The Dark Side of Zoom: FBI Warns Parents of Attacks on New Virtual Classrooms

By

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April 6, 2020

With classrooms and work spaces moving completely online during the COVID-19 crisis, platforms like Zoom have become a must. But federal officials are warning users this week after increased reports of hackers pose a privacy and security threat to users across the country–especially those using the platform as a virtual classroom.

It’s called ‘Zoombombing’ and according to the FBI, hackers are using it to disrupt video conferences with pornographic and/or hate images and threatening language.

Virtual Classroom Becomes Target

In a statement released Monday, the FBI Boston Division cited two recent Zoombombing incidents reported by schools in Massachusetts.

In late March, an unidentified person dialed into a high school teacher’s online class and yelled a profanity, as well as the teacher’s home address.

In a separate instance, also in a Massachusetts teacher’s virtual classroom, an individual who joined the conference call was seen on the video camera displaying swastika tattoos, the FBI said.

And in Orange County, Florida, an unidentified man entered a virtual classroom and exposed himself.

In a statement Thursday, a spokesperson for Zoom said that the company is aware of the FBI’s recent press release and “appreciates all efforts to raise awareness around how to best prevent these kinds of attacks.”

The FBI recommends exercising due-diligence and caution in cybersecurity efforts.

The agency provided the following steps to protect yourself and others from becoming a victim of Zoombombing.

Do not make Zoom meetings or classrooms public.
- In Zoom, there are two options to make a meeting private: require a meeting password or use the waiting room feature and control the admittance of guests.
Do not share a link to a teleconference or classroom on a public social media post.
Provide the link directly to specific people.
Manage screensharing options. In Zoom, change screensharing to “Host Only.”
Ensure users are using the updated version of remote access/meeting applications. In January 2020, Zoom updated their software. In their security update, the teleconference software provider added passwords by default for meetings and disabled the ability to randomly scan for meetings to join.
Lastly, ensure that your organization’s telework policy or guide addresses requirements for physical and information security.

The FBI urges anyone who is a victim of video-teleconference hijacking to report any cyber-crime to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

Christine Caine on Shame: Jesus Came to Shame Our Shame

By

Andrew Hess

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April 6, 2020

Christine Caine on shame: She has a message for all of us. Christine is a lover of Jesus, wife to Nick, and mum to Catie and Sophia. She travels the globe preaching, teaching, and advocating for justice. Powered by hot, extra-dry, skinny, cappuccinos, Christine is a lover of words who speaks too fast, talks too much, and writes it all down. She and her husband Nick founded A21, an anti-human trafficking organization that fights slavery around the globe. Christine has a heart for freeing captives, both physically and spiritually, but ultimately it comes back to her primary focus: building the Church.

Key Questions:

You tell stories in your new book about shame and how did you began to leave shame behind—can you share some of those stories?

How can leaders help the people they lead overcome shame?

What can you say to a woman who may feel her leadership gifts are not being used in her church?

What advice do you have for singles who feel shame over not being married?

Key Quotes:

“Jesus came to shame our shame.”

“You are only ever going to lead to the capacity that your internal world is strong.”

“The more healing we get internally the better leaders we are externally.”

“I had to learn to make what Jesus did for me bigger than what anybody has ever done to me.”

“I think [women] just want to be able to effectively use their gifts in submission, under authority, but they just want their gifts to flourish because that’s the biblical mandate.”

“We are all responsible for bearing fruits—males and females.”

“There are enough women I’ve talked to in the church world that feel they have to dumb themselves down in Christian settings, which I think is so the antithesis of what the Lord would have.”

“I think there’s just something fundamentally wrong when any person, male or female, has to make someone else feel small to make themselves feel big.”

“You are as entirely whole single as you are married.”

“Jesus fulfilled His purpose and His destiny, and He completed the will of the Father and did everything that He was on assignment to do, but He never married.”

Mentioned in the Show:

Unashamed

Propel Women

A21 Campaign

22 Quotes from Christine Cain #Catalyst14 Session 2

Yes You Caine

C.S. Lewis and COVID-19

By

James Emery White

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April 6, 2020

A woman on our staff sent me a C.S. Lewis quote that I had forgotten about that she found meaningful in light of our worldwide pandemic. I’m glad she reminded me of it. Lewis is reflecting on the concern about living in a world that had the atomic bomb at its disposal, and the fresh fear of death and calamity it was bringing.

This C.S. Lewis quote of reflections on that fear are worth reading in light of our present day:

In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. “How are we to live in an atomic age?” I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.”

In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors—anesthetics; but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.

This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.

I find Lewis’ point well taken. Death is a certainty, no matter our current world circumstances. It’s not if, but rather when and how. Living in fear, no matter the age in which we live, is no way to live. It only cheapens the already short life we have and the way it is meant to be lived in light of eternity.

Some have seemingly taken offense to taking Lewis’ words to heart in light of COVID-19, as they were not written about the Coronavirus and were rooted in the 1940s. But that misses the precise point Lewis was making: every era has its challenges. It isn’t about the specifics of our day – whether that be the atomic bomb, medieval plagues or the threat of Viking invasions – but about how to live with threats in general. And yes, social distancing might mitigate against Lewis’ remark about having a pint, but let’s not parse his words in such a way that we miss the forest for the trees.

Live life in light of eternity, not in light of fear,

… and live it fully.

Sources

C.S. Lewis, “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948) in Present Concerns: Journalistic Essays.

Jon Mathieu, “Please Stop Posting That C.S. Lewis Quote,” The Christian Post, March 23, 2020, read online.

This article about this C.S. Lewis quote originally appeared here.

Top Pick for Easter at Home 2020: Easterrific Faith Adventure

By

Dema Kohen

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April 6, 2020

Every Easter, Christian parents have an amazing opportunity to pass to their children the very heartbeat of our faith—teaching them about Jesus’ sacrifice for us, His death on the Cross, and His resurrection. And that is especially true for Easter at Home this year.

If our children can grasp this amazing, mind-blowing part of the Gospel, it has the power to lay a rock solid foundation of faith for them. Jesus overcoming death and rising from the dead is everything! Without the resurrection, we wouldn’t have a living Savior!

It’s easy to put together an Easter basket with bunnies, candy, and eggs and have it ready for our kids when they get up on Easter morning.

However, it’s a little more difficult to engage them in activities that can help bring the truths of Easter to life.

That is exactly why I have created this colorful, action-packed resource for Easter at Home—to provide parents with fun, easy-to-do activities that create meaningful connections with each other and memorable encounters with Jesus.

In this exciting resource, geared specifically toward families with kids from kindergarten through fourth grade, you will find 24 cards. Each card has a mission to complete and a question to discuss.

I know how chaotic life is, so I’ve made all of the challenges as easy as possible for busy families. But at the same time there’s enough depth in these activity cards to help the families stay focused on Jesus in the weeks leading up to Easter.

On the back of every card is a puzzle piece. Once a family completes an activity, they can place the piece in its relevant position. By the end of the Easter season, they will have completed a spring-themed puzzle!

I have packaged this resource as an all-inclusive kit specifically for children’s pastors, family pastors, and nextgen pastors—making sure you get everything you need to offer Easterrific Faith Adventures for Easter at Home to the families in your church and community.

