The Gospel Is for All Kinds of People, So Why Not You?

By

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November 2, 2020

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

The Gospel Is for All Kinds of People, So Why Not You?

For this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles (1 Tim. 2:7, NIV).

Paul was “appointed a herald and an apostle… to the Gentiles.” “Gentiles” means all the nations of the world outside of Israel. It’s hard for us to grasp how astonishing this was in the early church. God made a covenant with Israel so, to many people, the God of the Bible was the God of Israel. When Paul says “I was appointed an apostle to the Gentiles”, he has to add “I am telling the truth, I am not lying.”

Paul’s Missionary Strategy

Paul had three roles throughout his life as a missionary:

a.) a herald—wherever he went, he proclaimed the gospel.

b.) an apostle—a pioneer sent to plant churches where they did not exist.

c.) a teacher of the true faith. He established the church by teaching truth and refuting error.

Today, there are millions of people who would say that Christianity is the religion not of the Jews, but of “the West.” But gospel churches take their stand with Paul and say, “The good news is for all nations.” Our calling is to herald the true faith to all nations. Why?

Preach the gospel to all people because Christ died for all people.

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men–the testimony given in its proper time” (1 Tim. 2:3-6).

This is a marvelous statement of God’s redeeming purpose in Jesus Christ. And there is an important discussion about what Paul means when he says that “God wants all men to be saved” and that “Christ gave himself as a ransom for all men.” Does “all” mean “every single person”? Or does “all” mean “all kinds of people”?

People come to different conclusions on this, but I’m convinced that “all” means “all kinds of people.” And I believe that for three reasons:

1. That’s what “all” means in the beginning of 1 Timothy.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people (1 Tim. 2:1).

God does not expect us to pray for every single person in the world, but to pray for all kinds of people in the world.

2. The Bible never suggests every single person will be saved.

On the Last Day, some will enter everlasting life while others go to their everlasting destruction (Matt. 25:46).

3. The word “ransom” in verse 6 means the payment of a price.

If Christ paid for the sins of “every single person,” hell would be filled with people whose sins had already been paid for.

That’s why I believe that when Paul says “all” he means “all kinds of people” and not “every single person.” That leads to this wonderful application: God wants “all kinds of people” to be saved. Christ gave his life to ransom all kinds of people. There will be people like you in heaven, so why not you?

“All People” Means You

In Heaven, there will be people with the highest degrees and the greatest minds, and there will be people who never learned to read or write. There will be people who earned millions of dollars, and people who lived all their lives in abject poverty. There will be people from stable families and people from dysfunctional families.

There will be people with your personality type in heaven—so why not you? There will be people from your race, people who speak your language, so why not you? There will be people who were once caught in every kind of vice known to mankind, but have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, so why not you?

“There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5), so that means that Christ is the mediator for you. God wants people like you to be saved. Christ gave His life as a ransom for people like you.

Why not come to Christ and trust Him as your Redeemer today? If you come to Christ, He will never turn you away.

The gospel fires missions because Christ died for all. If you believe that all roads lead to God, there is no reason for world mission. People can find their own way. But Paul says that there is one mediator between God and man. If there is one mediator, there must be one gospel. If there is one gospel, it must be for all people.

Therefore, let’s renew our commitment to a ministry of the Word and prayer on a global scale. That’s the passion of a gospel-centered church.

_____

This article is adapted from Pastor Colin’s sermon, “Gospel Ministry”, from his series, 10 Distinctives of a Gospel-Centered Church.

For this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles (1 Tim. 2:7, NIV).

Paul was “appointed a herald and an apostle… to the Gentiles.” “Gentiles” means all the nations of the world outside of Israel. It’s hard for us to grasp how astonishing this was in the early church. God made a covenant with Israel so, to many people, the God of the Bible was the God of Israel. When Paul says “I was appointed an apostle to the Gentiles”, he has to add “I am telling the truth, I am not lying.”

Paul’s Missionary Strategy

Paul had three roles throughout his life as a missionary:

a.) a herald—wherever he went, he proclaimed the gospel.

b.) an apostle—a pioneer sent to plant churches where they did not exist.

c.) a teacher of the true faith. He established the church by teaching truth and refuting error.

Today, there are millions of people who would say that Christianity is the religion not of the Jews, but of “the West.” But gospel churches take their stand with Paul and say, “The good news is for all nations.” Our calling is to herald the true faith to all nations. Why?

Preach the gospel to all people because Christ died for all people.

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men–the testimony given in its proper time” (1 Tim. 2:3-6).

This is a marvelous statement of God’s redeeming purpose in Jesus Christ. And there is an important discussion about what Paul means when he says that “God wants all men to be saved” and that “Christ gave himself as a ransom for all men.” Does “all” mean “every single person”? Or does “all” mean “all kinds of people”?

People come to different conclusions on this, but I’m convinced that “all” means “all kinds of people.” And I believe that for three reasons:

1. That’s what “all” means in the beginning of 1 Timothy.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people (1 Tim. 2:1).

God does not expect us to pray for every single person in the world, but to pray for all kinds of people in the world.

2. The Bible never suggests every single person will be saved.

On the Last Day, some will enter everlasting life while others go to their everlasting destruction (Matt. 25:46).

3. The word “ransom” in verse 6 means the payment of a price.

If Christ paid for the sins of “every single person,” hell would be filled with people whose sins had already been paid for.

That’s why I believe that when Paul says “all” he means “all kinds of people” and not “every single person.” That leads to this wonderful application: God wants “all kinds of people” to be saved. Christ gave his life to ransom all kinds of people. There will be people like you in heaven, so why not you?

“All People” Means You

In Heaven, there will be people with the highest degrees and the greatest minds, and there will be people who never learned to read or write. There will be people who earned millions of dollars, and people who lived all their lives in abject poverty. There will be people from stable families and people from dysfunctional families.

There will be people with your personality type in heaven—so why not you? There will be people from your race, people who speak your language, so why not you? There will be people who were once caught in every kind of vice known to mankind, but have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, so why not you?

“There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5), so that means that Christ is the mediator for you. God wants people like you to be saved. Christ gave His life as a ransom for people like you.

Why not come to Christ and trust Him as your Redeemer today? If you come to Christ, He will never turn you away.

The gospel fires missions because Christ died for all. If you believe that all roads lead to God, there is no reason for world mission. People can find their own way. But Paul says that there is one mediator between God and man. If there is one mediator, there must be one gospel. If there is one gospel, it must be for all people.

Therefore, let’s renew our commitment to a ministry of the Word and prayer on a global scale. That’s the passion of a gospel-centered church.

This article originally appeared here.

Wagon Trains and the Local Church

By

Dr. Mike Glenn

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November 2, 2020

If you go to St. Louis, you can see a historical marker commemorating the spot where the wagon trains gathered to begin their trip toward the golden promise of California. Thousands of people would meet in Missouri, form a train of wagons and point their oxen and mules westward. Five months later, if things went well, they would arrive in California.

The wagon trains would average about two miles an hour, and on good days, they would cover about twenty miles a day. If the weather was good and the wagon train could avoid viral infections, bandits, starvation, wild animals and other unforeseen dangers, they would finally arrive in California 5 or 6 months later.

Sorry, but I would have lost my mind going that slow. I probably would have started out promising to be a good team member, but after a few days of waiting for someone to catch up, fix a broken wagon wheel or hear another argument over the best way to go, I would have given up on all of them and gone on by myself.

