Kids’ Spiritual Gifts: Help Children Develop & Use Their God-Given Gifts

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August 19, 2021

When you’re working with children, never underestimate the important truths they can understand. Regarding kids’ spiritual gifts, young students can grasp several key biblical concepts:

God gives each person different gifts and abilities (Matthew 12:14-29; Romans 12:6).
God gives us gifts to use in serving others (1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12:7; Mark 10:43-44).
God wants us to develop and use the gifts he has given us (Matthew 25:14-29; 1 Peter 4:10).
God will help develop kids’ spiritual gifts and will give them opportunities to use those gifts to serve others. (The lives of various Bible characters such as Moses illustrate these truths.)
When each person uses the gifts God has given him, the body of Christ works properly (1 Corinthians 12:14-26).

Explore and Harness Kids’ Spiritual Gifts

In your children’s ministry program, you can help kids recognize, develop, and use the many gifts which with God has blessed them. Ways to do that include:

Develop a personal understanding of kids’ spiritual gifts. Bible passages to study include 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12:3-8; and Ephesians 4:11.
Let children discover various spiritual gifts by involving them in character studies. For example, a study of Dorcas will help kids understand the gift of serving.
Encourage the discovery of kids’ spiritual gifts. Allow them to complete gift inventories and participate in activities that use various gifts.
Provide opportunities for children to develop and use their gifts.

Kids’ Spiritual Gifts: 3 Ideas to Try

1. Together We Can Do It!

Preparation: Make a list of six tasks children do each day such as—call a friend to get a homework assignment; collect and take trash out; eat breakfast. Write each task on a large note card.

Have six different colors of paper cut in small squares (3X3). On each color write one body part. For example, on all the red squares write the word “nose” or draw a picture of a nose.

Learning Activity: Give each child a colored square. Ask them to find every other person with that same colored square to form a team. Give each team a task card. Challenge them to perform their task with the body parts they have been assigned. Very quickly they will begin to complain that they cannot perform the task. Respond with, “Why not? What do you need to perform the task?”

Ask them to make new teams. This time they are to form teams of six with every person holding a different colored square. Ask them to read the task card and determine how they will accomplish the task using every team member.

Discussion: Why weren’t you able to complete the task the first time? Why were you able to complete the tasks this time?

Have students turn to 1 Corinthians 12:14-20. Read the passage aloud.

The writer of these verses wanted us to understand that being a member of Christ’s body is just like being a body part. Could you finish the task you were given with just one body part? Is one body part any more important than another body part? Why not? What are some of the tasks we have to do because we are Christ’s body? How will we be able to do them?

It’s the Church Fall Season: 4 Tips for Your Ministry Kickoff

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Outreach Media Group

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August 19, 2021

In our youth ministry, the church fall season is one of our favorite times. Summer is over, and students are ready (more or less!) to go back to school. And in our ministry, it also means “back to church” (we have worship services during the summer, but attendance is much, much lower).

As our regular attendees interact with their school friends, something awesome starts to happen. In fact, the pattern seems the same every year: They start bringing those kids to church!

The church fall season offers tons of opportunities for friendship evangelism and a boost of momentum. That doesn’t happen automatically, though. We’ve worked over the years to create this kind of culture.

How do you build it in your student ministry? Here are some ways that work for us, especially in the autumn.

4 Kickoff Tips for Your Church Fall Season

1. Have a “fall kickoff” weekend.

Our goal is that every youth service is safe for nonbelieving students. We always include an element of fun and an understandable message. But for fall kickoff we go all out, bigger and better than normal. Most certainly, we always include a clear Gospel presentation. Last year we handed out a bunch of youth group branded school supplies for students to share with friends as the year started. They turned out to be fantastic conversation starters.

2. Host a big event right at the start of the school year.

Every fall, our high school ministry hosts Pumpkinfest, a massive outreach event at the end of October. And our junior high ministry runs an event called The 3 ($3, 3^rd Friday of the month, 3 hours)! We honestly don’t do too much outside of youth group in the fall—these are it. And for us, they pay off big-time. A great activity will get people talking in the schools and on Facebook. You’re not into activities and events? You don’t have a budget or space to accommodate something like that? No problem! The principle isn’t “do something big and crazy.” Rather, it’s “do something different and creative…something that builds momentum as you head into the fall.”

3. Pray about it!

For us, the church fall season sets the tone for the entire programming year. A great start gets us off and running through Christmas. We make sure to cover it in prayer and ask God to do something life-changing. This doesn’t go without saying: We need to be reminded that we serve and do our part, but Jesus does the real “heart work.”

4. Make sure the next step is clear.

With the natural momentum of the church fall season in youth group, make sure students know the next step in your discipleship process. For us, it is small groups. So not a week goes by without us talking about, promoting, showing a video, or texting about getting in a group.

Want to start the church fall season out right? Don’t be satisfied with entry-level ministry alone. Challenge students to take the next step!

Josh Griffin is the high school pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, and the author of 99 Thoughts for Youth Workers. He has served in youth ministry for 15 years.

Kurt Johnston has been involved in junior high ministry since 1988 and is currently the junior high pastor at Saddleback Church in Southern California. He’s the author of Controlled Chaos: Making Sense of Junior High Ministry and Go Team! He loves providing resources for junior high ministry almost as much as he loves junior highers themselves.

A Defense of Singing Songs From Bethel and Hillsong

By

Sam Storms

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August 19, 2021

Perhaps you saw an article that appeared online recently in which Mackenzie Morgan, a worship leader at Refine Church in Lascassas, Tennessee, announced that she and her church would no longer sing songs that come from Bethel Church in California or Hillsong Church in Australia. After examining some of the teaching from both Bethel and Hillsong, she concluded that to sing any song that originated with or was composed by someone from either of these local churches was dangerous.

Morgan insists that when it comes to corporate singing in church, “theology matters.” “It matters,” she says, “if a song is weak in theology and is not accurately displaying the Holiness of our God.” I couldn’t agree more.

Here at my church, Bridgeway, we are intensely careful never to sing error. If a song is in any way inconsistent with Scripture, we don’t sing it, no matter who wrote it or how much we might like the melody.

Morgan is also bothered by the fact that in singing the songs of Bethel and Hillsong “royalties” are being paid to them, and in this we are tacitly subsidizing and spreading “their false gospel message.” She continues:

“What if the majority of the church is leading its people astray singing music that is less than worthy of a Sovereign and Holy God? Would God be pleased with the lights? With the smoke machines? With the obsession of hands in the air and ‘response’ from the crowd? With loud worship nights singing songs He doesn’t approve of?”

So let me go on the record in this regard. I don’t like the strobe lights that so often are used in church worship sets. I refuse to make use of smoke machines. But I’m puzzled by the reference to the raising of hands. Has she not read Scripture’s many references to this practice? Has she not considered the deeply symbolic and spiritual nature of not only this but of other physical postures in worship? I’m curious: Does a person’s stiff, statuesque posture, with hands firmly at one’s side or stuffed into one’s pockets honor God more than those that are lifted in praise?