Here’s what you’ll find inside the kit:

Action Cards (ready-to-print PDF)
Action Cards (edit and make your own Publisher file)
Action Cards (edit and make your own Word file)
Envelope design (ready-to-print PDF)
Detailed instructions (for ministry leaders)
Instructions (for parents)
Promo graphics
Easterrific Faith Adventures logo (transparent PNG)
Fonts

The $25 license gives you permission (and all the files) to edit, translate, and print as many copies of this resource as you want for as long as you need to.

INSTANT DOWNLOAD

I guess, I should also add that once the families complete the puzzle, they’ll have one final mission—to find 21 hidden objects.

The Answer Key is also included in the all-inclusive kit.

If for one reason or another your church currently cannot afford the $25 license fee, but you you would like to offer the Easterrific Faith Adventures to the parents in your congregation, press the button below and pay what you can.

Also, if you’re a parent who wants to use this resource just within your family, this is a great option for you too.

PAY WHAT YOU CAN

This article about our top pick for Easter at Home originally appeared here.

5 Ways to Help Your Kids Worship Through Livestream

By

Jesse Johnson

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April 6, 2020

For many families, the shift of churches to livestream worship presents a great opportunity to teach younger children how to sit through a worship service. Of course the goal is that they would do more than sit through it, maybe even actually profit from it, but baby-steps (as they say).

Here is some advice to train littles to join the family for church worship through livestream worship:

One: Talk through the order of service with your kids. Kids thrive on schedules, and we have a pretty standard routine for our services. So have the kids be on the lookout for things like: Scripture reading, congregational singing, pastoral prayer, missionary updates offering, sermon, and benediction. Explain what their purpose is and why they are important. Emphasize that worship is not just the singing on Sunday morning, but all of the elements of the service. (And worship isn’t only the stuff that happens on Sunday morning, but that’s another point for another blog post)

Two: Before the service starts, explain expectations. Are they allowed to get up and leave? What happens if they do? Are they allowed to touch their sisters? What happens if they do? Those kind of questions need clear answers, and with all the stress of disruption of a few weeks of lockdown, they need LOTS and LOTS of GRACE. But kids also do need some clear boundaries to get the most out of this.

Three: Give them something to do during the preaching. Here is a sermon sheet that I’ve found works well with ages 7-10. Give them key words to listen for. If there is PowerPoint used, give them a place to write the points.

Four: Have the kids sing with you during the service. If your church sends out the songs ahead of time, try singing them as part of family worship in the days before church, so that when you do the live-stream, your kids are singing songs they are familiar with. My family lets our kids draw and color during the preaching. My kids have proved that not only can they listen to a sermon and draw, they actually seem to listen better when they are drawing while I’m preaching

Five: After the service, have a debrief time. Go over their sermon sheet. What was the sermon about? Were there commands to obey? Was there something to believe? Have they heard those before? Those kind of questions usually lead to better conversations.

There are two advantages to live-streaming church that make this easier than training children with the real thing. First, you can pause the service to instruct, correct, or discipline. This obviously is not something that can be done in the real thing. Second, you can introduce this with shorter time blocks. If your kids are not familiar with this, have them join for singing, prayer, and then maybe 10 minutes of the sermon. By the time the church lockouts are over, they will have built up the ability to listen to the full sermon and even profit spiritually from it.

It is a parent’s job to train and disciple their children, but it is the church’s job to equip all the saints for the work of the ministry. When you teach your children to sit through church, then to learn from church, and ultimately to spiritually benefit from corporate worship, you are really teaching them that they need the church for their faith. Take advantage of the lockout to do just that.

This article about kids and livestream worship originally appeared here.

Kidmin | Generation iY | Parents

By

Dan Scott

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April 6, 2020

As we continue our discussion on Generation iY, I want to take a look at the family factor. A Facebook friend posted this question on Monday’s post:

“Dan, great discussion. One question would be: How do we engage these parents, who act more like agents and personal assistants, to be the primary influence in their child’s spiritual formation?”

First of all, let me say this. Generation iY kids are very family oriented. When asked, the majority of these kids will say Mom or Dad is their hero. This is a fact that can offer all of us hope for this generation. We all have to engage parents to parent.

Also, if you talk with most parents, they will all tell you with sincerity that they care. They wonder if they are really raising their kids well. I don’t know any parent who wants their kids to end up spoiled, misguided, or confused. But parenting is hard work.

Just Friday I was having a conversation with a fellow staff member at the church. He said point blank, “I never thought parenting would be as difficult as it has been.”

And he’s right. We want our kids to be safe. We want them to love Jesus. We hope they do well in school, have friends, behave in public and have great manners at the diner table. We work really hard at doing all of this, than one morning we hear something from the basement.

“When did they learn that word?!”

Somewhere between the school bus, some show on TV, and my own road rage of course they learned that word.

As parents, it’s too easy to coast. I think we’re all roller-coasters of involvement. It’s no wonder our kids are confused whether to call us friends or parents. But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Parents are called to parent.

Parents have exponentially more time with their kids than we do at the church. How can we spend some of our resources helping parents be the best care-givers they can be?

Here are some principles to guide your ministry with parents:

1. Invite them along for the ride.

We often think that if parents want to know something that they’ll just ask us. Or if they don’t like something that they’ll just tell us. The truth is more like they’ll ask or tell someone else before they talk with us.

How are we inviting parents into the right conversations? We need to seek out their advice on their kids. We need to have their input. We don’t necessarily need to implement everything they suggest; we can’t. We can ask good questions and listen. Remember we partner with them, not the other way around. The more we help parents understand that we’re hear to help them, the more likely they will come to us with a need.

2. Regularly Communicate Vision.

Take every opportunity to share your ministry goals with parents. Do this in ways parents receive information. Most likely, your church bulletin is not that place. How could use social media with parents? Maybe a weekly newsletter will work? How many face-to-face conversations are you having with parents? How about focus groups?

Whatever you choose, keep in mind that you’ll need multiple avenues to communicate the same information. We living in a information-saturated world, most people need to see or hear something at least seven times before they actually hear it.

3. Harness the power of Influence.

You will always have at least one set of parents who are on board with your plan. Inspire them to influence other parents with whom they travel this journey. Many of us can’t know every single parent in our ministries, but we can know several with whom we can partner to help other parents.

Even this week, think of three sets of parents that can be part of a focus group. Share a meal with them and let them help you in this difficult task.

4. Treat parents with respect.

This sounds obvious, but I’m pretty sure we can come across as arrogant sometimes. We may have the plan and the “expertise”, but do we have the grace to deliver it in a way that doesn’t make a parent feel stupid? Truth be told, we don’t have all the answers. Many of us who work in children’s and student ministry don’t have kids in those age groups. We have theory, but we don’t always have hard evidence that what we say will work in the lives of these kids. Collectively the parents in your ministry have more intelligence than we do, let’s all approach them with humility.

5. Training Initiatives.

Many parents just don’t know where to start. Hold training events that help your parents with practical information they can use immediately. They can include content: media, pop culture awareness, Internet awareness, etc. You must also offer opportunities for parents to discuss solutions to the issues they face and give them strategies to help them transform their family for the better.