Which means I wouldn’t have made it at all. There was a word for those who tried this dangerous and long journey by themselves — dead. People who traveled west on their own usually didn’t get very far. Disease, accidents, hungry predators and other moments with bad outcomes were waiting for the unsuspecting traveler. The challenge wasn’t in making the best time, but in making it at all — alive.

Early in the evolution of the human species, we learned that we don’t do very well alone. We gathered in tribes and villages and developed a one for all and all for one covenant and managed to fight off dinosaurs and saber tooth tigers. We were able to fend off starvation, disease, and whatever else was on the other side of the wall that might want to eat us. As long as we could stick together, we, more or less, all got there in one piece.

I think about this often as the pastor of a local church. A local church is a lot like wagon trains. We’re slow and bumbling on the trip. Someone is always getting lost and something is always breaking. We’re constantly having to stop so someone can rest or get over an injury or illness. And as always, we’ll stop for days to have a long discussion to make sure everyone agrees we still want to go where we’re going and we’re taking the best route there.

It’s so frustrating. So infuriating. You almost want to walk off and just follow Jesus all by yourself.

You want to, but you don’t.

You don’t, because you tell yourself the others need you. It would just be wrong, even cowardly, to leave these inexperienced and naïve travelers on their own. So, you promise to stick with them. After all, they need you.

But the truth is we need each other. Life is too hard to live solo. Sooner or later, life will ambush all of us. The economy will turn south, and businesses you thought would never close do (in fact, close because of an unforeseen pandemic). You’re homeschooling the kids and trying to work from home. Just when you think you’ll lose your mind, someone calls and says they’ve baked fresh cookies for you and the kids. Really, fresh cookies. With good cookies, you can hang on another 24 hours. Life will confuse and confound you, and before you know it, you’re the one who gets lost. The person you least expect to know anything sees the one thing everyone else is missing and finds a way forward. For all their follies, these people will be angels sent from God to you.

If you lose something, someone will have an extra one. If something breaks, one of those in the group will know how to fix it. Through it all, someone will finally figure out the path to get you to where you want to go. And when the bad guys come over the horizon, they’ll all be there to circle up around.

I’ve been part of local churches for all my life. You’re not going to tell me anything about them I don’t know. Hypocrites? The church is full of them. The same grace that lets them in lets you and me in.

Heroes? The church is full of them. Whether you find the hypocrites or the heroes depends on who you’re looking for.

Yes, the church is frustrating, even maddening. There’s only one thing worse…trying to go it alone.

So, look around. Find a church near you and give it a try. You may have to try more than one to find one you feel comfortable in. There’s one for you out there. You’ll find your kind of people, and when you find your tribe, join them.

Yes, they’ll slow you down, but you’ll get there. And you’ll get there. Together. Finally. It may take a little longer — OK, a lot longer — but you’ll get there.

And after all, getting there is all that matters. It’s the whole point of the trip.

This article originally appeared here.

7 Deadly Sins of a Dying Church

By

Thom Rainer

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November 1, 2020

I stood before some 700 church members on a Sunday evening. My task was straightforward. I was to share with them the results of a consultation my team members and I had worked on during the past several weeks.

The presentation should have been easy and uneventful. To the contrary, the time proved to be stressful and contentious. When I pointed out even a small area of concern with suggested remedies, dozens of members raised their hands to tell me how wrong I was, how the evaluations of the consulting team were far off base.

The church in question had been in decline for nearly two decades. Yet, from the perspectives of many of the members, the church was healthy and thriving. From my perspective, the most obvious reality I saw was denial.

Lessons from the Past, Lessons for the Future

Over the past 20 years, one of the richest blessings in my life has been the opportunity to study and consult with thousands of churches. I’ve seen hundreds of healthy churches that have taught me valuable lessons.

Unfortunately, I’ve also seen thousands of churches whose ministries are declining, whose members are discouraged, and whose evangelistic impact is negligible. Recently, I reviewed many of my past consulting and research projects to discern common characteristics of declining and dying churches.

I found what I call “seven sins” that characterize dying churches. These issues are not mutually exclusive; they are often directly related to each other. Rather than being a source of discouragement, I pray that my elucidation of these seven sins will be a tool to help you avoid the pitfalls that other church leaders have experienced.

Sin #1: Doctrine Dilution

One of our consultants sat in a Bible study class of a church that had brought in our team for a long-term consultation relationship. He had been told that the class included some of the church’s strongest leaders. Much to his surprise, the entire Bible study was a debate on whether or not a non-Christian might go to heaven. After much argument, the conclusion was that God would indeed allow such a person into heaven.

When such cardinal truths as the doctrine of exclusivity become issues of doubt, a church is in trouble. There’s little motivation for outreach and evangelism if other paths and other religions are equal to Christianity.

Ironically, in our survey of unchurched persons across America, we found that these non-Christians were much less likely to attend churches with weak doctrinal beliefs than those with strong ones. “Why should I waste my time in a place that does not have much certainty of belief,” Amy, a 29-year-old unchurched person from Arizona, told us. “I can find plenty of uncertainty in the world.”

Sin #2: Loss of Evangelistic Passion

It is no surprise that declining and dying churches have little evangelistic passion. In my January/February ’05 Outreach column, I highlighted one of the major reasons for evangelistic apathy: Many senior pastors either don’t have or have lost their evangelistic passion. Congregations tend to follow the passions and visions of those in key leadership positions, particularly the pastor.

Sin #3: Failure to Be Relevant

Unfortunately, many churches in America are out of touch with the changing trends and values of today’s culture.

Some churches, for certain, abandon many of the cardinal truths of the faith in their quest to be relevant to the community they serve. But even more churches are woefully unaware of the realities, hopes, and pains of those around us. Failure to be true to doctrines of the Christian faith leads to apostasy. Failure to understand the world in which we live and serve leads to irrelevancy.

Sin #4: Few Outwardly-Focused Ministries

In a recent survey of churches across America, we found that nearly 95% of the churches’ ministries were for the members alone. Indeed, many churches had no ministries for those outside the congregation.

Many churches seem to exist only for themselves. While there certainly should be ministry available for church members, often the balance between external and internal ministries is heavily skewed toward internal. When churches seek to care and minister only to their own, it’s a likely sign that decline is in motion and that death may be imminent.

Sin #5: Conflict over Personal Preferences

Some of the more vicious internal battles in congregations today are not fights over defending the great truths of the Christian faith. Instead, members have conflict over their preferred worship style, the way a room is painted or carpeted, and the type of pulpit the preacher uses. Battles like these are sure signs that members are more concerned about their needs than the needs of the hurting and unchurched people who live and work next to them.

Sin #6: The Priority of Comfort

A few years ago, my youngest son, Jess, was a high school senior on the football team. Because he gave so much of himself in the Friday night game, he often slept late on Saturdays. Around noon, he’d trudge down the stairs, turn on the television in the family room, and collapse on the sofa.

One Saturday, I passed him as his extended body contorted on the sofa and noticed that my football player son was watching HGTV. Curious, I asked Jess why he was watching a home and gardening show. His response was classic—“’cause the remote is broken.”

Many churches are in definitive patterns of decline because church members simply will not move beyond their couches of comfort. It’s much easier to do things the way we’ve always done them, rather than to get uncomfortable in the world outside the walls of the church.

Sin #7: Biblical Illiteracy

Only 3% of churches in America have a planned method of instructing their members to learn the Bible in its entirety. While studying the Bible shouldn’t be limited to a church setting, it’s imperative that churches take the lead in these types of endeavors.