Pastor Miles McPherson Emotionally Shared His Wife Is Battling Serious COVID-19 Complications

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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August 19, 2021

Megachurch lead pastor Miles McPherson of Rock Church in San Diego, Calif., shared over the weekend that his wife Debbie is battling COVID-19 and had to be admitted to the hospital.

McPherson said his wife’s complications are serious and that he cannot be by her side for COVID-19-related reasons.

The pastor posted an emotional video asking his Instagram followers to pray for his ailing wife. “How you doing family,” McPherson gingerly started, “I have a special request from you…my wife is in the hospital.” Holding back tears, he continued, “From complications from COVID and I just want you to pray for her. I’ve been in ministry for a long time and I’ve seen so many people get help, and I just want to ask you to pray for my wife Debbie that God would heal and bring her home.”

“God knows all the detail about her health,” McPherson emotionally said. “I just pray that he will bring her home and she’ll be able to breathe on her own.” He wrote this note to his followers that went along with his video:

Hey family, I need to ask a big favor. I need prayer for my wife Debbie. She’s in the hospital due to COVID complications. Needless to say this is serious. What’s worse is that I can’t be with her. My heart is broken. Please pray for God to heal her breathing and her oxygen levels to normalize and all of her other symptoms to be cleared. God knows what all that means. If you are a hospital worker, thank you for what you do and if you know she’s in your hospital, please take good care of my wife. I believe that prayers work family. James 5:16 says “The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective. Lord Please heal my wife, Your daughter Debbie McPherson. Please bring her home to me. Please fill her room n heart with your peace. I declare Your powerful healing on her life. Lord, you healed the blind, mute, deaf, crippled and even raised the dead. Please heal Debbie. I love my wife!

Afghan Christians Face Death—But They Are Putting Their Trust in Jesus

By

Stephanie Martin

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August 19, 2021

afghan christians — A Taliban fighter sits on the back of a vehicle with a machine gun in front of the main gate leading to the Afghan presidential palace, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. The U.S. military has taken over Afghanistan's airspace as it struggles to manage a chaotic evacuation after the Taliban rolled into the capital. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Although the Taliban insists it has changed, most people expect another oppressive rule in Afghanistan. That spells trouble, especially for women and religious minorities, including Afghan Christians.

After taking control of the war-torn country Sunday, the Taliban insisted it will honor human rights and freedoms, let females remain in school, and not retaliate against people who helped Americans. But based on early reports—and horrifying accounts from the terrorist organization’s rule two decades ago—fear is rampant in Afghanistan.

What Life Is Like for Afghan Christians Under the Taliban

Since the country fell Sunday, no specific reports of faith-based violence have been confirmed. A viral video of men being harshly punished by the Taliban was related to theft, not to Christian persecution, as initially claimed. And an older prayer-chain request that resurfaced has been debunked; it asks for prayers for 229 Christian missionaries sentenced to death in Afghanistan.

Those accounts may not be credible, but some believers report receiving threatening calls that the Taliban are “coming for” them. Christian leaders speaking anonymously describe hunkering down at home and avoiding their phones.

“We’re hearing from reliable sources that the Taliban demand people’s phones, and if they find a downloaded Bible on your device, they will kill you immediately,” says Rex Rogers, president of media ministry SAT-7. “It’s incredibly dangerous right now for Afghans to have anything Christian on their phones. The Taliban have spies and informants everywhere.”

A Christian leader in Afghanistan tells International Christian Concern (ICC) that persecution is expected to pick up. “It will be done Mafia-style,” he says. “The Taliban will never take responsibility for the killings.” The leader also describes mandatory five-times-a-day prayers in mosques, as well as threats to children, who will be “brainwashed.”

Speaking to CBN, a Christian in Afghanistan admits, “Right now we fear elimination.” During the Taliban’s reign 20 years ago, he says, few believers lived in the country. But now Christians number in the thousands and “live all over Afghanistan.” The man, who didn’t give his name, describes losing contact with some Christian acquaintances during the recent upheaval. He also tells of Taliban fighters visiting houses to force young girls into sexual slavery.

A Closer Look at Afghan Christians

Estimates of the number of Afghan Christians range from 2,000 to 8,000. Most are converts from Islam, and the punishment for such “apostasy” is death.

Popular Christian Influencer Joseph Solomon Says, ‘I’m Not a Christian’

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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August 19, 2021

Joseph Solomon has been making Christian viral videos for almost a decade. He started his YouTube channel chaseGodtv in June 2012, which now has over 15 million views and almost 600,000 subscribers. The extraordinarily talented Solomon has shared the teachings of Jesus Christ through music, poetry, videography, and life experiences resulting in hundreds of videos that impacted millions of people around the world.

Solomon grew up in a Christian household. His father was an elder and his mother played piano in their Texas church.

In 2019, the well-versed poet toured with Jackie Hill Perry’s husband Preston on the ‘Poets In Autumn Tour,‘ which also featured Janette…ikz, Chris Webb, and Ezekiel Azonwu.

On chaseGod.tv, the description says Solomon’s desire is to show Christians “practical ways to understand and live out the faith… He knew that he was not perfect himself, so the only way to teach other imperfect people how to strive for perfection was to point them to Someone who already embodies that. Every webisode is an attempt to approach common struggles and questions through the lens of the Gospel of Christ.”

During the “Flights & Feelings” podcast Solomon released on August 17, 2021, titled “The Shores Somewhere Over Here,” Solomon unpacked a social media post where he told the world he’s not a Christian anymore.

It appears Solomon has deleted many of his popular videos that he apparently no longer agrees with on his YouTube channel. His Christian videos can still be found online where others have uploaded them, but Solomon has asked that even some of those be taken down.

Before diving into what Solomon said in his latest podcast, here is a video testimony he posted in 2014. (It’s possible Solomon could have this video deleted from YouTube in the near future.)

Joseph Solomon: ‘I’m Not a Christian’

Solomon started his recent podcast by saying, “You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube…I wish I could put the toothpaste back in the tube.”

Before 2020, most people knew Solomon as the “Christian YouTuber guy” or the “Christian poet” or the “Christian worship leader/singer” — but whatever the description, it was prefaced by “Joseph Solomon the Christian,” Solomon explained.

“It took a lot of people by surprise when I posted something on Twitter and reposted a screenshot of it on my Instagram,” he said. The tweet read: “I’m not a Christian. Maybe I’ll explain that further at some point on a podcast or something, but I’m really in no rush. I figured I’d at least just set context for any inquiring minds…” Solomon told his followers that any questions in the comments or direct messages regarding his announcement would go unanswered.

Standing With Haiti Amid Quake and Storm

By

Heather Hahn

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August 19, 2021

United Methodists are working with longtime partners in Haiti to respond after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake and as a major storm approaches.
Church members helped rebuilding efforts after the 2010 earthquake that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands people, including United Methodist workers.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief is collecting donations and working on next steps to help the impoverished country, which also faces political unrest, gang violence and COVID-19.

