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Order of Sunday Fellow-Hip
A number of years ago I ran across this satirical outline for all-too-common worship planning. It is a sad but almost realistic caricature of what takes place in many churches every Sunday. See if you recognize any of these things. *** Prologue Fellowshippers shall enter the sanctuary garrulously, centering their attention on each other, and…
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John Piper is BAD
Michael Jackson asked: “Who’s BADD?” The answer, apparently: John Piper. I don’t know if it is because John Piper staunchly believes in the doctrine of Total Depravity (as do I) – which recognizes that as a consequnce of the Fall all humnaity is infected by sin in every aspect of our personality – or if there is…
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Why Do We Read Prayers & Creeds?
Why do we read prayers and creeds in our worship services? The answer is simple. It is because the WHOLE Church is called a priesthood. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out…
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The Scandal of American Evangelicalism
I was not there, but I am now wishing I had been, at least for R.C. Sproul Jr.’s address. The Layman Online reports that Sproul prophetically challenged those gathered for 2012 Ligonier National Conference “… about the true scandal of the evangelical mind.” Developing his message from 1 Corinthians 1.18-31 Sproul briefly outlined the Christian faith,…
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When Helping Hurts
With the re-emergence of ministries of mercy by Evangelicals have also come definite challenges. I am delighted that this trend of compassion continues on the upswing. But I am also aware of both the theological and practical dilemmas that inevitably face anyone who is engaged in such outreach. The video above in an interview with…
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5 Suggestion for Receiving Criticism
Benjamin Franklin once mused: “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain… and most fools do.” I don’t like receiving criticism and, since I am being honest here, I don’t often appreciate it either. I understand that it comes with the territory. I understand that when processed correctly criticism can prove beneficial to my character, competence,…
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Now Why This Fear
Now why this fear and unbelief? Has not the Father put to grief His spotless Son for us? And will the righteous Judge of men Condemn me for that debt of sin Now canceled at the cross? Chorus Jesus, all my trust is in Your blood Jesus, You’ve rescued us Through Your great love Verse…
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Reclaiming St Patrick’s Day
Did you know that, in his lifetime, Patrick of Ireland was never associated with the Roman Catholic Church? In fact, if one examines Patrick’s beliefs and practices, along with his British Christian heritage, we find that if he were alive today Patrick, that pioneer missionary, would actually fall quite naturally within Evangelicalism. Check out these resources about…
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St. Patrick’s Breastplate
This famous prayer, one of the earliest known European vernacular poems, has been attributed to Patrick – though some scholars say a few of the words indicate a later period. But there is no question that they ooze the spirit and substance we see in Patrick’s Confession. And they reverberate with the power of Christianity that Patrick gave to his adopted…
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Why Do We Come For Worship?
The answer to the question, “Why do we come for worship?” determines everything about the service. And it can only be answered one of two ways: We are in worship for God or we are there for man. If we come to worship for man, we become principally concerned with such questions as: Are we…
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7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Leaders
I am a fan of the Covey‘s, Jim Collins, Thom Rainer, and several other experts who have made it part of their life mission to enhance leadership effectiveness. But still, it is about time someone looks at things from the other perspective. And now, Steven James helps us out by providing us a simple list…
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Gauging Your Church’s Temperature
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in Life Together, talks about looking at our churches through critical lenses: If we do not give thanks daily for the Christian fellowship in which we have been placed, even where there is no great experience, no discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith, and difficulty; if on the contrary, we only keep…
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Ways of Grace
We will never find God unless he first seeks us, but we should remember that he can do so in very different ways. Sometimes, God jumps on us dramatically, as he does with the younger son, and we have a sharp sense of his love. Sometimes he quietly and patiently argues with us even though…
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