When only three of 100 churches even attempt to provide a way for their members to understand Genesis to Revelation, biblical illiteracy is likely to occur. And biblical illiteracy means that our churches may not be obedient to the calls of Scripture because they don’t know what the Bible says.

Lights in the darkness?

Our research shows that many churches in America are sick, declining, and dying. Still, I remain an obnoxious optimist about the American Church. I’ve seen many churches reject the darkness of these seven sins and do something about their decline. They’re truly lights in the darkness.

I recently concluded a one-year consultation with a church that had seen a reversal of almost all the negative trends in its congregation. The pastor summed up the experience well: “We were not lacking in resources or know-how; we were just lacking in obedience. When we made a decision that mediocrity and complacency would not be acceptable, God began to bless us. It is just that simple.”

Great Prayer Times in Small Groups

By

Toni Ridgaway

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November 1, 2020

7 Ways for a Husband to Encourage His Wife

By

Ron Edmondson

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October 31, 2020

I’m not a perfect husband.

I would write that 100 times, but I think you get the message and I’d probably lose most of you at number 17. That’s the average number of times you’ll read the same thing. (Of course, I just made that up.)

But, I want it clear up front, I’m not a perfect husband.

I have learned a few things and I do want to be a better husband. I know, for example, part of my happiness is found in Cheryl being happy. I love my wife enough I want her to be happy. I think most husbands would agree with this statement. If not, it’s time to get outside help for the marriage.

Obviously, I can’t control all the things that happen in a day for her. I can’t stop people from being rude to her as she drives to work. I can’t keep the co-worker who is having a bad day from taking her bad day out on Cheryl. I can’t stop the pressures and stress Cheryl will encounter by being a pastor’s wife or by being a friend, mother, daughter or sister.

All I can control is the way I respond to Cheryl and the things I do to encourage her happiness. I do believe—as I read Scripture—just as I strategically think for my ministry, I should strategically think how to encourage my wife. It’s part of loving my wife as Christ loves the church.

Obviously a wife wants to know she’s loved, that you believe in her and respect her, and that we are committed long-term to the relationship. But, what are some practical ways to show this on a continual basis? Allow me to offer a few suggestions.

Here are seven ways I try to encourage Cheryl:

Send flowers—when they aren’t expected.

This seems so trivial, but I honestly have to remind myself to do this. Flowers on a special occasion are nice, but I have found the ones she enjoys the most are sent on the days she’s not looking for flowers. This could be something besides flowers if your wife isn’t into flowers much, but I’ve also discovered many of the practically minded women who say they don’t want flowers actually love receiving them occasionally.

Reserve a day—just for her.

I try to do this every Saturday. I let few things interrupt this day and none without consulting with Cheryl first. You may not be able to do this once a week and it may not be for a full day, but it should be consistent enough she can anticipate it. I think it’s great if these are placed on the calendar and trump other interruptions. (There are always emergencies, but as much as possible keep them. Plus, some things we claim as emergencies could actually be delegated to someone else.) During the times when life is most stressful and you are pulled in different directions, these reserved times give her something to look forward to and remind her you’ll be able to “catch up” soon.

Give a gift that keeps on giving.

This idea is brilliant, I must admit. I love to give a gift that takes a while to receive. When the boys were at home and getting away was more difficult, I would give Cheryl a trip for Christmas every year. We would take the trip in May. I would usually pick a location, request brochures and give them to her as her “big” gift at Christmas. We had months to plan for it, which built positive emotions leading up to the trip and then anticipating the next Christmas trip. (Plus, many of these expenses were paid outside the Christmas spending frenzy, which helped our budget.) We are more flexible with our schedule since the boys have moved out, but I still try to keep something planned ahead for Cheryl to look forward to in the future. These are huge boosts on otherwise cloudy days.

How to Overcome Election Fatigue

By

Adam Russell

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October 31, 2020

Can I just say I am completely worn out with politics in America?

I’m tired of the banter. I’m tired of the insincere promises. I’m tired of the way each side demonizes the other. Honestly, and perhaps this is just the cynic in me, it seems like politics is a game where everyone loses, where the goal is to somehow work to lose a bit less than the “other side.”

I recently wrote another politically charged blog.

It was zesty. It was snarky. It was a bit funny. It was sharp. I would even go so far as to say it had prophetic edge.

But at the same time it was pretty angry, and I’m not confident in my character enough to be able to call it “righteous anger”—so I deleted it. All of it. An hour and a half of typing gone with one keystroke.

Yet here I am again today, writing about politics.

I’ve tried to let as much of the venom go as I possibly can, but forgive me, I’m sure there’s still some there.

Here’s what I want to say to the Church and to believers in this election season—three things specifically:

The kingdom of heaven is neither Republican nor Democrat.

God hasn’t chosen sides. He loves both sides, the red and blue states, and in a very real way he is opposed to both parties and their agendas.

Make no mistake: When the Lord Jesus returns, with his kingdom in tow, he isn’t coming to assume the nomination from this party or that party. No! His kingdom will come, and it will pierce men’s hearts like a sword. His coming, rather than affirming all our political notions, will pierce them.

He will be the King, and he will establish an order never yet seen on the earth.

The Founder of IF Gathering Responds to Jen Hatmaker’s Comments on Same-Sex Marriage

By

Jennie Allen

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October 31, 2020

*This article originally appeared on JennieAllen.com. Used by permission.

This week my dear friend Jen answered an important question in an Internet article:

“Do you think a homosexual relationship could ever be holy?”

She responded, “I do.” And, not surprisingly, my phone and inboxes started to blow up.

Many want me to issue a statement, because their local churches around the world have entrusted us with their women. I have a few drafts open on my computer, but this is so much more than a statement for me. This is not about some “Christian celebrity” out there, this is my friend whom I have logged a lot of life with—including hours over the past many months about this very topic. While we disagree on this important issue, Jen and I love each other and agree on so many things. Jen speaking at IF Gathering isn’t even on the table, because she took herself out of IF many months ago for reasons that are her own.

Concerning where IF and I land here: Nothing has changed. I lean on 2,000 years of church history and we continue to hold an orthodox view of marriage. Our commitment to Scripture is a guiding value: We believe the God of the Universe reveals and defines Himself through His Word. We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, are verbally inspired by God, fully trustworthy and of supreme and final authority in what they say. (Including in regards to sexual ethics.)

And guess what? If you disagree with that or if you have yet to land on the above statement—we are also deeply committed to building a safe place for you and all people to come and experience and know Jesus and consider Him. All people are welcome at IF—I just want to be clear that from the stage we are giving you the Bible and Jesus when you come.

What the above sentences don’t say is that each time I attempted to write a “statement,” I cried, eventually falling asleep because I was physically exhausted trying to put down words that might be used to drive a relational wedge between me and someone I love so dearly and hurt members of the LGBTQ community, many who are friends.

IF exists because Jesus’ invitation to us is not “clean up your life, then you can come to me.” We all bring something different to the table, and we allow Jesus to meet with us where we are, transform us and follow where He leads.

When IF began three years ago, I believed the way through for us would always be to keep things SIMPLE and PURE. Humbly focus on the BIBLE and JESUS. We would hold tightly to the Nicene Creed which has defined orthodoxy for nearly 2,000 years. See, we aren’t the local church and so we didn’t have to speak into every topic…this would not be a time to gather around the issues, this would be a place to gather around Jesus.