United Methodists are reaching out with their prayers and pocketbooks as Haiti faces a devastating earthquake and encroaching major storm.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief is collecting financial donations through its International Disaster Response and Recovery Advance #982450. The relief arm, part of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, also is in conversation with partners on the ground about next steps.

“In the aftermath of Saturday’s earthquake, we grieve alongside the people of Haiti as the staggering loss of life and level of devastation becomes clear,” said Roland Fernandes, the top executive of Global Ministries and UMCOR.

“UMCOR stands firm in its commitment to alleviate suffering and is working with partners on how to best meet basic and immediate needs as it has done in the past.”

Many individual United Methodists also are working with their longtime partners in the Caribbean island nation to extend a helping hand.

Still, a variety of factors complicates the church’s response to the second catastrophic earthquake to ravage the impoverished nation in 11 years. Those factors include the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and a severe economic downturn made worse by gang violence and political unrest. Just a little over a month ago, the country’s President Jovenel Moise was assassinated.

So far, the death toll has climbed to some 1,300 people following the 7.2-magnitude quake that struck Haiti’s southwest peninsula Aug. 14. The temblor — with an epicenter about 78 miles (125 kilometers) west of capital Port-au-Prince — triggered landslides, collapsed buildings and sent aftershocks across the country.

David Draeger, mission volunteer coordinator for the Methodist Church in Haiti, told the Michigan Conference that church buildings in the region have sustained damage and many Haitians still do not know the fate of loved ones.

To Help Haiti

The United Methodist Committee on Relief is encouraging people to give through International Disaster Response and Recovery Advance #982450.

Haitian Assets for Peace International (HAPI) also receives support through Advance #3020490.

With thousands of people injured and others still trapped in rubble, Haitian authorities are racing to ramp up rescue efforts and relieve overwhelmed hospitals. Tropical Depression Grace is lashing the island with heavy rains, even as many sleep outside to stay clear of crumbling structures.

A mobile medical team from Petit Goâve near Port-au-Prince already has deployed to the affected region. The team is funded by a partnership between Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas and the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.

Highland Park United Methodist, in the past week, also sent disaster-relief funding through Food for the Poor to help respond to the country’s ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

“HPUMC has a longstanding strong commitment to the people of Haiti, and although our physical presence has been limited due to the pandemic and political instability, we are committed to continued service to our friends and neighbors there,” said Caroline Hazlett, the congregation’s impact coordinator for health partnerships and disaster response.

Hazlett’s father, Dr. Otto Willbanks, and other church members established an eye clinic in Haiti in 1976. A team from the church was working at the clinic on Jan. 12, 2010, when a 7.0 earthquake near Port-au-Prince caused the death of hundreds of thousands of people and caused the clinic’s roof to collapse. Team member Jean Arnwine died of her injuries.

That earthquake also cost the lives of two executives from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries — the Rev. Sam Dixon, who then led UMCOR, and the Rev. Clinton Rabb, head of Volunteers in Mission.

But amid the tragic loss, United Methodists quickly returned to the country to join hands with the Eglise Méthodiste d’Haïti (Methodist Church of Haiti) in recovery efforts. That included Highland Park, which rebuilt and expanded the Polyclinique Siloe to care for more than people’s eyesight.

United Methodists also participated collectively in relief, donating some $45 million to UMCOR for the earthquake response.

Debra Buzard, outreach director for First United Methodist Church in Kearney, Missouri, was among those who volunteered in rebuilding efforts. Her church now aims for sustainable development. The church started the ministry Partners in Education Haiti, which provides scholarships to some 30 students and also supports their families.

Buzard also serves on the advisory council of a Haitian orphanage for about 40 children with disabilities. Both the orphanage and the students are located miles away from the epicenter in Port-au-Prince, but they still felt the tremors.

“They are all OK, but there is a lot of fear,” she said. “Here is the problem that is going to affect the orphanage and the families we work with. It’s the perfect storm.”

She pointed to COVID-19, the ongoing crisis in government and the extreme gang violence as part of that perfect storm. Gangs have taken over key access roads to parts of Haiti, including around the quake’s epicenter near Les Cayes. Relief workers initially used helicopters and boats to bring aid.

A gang leader said Aug. 15 that the armed groups had declared a truce along the road to Les Cayes, and a convoy has arrived by ground.

The United Nations is calling for a “humanitarian corridor” to allow relief supplies to pass through gang-held territories.

Valerie Mossman-Celestin is among those looking toward more sustainable development that can promote stability and economic independence.

The United Methodist deaconess is U.S. executive director for Haitian Assets for Peace International, or HAPI, which helps fund a clinic and a vocational training center in Mizak. The community is also miles away from the quake’s epicenter; however, the vocational training center HAPItech is still recovering from a July fire that claimed its computers and more than $5,300 in cash.

“What we’re trying to do is to give real opportunities to women in Haiti through better health care, education and jobs,” Mossman-Celestin said.

She acknowledged that some people might feel like they are trying to “fill a bucket with a hole at the bottom.”

She said God calls people to respond with compassion and relief to disaster. “But we also need to build in an approach that continues to break the cycle of dependency,” she said.

Bishop Kenneth Carter, in an email to the Florida Conference, encouraged United Methodists to remember: “God is our refuge and strength… And Jesus is with us in the midst of the storm.”

He also urged Florida Conference churches to receive a special offering for Haiti this coming Sunday, Aug. 22.

“May we draw near to God and to one another in a spirit of generosity toward our neighbors in a moment of crisis and with faith that God will provide,” he wrote.

Hahn is assistant news editor for UM News. Contact her at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Friday Digests.

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This article originally appeared here.

‘God, I Want Your Peace’—Russell Wilson Gives This Challenge to His Followers

By

Jessica Lea

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August 19, 2021

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has issued a challenge to himself and to his followers. Wilson, who was named Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2020, said that while it is easy to be anxious about the cares of life, we need to remember that true peace is found in God and that it comes through reading the Bible.

“A lot of times, we’re trying to find the peace of ‘me,’ the peace of ‘you,’ the peace of ‘us,’ said Wilson in an Aug. 17 video he posted to Instagram and Twitter. “Well, the Scripture says in Philippians 4:7 it’s the ‘peace of God’—the peace of God—‘that transcends all understanding.’ That’s the kind of peace that I want to have.”

Russell Wilson: Pursue God’s Peace

“Ya’ll ever go to bed and you’re tossing and turning, you can’t sleep, you’re mind’s running, all these different things…whatever it may be, and you can’t find that peace?” asked Russell Wilson. Philippians 4:7 gives us direction regarding what to do in that situation. For some context for that verse, Philippians 4:4-9 says:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

It is easy for us to forget the true source of peace, said Wilson. “A lot of times what happens is we run our own thoughts, our own ideas, we’re constantly thinking about what we want to do, how we want to fix it, how we want to handle this, how we want to do that and—how about God? How about Jesus? What would he do?”