Before you can create these events, you should know what your families need. Talk to five or ten families and have them list the top five issues or questions they face as parents. Create events that answer specific needs for the families in your church and community.

6. Don’t give up.

Change doesn’t happen overnight. Don’t get discouraged. Keep investing the time into parents. It’s easy to invest into kids. They (usually) respond positively and will love you no matter what. For parents, it’s just gonna take time. Remember, we’re only responsible to be true to our calling and share vision with parents. It’s their choice whether or not they take you up on it. And while you’re not giving up, pray, pray, and pray some more. This is about the Spirit of God working in their lives. Pray that he moves in their hearts and transforms their family.

What would you add to this list? I’d love to hear your ideas!

Without Faith

By

Milan Ford

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April 5, 2020

The conversation began around 11:30pm. And it ended around 4:15am.

About a year or so ago, I decided to stay up late and share with my wife about something rather unusual that was going on inside me. While I could not adequately describe to her what it was, I told her that it felt like it was a combination of extreme restlessness and interestingly enough, a sense of peace.

And then, after hours of emotional rambling, I said these words to my wife: “I feel like I have gone as far as I can possibly go…WITHOUT FAITH.”

I sincerely believe that where many of us are in life today is not actually a testament of our faith in God, but rather a testament of our individual skills and talents. And there (for many of us) lies the problem.

As believers, we tend to exercise our faith only in areas that we have seen God move before. But when it comes to the unknown, our faith remains still. Which as Hebrews 11:6 indicates, is not faith at all.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Sometimes I wonder if we find more security in knowing who we are or have been in times past, than we do in believing who God is. As we enter this final next stretch of the year, many of us have come to the end of some rather long roads in our lives that now require faith to move forward.

As we examine our hearts and lives today, many of us must come to the realization that the skills and talents we so heavily relied on in the past can no longer move us forward. Neither can the resumes (and perhaps associations) we worked so hard to build.

What lies before many of us now is a faith in what seems to be impossible. A faith that fosters a sense of restlessness, yet at the same time, a sense of peace.

May you and I lean hard into that peace today.

Free eBook: “The Weapon of Prayer” by E.M. Bounds

By

Daniel So

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April 5, 2020

eBook - Prayer — Courtesy from Weapon of Prayer

Free eBook

Download this classic work from E.M. Bounds, Purpose in Prayer, in PDF format.

From CCEL, “Why Pray? In his book, The Weapon of Prayer, Edward Bounds states: “The life of the individual believer, his personal salvation, and personal Christian graces have their being, bloom, and fruitage in prayer.” His wisdom has impacted Christ-seekers for decades, and his words are as powerful now as they were in the 1800’s. Bounds reminds us that throughout Biblical history, many of God’s greatest movements were incited by the prayers of God’s people. According to Bounds, prayer must be a priority. Other Christian duties, such as sacred works, communion, and church activities, cannot and should not take the place of prayer. ”

Get Download Now

Resource provided by Christian Classics Ethereal Library

Download Instructions: Follow the on-screen directions at the download site.

Small Groups for the Homeless: Could Your Church Do Them?

By

Andrew Mason

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April 5, 2020

I’m asking the question right now, “What does it look like to minister to the homeless through small groups?”

To assist in exploring this topic, I interviewed Ron Wilbur, pastor of small group health at Saddleback Church in Orange County, California.

Here are seven questions and answers about Small Groups for the homeless…

1. Ron, what has been your experience with small groups for the homeless?

My experience has been planting churches among the homeless and using small groups to support the people in each church. I have been ministering to the homeless for over ten years. Back in 2012, we started the first Motel Church, which has now expanded into many Motel Churches. At this time, we have Motel Churches in seven counties in California and three states all together.

Basically, we go into a rundown motel once a week on a Saturday or Sunday morning. The people staying there are either homeless or barely scraping together enough money to stay there.

We bring in music, a message and breakfast. The message is conversational and interactive. The service almost feels like a small group. We are really clear: We don’t want someone who feels guilty or obligated to respond (because we’re offering breakfast); rather, we want someone who is receiving Christ for the first time. On average, one person makes a decision for Christ and another person makes a recommitment to Christ on a weekly basis.

We give small groups in our church the opportunity to sign up and support a motel church. We’ve seen a lot of growth in the volunteers who serve. People who start off as introverts gradually become extroverted evangelists who are hugging, talking and learning to engage with people.

At the motel church service, we announce the opportunity to join a small group. People can sign up to be a part of the small group on the prayer request cards that are distributed. The small group meets on Wednesdays or Thursdays at the motel in someone’s room or out by the motel pool.

Ideally, there becomes a group experience outside of the motel church service. There are two common challenges…

They’re homeless, so having consistency is a challenge. The motel rooms usually have one bed and one chair and not much else, with five people living in it.
The second challenge is that most have experienced or gained “learned helplessness” (meaning, they have other people do stuff for them). This runs contrary to the “group experience” where everyone participates and contributes.

The essential component to the small group is having a committed leader who will show up and lead the group. It’s squarely on the shoulders of the leader. If they drop the ball, the whole group falls apart.

2. Why have a small groups model for the homeless?

Biblically speaking, every person is called to be in community. Many homeless people (not all) live and/or gather together as a collection of strangers. Many feel ashamed and feel like they’re worthless. We’re trying to give them a new identity through Christ. God calls us into community and it’s more than just eating and attending a church service. We’re saying “life together” is 24/7 and this is how that looks.

3. What are some common aspects between a typical small group and a small group for the homeless?

A common aspect is an initial desire for privacy. The group needs to feel like a safe place. Many homeless people are afraid of the government, police and social services. Many are victims of abuse. While the reasons may be different, homeless people don’t trust others and can be very suspicious, just like people who aren’t homeless.

Many homeless people also don’t know the Bible very well, so they can be fearful of looking stupid in the small group discussion as a result (also similar to people who aren’t homeless).

Another common aspect is that homeless people share the same innate desire to belong. Many don’t feel like they belong to anybody. They feel invisible. Nobody wants to look at them or hug them. Again, the reasons may be different, but the small group helps to start filling this void as it does for those who aren’t homeless.

4. What are some of the differences between typical small groups and small groups for the homeless?

In a typical small group, we encourage everybody to come with some means to contribute. Normally, anybody can be the “snack person.” Homeless people don’t feel like they can do that. That’s a perception and a fallacy. Reality is, even the little they have is going to be a contribution.

One man only had food stamps and he insisted that he buy the orange juice. I said, “You don’t have money.” He said, “I want to contribute something.”

At the motel church services, we don’t receive offerings, but we do put out a box that says gifts and offerings. Obviously, we don’t “need” their money but we just want to give people a chance to “experience giving” if they want to. If someone sees the box, they may or may not give something, but we never ask for it. Sometimes we open the box and we are moved to tears by the quarters or, in some cases, the dollar bill that is left in there. In some cases, the homeless are far more generous than a typical small group.

5. How do you measure effectiveness or success with a small group for the homeless?

The goal is to crawl, walk and run.