Was it naive? You bet.

Except that three years later, I see it happening…online in Facebook groups, in cities where 20-30 churches are coming together, at dinner tables over a meal and intentional honest conversations, and this past February over a million women gathered from nearly every denomination in Christendom and in over 125 countries around Christ. You see, even in the messiness of it all I’m more convinced than ever that God is using our humble offerings of tools and experiences for women to grow as disciples and make disciples.

And none of that has changed.

Church, this issue of homosexuality is a difficult one for us right now, and it’s not because the Bible is not clear on the issue. The difficulty is because it is not an issue—it is people. And people we love.

It is requiring something we are not well practiced in—holding the tensions of grace and truth.

We have a decent amount of practice with grace. We have more practice dumping “truth” everywhere, but mixing the two together feels so impossible we usually just choose one. Jesus was described as “full of grace and truth” (Jn.1:14).

This isn’t easy. Most of God’s callings on my life actually require God in my life.

He didn’t build us to hold all the tensions and live them out perfectly. I want to say this clearly: Friends, in some way we all are getting this wrong.

We’re getting this wrong, because we aren’t Jesus. But we do have Jesus. We have this model of a man so radically willing to lay His life down for others, He did so. He walked with all types of people, in grace and truth, and used less words than we do. And we have His Word and His Spirit in us to help us do the same.

I’ve got enough planks in my eye to keep me busy for my short years here.

I have seen hate rise up in my heart toward someone else.

I have chosen comfort rather than fighting injustice.

I have lived out of fear of man instead of fear of God.

I have wanted to be understood rather than seeking to understand.

I have shrunk back when I should have stood up.

I have stood up when I should have shut up.

Yet, I also have tasted the depths of Jesus’ great and unending love for me.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5

That is who IF:Gathering is and that is who we will remain—if you are a sinner in need of grace, if you are someone tired of the division, if you are someone craving God and a sisterhood to follow Him with…come on. You are welcome here.

Church—I don’t know how we navigate all of this perfectly today…but I do know how it turns out forever. Those who have put their faith in Jesus—we do life together for the rest of eternity.

So, where we can all agree: Let’s do better here.

Let’s remember we are talking about people’s lives.

Let’s seek to understand.

Let’s please stop demonizing each other no matter where they fall.

Let’s lean on Jesus more than we ever have, to hold these tensions more graciously, and let’s hold to God’s Word as we do.

Let’s confess our own sin rather than sitting on the Internet speaking up about everyone else’s.

I believe in us, church.

We Need Some Psalm 145 in Our Churches

By

Christina Embree

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October 31, 2020

We Need Some Psalm 145 in Our Churches

I love to cook. It’s one of my favorite activities to relieve stress and be creative. I love watching all the random ingredients come together and create a delicious dish that can be shared with people I love.

I think I got this particular love of cooking and sharing what I cooked from my grandmother. As a child, we used to go over her house once a week for dinner and it was simply the best.

We’d walk in the door and our noses would be met with the most sumptuous smells of roast beef and mashed potatoes or homemade spaghetti and meatballs or breaded pork chops and macaroni and cheese. I would love to pull up a chair or stool and watch her cook, listening to her explain why she was washing the lettuce and laying it out on paper towels to dry or watching her dump salt into her hand to “measure” it for seasoning our meal.

As I got older and began cooking for myself, I would pull out her recipes or call her on the phone to find out what I needed to do, or more often, explain what I did wrong. She passed away about 10 years ago, but to this day, when I am in the kitchen, I hear Grandma’s voice in my ear telling me what to do.

She passed so much more on to me than cooking.

She passed along a passion to love others through food, a desire to serve others by giving of herself in a meal. She taught me how to love flavor and enjoy seasoning. She offered me joy and renewal in a kitchen. We talked there. We played there. We laughed there. To this day, the kitchen is a safe place for me.

I cannot help but think of this when I read these verses in Psalm 145:3-7

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

PSALM 145:3-7

Isn’t that just the most beautiful picture? One generation commending the works of God to another, telling of the goodness and power of God and celebrating Him in front of the next generation.

Imagine it with me; close your eyes and picture a multigenerational group of people speaking to one another about the goodness of God.

Like how God provided for the family back in 1942 when times were tough and things looked bleak.

Like how God helped with a test when nerves were at an all time high.

Like how God shows himself in the sunrise when the world comes alive and how God comforts us in the thunderstorm and keeps us safe when we are scared.

Like that time there was a car accident but we walked away unharmed or that time when the bully at school was being mean but someone else stood up and defended us.

This is what happens when all ages celebrate God’s abundant goodness and joyfully sing of His righteousness as they stand together in church or they pray together for a miracle or they work together to serve others who are in need. We share our stories. We share our lives.

Why is it so important that a 9 year old needs to be hanging out with a 90 year old in church?

It’s not so they can share a laugh over the latest meme or discuss medications. It’s not the things we think are needed for common ground like shared life experiences or familiar hobbies or activities. No, it’s for a much deeper reasons than that. It’s so that one generation can commend God’s works to another and tell of His mighty acts.

You see, the things that bind us together, the things of the Lord, are not dependent on our generational experience, they are dependent on God!

Our faith is passed not by a program or a church service or a book that we read but in relationship with one another where we know each other’s names and stories and we share the goodness of God with each other.

It’s not about programming or events or activities, although we may use those. It’s about Jesus! Here are a few examples:

Praying for each other supersedes all generational barriers. Intercessory prayer, praying for other people, doesn’t rely on age at all. We can all pray for one another, regardless of generation.

Service is another area that doesn’t rely on age. We can gather around mission and serve together no matter our age. What is our church’s vision and mission? That mission is not age-bound. In fact, the mission of the church needs to be age-encompassing because the people we desire to reach with God’s love are all ages.

Worship is another place we can gather together. Now, when I say worship, a lot of people hear “singing” or “songs” or “style”. That’s not worship. Those are ways to worship. Worship is turning our attention to God in honor and praise. And that knows no generational bounds. In fact that is where we started today “One generation to another!” It doesn’t saying “Older generation to younger generation”. It says “One generation to another!” We need to listen to each other worship God and worship Him together.

I firmly believe that if we want to see Psalm 145 be a reality in our churches, if we really want to see our church family grow together and our younger generations stay faithful to Jesus, we are going to have to find ways to come together, in community, and be the church across generations – From One Generation to Another!

This article originally appeared here.

There Is No Excuse

By

Paul David Tripp

-

October 31, 2020

There Is No Excuse

The Bible has much to say about the consequences of your desires, thoughts, choices, words, and actions. Both in this life and the life to come, what you do matters.

“Those who make them [idols] become like them; so do all who trust in them.” Psalm 115:8
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Galatians 6:7
“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
“[God] has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed.” Acts 17:31
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10

We cannot escape this subject in the Word of God. The Bible clearly and repeatedly warns us so that each of us is without excuse.

First, every day each of us harvests what we previously planted, and we sow what we will someday reap. God knows that what we are now experiencing is directly connected to the actions we have taken.

Second, all who have ever lived will stand before the throne of God and give an account for the way they have lived. We all will hear God’s final proclamation of the place of our eternal destiny.

Yes, the Bible has much to say about love, forgiveness, joy, life, and light, but we must never ignore the dark side of the consequences and penalties for unrepentant spiritual adultery.

You might be reading this and think, “Well, that’s not a very comforting devotional, Paul!” But it is! By providing us with clear teaching about consequences and judgment, God both warns and comforts us.