The key to answering those questions and to finding peace is reading the Bible. Said Wilson, “I think the biggest thing we have to connect to is the promise of God, actually reading the Scripture, understanding what he wants for us, understanding what he wants for me. And I know for me personally, that’s what I’ve been working on: not trying to find my own peace, but God, I want your peace.” He said, “I challenge us to try to search for that.”

Ed Stetzer: 5 Ways an Organization Can Move Toward a Healthier Place

By

Ed Stetzer

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August 19, 2021

Previously, we’ve looked at unhealthy Christian organizations. Unfortunately there is a pattern of unhealthiness in some organizations, and many struggle with working in such an environment. I’m talking about a pattern that is both real and widespread. Some organizations really are unhealthier than others, and, unfortunately, I’ve seen it––as you probably have as well.

It’s interesting, however, to look “behind the curtain” of both healthy and unhealthy churches, organizations, and denominations. I’ve worked with both. My own denomination has remarkable pockets of unhealthiness. (When I first ran a series on unhealthy organizations, key leaders would call my boss to complain that I was writing about them.)

So, how does an organization move from unhealthy to healthy? Well, it is not simply something we can “will” into existence. Instead, it takes a process.

The organization has to admit it has a problem.

I know it’s cliché, but the first step toward health truly is admitting that you have a problem. Most unhealthy organizations act like they don’t want to know the truth and do everything to avoid admitting it. I once suggested an employee survey in such a place, and the response was quite telling: “We can’t do that because it will give everyone an opportunity to complain.” Indeed it might––and, I said, maybe you should listen. All organizations are made up of sinful, fallen people. There has to be enough freedom for those individuals, especially those in leadership, to be able to say “We are off track. We repent. God help us.”

The organization has to admit that sometimes unhealthy cultures come from unhealthy leaders.

This is easily observed in the change that takes place with rising leaders as they come into closer proximity to existing leadership. Who are they becoming? With increased proximity, do you see the development of maturity, discernment, and the ability to address problems within the organization? Or do you see individuals jockeying for position, power, and limited privileges? One of the best things any leader can do is to lead through his or her own failings––and to admit them. We need to be able to say things like, “I lose my temper sometimes, and I am sorry.” One of the best things a developing leader can do is to ask oneself as he or she grows closer to an organization’s leader––is your respect for that leader growing or diminishing? Are you being challenged to a higher level of character and integrity or being asked to lower it?

Those who are empowered by the bad leadership culture will need to work hard to resist a move toward health.

This may be the most difficult, because these are typically the same individuals who have thrived on the dysfunction and hardly want it to be seen. I recall one leader who would sandbag every attempt at internal analysis because he knew what it would find. He knew the organization was unhealthy and had managed to manipulate it for his personal gain.

7 Practical Ideas to Recharge Your Soul

By

Dan Reiland

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August 19, 2021

How are you? Need a break? Do you need to recharge your soul? What level is your “leadership battery” at?

- Fully charged.
- Good, but drained.
- Weak, probably needs a jump start.
- Very little left; may need a new battery.

Recharging your battery these days seems like a different prospect than last summer.

So much has changed over the last fifteen months or so, and you have absorbed the pressure and stress that came with all the change. How are you dealing with it?

From many conversations with church leaders it’s obvious there is great hope, enthusiasm, and positive anticipation about the future, but equally, there is overwhelming discouragement and lack of confidence.

It’s important to have a tipping point to keep you on the positive side of this post-pandemic ledger. Are you intentional about the need to recharge your soul?

The church doesn’t stop during the summer, but it’s a good time to lean into the different life rhythm it carries, to catch your breath and recharge your leadership battery. A recharge for you is so important because the church never stops.

This isn’t a complaint; lots of people work hard inside challenging careers, but it’s an acknowledgment of the need to refuel and recharge your soul. It’s an acknowledgment of the unique weight of serving people on a spiritual level.

7 Practical Ideas to Recharge Your Soul

1. Change of Pace

Recharging your leadership battery and to recharge your soul is rarely about doing nothing; it’s about a change of pace. So, what does a change of pace look like? There are lots of possibilities.

For example, if you are with people all the time, you could dive into some deep thought work of R&D to improve a ministry, write, or prepare to launch something new.

If you typically run at a very fast pace, slow down for a couple of weeks. Take your mornings for more thoughtful work.

2. Gain Closure

It’s surprising how much is gained even at a soul level from closure.

So, many leaders live with a nagging, peace-stealing, low-grade anxiety from things as simple as unfinished projects, hard conversations that have never happened and being honest about what they’re not going to do.

Take action and gain closure.

*About projects you have never finished, finish them, or get honest about the fact that you are not going to do it. Take it off your list. Literally, delete all of it. Be done. Move on. Closure is like oxygen to your soul.

The same is true with your relationships. Don’t leave the hard stuff dangling, have the difficult conversations and bring fresh definition to the relationship.

3. Unclutter

Often uncluttering your life helps to recharge your soul, gain emotional margin, and lets you breath deeper. Since I’ve used work-related illustrations for the first two ideas, let’s take this one home.

Your closet, garage, basement, or desk probably has stuff in it that you’ll never use again. It’s amazing what accumulates.

Clutter robs your soul of peace. It’s not just about certain personalities; it impacts everyone but just to differing levels for each individual. For some, it’s a nagging distraction; for others, it’s a powerful thief of peace and productivity.

The surprising thing is how much you can do about it in one afternoon.

Let’s go deeper, and with something not so easy.

Unclutter your thought life.

It’s about focused thinking, and that can be very challenging considering your long to-do list and the bombardment from social media along with your favorite websites.

Ed Stetzer: Why Every Church Planter Must Use the Theological Grid

By

Ed Stetzer

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August 19, 2021

Everybody thinks they are in “the middle.” It’s the people to the right of you that are extreme crazies and all those to your left have no convictions whatsoever. Recognizing that “the middle” is a subjective term, I still want to propose a middle ground for understanding pastoring, planting and being a missionary. There are many things to consider when serving in pastoring, planting or missions. My intent here is not to address them all, but to encourage you to consider two aspects in two ways. I call them “grids.” These two grids to look at church ministry are the missiological and the theological grid.

The tendency, as is always the case, is to drift to either extreme to the detriment of the other end. There are some who are only concerned about theology, without ever considering how to relate to their community. Others are obsessed with being relevant and will cast aside biblical convictions if they clash with cultural values.

Church leaders must think both theologically and missiologically.

I don’t think either of these are healthy ways to lead churches. A balance is needed. Church leaders must think both theologically and missiologically. Now, that’s a “balance” and a “middle” that I need to explain. As such, I’ll illustrate why a middle ground is needed, I want to explain why each grid is vital. In demonstrating the value of each, the goal is for you to recognize the importance of both.

Today, I want to concentrate on the theological grid. Why should we be concerned with theology if our goal is to reach the community?

Questions About Your Theological Grid

1. “How do we start churches if we don’t believe Jesus is the only way?”

I’m invited to speak at numerous different Christian organizations, networks and denominations. Rarely do those invitations surprise me. But when I was asked to speak to a group from a mainline denomination that would be self-identified as liberal, I have to admit, I was a little surprised.

