a lineup of Christian musical artists including TobyMac, Lecrae, We Are Messengers, Blanca, Megan Duke, and Zenzo & Music Impact. 

CT CityFest with Andrew Palau is seeking to place “a special emphasis on unity, hope, and good news.”

While Mammana was eliminated from AGT this week, her story has captivated and inspired audiences. Mammana, who is 19, developed a speech disorder when she was young, which caused her to stutter and discouraged her to the point of almost giving up on music. 

RELATED: Jane Marczewski’s Family Posts Her Final Message: ‘Grieving Is the Soul’s Way of Saying It Mattered’

“As you can probably tell, I have a bit of a speech impediment,” Mammana told judges in her AGT audition. “And it was definitely something that caused me to shy away and to hide. But I found that I don’t stutter when I sing.”

Introducing an original song, Mammana said, “It’s just about some hard times. And if I could go back and change those things, I wouldn’t. Because they made me, me.” 

“But what if I could go back in time and change the way I felt about my life? Oh, but then would I still have inside everything that brought me back to life,” Mammana sang.

She received a standing ovation. 

AGT judge Simon Cowell commended Mammana’s courage, adding, “Your voice is so pure, so beautiful. And also you’re a good songwriter. And I think you’re an incredible person. I’m so happy you came here.” 

Mammana’s Twitter profile includes a reference to Joshua 1:9, which says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

During her semifinal performance, Mammana performed another original song titled “Worth Fighting For.”

“I’m done holding back; I’ll leave it in the past, because I, I’m not hiding anymore,” she sang. “You can’t stop the time from changing, so let go and just embrace it. Because I know it’s all worth fighting for.” 

When she appears at CT City Fest this weekend, Mammana “will share her powerful story of overcoming obstacles and perform.”

RELATED: AGT Singer Focused on Sharing the Gospel Over Winning Leaves Judge in Tears

More than 175 local churches, organizations, and businesses are involved in the event.

An Insular ‘Quiverfull’ Church in New York’s North Country Faces a Reckoning

By
Kathryn Post
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christian fellowship center
The Christian Fellowship Center located in Canton, NY. Courtesy CFC

(RNS) — When Michelle Wilbur first visited Christian Fellowship Center in tiny Madrid, New York, a short hour from the Canadian border, in 2003, she was so dazzled by the church’s close-knit, spirit-filled community that she moved north from Massachusetts to call it home.

“There was something about the culture that I just loved,” Wilbur said in a recent phone interview. “They had big families that they presented as being amazingly strong, the music was incredible, and it just sucked me in really quickly.”

On Sundays, families with five, nine or twelve well-behaved children spoke in tongues at the nondenominational, Pentecostal church in Madrid, one of five CFC churches in the area led since 1981 by Rick Sinclair, the senior pastor.

“People adored the pastor,” Wilbur said. “I did feel very loved when I got there, at first.”

Wilbur has since renounced her CFC membership and is speaking out to hold community leaders responsible for pressuring her to remain in an abusive marriage, which she claims put her kids at risk. She isn’t alone in seeking to hold CFC pastors accountable.

On May 29, 2022, the sanctuary in Madrid was filled with church members who had come to discuss a news article, published a week earlier, reporting that Sean Ferguson, a husband, father and faithful CFC member, had been charged with first-degree sexual abuse of a child. Days later, Ferguson’s sister tweeted that Sean Ferguson reported the alleged abuse to Sinclair five years prior, in 2017.

Police records indicate — and New York state police confirmed — that Ferguson was charged in 2022 with having sexually abused his two young daughters in 2015. Ferguson’s lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.

At the May meeting, Sinclair defended his decision not to report Ferguson’s abuse to police, child protective services or to the broader CFC community. “His entire approach to addressing this crisis was the claim that he’s under no moral obligation to report unless someone can conclusively demonstrate that to him from Scripture,” said a CFC member who attended the meeting.

“There was this bizarre collection of semi-legal arguments and ethical arguments that ultimately amounted to, ‘I have no obligation to report child sexual abuse if someone approaches me in a repentant manner about committing it,’” the member said.

In an email to RNS, Sinclair declined to discuss Ferguson’s case but wrote, “I have never ‘covered up’ any abuse or sought to keep someone in a situation against their will. God hates abuse and desires to see health and restoration in the lives of those involved.”