Crawl – Crawling looks like coming together. Gathering every week is a huge win!
Walk – Walking looks like people engaging in the group. Participation, sharing problems, sharing ideas and sharing what God is showing them is a huge win!
Run – Running is when you look at someone in the group and say, “You’re going to lead the group occasionally.” Start them off with small and partial opportunities and build up to them leading the whole group. Eventually, the group leader steps back and the group continues without them, because every member is a leader.

I need to emphasize here, we are not experts and this can be a very messy process sometimes. We don’t have this all figured out. It’s an ongoing journey, with mixed results.

6. What type of group curriculum do you use? Do you use DVD curriculum?

We use normal group curriculum. We try to cover the basics with content such as “40 Days of Purpose” or the “Alpha Course.”

We have used DVD curriculum. The group leader basically brings a laptop with speakers for the group to view and listen.

7. Additional thoughts?

They’re not so much homeless as they are “hopeless.” If I feed them for a day, I don’t help them.

We do church services to give them the right identity: A son or daughter with a Heavenly Father. We also do church services to help them discover their purpose and calling. Purpose will help them get out of being homeless.

In my opinion, feeding can encourage “learned helplessness” as well as create the “look at me” volunteer. Dumping food on a plate to look good does nothing for a homeless person.

For us, it’s important to have people come to a church service where there will be a meal served versus gathering around “food” and then being forced to hear the gospel so I can get the food. When someone is coming for the priority of being “in church,” it represents hope for his or her transformation.

I want to thank Ron for his commitment to this vision. It represents the heart of our Heavenly Father. I also want to thank him for his contribution to this article.

For more info on Motel Church, visit MotelChurch.com.

What are your thoughts or experiences in regards to small groups for the homeless? Share them below…

How Should You Vote if You Don’t Agree With Either Candidate?

By

Megan Briggs

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April 4, 2020

Do you know who you will vote for in November?

What is a believer to do if he or she doesn’t support either candidate? Rick Smith and Todd Wagner from Watermark Community Church seek to give some guidance from scripture as they address this question.

Todd makes the point that as Americans living under a government that strives to be “by the people, for the people,” we have a very serious responsibility to be involved in politics, make informed decisions as we vote, and above all else, encourage and serve.

But how much evil can we tolerate in a candidate? What do we do when it seems the prevailing two-party system is failing us?

First, Todd explains we can’t look to politics to be our savior. Nor should we consider it our sworn enemy. Rather, it is a servant of God.

Secondly, when we evaluate a candidate, we should consider who rules him or her (who are they submitted to?) and what is the direction of their life? Do they consistently lie or endorse things like abortion? If so, we should seriously consider not voting for that candidate.

Finally, what is the point in “throwing away my vote” by endorsing a third-party candidate or even writing someone in on the ballet? Todd gives the example of Abraham Lincoln, who represented the third party when he was elected. The point Todd is emphasizing is that we aren’t throwing away a vote when we vote for righteousness. We need, as he says, “Increased articulation of why we might need a third way.”

The verses Todd references are listed below. As we prepare to vote this fall, may we be led by truth and seek the welfare of our nation.

Jeremiah 29:7 – We need to seek the welfare of the city in which we dwell
Romans 13 – Government is the servant of God – it’s not our sworn enemy
2 Peter 2:13-14 – God establishes governors to punish evil and praise good
Daniel 2:21 – God establishes and removes kings (rulers)

Video Course: How Online Small Groups Work

By

Jay Kranda

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April 4, 2020

Online small groups are a powerful way to provide an expression of biblical community no matter location limitations or schedule conflicts. In the following video course, you’ll learn why online groups are valuable to your church, the strategy of online groups, the details of what happens during a typical video group, and more. Watch the course yourself, send it to your group’s pastor or key volunteer. Your church or ministry will be able to launch online small groups after completing the course. Start the free 1 hour 21-minute video course today!

Covered In Course:

1. Why Online Groups are Valuable?

2. Overview of Small Groups

3. Strategy of Online Small Groups

4. Itinerary of Online Small Groups

5. How to Have the Best Video Call

6. Let’s Talk Security

7. Final Thoughts

Why online groups are valuable?

1st step for people at your church (front door)
Way to reach people hurting and give a taste of your church in a safe manner
No excuses to not be in a group (safety net)
Help launch more face to face small groups

Overview of Small Groups:

Facilitator not teacher (host)
Circles not rows
Expressing 5 purposes over 6 months (Matthew 22 & 28):
- Evangelism
- Fellowship
- Discipleship
- Ministry
- Worship
Complete “Leadership Training 1” designed for all hosts
Read “Small Groups With Purpose” by Steve Gladen

The strategy of Online Small Groups:

VIDEO: On-Demand individually or real-time as group
People are opinionated with technology (THAT’S OKAY)
PROCESS: text > audio > video > face to face
Two ways an online small group interacts:
- Home Base: Facebook group, text thread or WhatsApp
- Meeting Space: Zoom.us, Skype, or Google Hangout

Itinerary of Online Small Groups:

Welcome everyone
Warm up the group
Optional: Watch study
Discuss the questions
Prayer requests
End with prayer

How to Have the Best Video Call:

Lighting is important
Select the quietest place in your house
Level your video camera
Login to find out how to change default mic and camera (Preferences/Settings)
Use MUTE & UNMUTE
Recommend group members to download meeting software prior to the meeting
Buy external items if needed (Not Required):
- mic (Yeti)
- camera (Logitech)
- light (Ring Light)

Let’s Talk Security (SKIP IF Not applicable):

Screen people with questions
Create video course to complete before joining
Keep links private (Invite Only)
Pick most secure meeting platform
Don’t make video required at launch

Final Thoughts:

Idea to Create Culture of Online Small Groups:
- Meet for 10 weeks with a large group (30 people)
- Three weeks of joining the group then close the group
- Screen people with questions and pinned video explaining how the group will work
- Go live once a week at the same time for the main curriculum of the group (Facebook Live & Events)
- Drive members to discuss in the comment section
- After 10 weeks pitch to start their own group with friends
Challenge after 12 months to go offline by transitioning to a home small group
Launch by showing a story of a successful online small group

This article about online small groups originally appeared here.

10 Disciple-Making Questions You Need to Ask

By

Bob Harrington

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April 3, 2020

Jesus, the Apostles, and the writings of the New Testament tell us how to make disciples. It is important to note, in this regard, that teaching is at the heart of discipleship. Discipleship is not just example. Discipleship is not just service. Discipleship is not just relationships. Discipleship is not just sharing life. To be sure, if Jesus is our model, discipleship will include all of these things and more. But at heart, Jesus tells us that discipleship involves learning, the receiving of practical instruction that enables us to trust and follow Jesus.

In Matthew 28:18-20, the great commission tells us “to go” and “to make disciples.” In the Greek text, “making disciples” is an imperative command. The passage then tells us how we are to make disciples: by “baptizing them,” and “teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded” (these two statements are participial phrases – linguistically formed in the Greek to tell us how to make disciples).