If the gospel is not properly understood, it cannot be persistently proclaimed.

They gave me four hours to teach on anything I wanted. So I got up there and I taught on the gospel. People were taking notes and I thought, “This is kind of awesome.” But at the end, they wanted to ask some questions about outreach. They asked something like, “How do we get our people to think urgently about evangelism if we don’t believe Jesus is the only way?”

Make a Move: Start a Movement

By

Greg Stier

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August 19, 2021

Every great movement started with someone who was willing to make a move.

Esther made a move and saved a nation.

David made a move and killed a giant.

Jesus made a move and changed the course of history.

What’s your move?

Jesus gave us the move we are to make in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Our move is to be his witnesses here, there and everywhere. We start right where we are at, our Jerusalem. This means sharing the Gospel with friends, family, co-workers, classmates and teammates. We start making our move in our most immediate sphere of influence.

Then we make a move “there.” This is our Samaria, the other side of the tracks, the stranger on the street and the random commenter online. We share the Gospel with anyone and everyone. We reach the bad, the broken, the bullied and the bullies.

Finally, we make a move everywhere. We share the Gospel to those from different cultures and/or in different countries. We take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We pray, give and, if possible, grab our passport and go.

After Jesus gave his disciples their marching orders something interesting happened in Acts 1:9-11, “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

These two angelic beings in essence said to the disciples, “Don’t just stand there. Make your move!”

3 ways to start a movement today

1. Pray

Pray for an opportunity to share Jesus with someone today — and then take it! If you need help knowing how to effectively share the Gospel download Dare 2 Share’s free Life in 6 Words app here. Watch the tutorial video on the menu screen and then start Gospelizing!

2. Connect

Send a text to the unreached person God is putting on your heart right now that asks, “How may I pray for you?” and let it lead to a Gospel conversation.

3. Participate

Get your church to participate in Dare 2 Share Live coming up on November 13th. This free event will train thousands of teenagers from hundreds of churches across the nation (and Africa!) to share the Gospel…and then unleash them to do it. This amazing event will mobilize you and the teenagers in your church for action.

It’s time to make your move and start a movement!

This article about how to start a movement originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Online Small Groups – Which Method is Best?

By

Allen White

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August 18, 2021

When the topic of online small groups comes up, people typically think of video-based platforms like Zoom. While this format is popular for some, it’s not the only way to meet online. When my first online group met in 1994 on CompuServe, there was no option for audio or video. You could only do so much with a dial-up modem. Yet friendships were formed, members were encouraged, and one guy came to Christ as a result of that group.

When you think about types of online small groups today, consider these two questions:
What is the purpose of the group?
How can groups meet online?

Online Small Groups – Which Method is Best?

What is the Purpose of the Group?

Groups meet for a variety of reasons—connection, encouragement, Bible study, and even support. While in this season of Coronavirus, every group needs an element of support. When meeting with the groups of pastors I coach, we start with a check-in on how everyone is doing. These are crazy times, and not everybody is doing great. Allow time in every group for members to check-in and process what they’re dealing with. While content is at the center of the meeting, people also need conversation.

Recovery groups, DivorceCare and GriefShare, have also gone online meeting the needs of a record number of people including those who might never darken the door of your church. These support groups are finding amazing results, despite initial reluctance to meeting online. Ministries like Celebrate Recovery and the Alpha Course never imagined online groups would work, but they are seeing numbers like never before. In a recent interview, Nicky Gumbel, founder of the Alpha Course, mentioned one pastor in New York is starting a new Alpha group every day.

How Can Groups Meet Online?

Online groups can choose from a variety of meeting formats—video, audio-only, or asynchronously. As with in-person small groups, one size does not fit all for online groups either.

1. Video-based Platforms

Groups meeting via video conferencing platforms offer a multidimensional online group experience. Members can see each other, hear each other’s voices, text chat during the meeting, and share a teaching video. While Zoom is very popular, there are several other paid or free services including: GotoMeeting, Webex, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangout, Google Meets, and Facebook Groups among others.

Now, in the world of working at home and schooling at home, people have begun to experience Zoom fatigue. Fortunately, if people struggle with Zoom fatigue or are technologically challenged, there are other options.

2. Audio-Only Groups

Audio-only groups meet on a conference line via phone. Free services like freeconferencecall.com are available to anyone who would like to set up a conference line. Typically, these services offer a toll-free number.

The Audio-Technica AT2021 – One Mic, Many Uses

By

Duke Taber

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August 18, 2021

Audio-Technica is a Japanese company founded in 1962. They have focused on audio equipment since their inception and are known for being able to produce high-quality equipment that is surprisingly affordable, which makes them a great option for most musicians, especially ones who are on a tighter budget and can’t afford more expensive options. Any musician or church praise band looking to sound their best on stage will want to consider an Audio-Technica microphone, with the Audio-Technica AT2021 being one of the top contenders in their lineup.

Thanks to their commitment to quality, they are known for producing high-quality microphones that are great for use on the stage, as well as in the recording studio, which is great for versatile musicians.

Audio-Technica AT2021 Review

What Is the Audio-Technica AT2021?

This microphone was designed for use as a general microphone that can be used to easily capture instruments, vocals, and amps. It features a small diaphragm condenser that is designed to produce a strong cardioid polar pattern. This helps reduce outside noise and results in a clear and bright sound at all times.

Additionally, the Audio-Technica AT2021 helps to surpass distortion when used to capture transient sources such as a piano, bass, guitar, drums, or another percussion.

Released just over a year ago, the AT2021 is a culmination of years of production and quality control and improvement at Audio-Technica. It’s a shockingly small microphone that only weighs 9.6 ounces, but still offers plenty of control and power.

Who Is this Microphone Designed for?

This great microphone was designed to be used in both live and studio applications, making it an incredibly versatile option that is great for both recording and performing artists.

The low price point of the AT2021 makes it an affordable option for musicians of all skill levels, which is why it is so popular not only with more advanced musicians but also beginners.

Thanks to the control and power that it offers, as well as how easy it is to set up and use the Audio-Technica AT2021, it’s perfect for beginning musicians, as well as for use by a church praise band.

It offers great sound control and decreases problems with exterior noises, but is surprisingly easy to set up and start using, which means that sound teams of all skill levels can handle it.

What’s Included?

Audio-Technica AT2021 Cardioid Condenser Microphone

Condenser design for studio-quality vocal and instrument applications; ideal for acoustic guitar, overheads, piano and group vocals
Excels in high-SPL applications with extended response for smooth, natural sonic characteristics
Low-mass element for superb transient response
Corrosion-resistant contacts from gold-plated XLRM-type connector
Rugged design and construction for reliable performance
Cardioid polar pattern reduces pickup of sounds from the sides and rear, improving isolation of desired sound source

(If you buy from Amazon, EasyTech earns a very small commission at no charge to you.)

