Here is a link to a very thought provoking article on celebrity pastors. Please, read this and contemplate on how your pastor could use some support and encouragement
http://defendingcontending.com/2013/01/11/do-you-follow-a-celebrity-pastor/
church
Modern Slavery
Human trafficking is one of our generations greatest evils. There are a lot of good organizations out there (such as the A21 campaign) who are bringing attention to this problem and working on solutions. The church is beginning to add her voice to the effort to stop modern slavery as well. While doing research on this issue (which will be the subject of a future blog) Ta Ethne came across the following article which helps define the problem we are facing.
http://www.decodedscience.com/human-trafficking-worldwide-social-problem/21364
Take some time to read this and also check out such the A21 campaign — http://www.thea21campaign.org/
Good theology leads to social justice as beliefs are put into action. We must help where we can. Pray about how you and your church can make a difference.
Great Quotes From Ages Past #10
In Christ, as a great storehouse, lie all the riches of spiritual wisdom, the massive ingots of solid gold which when coined into creeds and doctrines are the wealth of the Church. All which we can know concerning God and man, concerning sin and righteousness and duty, concerning another life, is in Him Who is the home and deep mine where truth is stored… The central fact of the universe and the perfect encyclopedia of all moral and spiritual truth is in Christ, the Incarnate Word, the Lamb slain, the ascended King.
Alexander MacLaren
Confession and Repentance – pt 2
As we saw yesterday, confession is taking our repentance and allowing the church to hold us accountable so we do not continue in the same pattern of sin. So often, we forget that we have been saved into the body of Christ. Our actions, both good and bad, reflect on Christ and on the church. What we do in our personal lives is everyone else’s business.
When a person confesses their shortcomings, burdens and sins – the church is then empowered to help them and share their burden as Scripture commands. People aren’t simply to acknowledge another’s confession and say, “I’ll pray for you.” They are to act. For example, if a person was to confess not reading and studying Scripture, another brother or sister should immediately offer to spend time with them weekly in studying the Scripture together. Or, if a person was to confess they had a drinking problem, another brother who has had victory over that sin would offer to counsel, support, hold them accountable. In this way we fulfill the law of Christ.
Confession leads the church into actually living the shared life. In a later post I will answer some common objections but I leave you with this today – does your church practice a healthy discipline of confession? Why not?
Confession and Repentance – pt 1
One of the best definitions of confession I have run across was written by Dr. Richard Krejcir. He writes the following: “Repentance is before God; confession is before God, then having others hold us accountable to our faith. The distinction between confession and repentance is that confession is taking our repentance and telling someone besides God (of course you have to go to Him first and foremost!) to hold us accountable.”
This is an area of Christian discipline I find to be lacking in most people’s lives, and in the life of a church as well. Tomorrow I will continue to develop thoughts on the discipline of confession.
Simply. Church.
So tired of playing the church game. You know what I mean. Everyone smiles and says they are doing fine. I know better. As their pastor, I see who is hurting. This one is crippled by fear. Another is a worry wart. This guy is losing his job and his wife is scared they may lose their home. This lady is battling cancer, again. This couple desperately wants children but cannot. Another couple is concerned about their rebellious child. Still a third is separated and aren’t sure they want to reconcile.
Beginning today, our church is redoing our services. We have one simple rule – no masks. Honesty is to reign. Trust will be rebuilt. Hope restored. No fluff. No Oprah rah-rah. Simply. Church. Where we come together to worship God and lift up each other. We will spend time in confession, testimony and the Word. We will plead with God to remake our lives, our family, our church. We will ask for the Spirit’s power to cleanse and empower us to live godly lives. Because, Christ bids us to come just as we are and He loves us enough not to leave us there.
Simply. Church. I wonder why we ever got away from that.
Free Resource – How To Get The Most Out Of Sermons
A new resource from Ta Ethne – How to get the most from a Sermon. This 4-part lesson will help you to maximize learning from sermons. Great for a small group resource also. Pastors, help your congregation learn how to effectively listen to your sermons.
Podcast – 2 Sides of the Same Coin
Confession and Testimony make up 2 sides of the same coin. A testimony is defined not just as what God does for us, but what we do well for His Kingdom. Confession would be the admission of what we are doing wrong for His Kingdom.
Preached at Immanuel Baptist, Havre in July, 2012
Podcast – What Are You Doing For Jesus?
Sermon preached at the church I pastor, challenging them to relaunch the church so that we refocus on reaching all peoples. Theme combines the Great Commission with James 4:17, he who knows what is good to do and does not do it – sins
Podcast – Why Satan Attacks
Why does Satan want to attack Christians anyway? Learn what the Bible says and prepare yourself to stand firm against our adversary.
ta ethne 