In this sense, then, biblical discipleship always involves teaching, guidance, or instruction. At the same time, Jesus showed us, by his life, that discipleship must be grounded in love, service, and friendship. The environment for discipleship in the gospels was relationship. Yet it was goal oriented; Jesus was asking his disciples to trust and follow him. Without discipleship, acts of love and service are simply acts of love and service. These are good things and are often the basis upon which discipleship is built, but by themselves, they simply express the love of Christ without directly pointing people to Christ.

Sometimes, showing love – with no strings attached – is the best and only thing that we can do for another person. We just serve someone. Maybe like the good Samaritan, all we will ever be able to do for another person is take care of them in their need, for that time of difficulty (Luke 10:25ff). This is true love, and it honors God and reflects the fact that we are disciples. But by itself, it is not discipleship because discipleship involves directing and teaching people in the way of Jesus.

We believe that discipleship, modeled after Jesus, equals directed relationship. Discipleship is directed because it has a goal: to enable people to trust and follow Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Colossians 1:28-29). Discipleship is relational in that it is always done person to person.

Here are ten questions that churches use to help them address how they make disciples:

1. How does our church define discipleship?
2. What does a disciple look like?
3. Do we have an intentional process of discipleship?
4. Does our church know this process?
5. How does this process relate to the purpose of the church?
6. Has our church prioritized distinct practices that relate to the discipleship process?
7. Does our church practice the principle of abandonment based on the idea that activity doesn’t always mean productivity?
8. How does our church measure maturity?
9. How does our community describe our church?
10. Do our church families spend more planned time in a week at church with each other or in the community with non-believers?

There is nothing new or striking about these questions. But they show that wise church leaders must be thoughtful about discipleship. Since discipleship involves careful training and guidance, we want to pursue it with wisdom.

Pastor Blames Church Closing on ‘Tyrannical Government’

By

Jessica Mouser

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April 3, 2020

On April 1, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order that states attending churches and other houses of worship falls under “essential activities.” The order (which has caused some confusion) comes days after Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne of The River at Tampa Bay Church was arrested for ignoring a safer-at-home order from Hillsborough County. But despite the governor’s new order, the Florida pastor says The River is now closed and will remain that way.

“No one’s expecting me to make this announcement, but I actually have no choice,” said Howard-Browne in a Facebook video entitled “The Big Announcement.” Even though some people will say that he is caving by closing the church, the pastor counters, “No I’m not and let me tell you why I have to do this. I have to do this to protect the congregation, not from the virus, but from a tyrannical government because all the charges against me are totally bogus.”

Florida Pastor: This Is Like a Western Gone Wrong

The River at Tampa Bay Church will now be broadcasting services instead of holding them in person, and Howard-Browne says how long it will remain closed is up to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. The pastor said he made the decision to shut the church down on Monday, which was the day Sheriff Chronister arrested him.

The sheriff arrested Howard-Browne for choosing to hold two church services on Sunday, March 29, even though national guidance states that people should not meet in groups of more than 10. Howard-Browne was also violating a safer-at-home order from Hillsborough County issued March 27 that instructs people not to venture out of their homes except for essential needs, which did not include church services.

Arguing that the right to congregate falls under religious freedom and that the church is an essential service, The River held services Sunday anyway. These were attended by hundreds of people, some of whom the church even bused in. At a press conference addressing the pastor’s arrest, Chronister said that after learning the church planned to hold services despite the county directive, his office had met with church leaders and attorneys that Friday and Sunday.

The sheriff’s hope was to educate them on why they should not move forward with their services. When the church did so anyway, Chronister worked with Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren to secure a warrant for Howard-Browne’s arrest. The Florida pastor was charged with two misdemeanors: unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency rules.

On Facebook, Howard-Browne said he was not going to get into the details of the case and that he has forgiven the sheriff. But, he said, “It did not happen the way they say. I’ve got all the documentation, I tell you, I know exactly what happened step by step.” He is not closing the church because of fears about the coronavirus, but out of concern about what the sheriff’s office might do if it remained open and because of other outside threats.

Blaming the media for blowing the story out of proportion, the Florida pastor said, “All our church people are getting threats, death threats. We’ve had people fire on the building at night from the highway. And this is crazy. It’s like, gone nuts.” Howard-Browne is concerned about “crazy people” showing up to the gatherings and causing problems. The pastor also said he didn’t want to risk law enforcement showing up at future church services and arresting other pastors and members of the congregation. The sheriff’s office has said it has no record of people firing gunshots at the church.

During Monday’s press conference, Chronister said that when members of his command team arrived at the church last Sunday, Howard-Browne was not available to talk to them. But the pastor has a different account of what happened. He said, “There was no communication between me or the sheriff. The sheriff has my phone number. That’s all I’m going to say about that. And we’ve been talking for weeks. So I’m just going to leave it at that….I’m getting threats all the time from the sheriff. For whatever reason, he’s after me.”

According to Howard-Browne, “The shut down of the church is not on me now. It’s on [the sheriff].” The Florida pastor said he holds Chronister responsible for shutting down “the body of Christ,” as well as the church’s food ministry. Elsewhere in the video, the pastor said the food ministry would remain active with a handful of people running it.

Howard-Browne maintained that he did not make his decision to close the church because of Sheriff Chronister. “I make decisions based on what the Lord tells me to do,” he said, “and the Lord told me on Monday, ‘If you don’t do this, there’s going to be a showdown at the O.K. Corral and it’s not going to be good.” The whole situation, said the pastor, reminds him of “some kind of Western movie gone wrong.”

To the point that since the pastor’s arrest, Governor DeSantis has said that churches do in fact provide an essential service, Howard-Browne responded, “It doesn’t matter what the governor does. It matters what the sheriff does.” Elsewhere in his video, the Florida pastor stated that the sheriff has more authority than the governor.

Surgeon General: We Need Science and Faith to Defeat Virus

By

Stephanie Martin

-

April 3, 2020

In an April 2 interview with Focus on the Family, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams speaks about the pandemic as both a scientist and a Christian. Taking questions from Focus on the Family President Jim Daly, Adams acknowledges that the current crisis is “deadly serious” but adds, “There is reason to be hopeful,” both “scientifically and from a faith perspective.”

‘Our book is not yet written’

Despite grim projections of up to 240,000 U.S. deaths, the Surgeon General emphasizes that “those numbers don’t have to be our reality.” He says, “Our book is not yet written, so we need to make sure we’re doing the things that we know work. Social distancing. Keeping six feet away from each other. Teleworking if at all possible. Avoiding non-essential travel.”

If Americans “lean in” to that advice, Adams says, “There is a light at the end of the tunnel.” The Surgeon General, an anesthesiologist from Indiana, acknowledges that everyone’s learning on the fly with the novel coronavirus. But he commits to “always try to give you the most accurate information we can when we have it.”

Adams, 45, says he gets frustrated when people put “a political spin” on the pandemic. Public servants are “working hard to try to get to the other side of this,” he says, adding that the crisis will be solved not from Washington, D.C., but “in communities with people coming together and supporting each other to do the right thing.”

Advice on Masks, Safety & Testing

When asked about masks, the Surgeon General admits the issue is “confusing.” While data is being studied, he advises people who do wear a facial covering to wash their hands first and to not touch their face. N95 masks should be reserved for health professionals, he says, and covering your face isn’t a “substitute for social distancing.”