When musicians buy the Audio-Technica AT2021 they will also receive a soft protective pouch, which is perfect for both storing and for transporting this microphone. The pouch is designed to fit snugly around the microphone and prevent it from being damaged. Additionally, a microphone stand clamp is included, which makes it easy to attach the microphone to a stand.

Unfortunately, this stand clamp doesn’t always have a very tight fit on the microphone, so musicians need to check it from time to time to ensure that the microphone doesn’t come loose and slip out.

Primary Features of the AT2021

It can be a little tricky to find a microphone that works just as well in live applications as it does in the studio, but the Audio-Technica AT2021 is designed to meet the needs of musicians who are performing live and who are recording, thanks to its extended frequency response and impressive transient response. Other great features include:

Great for use in high-SPL applications
Low-mass element
Extended response results in natural and smooth sonic characteristics
Great for use with vocals and instruments
Cardioid polar pattern
250 ohms impedance
Weighs just under three pounds

This smaller microphone is surprisingly powerful given its size, which means that it can easily be used in a variety of live and studio applications without getting in the way or taking up too much space. It’s designed to be easily set up and turned on, offering incredible sound without a lot of tweaking.

Additionally, the Audio-Technica AT2021 features a very powerful cardioid polar pattern. This reduces the microphone picking up any sound from the rear and sides and makes it easy for musicians to isolate their desired sound.

One issue that some vocalists have with the AT2021 is that it has a shorter body than other similar mics, which makes it difficult to hold the microphone and move around the stage with it. This means that it is better used with a stand in a permanent location for performances.

Alternatives to the Audio-Technica AT2021

Musicians who are looking to use their microphone in the studio full time instead of also using it on stage may want to consider the Audio-Technica AT2022 X/Y. This is a powerful stereo condenser microphone that is designed to work wonders in the studio. Thanks to the battery operation and the ability to select 90 or 120-degree stereo operation, musicians can rely on great narrow or wide patterns, perfect for most any recording use.

The Rode M5-MP cardioid condenser microphones are a great purchase for any musician who needs two microphones at once. Rode is another high-quality company, such as Audio-Technica, which is why this is a popular option. In addition to being compact, they offer a low noise as well as a full frequency response. Additionally, they ship with stand mounts, as well as windshields, for great sound and very little distortion or outside noise.

Conclusion – Will You Be Happy with this Microphone?

Performing and recording musicians will appreciate not only how portable and light the AT2021 is but also what a great job it does of isolating the desired sound source, which makes any musician feel more confident and sound better when playing.

The small design of the Audio-Technica AT2021 makes it ideal for use in smaller recording studios and also allows musicians to have the microphone on stage without worrying about it taking up too much room.

Thanks to the low cost of this microphone, it manages to be a surprisingly affordable option for most musicians and churches.

It can easily be used as a mic for any instrument or vocalist on stage, making it a wonderful and highly versatile option for use during Sunday morning services or for use during Wednesday night worship.

It’s powerful enough to be used for gigging on Friday night and still work perfectly to provide smooth and natural sound on Sunday morning.

We hope our Audio-Technica AT2021 review has been helpful. You might want to check out our list of wireless mics for church.

This article originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Children’s Ministry Conferences: What’s Slated for 2022?

By

Stephanie Martin

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August 18, 2021

Along with most everything else, children’s ministry conferences were postponed, scaled back or taken virtual during the pandemic. Many kidmin leaders, teachers and volunteers look forward to these training and fellowship events. The conferences offer development and networking opportunities—plus much-needed refreshment and fun. So it’s exciting to see that several in-person children’s ministry conferences have announced plans to resume or reboot in 2022.

We’ve compiled a multi-denominational list in chronological order. If you have details about other children’s ministry conferences that we can add to the 2022 slate, please let us know in the comments below!

9 Children’s Ministry Conferences Planned for 2022

1. Children’s Pastors Conference

This conference is for anybody who serves in children’s and family ministry, not just pastors! Leaders who serve kids and families should be connected to what they need: high quality training, meaningful community, transformative resources, and biblical inspiration for their calling. We’ve created a world-class event that is uniquely designed for your thriving as a children’s ministry leader!

Dates: January 11-13, 2022

Location: Orlando, Florida; Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Sponsored by: International Network of Children’s Ministry

Speakers: Beth Guckenberger, Jada Edwards, Keith Ferrin, Jim Wideman, Alex Seeley, Katherine Wolf, Toni J. Collier, Curtis Zackery

2. Unleash

The Unleash conference will help you unleash every ministry and leader in your church by giving them effective strategies, tools and new ways to connect people to Jesus that will impact generations for eternity. There will be workshops for Senior Leadership, Children’s Ministry, Student Ministry, Worship & Creative Arts, Hospitality & Guest Services, Missions & Outreach, Women’s Ministry, Church Planting & Multiplication, Communications and more.

Dates: January 26-27, 2022

Location: Orlando, Florida

Sponsored by: Converge

Speakers: Ryan Leak, Rev. Wilfredo “Choco” de Jesús, Jeffrey A. Johnson Sr., Chad Moore

3. Calvary Curriculum’s Children’s Ministry Conference

At the 25th annual conference, you will have the opportunity to attend workshops that will strengthen you in evangelizing and discipling children and youth in settings such as within the church, through outreach, in your own home, and wherever else you might minister to them. There will be an added At-Home track, and for the second year in a row, a Youth Ministry track.

Dates: February 18-19, 2022

Location: Calvary Chapel Golden Springs, Diamond Bar, California

Sponsored by: Calvary Curriculum

4. Next Gen Conference

NEXTGEN Conference is designed to connect like-minded people together, equip them with excellent resources, and send them to change communities. The conference offers a unique approach to learning to inspire and motivate attendees through fun and interactive sessions. The events are focused on leaders who are in their 20s and 30s. They are intended to provide a platform to share ideas, spark innovation, and create effective networks.

Dates: March 14-16, 2022

Location: Orlando, Florida

Sponsored by: Assemblies of God

5. NW MinCon

Dates: March 18-19, 2022

Location: Woodinville, Washington

Sponsored by: The Northwest Ministry Conference

Speakers: John Stonestreet, Dr. Gregory Jantz, Mandy Arioto, Michael Lukaszewski

6. Children’s Ministry and Church Leadership Training Retreat 2022

The Children’s Ministry Leaders at your church (pastors, children’s ministry staff, volunteers in leadership roles, nursery coordinators.), are invited to CDM’s annual Children’s Ministry Leadership Retreat at the Ridge Haven Retreat Center at Brevard in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Come join a community of leaders of the PCA, who are passionate about reaching the next generation for Christ!

Dates: March 29-31, 2022

Location: Ridge Haven Conference & Retreat Center (North Carolina)

Sponsored by: PCA Committee on Discipleship Ministries

7. D6 Conference

A family ministry conference for your entire team. We all need a RESET from time to time. Coming out of a crisis requires us to evaluate what changed and what stays the same. The shock, confusion, and stress of disruption often cause leaders to misjudge priorities. We chose the theme RESET for D6 2022 to help you in three ways: value the past, look forward, and equally important, the time to properly evaluate without hasty predictions.