In many ways, the Bible functions as a moral alarm system, screeching and flashing louder than all the seductive voices that woo us into spiritual infidelity and rebellion. You and I need constant, powerful reminders that we do not live in an open universe where anything we desire is possible and potentially beneficial.

This alarm system in the Word of God should be our most immense comfort. How? Because by warning us, God is repeatedly extending his unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace to us, even though we are disloyal to him!

If all God wanted to do was judge us, he wouldn’t warn us first—he would immediately convict us. Whenever the Lord announces his judgment, he offers us one more chance to listen, see, confess, repent, and accept his righteousness.

Take great comfort in knowing that God keeps an accurate, eternal record. Ultimately, the universe will be just because God is just. The final judgment assures us that Christ will settle all accounts, and will right every wrong. And take comfort that once more, Scripture has warned and reminded us.

Forgiving grace is a necessity, and an eternal home with the Lord is a precious gift. Both have been offered to us freely. The One who provides these gifts is simultaneously a righteous Judge and a tender Savior. He will not forsake his moral requirement to deliver his mercy, and he will not forsake his mercy to be a Judge.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Consider a past idol that, by grace, God has liberated you from serving. Looking back, how had you become like the idol that you worshipped?

2. What are you currently reaping in a relationship that you previously sowed? Consider both a healthy and unhealthy harvest. What desires, words, and actions led to where the relationship is today?

3. Has someone sinned against you and gotten away with it? Have you made decisions with integrity that get overlooked while others making immoral decisions appear to prosper? How does the final judgment speak to your injustice?

4. How frequently do you think about the consequences before you act? How often do you meditate on the final judgment that is to come? What would change in your life if you considered those five (and other) Bible verses more?

5. Do you tend to avoid or minimize the topics of condemnation, judgment, and hell when speaking with unbelievers? How can you boldly present this dark reality with comfort and hope, without neglecting its weight and truth?

This content was originally posted by Paul Tripp on www.paultripp.com

7 Ways to Respond to a Lazy Co-Worker

By

Ron Edmondson

-

October 30, 2020

I’ve always valued hard work and usually resented lazy workers.

There. I said it. I have a bias against laziness.

I started working when I was 12 years old in a grocery store. I worked hard, gained the recognition of my managers and was rewarded with all the hours I wanted to work. The store was a revolving door of workers, it seemed. I worked with some much older than me who didn’t last long because they really didn’t want to work. They wanted to sneak into the break room and have a coke or take an extraordinary amount of time taking the trash out each night.

Please understand, I’m not talking about people who protect their family time (I do that) or people who work smart so they can enjoy life (I try to do that too). I’m also not talking about people who honestly want to work, but can’t for legitimate health reasons.

I’m talking about people who are lazy. People who don’t want to work. They often have a job, but give far less than their best to it. They want a paycheck, they want to eat well, but they don’t really want to earn their pay.

(I told you I’ve usually resented people like this. Can you tell?!)

Something even more frustrating—if you are in a equal position to a lazy person, and you are not their leader and no one seems to do anything about it. You feel taken advantage of because of your hard work.

Not long ago I was stopped at a conference and asked if I saw laziness as a problem on church staffs. The questioner is in a large church where most of the staff work extremely hard, but a few barely get their work done. They are, in his opinion, lazy—and seem to get by with it. He wanted to know if this was unusual.

Of course, I assured this frustrated person, lazy people exist in every field. Wherever you find people, you’ll encounter problems with people. Churches are places where people work, so some of the same problems that exist outside the church exist inside the church.

His real question, however, was, “What should he do?” I shared a few thoughts and told him to read for a post to follow.

Here are seven ways to treat lazy people:

Make sure it’s not a perception problem.

Make sure you aren’t confusing a different work style with laziness. Make sure you aren’t lumping your overachiever mindset on them. People approach work differently. This is not always laziness. It could be they’ve found a way to work smarter and more efficiently. Look at the person’s performance based on results, not based on style.

NC County Closes Church After 6 Die, 181 Positive for COVID-19

By

Jessica Lea

-

October 30, 2020

Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris has ordered a church in Charlotte, North Carolina, to close for two weeks after at least six people have died in connection with a COVID-19 outbreak linked to the church. In addition to those deaths, there have been 181 positive cases and 10 hospitalizations (including some people who were put on ventilators) connected to a convocation The United House of Prayer for All People (UHOP) held from Oct. 4 through Oct. 11.

“It’s hurtful, painful and on top of it, it’s embarrassing,” a church member who wished to remain anonymous told WCNC News. “It’s almost like a betrayal especially moving the fact that they moved forward with it given the fact that many people in the church disagreed.”

Another member who did not wish to give his name also said there were church members who disagreed with the October convocation taking place. “There were other outbreaks and there were a lot of deaths within the church already,” he said. “It’s sad, the fact that people already died and you’re going forward and just stepping over their bodies like their life didn’t matter.”

Mecklenburg County Gets UHOP’s Attention

An estimated 1,000 people from different states attended UHOP’s October convocation, which members say was the culmination of 12 weeks of events the church held at different locations along the east coast beginning in July. The church members who spoke to WCNC said that UHOP began to see COVID-19 outbreaks during that time period, but the church’s leadership continued with the convocations anyway.

A cluster of 19 COVID-19 cases has also broken out in Madison Saints Paradise South Senior Living, an assisted living facility in Charlotte that UHOP owns. According to WSOCTV, this cluster is connected to the October convocation outbreak, which has led to the largest COVID-19 outbreak the county has seen.

Mecklenburg County issued an abatement order on Oct. 24, right before UHOP was planning to hold a week-long revival. The order states that through November 5, all of the church’s locations within the county are prohibited from meeting in gatherings of more than 10 people. WCNC noted that the church has locations outside of Mecklenburg County, where the abatement order was issued, so it is possible that members are traveling to worship at those locations while the order is in place.

The county later amended the abatement order following cooperation from the church.

Mecklenburg County has issued an amended and modified abatement order for United House of Prayer. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/tqQV0WUhru

— Michael Stolp (@StolpWSOC9) October 30, 2020

According to the order, on Oct. 28 UHOP head bishop C.M. Bailey sent a memo to pastors and church members in the county “reiterating previous messages urging church members” to follow COVID-19 safety precautions. These include wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and staying home if they feel unwell. The order also says that since the abatement order was issued, the church has cooperated with Mecklenburg County and the public health department by reviewing and implementing safety precautions.

Under an agreement reached by County Manager Dena Diorio and the church’s legal counsel, UHOP will be allowed to open if the church follows the specific safety limits the county has outlined, such as posting signage, having staff monitor attendance limits, and putting up hand sanitizing stations. Public health staff will also visit the church to review how well UHOP is implementing those precautions.

Diorio said, “The church initially did not cooperate with county officials at the beginning of the outbreak. If church officials did communicate with the county, there would not have been an order issued. The lack of cooperation was what forced officials to take that step, and now the county has the church’s attention.”

An undated statement on the church’s homepage says, “Please observe social distancing, mask wearing, sanitizing and all other health and safety rules.” However, UHOP church members told WCNC that previously, church leaders have encouraged them to ignore state and county COVID-19 guidelines. In a June 9 letter that two church members sent to WCNC, Bailey said, “I am writing because I am concerned about whether or not those of you who can come to service are coming to service in the House of Prayer. I know there are restrictions Statewide and City wide that you must comply with; even though, I still expect you to come when you can.”