Because “the virus can live for a certain amount of time on hard surfaces,” Adams says, it’s important to clean surfaces often, wash your hands, and avoid touching your face—especially when you’re out in public. With asymptomatic people able to spread the virus, he urges young people against feeling invincible. “Even if you don’t get sick, you could be the one taking [germs] home to your nana,” he says. “We don’t want to unnecessarily scare people, but we want them to have appropriate caution.”

Regarding testing, the Surgeon General says more than 100,000 COVID-19 tests are being administered daily. He also explains the difference between diagnostic testing, which is geared toward the high-risk population and health workers, and surveillance testing, which will guide public policy about when parts of America can start to reopen.

Faith and Family Are Key

Adams, 45, also speaks about the crisis on a personal level. Though he’s had to be away from his own family lately, he calls stay-at-home orders “an opportunity” to interact without screens. “Social distancing doesn’t mean social disengagement,” he reminds people, adding that it’s okay to give blood, safely check on neighbors, and be active outdoors so “we don’t go stir crazy.”

As a Christian, Adams believes “God always has a plan,” and he ponders biblical examples of God putting people where they need to be, not where they’re comfortable. “The most powerful thing you can do for me is to pray for me to hear what [God] is trying to tell me,” he says. The Surgeon General also requests prayer for first responders, medical workers, and others on the front lines.

Being a scientist and a Christian “aren’t mutually exclusive,” says Adams, adding that right now it’s more important than ever “to lean on your faith.”

All the Live-From-Home Videos by Christian Artists You Should Be Watching

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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April 3, 2020

One thing that we all have in common right now is that we are dealing with this worldwide pandemic. We can’t escape it, whether we have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus and and are dealing with the effects of it, or we are all social distancing to protect one another from being exposed to it.

Christian Artists Are Quarantined, Too

Most if not all of us have been quarantining for the past month, and most of us have been told it will be at least another month of what is becoming our everyday routine. Our favorite Christian artists have been doing the same even while they would normally be out on the road touring, they are waiting at home until they can get back to their normal as well.

These past couple of weeks many of these artists have been putting on concerts (virtually) or videos to help encourage one another during this season of life.

Popular award winning Christian artists like For King & Country, Phil Whickham, Switchfoot, Rend Collective, MercyMe, Sanctus Real, Matthew West, and Casting Crowns have all taken to the internet from their living rooms (or home studios), performing worship and popular hits to shine light in the uncertain times we are currently living in. Many not only offer encouraging words through their songs, but from God’s Word as well. They are reminding us all that our hope is in our Savior Jesus Christ, and not in this world.

Below are a few of these great concerts if you missed them. We hope you can sing along and be encouraged during this time. Remember our great Shepherd never leaves us or forsakes us, and is sovereign over everything.

For King & Country – Together: A Night of Hope

Rend Collective – Socially Distant Worship Club

Matthew West & Family

Casting Crowns – Backyard Concert

Sanctus Real – 10 Year Anniversary ‘Pieces of a Real Heart’ Album

10 Year Anniversary 'POARH' album

Join us for a special event to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the album Pieces Of A Real Heart.

Posted by Sanctus Real on Sunday, March 22, 2020

Tori Kelly – Home & Hallelujah

Tauren Wells – Home & Hallelujah

Chris Tomlin – Home & Hallelujah

MercyMe

Hey Bart! How are you doing? Other than being cooped up in the house?

Posted by MercyMe Music on Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Phil Whickham – Heaven Song

HEAVEN SONG – Songs From Home

Posted by Phil Wickham on Monday, March 30, 2020

Phil Whickham – Way Maker

WAY MAKER – Songs From Home

Posted by Phil Wickham on Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Switchfoot – Live from the Studio (Hello Hurricane)

Switchfoot – Live from the Studio (Vice Verses)

Switchfoot – Live from the Studio (Your Love is a Song)

Watch more from Switchfoot here.

Happy listening!

ChMeetings Covers 7 Features Needed in Every Church Management Solution

By

ChMeetings

-

April 3, 2020

Church leaders must fulfill their role and be always prepared to serve the needs of their members. A good church leadership should be completely aware of what’s happening with his people. Digital technologies fill the gap between the church leaders and their members by helping the leaders in collecting the members’ information and storing them all in a single database. Planning and organizing the worship services, attendance, church events (and registrations forms), servant’s tasks, announcements, small groups management, contributions and online giving are all perfectly managed as well. Technology is simplifying the church management solution, enhancing the way church leaders, congregations, and ministers and staff care for the flock of God.

A good church management solution should provide the following

1) Easy access to member data:

Church management technologies have a common feature that allows the church leader to store important information about each member in a single (cloud-based) database, so leaders can easily access any needed data—from anywhere.

2) Effective communications:

Every church leader should have the ability to communicate quickly with members in an affordable and easy way. A church management solution could be integrated with many communication platforms, enabling users to send text messages from their PC, laptops, or smartphones. This keeps church members (and also the volunteers) always connected with their church, notified of the activities and events, and even confirms their participation when needed. Emails push notifications, and even voice messages are available to speed up the collaboration between all the church members.

3) Following up:

The leader should have the ability to track member’s attendance, make a report of those who are no longer attending frequently, and plan with the staff to keep in touch with these members by using different types of follow up.

4) Events planning & organizing:

Leaders could easily schedule and plan upcoming services, activities, and events like Sunday School, Bible study, youth camp, volunteer meetings, music rehearsals or concerts, and even fundraising activity directly by using the church management solution.

5) Reports:

Church leaders can effortlessly use ChMS apps to create any kind of reports, with accurate information to be analyzed to take the needed actions accordingly.

6) Forms:

Forms allow churches and ministries to create custom forms for all aspects of church life. Submissions could be linked with a person’s profile. Forms could be used in Event registration, Feedbacks, Surveys or polls.

7) Contribution and online giving:

The church leader should have an accurate and secure way to manage and track the contributions, online giving, plus the ability to create the reports vein just a few steps.

You will find all seven of these features and even more in ChMeetings App, the easiest and most affordable church management solution on the market. It’s a cloud-based solution used by more than 3,500 church leaders. It is available on Web, iOS and Android.

FinancesOnline awarded the ChMeetings app both the 2019 Rising Star and 2019 Premium Usability awards. It was also named the Top Rated Church Management Software) by Softwareworld, And received a rating of 4.7 out of 5 on Google play and the App store.

ChMeetings will help you to handle all your essential needs of your church management operations, and save a huge time and effort to be used in guiding your followers on their path to the spiritual growth with God.

“My Sermon Notes” Makes Note-taking Digital

By

My Sermon Notes

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April 3, 2020

As church leaders, we are constantly searching for the most effective way to disciple our congregation. Discipleship is at the core of everything the church does. How do church leaders utilize technology to set church memb“My Sermon Notes” Makes Note-taking Digitalers up for success and encourage them to dive deeper into the Word? It’s no secret that taking notes is a practical and simple way to absorb content and stay tuned in. When it comes to fill-in-the-blank notes, there are a few reasons to consider offering them. Fill-in-the-blank sermon notes help your congregation stay engaged.