Dates: April 20-22, 2022

Location: Orlando, Florida

Sponsored by: Randall House

Speakers: Holley Gerth, Ron Hunter, Michelle Nietert, Sam Luce, Katie Greenwood, and more

8. Orange Conference

What does it look like for leaders who work with the next generation to become the kind of humans God designed us to be? This brand new OC experience for family ministry teams, executive leaders, senior pastors, and more will give you the inspiration you need to keep going and the practical ministry solutions to make it happen. You’ve never been to an Orange Conference like this.

Dates: April 27-29, 2022

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Sponsored by: Orange

Speakers: Kristen Ivy, Ryan Leak, Liz Forkin Bohannon, Dharius Daniels, and more

9. Group U: Online Ministry Courses

Practical training with 24/7 access to courses that build your ministry skills.

Enjoy these children’s ministry conferences for 2022!

Take advantage of these opportunities to grow your faith and to develop your knowledge, skills, and creativity. And above all, keep the goal in mind: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).

UPDATE: Tim Tebow Posts Humble Message as the Jacksonville Jaguars Release Him

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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August 18, 2021

UPDATED August 18, 2021: Tim Tebow’s NFL comeback with the Jacksonville Jaguars came to a close on Tuesday after it was announced that the hopeful tight end was released by the team.

Shortly after his release, Tebow posted on his social media pages a humble message saying how thankful he was for the opportunity the Jaguars gave him.

Tebow also posted Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

His Instagram post read:

“Thankful for the highs and even the lows, the opportunities, and the setbacks. I’ve never wanted to make decisions out of fear of failure and I’m grateful for the chance to have pursued a dream. Thank you to the @jaguars organization and everyone who has supported me in this journey. And we know that…God works all things together for good. Romans 8:28″

The former quarterback’s lack of experience at the new position, especially in the area of blocking, resulted in him being cut from the team. The tight end position is used heavily on special teams due to their blocking abilities. Tebow didn’t play a special teams snap during the preseason loss against the Cleveland Browns last Saturday.

Tebow’s former college coach and first-year Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer said, “We knew that was an uphill battle for Tim. Players loved him, locker room loved him, but it was the right thing.”

ChurchLeaders original article written on May 20, 2021, below:

Congratulations to Tim Tebow on His Signing With the Jacksonville Jaguars

The NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars announced on May 20, 2021, that they have officially signed Tim Tebow (age 33), one of the most popular Christian athletes in the last decade of professional sports.

The Jaguars’ announcement reads: “We have signed TE Tim Tebow,” and posted an image with a thank you message from the former quarterback. Tebow’s message read, “I want to thank the Jaguars for the opportunity to compete and earn the chance to be part of this team. I know it will be a challenge, but it is a challenge I embrace. I am dedicated to taking the direction of our coaching staff and learning from my teammates. I appreciate everyone’s support as I embark on this new journey.”

“God is so much bigger than a game. And at the end of the day, it’s just a game.”

The multi-talented athlete will switch from his former NFL starting position as quarterback to tight end, a position he has never played in professional sports. Tebow hasn’t played a down in the NFL since 2012, which led critics and skeptics to question the Jaguars’s decision. Some have called Tebow’s contract the result of white privilege because Colin Kaepernick, a Black NFL’er who gained fame and notoriety for his kneeling protest of racial injustice, still hasn’t been signed.

Tebow will join his former Florida college coach Urban Meyer and number-one overall first-round rookie draft pick Trevor Lawrence, who has said, “Football’s important to me, but it’s not my life. It’s not the biggest thing in my life…I put my identity in what Christ says, who he thinks I am, and who I know that he says I am.”

The contract Tebow signed does not guarantee he’ll be playing on the team when the Jaguars visit the Texans in September, which means the 33-year-old will have to work hard to earn the highly coveted 53-man roster.

Tim Tebow praying over Urban Meyer at Rock City Church in 2019

Tim Tebow Shares the Love of Christ

Tim Tebow told ChurchLeaders.com that “God’s not only enough. He’s so much more than enough,” during a 2016 podcast. ChurchLeaders.com has covered Tebow over the years due to his public, enduring love for Jesus despite significant cultural pushback. What follows are some of our most popular articles.

KISS Rocker Stands Up for Tebow

After critics mocked Tebow’s faith during his previous years in the NFL and just recently criticized him as reports started to leak about his potential NFL return with the Jacksonville Jaguars, KISS’ front man Gene Simmons vocalized his support for Tebow.

No Religious Exemptions—Raiders Will Now Require COVID-19 Shots for Fans

By

Stephanie Martin

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August 18, 2021

An increasing number of businesses, restaurants, colleges, and churches are requiring attendees to show proof they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19. Now football fans in Las Vegas must do so also. In a first for an NFL team, the Las Vegas Raiders announced this week that all attendees at home games this season must have received COVID shots.

Medical and religious exemptions are not being granted. The Raiders join the New Orleans Saints, who will require either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken 72 hours prior to the game.

Las Vegas Raiders Owner: ‘We’re Still in the Middle of a Pandemic’

The upside, says Raiders owner Mark Davis, is that Allegiant Stadium “will be able to operate at full capacity without masks for fully vaccinated fans for the entire season.” The team plans to use the free mobile app CLEAR, which has a Health Pass feature. On-site shot clinics also will be available, and newly vaccinated fans may enter the stadium if they wear masks. Children under 12 who aren’t yet eligible for vaccines may attend but must wear masks.

The Raiders, who recently moved to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, established the mandate after Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak signed a new emergency directive. “Health and safety [have] always been our number-one priority,” says Davis. “I think people forget we’re still in the middle of a pandemic. It’s not over yet.”

The owner says the stadium’s previous mask mandate “hasn’t worked that well,” and switching to a vaccine mandate removes guesswork for fans. Describing his own experience watching a game, Davis says, “I was eating and then forgot for a while” to put the mask back on. “I’m guilty as well.”

Davis admits the decision won’t be popular with everyone. “We’re not a political party. We have all kinds of people here,” he says. “We’re diverse, and we don’t want to lose any fans.” About the safety precaution, he adds, “If it’s not you, it might be the person sitting next to you we’re keeping healthy.”

The vaccination policy takes effect September 13, when the Baltimore Ravens visit Las Vegas for the regular season’s first Monday night game. Ticket holders who don’t choose to get vaccinated can receive full refunds or credit for next season.

Raider Nation Offers Mixed Reactions

Fans of the Silver & Black are split about the vaccine mandate. Some say they agree with and appreciate the Las Vegas Raiders’ decision, while others call it embarrassing and accuse the team of selling out.

Season ticket holder Jillian Diaz, who now travels from LA to attend Raiders home games, says being able to cheer for her team in person is what “really pushed me into getting the vaccine” recently.