Church: California City Violated Its Rights During Pandemic

By

AP News

-

October 30, 2020

In a photo provided by Word Aflame Ministries, people are outdoors during a service at Word Aflame Tabernacle in La Habra Heights, Calif. The Pentecostal church says the city violated its constitutional rights by harassing it over the way it has held outdoor gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Word Aflame Ministries via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — When other church leaders protested coronavirus shutdown orders, saying they were following the word of the Lord, pastor Joe Garcia said he followed the word of the law.

He held services online for months during coronavirus restrictions and later his Pentecostal flock socially distanced outside the Word Aflame Tabernacle when worship could resume in person. Despite that, he said he’s continuously been harassed by a Southern California city official and a church neighbor who have made false claims that he’s violated public health orders.

Garcia struck back Wednesday in a federal lawsuit against La Habra Heights, City Manager Fabiola Huerta and a man who has repeatedly complained to the city. The lawsuit says they violated the constitutional rights of the church and its leaders.

“They’re just zeroing in on us,” Garcia told The Associated Press on Thursday. “They’re just trying to catch us doing something wrong and we’re not. There’s no case … to build on.”

Many churches across the U.S. have gone to court to challenge public health closures during the pandemic. Those have mainly been against government officials, alleging bans on religious gatherings during shutdown orders violate their First Amendment rights to assemble.

Besides targeting the city, Garcia’s lawsuit sweeps in Juan Garcia, who is not related to him, saying he reported the church to police and health officials, yelled at worshippers and shot photos and video of them. The lawsuit says Huerta supported Juan Garcia’s false accusations and conspired with him to penalize the church.

“They’ve been acting in good faith,” said the church’s attorney, Mariah Gondeiro. “It simply is pure harassment.”

The pastor said he has followed proper social distancing protocols since services were allowed to resume in late May, and no member has become ill.

The lawsuit said Huerta and Juan Garcia have prompted the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to visit the church five times since Aug. 23. The department issued two inspection reports that found the church in compliance with social distancing and mask-wearing, the lawsuit said.

Huerta learned of the lawsuit when contacted by AP and said it “came out of left field” and she couldn’t immediately comment. The city later issued a statement that did not address specific allegations.

Huerta has been spotted hiding in the bushes and in an unmarked car taking video of gatherings, the lawsuit alleged. She called Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies to report that the church was holding indoor services, but the claim was unfounded, the lawsuit said.

The complaints began when Garcia moved services outdoors in late July after a surge in cases statewide led Gov. Gavin Newsom to halt indoor worship.

The city fined the church $3,000 for noise violations, the lawsuit said. It also sent a letter demanding the church cease “noncritical activities such as Bible study and prayer groups” or face a $1,000 fine or up six months in jail.

The city’s statement said it had dismissed all fines for noise violations and was no longer asking the church to cease activities. The city said it had accommodated the church by offering a permit to hold outdoor services as long as it complied with noise limits in residential areas.

Joe Garcia said the church uses a decibel monitor to measure the volume and turns down music if it gets too loud during two services — in Spanish and English — on Sunday.

The pastor said Juan Garcia has never liked members of the Word Aflame Ministries, who rent the Hillcrest Congregational Church across the street from his house in a suburban neighborhood about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles.

Juan Garcia did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

The pastor compared his battle with the neighbor to the biblical story of the underdog David vanquishing the giant Goliath.

“He’s Goliath breathing out threatenings against the children of Israel,” Joe Garcia said. “But we all know what happens at the end of that story … I know it’s going to be a victory for us.”

Brian Melley contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on APNews.com.

Election 2020: Snapshots of the Candidates’ Faith

By

Stephanie Martin

-

October 30, 2020

The year 2020—already one for the record books—makes history again on Tuesday, as American voters choose their next president. During the run-up to the November 3 election, candidates from both major political parties have been sharing their views on key issues such as the pandemic, the economy, health care, and race relations. The candidates’ faith, its impact on their lives, and its role in America’s future has also been featured in the campaign trail talking points.

Here’s a snapshot of what the 2020 candidates say about their own faith, as well as how it impacts their political thinking and decision-making.

President Donald Trump

Republican incumbent Donald Trump, 74, says his parents “taught me the importance of faith and prayer from a young age.” The president was confirmed as a Presbyterian in 1959 and has identified with that faith tradition until very recently, when he told Religion News Service (RNS) he now considers himself “a non-denominational Christian.”

Trump and his wife, Melania, “have gotten to visit some amazing churches and meet with great faith leaders from around the world,” he tells RNS. “During the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak, I tuned into several virtual church services and know that millions of Americans did the same.”

As president, Trump hasn’t joined a congregation in the nation’s capital, and his attendance at worship services has been sporadic. But the commander in chief has surrounded himself with evangelical advisers and receives high marks from pro-life advocates for his conservative judicial appointees. Trump supports Israel and has been a vocal proponent of religious liberties, calling churches “essential” amid coronavirus-related shutdowns.

During the 2016 campaign, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson referred to Trump as a “baby Christian” who “doesn’t know our language.” He also shared that Florida pastor Paula White had recently led Trump to “accept a relationship with Christ.”

The president has sparked heated debate among Christians, partly due to his so-called “character flaws.” While some people of faith say Trump is chosen, or anointed, by God, others accuse him of using churches and the Bible as photo ops.

When asked in 2016 who Jesus is to him, Trump said Jesus is “somebody I can think about for security and confidence. Somebody I can revere in terms of bravery and in terms of courage and, because I consider the Christian religion so important, somebody I can totally rely on in my own mind.”

Presidential Candidate Joe Biden

Democratic candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden, 77, is a lifelong Catholic who says the Church’s social doctrine “taught me that faith without works is dead, and you will know us by what we do.” In his memoir Promises to Keep, Biden describes the importance of religion in his family and community, crediting Catholic principles for his efforts to help poor and working-class people.

Biden regularly attends Mass with his wife, Jill. When referring to personal tragedies he’s suffered, Biden calls his faith “an enormous sense of solace.” Jesus’ greatest commandments—loving God and loving other people—have guided Biden’s political career, he says, adding that faith has “kept me grounded” and “been a guiding light for me.”

While Trump claims a Biden presidency will “hurt God,” the former VP says Trump “doesn’t know what it means to live for or believe in something bigger than himself.”

Tunisian Carrying Quran Fatally Stabs 3 in French Church

By

AP News

-

October 30, 2020

Nice church — Police officers stand guard near Notre Dame church in Nice, southern France, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. An attacker armed with a knife killed at least three people at a church in the Mediterranean city of Nice, prompting the prime minister to announce that France was raising its security alert status to the highest level. It was the third attack in two months in France amid a growing furor in the Muslim world over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad that were re-published by the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. (Eric Gaillard/Pool via AP)

NICE, France (AP) — A young Tunisian man armed with a knife and carrying a copy of the Quran attacked worshippers in a French church and killed three Thursday, prompting the government to raise its security alert to the maximum level hours before a nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

The attack in Mediterranean city of Nice was the third in less than two months that French authorities have attributed to Muslim extremists, including the beheading of a teacher who had shown caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in class after the images were re-published by a satirical newspaper targeted in a 2015 attack.

Thursday’s attacker was seriously wounded by police and hospitalized in life-threatening condition after the killings at the Notre Dame Basilica. The imposing edifice is located half a mile (less than a kilometer) from the site where another attacker plowed a truck into a crowd on France’s national day in 2016, killing dozens.