Some members will take sermon notes on their own, but some members may not take notes unless they are encouraged to do so. Offering digital fill-in-the-blank notes gives your congregation an easy way to get involved while giving them a chance to take additional notes if they choose. Actively taking fill-in-the-blank notes is a way to keep your brain listening and ready to hear the next point.

When your congregation is fully tuned into your sermon, they will have a greater chance of remembering it as they go about their week. Not only that, recalling the message is a critical step in discipleship because it allows members of your congregation to apply it to their daily lives.

Digital fill-in-the-blank sermon notes create the ultimate note archive.

When someone is thinking about a sermon you preached a few months back, they can simply pull up their sermon notes and reflect on it. This becomes most practical when offering a digital solution where users can search for past sermon notes and find them instantly.

Digital fill-in-the-blank sermon notes also create an archive for church members watching replays of old sermons. Now, they can follow along and take notes from the comfort of their home – even for sermons that are months old.

Sermon Notes Are Cool Again

It may seem like note taking is a dead practice, but that doesn’t have to be the reality. With smartphone use becoming the new norm in church services, digital note taking is trending. Congregants are turning to the Bible app on their phone to follow along with the sermon, and digital fill-in-the-blank notes would enhance their experience.

Whether it’s through a church app like My Sermon Notes or a fillable PDF file, there are many options for digital fill-in-the-blank notes. Solutions like My Sermon Notes also generate a downloadable PDF file for those who prefer to take notes on paper.

Digital fill-in-the-blank sermon notes unlock further engagement

When you encourage church members to download an app to take weekly fill-in-the-blank notes, users are getting used to opening your church app regularly. This unlocks many possibilities for further engagement. These same users may be inclined to give on the app or sign up for events during the announcements portion of your service.

Since church members have already downloaded your engagement platform to take notes, they automatically have access to other features you may offer, such as push notification announcements or interactive prayer requests.

If you’re searching for a digital solution, the My Sermon Notes app offers interactive fill-in-the-blank notes that are cloud-synced between devices. My Sermon Notes also has a fully customizable Church hub with a connection card, interactive prayer requests, push notification announcements, and more. It’s a simple way to get your church members involved in a powerful engagement platform.

Ravi Zacharias Starts Chemotherapy Ahead of Schedule

By

Megan Briggs

-

April 3, 2020

Editor’s Note: After the publishing of this article, an independent investigation found allegations implicating Ravi Zacharias of sexual abuse to be credible. Prior to this report, ChurchLeaders had published multiple articles about Ravi Zacharias and his ministry. Although our editorial team believes his work still has value since it involved articulating the truths of God’s Word, we would be remiss not to disclose the painful truth of Mr. Zacharias’ personal actions that have come to light following his death. For further reading, please see:
Sexting, Spiritual Abuse, Rape: Devastating Full Report on Ravi Zacharias Released
The Story Behind the Ravi Zacharias Allegations (Part 1): Lawsuits, NDAs, and Email Threads
The Story Behind the Ravi Zacharias Allegations (Part 2): ‘Cursory’ Investigations and More Accusations

Apologist Ravi Zacharias has shared another update on his health. The 74-year-old leader of Ravi Zacharias Ministries (RZIM) says he has begun chemotherapy to address a recently-diagnosed case of sarcoma.

“Our doctors in Atlanta were initially concerned that I couldn’t start cancer treatment until fully healing from the back surgery,” Zacharias writes in an update posted to RZIM’s site. Since that time, though, Zacharias’ doctors have consulted with specialists at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, who determined it would be ok to start chemotherapy sooner. Zacharias goes on to explain:

Since then we have been able to consult with doctors at the renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Truly God did a miracle in getting me here, literally a day or two just before they had to close to treating any patients outside of Texas. My doctor, a Sarcoma specialist, feels confident in starting a regimen of chemotherapy and we have begun that. Since this treatment is coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, I will remain here in Houston for the next few months until I finish the chemotherapy treatment. I am so grateful that both Margie and Naomi can be here with me. God has given me the best doctor, and I look forward to gradually seeing this disease mend.

Ravi Zacharias Diagnosed with Sarcoma

Zacharias was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, after undergoing emergency surgery on his back. The renowned apologist has had many back issues over the years, and an emergency surgery in February of this year was necessary to address some underlying issues. On Wednesday, February 19, Zacharias posted on the RZIM website, explaining that he needed emergency back surgery and requesting prayer. He began, “Dear Friends, I seldom go to any lengths to talk about personal challenges but am making an exception because I know you will pray for me—and for my family and the team.” God used two previous surgeries to bring him “comfort and strength” and “eighteen good years.” However, he said, “over the last year, I have battled several flare-ups, and after my last trip to the Philippines and Sri Lanka, it’s a miracle I got home on my own two feet.”

This most recent surgery involved removing two loose screws and anchoring Zacharias’s sacrum (which was fractured) to his pelvis in two places. His medical team cares about his ministry, said Zacharias, and they “want to see me positioned for the distance.”

During that surgery, the surgeon noticed an abnormal growth on Zacharias’ sacrum and did a biopsy. If it weren’t for the surgery, it’s not likely the doctors would have found the cancer until much later. Zacharias said, “We are trusting the Lord in this, and we believe we have already seen evidence of His hand. For example, the tumor did not show up on any previous scans and was only discovered by my surgeon identifying it during surgery.”

Zacharias Determined to ‘serve the Lord from here’

While Zacharias is says “it is too soon to begin making plans to speak and travel” at the time being, he is determined to continue his work with RZIM in whatever form that may take. “I believe God still has more for me to do. I will serve the Lord from here whether on my back or on my feet.”

Zacharias also thanked supporters for their prayers and asked them to continue praying for him and his family:

We are grateful for you, our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. And we do not take your prayers for granted. Our prayers are for you in these challenging times. I have come to know that the greatest family on earth is the family of God.

COVID-19 is Changing the Way Believers Connect

By

Leah Davenport

-

April 3, 2020

When it comes to adoption of new communication technologies, the church has typically been at the forefront. The first book ever printed on Gutenberg’s press was the Bible, after all. Beginning in the 1950s and 60s Billy Graham took the format of the tent revival global by utilizing satellite broadcast technology. A cursory glance at the app store or Youtube will yield dozens of Bible reading apps, plans, and sermon podcasts. And yet until recent events, churches still revolved mostly around the weekly rhythm of in-person services on Sundays and weeknight Bible studies. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust humanity—and the church—into a new and unprecedented reality. More than 3 billion people worldwide have been told to shelter inside and distance themselves from anyone who is not a part of their household. This “new normal” has forced the church to change the means by which she cares for her people. A silver lining that could be drawn from the pandemic is that it has arisen at a time when technology has helped believers connect through a myriad of digital channels: video conferencing, social media, group chats, live streaming, and more.

Church leaders are having to switch from becoming organizers of in-person gatherings to daily online teachers and media producers. Older congregations that were previously resistant to taking services online or utilizing social media have been goaded by necessity to learn those mediums.

Following the first week of shelter-in-place orders across the country, church leaders convened in a thread on the Church Communications Facebook group to share what they learned about conducting church solely online. One user wrote, “We learned that if people are motivated to commune, they’ll learn new technologies to do it! We had all ages participating in Zoom rooms. So encouraging to see our older folks willing to try new things.”