Matt Chandler Helps Church Leaders See What Is Important During Divided Times

By

Jessica Lea

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August 18, 2021

Matt Chandler is the lead pastor of teaching at The Village Church in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and the president of Acts 29. He has authored several books, including “To Live Is Christ to Die Is Gain,” “The Mingling of Souls,” and “The Explicit Gospel.” His latest, “Family Discipleship,” co-authored with Adam Griffin, focuses on helping parents pursue gospel-centered discipleship with their children. Matt and his wife, Lauren, live with their three children—Audrey, Reid, and Norah—in Highland Village, Texas.

Other Ways to Listen to This Podcast With Matt Chandler

► Listen on Apple
► Listen on Spotify
► Listen on Stitcher
► Listen on YouTube

Key Questions for Matt Chandler

-Do you have any thoughts on whether or not it is wise to address issues like race, the presidential election, or the COVID-19 vaccine from the pulpit on Sunday morning?

-Where do you go to learn how to lead better during this time?

-When someone in your congregation comes to you and says, “Pastor Matt, I read on the Internet that you are ‘woke’ because you said X,” how do you respond?

-How does the Bible guide leaders and believers towards understanding our cultural issues better?

Key Quotes from Matt Chandler

“I’m trying to as best I can, by the grace of God, to thread that needle of saying the things that need to be addressed in order to shepherd and help our people live distinctively Christian lives in these times. But we’re trying to do it in a way that’s winsome and fair and true and not buy in to some of the more polarizing characterizations of the other side, if you will.”

“This is a failure of the church over the last 20, 30 years that there doesn’t seem to be a theological understanding of what the church is meant to be that has more power than these ideological tribes that have formed. People are really choosing their ideology even over doctrinal faithfulness.”

“Even Jesus said, ‘I have more to say to you, but you’re not ready. You can’t handle this yet.’ And so there are congregations that are not ready for these kinds of conversations.”

“I don’t know that I’m interested in trying to keep a man or a woman who is already so hardened in their ideology that they’re going to prefer that to a clear reading of the Scriptures. And so if you’re going to have a conversation about politics, I want to be able to frame all that around the kingdom of God and King Jesus and what it means to live for that kingdom and be embedded in a nation state in this given moment in time.”

“I need to get my heart fully alive in Jesus over and over and over and over and over again…And so I have tried to increase over the last couple of years pulling away and just being with Jesus.”

Matt Chandler: Your Kid Doesn’t Need to Be a D1 Athlete

By

Megan Briggs

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August 18, 2021

Matt Chandler says the primary responsibility he feels as a parent is: Disciple your kids! Too many parents, he feels, “sacrifice” their kids on the altar of athletics.

Matt Chandler says the primary responsibility he feels as a parent is that of disciple-maker. Too many parents, he feels, “sacrifice” their kids on the altar of athletics.

Disciple your kids

Chandler and his wife, Lauren, have three children—two girls and a boy. Chandler’s son “loves the game of football.” Chandler shares that his son feels a strong pull toward the competition and the temptation is there to allow the sport to define him. Getting personal, Chandler says he feels the pull himself. “I want him to do well; I want him to be successful” but he doesn’t want athletics to become what defines his son.

That isn’t to say Chandler is disappointed his son is involved in sports. “Sports can be this amazing tool that teaches discipline, hard work, that sometimes the world’s broken and you lose…” Chandler says. However, the trouble comes when these sports take precedence over the child’s spiritual development. Sports should be used as the tool it is, and not as the final goal. The final goal is: Disciple your kids!

It’s also just not practical, Chandler implies, to drive your child excessively toward athletics. Chandler states that while there are around 74 million high school athletes, the number “drops significantly at the college level and then nearly vanishes at the pro level.” There are far greater things to prepare them for than an athletic career. For parents who to bet on their favorite stars, sites like 바카라 사이트 are available.

Guidelines to Use for Kids and Sports

To maintain a healthy balance between sports and spirituality, Chandler shares his family has some rules in place:

Sunday is the day the family goes to church and sports are not allowed to get in the way of that. Chandler mentions there are no tournaments, no opportunities that get to push this priority out of the center of the family’s life.

In this season, the family has also prioritized the middle school Bible study for Chandler’s son. Regardless of what happens in the sports world, Chandler says, his son needs to be at the middle school Bible study.

Finally, Chandler says he is careful with the conversations he’s having with his son concerning sports. Chandler says he wants to tie everything “back to the kind of person God is asking him to be and that God is growing him into.”

“Way too often it’s easy for us to sacrifice our kids—or rather disciple our kids—on the altar of athletics,” Chandler says. He wants to emphasize “there’s something greater than, that is going to live far beyond their athletic career—even if they are a part of the 3 percent that make it to the pros.”

The bottom line: Disciple your kids! Don’t let sports overtake their lives or their identity!

The Greatest Bible Your Child Will Ever Read

By

Andrew Linder

-

August 18, 2021

At the Little League meet up the coach calls over little Charlie, bends down, and looks him straight in the eyes.

“Look, Charlie, you know the principles of good sportsmanship, correct? You know the Little League doesn’t allow temper tantrums, shouting at the umpire, or abusive language?”

“Yes sir, I understand.”

“Good, Charlie. Now could you go and explain that to your father?”

We chuckle at that because it’s not only funny but often true.

The reality is that every day in both big and small ways your child is reading a Bible. But this is not a Bible with pages and ink. It’s not even a Bible that you always know that they are reading. But they’re reading it, just as sure as you are reading this right now.

This Bible that I’m referring to is the one written with the actions and words (the pages and ink) of your life as a parent.

The Greatest Bible a Child Will Ever Read is Their Parents

Every day, our child is reading either the works of the flesh or the fruit of the spirit in our daily life (Galatians 5).

They are seeing us walk in the flesh or walk in the spirit through our lifestyle and choices.
They are internally matching up our words and beliefs with our actions and attitudes.
They are evaluating whether or not our family’s faith is a genuine reality affecting how we live out our lives, or just a religious standard we try to abide by when it’s convenient.

Surprisingly, a parent can say all the right words, have all the right rules, and teach all the right things, yet still raise children who end up choosing not to live out their parents’ faith. (While it is very easy to raise second-generation hypocrites, it is also possible to get it right and raise kids who personally possess their own faith.)

That’s why I often say that “More than your children will become what you say, but they will become who you are.”

Proverbs 22:6 reminds us of this when it says to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

In other words, as parents, we do the training, and then we also do the trusting. The training is primarily the time while they are still at home. The trusting is the time that follows.

Every day, you are pointing your child’s heart in a direction

Remember, it is not your job as a parent to keep your child on the “straight and narrow”, but it is your job as a parent to keep their heart pointed in that direction.

No, you’re not a perfect parent, nor will you ever be, but you are capable of shaping the heart and future of a human soul. How do I know that? Because God entrusted you with them.

Take some time to consider and meditate upon these verses as they relate to the example of your parenting…

Psalm 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.

James 4:9-10 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

I Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

“The greatest Bible a child will ever read is not the written one in their hands, but the walking one in their house.”

May the Bible of our daily lives impress deeply upon the hearts of our children, so that we can say along with the Apostle Paul:

“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts… written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.” – 2 Corinthians 3:3

This article on the greatest Bible you child will ever read originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

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