But Sinclair says his process in regard to “those caught in sin, including those sins that have potential criminal bearing,” includes “repentance, cleansing, deliverance, and reconciliation through the cross.” He added that his “priority is to see sinners experience the healing and restoration that Jesus provides, to do what Jesus would do if He were present.”

North Country Christian Fellowship in Gouverneur, NY. Courtesy of CFC

North Country Christian Fellowship in Gouverneur, NY. Courtesy of CFC

Sinclair’s knowledge of Ferguson’s abuse prompted seven former members to form CFCtoo, a group of advocates who published an open letter on May 31. “We are survivors of abuse at Christian Fellowship Center,” the letter reads. “We have experienced spiritual, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of CFC leaders and members.”

SBC Pastor Pay Stuck at Same Level Since 2018

By
Aaron Earls
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Photo via Unsplash.com @Towfiqu barbhuiya

As inflation and other economic issues may be stretching most Americans’ budgets, Southern Baptist pastors may be feeling the pinch more than most.

A study conducted by Lifeway Research along with GuideStone and Baptist state conventions found compensation for full-time Southern Baptist senior pastors has remained flat over the past four years, while the total pay package has decreased.

While the Consumer Price Index has jumped 17.6% from 2018 to 2022, compensation, which includes salary and housing, has increased 0.2% for full-time senior pastors at Southern Baptist churches during the same period. Their pay package, which includes compensation plus any retirement or insurance benefits, fell 2.1%. A previous Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors found 41% say they’re worried about their family’s financial security. Additionally, 1 in 5 Protestant pastors (18%) say financial stress is one of the greatest concerns they have in ministry.

RELATED: Pastors and Pay: A How-To Guide for Negotiating Your Salary

“The last four years have included two good financial years and two difficult years for the typical church,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “A church cannot pay what they do not have. But at the same time, Scripture says a pastoral worker is worthy of his wages (1 Timothy 5:18)—not what his wages were worth four years ago.”

Other full-time staff ministers have seen both compensation and pay packages increase since 2018, but not in line with inflation. Full-time ministers at Southern Baptist churches who are not the senior pastor saw a 7.5% compensation increase and a 7.1% pay package increase in the past four years.

Full-time office personnel are the only Southern Baptist church employees who had compensation and pay package increases closely aligned with the Consumer Price Index. Since 2018, their compensation increased 17%, while their pay package went up 18%.

“Office staff can get a job in many nearby businesses, and churches have had to raise their pay to keep these positions filled,” said McConnell. “Just because pastors and ministers don’t have numerous ministry alternatives to jump to doesn’t mean they don’t deserve raises to keep pace with rising costs of living.”

RELATED: The Average Worship Leader Salary and How to Negotiate for Yours

On average, a Southern Baptist church spends close to half of their budget (46%) on employee compensation and benefits. The percentage increases slightly with the size of the congregation. The smallest churches, those with fewer than 50 in attendance, spend a median of 45% on personnel. Churches with an average weekly attendance between 50 and 99 spend 46%. Those that average 100 to 249 devote 48%, while congregations of 250 or more spend 50% on employee compensation and benefits.

5 Controversial Questions in Children’s Ministry

By
Dale Hudson
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controversial questions
Lightstock #747093

If you are serving in children’s ministry, you’ve probably discussed some of these questions. Take a look at these five controversial questions and think about what you believe in these matters.

There are strong opinions on both sides.

I will share my thoughts on each question. You may or may not agree with me…and that’s okay.

Some people are hesitant to talk about these questions. They don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings or they shy away from hot topics. But I believe it is important to discuss these questions that affect our ministry philosophies.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these questions. You can leave your responses in the comment section below.

  1. Where should kids worship at church? In the adult service? In children’s church? Which of these is the most effective way to disciple children and help them grow in their faith? My answer to this question is at this link. What are your thoughts?
  2. How old should a child be to accept Jesus as their Savior? My answer is at this link. What are your thoughts?
  3. Should you dedicate a baby whose parents are living together unmarried?  My answer is at this link. What are your thoughts?
  4. Should you reward kids for spiritual disciplines? My answer is at this link. What are your thoughts?
  5. Should people who are engaged in sex outside of marriage between a man and woman be allowed to serve in children’s ministry? My answer is at this link. What are your thoughts?

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission. 

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