Another observed, “We learned that online church doesn’t have to look like in-person church. We shot videos in closer, used more intimate, comforting surroundings, and tried to make sure everyone made eye contact with the camera. In the end our ‘worship service’ lasted 35 minutes, but it felt right.”

Other forms of technology are helping churches engage their congregations in this new all-digital form of human connection. At a time when they can’t physically pass the offering plate, churches are encouraging their congregants to enroll in online giving, recurring giving being the most preferable option as it creates predictability and stability when everything else seems uncertain. Before the pandemic, churches with a smaller percentage of their budget coming from recurring online giving have had to rethink their strategies (something that will continue to change the longer people are told to stay home).

Church management systems enable staff and believers connect, to check in with individual people using personalized links sent via email. ChMS’s with mobile-first design like TouchPoint enable churches to embed live streamed services and downloadable resources that empower families to connect at home, or in virtual groups.

Churches have always been organizations centered around innovative uses of media to share the Gospel and help believers connect. The early church met in private homes, face-to-face with their congregants. In the COVID-19 world, we’ve oddly returned to that format, just mediated through digital channels. Eventually, the church will meet corporately again. Until then, how will she adapt to the new normal?

Author Bio: Leah Davenport serves a Marketing Manager for TouchPoint Software, a church management system based in Dallas, Texas. TouchPoint was birthed out of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee with a vision of being built by the church for the church. A Pursuant Group company, TouchPoint serves hundreds of churches. The web-based, mobile-first solution helps churches move believers toward maturity by supplying tools that engage and connect people to community.

It’s Always Good to Repent and Seek God’s Face, But That Doesn’t Mean You’ll Get Baseball and Toilet Paper Back

By

Mike Leake

-

April 3, 2020

In times such as these passages of Scripture can provide a great source of comfort. That is good and right. But we also need to be sure that we’re properly using those passages—otherwise the comfort is only a mirage. We’ll claim promises that either aren’t our own or which don’t go far enough in their glorious fulfillment. One of these particular passages is 2 Chronicles 7:13-14.

¹³When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, ¹⁴if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

The Immediate Context

2 Chronicles 7 is God’s response to Solomon’s prayer. In 2 Chronicles 6:26-28 Solomon asked God to hear from heaven and to bless the temple. This section is a response to that prayer. 13 years have passed between 7:10 and 7:11. Once the temple is completed the LORD appeared to Solomon at night. This speech to Solomon is an acceptance of the temple dedication and it’s couched in covenantal language. It reads very similarly to Deuteronomy. If you do this (walk in obedience) then I will do this (bless you). But if you do this (rebel) then I will (curse you).

This is a specific promise to a specific people. So in what way does it apply to those of us around the globe who are dealing with the pestilence of COVID-19?

2 Chronicles in God’s Story

It’s important to note here that 2 Chronicles would have actually been the end of the Hebrew Bible. (See here for more information on that). This book was written around 400BC when the exiles returned to the land. That’s significant because all this talk about the temple serves a purpose. There is a reason why the 1 Kings 9 telling of this story doesn’t include 2 Chronicles 7:13-15. Stephen Dempster says it well:

After the judgment of the exile, the command to rebuild the temple is nothing less than a catalyst for the fulfillment of the prophetic hopes…The goal of the canon is clearly the great house of God, which is as inclusive as the globe…But this has to be understood in the dual sense of ‘house’, meaning ‘dwelling’ and ‘dynasty’…The [Hebrew Bible] orients its readers to the future. As such the Story is unfinished. The long, dark night of exile awaits a sequel—the dawning of a new light that will radiate to the ends of the earth. (Dempster, 227)

The people of Israel rightly desired the presence of God but they slowly began equating that with the physical temple. This is why when Jesus comes on the scene the Pharisees are accusing him of blasphemy for talking about the temple destruction. They’ve equated the temple with God Himself. But the temple was always meant to point to something greater—the presence of God with man. This is already fulfilled in the incarnation and will be completely fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth.

But this is important for the way we read and apply 2 Chronicles 7:13-15 . We cannot grab ahold of this promise and say, “If America repents then God will absolutely heal our land.” We cannot claim this promise in that way because that’s no longer the function of that promise. America does not equal the people of God. The church does. And the land doesn’t equal the nation you reside within. It’s pointing to something greater.

But there is a principle in here which I think we can see and use in this time. When sin brings disaster repentance brings healing. That doesn’t mean that if you repent and turn to God that you’ll be immediately healed of COVID-19 and we can start watching baseball again. That’s not what healing of the land is about anyways. It’s about shalom. And that’s only ever going to be fully found in the New Jerusalem. And the only means to having access to this unshakeable city is the shed blood of Jesus Christ. So again—repentance brings healing.

It’s always a good and biblical thing to repent, humble ourselves, and seek God’s face. But we need to be careful that we’re not making that a means to an end that God never promised. In other words, I repent, humble myself, and seek God’s face because He is worthy of it and not because I think doing this will allow us to watch baseball games again and buy toilet paper.

If you want a better model for repentance connected with the promise of God look to the king in Nineveh.

⁶The word reached^[c] the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. ⁷And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, ⁸but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. ⁹Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

So, we must be careful not to claim promises that either aren’t our own or which don’t go far enough in their glorious fulfillment. Because doing this will disappoint our hope and cause us to think God hasn’t come through, when in fact He has come through even more than what we had hoped and imagined. The promise of a healed land is far greater than the soil you place your foot upon. Part of our repentance probably needs to be our contentedness with mud pies.

This article originally appeared here.

Virtual Classroom Becomes Target

The agency provided the following steps to protect yourself and others from becoming a victim of Zoombombing.

Key Questions:

Key Quotes:

Mentioned in the Show:

This C.S. Lewis quote of reflections on that fear are worth reading in light of our present day:

That is exactly why I have created this colorful, action-packed resource for Easter at Home—to provide parents with fun, easy-to-do activities that create meaningful connections with each other and memorable encounters with Jesus.

Here’s what you’ll find inside the kit:

The $25 license gives you permission (and all the files) to edit, translate, and print as many copies of this resource as you want for as long as you need to.

Here is some advice to train littles to join the family for church worship through livestream worship:

Free eBook

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‘Our book is not yet written’

Advice on Masks, Safety & Testing

Faith and Family Are Key

Christian Artists Are Quarantined, Too

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Rend Collective – Socially Distant Worship Club

Matthew West & Family

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Tori Kelly – Home & Hallelujah

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Chris Tomlin – Home & Hallelujah

MercyMe

Phil Whickham – Heaven Song

Phil Whickham – Way Maker

Switchfoot – Live from the Studio (Hello Hurricane)

Switchfoot – Live from the Studio (Vice Verses)

Switchfoot – Live from the Studio (Your Love is a Song)

A good church management solution should provide the following

1) Easy access to member data:

2) Effective communications:

3) Following up:

4) Events planning & organizing:

5) Reports:

6) Forms:

7) Contribution and online giving:

Sermon Notes Are Cool Again

Digital fill-in-the-blank sermon notes unlock further engagement

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