President Emmanuel Macron said he would immediately increase the number of soldiers deployed to protect schools and religious sites from around 3,000 to 7,000.

France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor said the suspect is a Tunisian born in 1999 who reached the Italian island of Lampedusa, a key landing point for migrants crossing in boats from North Africa, on Sept. 20 and traveled to Bari, a port city in southern Italy, on Oct. 9. Prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard did not specify when he arrived in Nice.

In Tunisia, the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said an investigation was being opened on the “suspected commission of a terrorist crime by a Tunisian … outside national borders,,” the official TAP news agency quoted the prosecutor’s office as saying.

The French prosecutor said the attacker was not on the radar of intelligence agencies as a potential threat.

Video cameras recorded the man entering the Nice train station at 6:47 a.m., where he changed his shoes and turned his coat inside out before heading for the church, some 400 meters away, just before 8:30 a.m.

Ricard said the attacker was carrying a copy of Islam’s holy book and two telephones. A knife with a 17-centimeter blade used in the attack was found near him along with a bag containing another two knives that were not used in the attack.

He had spent some 30 minutes inside the church before police arrived via a side entrance and “after advancing down a corridor they came face-to-face with (the attacker) whom they neutralized,” Ricard said.

Witnesses heard the man crying ”Allahu Akbar” as he advanced on police. Police initially used an electric gun then fired their service revolvers. Ricard said 14 bullet casings were found on the ground.

Nice church attack

1 of 8

12 Ways to Reach Postmoderns With the Gospel

By

Nicholas McDonald

-

October 29, 2020

In a world driven by emotion and experience, it can feel discouraging to hold in our hands the timeless truth of the gospel.

It need not be—there are multitudinous ways to communicate Jesus Christ in a postmodern culture, but here are 12 I feel the church especially needs to focus on in the decades ahead:

1. The rhetoric of logic.

“Logic!” said the professor, half to himself. “Why don’t they teach logic at these schools?” So writes C.S. Lewis, a man born bristling against logical exactitude, but who would later credit his tutor with forcing him to back up every phrase with a logical argument.

In a society that doesn’t think about how to think, Christians have a distinct advantage: We believe in the inherent logic of the universe of a reasonable God, and so have impetus to understand and use the laws of logic for ourselves.

2. The rhetoric of story.

Ninety percent of scripture is story; is 90 percent of preaching?

I’ll never forget reading secular mythologist Joseph Campbell’s musings on religion and how the power of story has been lost in the church. “If only they knew the power they held right at their fingertips!” he exclaimed.

The church—the preserver of story—has somehow sacrificed the ability to tell the story with a desire to chop it up and dish it out in bite-sized chunks. We need to recover the ability to be story-tellers; to spin a tale more true and tantalizing than the world’s story of, “Be educated, work, have a family, die and be yourself.”

3. The rhetoric of holiness.

Martyn Lloyd Jones remarks in his book The Sermon on the Mount that if Christians would simply recover Jesus’ path of holiness laid out in those words, the church would set the world ablaze with the love of God.

Because we’ve divorced salvation from sanctification, and have preached a gospel of “cheap grace,” we’ve lost the beauty of holiness that is so essential to communicate the rigor and life of the gospel.

How to Host Your First Small Group Meeting

By

Eddie Mosley

-

October 29, 2020

You agreed to host a small group for the first time in your life. Oh, sure you have been in a Bible study before and participated in several group conversations. But now you are asking, “What should I expect as the leader?” Here is a list of expectations or activities that will help calm your nerves concerning your first meeting:

1. Know your church’s small-group objectives: “What is this group designed to accomplish?” For LifePoint those are Discipleship, Community and Service. Of course your group won’t do all of these the first week, but over time you are leading this group to be more like Christ after the six weeks than they are today. You want to build relationships that foster transparency and accountability. And you watch for opportunities to serve each other, at church and in your community.

2. Be comfortable with silence: You have a new group, and they are not yet comfortable with each other. Or maybe the material is new to them, or maybe they did not read their daily Scripture. Either way, know your first few meetings may have more silence than you were expecting.

3. Affirm people: Call them by name (name tags?), pat them on the back, encourage each participant. When affirmation happens, relationships deepen.

4. Read through list of agreements: Having a covenant will help eliminate about 80 percent of the problems groups encounter. Read through a list with each participant present. Discuss any question they may have, and agree as a group to live for the next six weeks in agreement on what this group is about and hope to accomplish.

5. Pray by name for each member before the meeting: Ask God to give you the words to say, how to react to the conversation that may take place in the meeting and for him to bless each member as they prepare for small group.

Know God will equip you as needed for the task he has called you to do.

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Don’t Make These Killer Communication Mistakes

By

Mark Howell

-

October 29, 2020

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw

I have a love/hate relationship with Shaw’s line. I love the simple truth in it.

And … I hate the simple truth in it.

One of the greatest inhibitors of effective ministry is poor (or less than great) communication.

Here are six very common mistakes:

1. We assume that everyone already knows.

As infrequent attendance becomes more and more common, our assumption needs to be that everyone doesn’t already know. This is why I’ve suggested that we need to make the host ask several weeks in a row.

2. We try to explain detailed information in the wrong settings.

Some things need a more thorough explanation. Detail can be provided in a well written FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) document. Here’s an example of a Host FAQ.

3. We try to automate too much communication.

Some things need a personal touch. I hand out a lot of business cards and say, “Call me. Let’s talk about it.”

No matter the size of your ministry, personalizing some communication is just good practice. I’ve pointed out this little detail before. See also, The Teeny Tiny Detail at the Bottom of This Saddleback Web Page.

4. We manufacture enthusiasm, and it doesn’t fool anyone.

This is a central issue in communication. When the communicator isn’t truly enthused about the program or event … everyone can sense it. If the communicator isn’t enthused, either you have the wrong communicator or the wrong program.

5. We communicate only the what (or the how), but not the why.

This is a very important understanding. When all we do is explain what we’re doing or how we’re doing it, we miss the most important aspect … the why behind it. Why is the most effective persuader/influencer. See also, Wrestling With Why.

6. We limit communication to an information/data exchange.

Like it or not, wired for it or not, there are many in your crowd who primarily respond to passion or emotion. If all we do is communicate the facts, we miss this group.

Conversely, there are some that are wired to respond to the facts. If all we do is make emotional appeals, we miss this group. Balance is essential.

What do you think?

Have a question? Want to argue?

Grudem Responds to Piper: Policies Take Priority Over Character Flaws This Election

By

Megan Briggs

-

October 29, 2020

Theologian, author, and seminary professor Wayne Grudem has written a lengthy response to John Piper’s commentary on the 2020 election. Last week, in a rare commentary about this year’s political election and its candidates, Piper wrote he is “baffled that so many Christians consider the sins of unrepentant sexual immorality (porneia), unrepentant boastfulness (alazoneia), unrepentant vulgarity (aischrologia), unrepentant factiousness (dichostasiai), and the like, to be only toxic for our nation, while policies that endorse baby-killing, sex-switching, freedom-limiting, and socialistic overreach are viewed as deadly.”

Grudem, who identifies Piper as a friend, disagrees with Piper’s conclusion that when considering which candidate to vote for this year, a candidate’s character issues (specifically, unrepentant sin) should be weighed to the same degree (perhaps even greater) as that of a candidate’s policy positions. Grudem, who said he’s already voted to re-elect President Trump, believes that considering the two candidates both have “character flaws,” it’s policy that has primary importance in this election.

Grudem breaks Piper’s thoughts into four main points and then provides his own response to Piper’s words. At the end of his lengthy article, Grudem says that he had sent a draft to Piper and that Piper had given Grudem his blessing, Piper said that Grudem had “represented him fairly” and even gave Grudem advice for how to make one of his points stronger.

Below, we’ve summarized Grudem’s response to Piper’s comments. To read Grudem’s full article, see here. To read Piper’s original article, see here.

Piper’s Claim #1: “The personal sins of a leader can be as harmful to persons and to nations as morally evil laws.”

Piper wrote, “When a leader models self-absorbed, self-exalting boastfulness, he models the most deadly behavior in the world. He points his nation to destruction. Destruction of more kinds than we can imagine. It is naive to think that a man can be effectively pro-life and manifest consistently the character traits that lead to death — temporal and eternal.”

Grudem says there is a big difference in influence between a leader’s example and “laws that compel obedience.” The problem with Piper’s argument on this point, Grudem believes, is that it “fails to recognize that people can decide not to imitate the sins of a leader, but they cannot do that with laws.”

Additionally, Grudem believes Trump’s character is not leading the country down a morally bankrupt path. Grudem says he doesn’t know a single Christian or Christian leader who has been compelled to follow Trump’s lead of adultery or boasting due to his example.

Grudem also contends that Trump has good character qualities, too. For instance, Grudem points to Trump’s “courage of convictions,” “steadfastness of purpose,” “incredible energy,” and “faithfulness to his campaign promises.” Grudem even indicates Trump might have turned a corner concerning his past sexual impropriety when he says the leader has displayed “not even a hint of any sexual impropriety” while he’s been in office. Additionally, while Piper emphasized Trump’s arrogance and boastfulness, Grudem characterizes Trump as only “sometimes boastful.”

“With Trump, we will get good policies and character flaws, but with Biden we will get bad policies and character flaws,” Grudem argues. He then goes on to address Biden’s flaws, which he believes include his alleged use of “his government office and influence to enrich members of his own family with millions of dollars from China, Russia, and Ukraine.” Grudem did not address any of the allegations that Trump has also used his office for gain in his own personal interests.

Grudem also points out that Trump has elevated many evangelicals into positions of influence: Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Ben Carson, Betsy DeVos, Russell Vought. He’s also elevated “deeply committed Roman Catholics” like Amy Coney Barrett.

Hillsong Church Announces an Atlanta Location and Its First African American Lead Pastors

By

Emily McFarlan Miller

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October 29, 2020

(RNS) — Sam Collier remembers meeting Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement this summer.

People were marching in the streets, some rioting, and Collier said Houston told him it was time. Hillsong wanted to be part of changing the narrative and changing the world.

And, Houston said, he wanted Collier to be part of that work.

Since then, the global megachurch has announced Sam Collier and his wife, Toni Collier, as the church’s first African American lead pastors.

“Together, I think something special is going to happen by the grace of God,” Sam Collier told Religion News Service.

The Colliers are launching Hillsong Atlanta, the church’s first location in the Southeastern United States. Other U.S. locations include Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, several California campuses and Hillsong East Coast, which encompasses New York, New Jersey, Boston and Connecticut.

Pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston founded Hillsong Church in 1983 in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia. It now has locations in 28 countries around the world and, pre-pandemic, saw an average 150,000 attenders each week, according to its website.

Hillsong is also known for its popular worship music and conferences.

In a video introducing the new church on Hillsong’s website, Sam Collier pointed out the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthplace and the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church that King pastored, both in Atlanta.

“It’s interesting that we’re planting a church in the birthplace of civil rights,” he said.

Collier, founder of A Greater Story Ministries, grew up in Atlanta, where his dad was a pastor. He got his start in ministry at Ebenezer and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, both predominantly Black churches in the city.

United Methodist’s 2021 General Conference Could Split the Denomination—It May Also Have to Be Virtual

By

Heather Hahn

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October 29, 2020

With no end in sight to the deadly pandemic, a number of United Methodist leaders are urging that General Conference be virtual—if it’s to be held at all next year.

Others worry such an option is impractical and possibly unjust for an international meeting that typically lasts 10 days and draws nearly 900 delegates from across four continents and 13 time zones.

The stakes are high. The coming General Conference faces multiple proposals to resolve longtime debate over homosexuality by splitting the denomination along theological lines.

The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly was set for May this year until the spread of COVID-19 caused the meeting’s Minneapolis venue to cancel. Organizers have postponed the meeting to Aug. 29-Sept. 7, 2021 and kept it in Minneapolis.

Even that delay might not be enough, given the disease’s current menace. U.S. coronavirus case numbers are climbing across the country, and more than a dozen states have recently set record highs for COVID-19 hospitalizations.

“Many gatherings in the United States, including music festivals and concert series, are being postponed,” said Bishop Ken Carter, who leads the Florida Conference. “We are clearly in a third wave of the pandemic. And timetables for the vaccine and testing are still uncertain.”

Ultimately, the Commission on the General Conference is the body that determines when, where and how the lawmaking assembly takes place. The group’s next meeting is scheduled to be held online in December.

Carter—a former Council of Bishops president—is among multiple leaders encouraging the commission to consider online options.

They include Bishop Bruce Ough, who leads the Minnesota and Dakotas conferences. The conferences have spent years preparing to host the next General Conference. However, with the Minnesota Department of Health limiting gatherings to no more than 250 people, he said, “we have no choice but to be talking about this.”

United Methodist Communications, which has provided technical support for General Conference in the past, has been researching what a virtual event would entail, staff executives said. The agency has not received a request yet for assistance but is ready to be in conversation, they said.

Virtual platforms “are becoming part of our daily bread,” said Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, the current Council of Bishops president and leader of the Louisiana Conference.

“With the proper preparation and training, I believe a General Conference could be held virtually,” Harvey said. “There are new technological developments every day that could make traversing the globe, languages and time zones possible.”

Bishops caution that any online meeting would need a compact agenda.

Paul’s Missionary Strategy

Preach the gospel to all people because Christ died for all people.

“All People” Means You

This article is adapted from Pastor Colin’s sermon, “Gospel Ministry”, from his series, 10 Distinctives of a Gospel-Centered Church.

Paul’s Missionary Strategy

Preach the gospel to all people because Christ died for all people.

“All People” Means You

Sin #1: Doctrine Dilution

Sin #2: Loss of Evangelistic Passion

Sin #3: Failure to Be Relevant

Sin #4: Few Outwardly-Focused Ministries

Sin #5: Conflict over Personal Preferences

Sin #6: The Priority of Comfort

Sin #7: Biblical Illiteracy

Here are seven ways I try to encourage Cheryl:

The kingdom of heaven is neither Republican nor Democrat.

Here are seven ways to treat lazy people:

Mecklenburg County Gets UHOP’s Attention

President Donald Trump

Presidential Candidate Joe Biden

1. The rhetoric of logic.

2. The rhetoric of story.

3. The rhetoric of holiness.

1. We assume that everyone already knows.

2. We try to explain detailed information in the wrong settings.

3. We try to automate too much communication.

4. We manufacture enthusiasm, and it doesn’t fool anyone.

5. We communicate only the what (or the how), but not the why.

6. We limit communication to an information/data exchange.

Piper’s Claim #1: “The personal sins of a leader can be as harmful to persons and to nations as morally evil laws.”

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