Had a great meeting yesterday afternoon with Cory Lyons, who is raising support to go minister in Metro Manila, Philippines. This ministry to children is an incredible vision. Check things out. For more info, email Cory.
Ministry Success Defined..
from Tony Payne (thanks JT)…
The measure of how ministry is progressing in your church or fellowship, and the way to evaluate whether you are making progress, is not attendance on Sunday, signed up members, people in small groups, or the size of our budget (as important and valuable as all these things are!). The real test is how successfully you are making disciples who make other disciples. Are we seeing people converted from being dead in their transgressions to being alive in Christ? And once converted, are we seeing them followed-up and established as mature disciples of Jesus? And as they become established, are we training them in knowledge, godliness and skills so that they will in turn make disciples of others?
This is the Great Commission—the making of disciples who obey all that Christ has taught, including the command to make disciples. And this is the touchstone of our faithfulness to Christ’s mission in the world, and the sign of a healthy church: whether or not it is making genuine disciple-making disciples of Jesus Christ.
Aaron Fenlason
Had a great meeting this afternoon with Aaron Fenlason, pastor of New Life Church in Wichita. Aaron blogs at Hope of Righteousness. There were so many areas of agreement in which we found as we talked today. It was indeed sweet fellowship and encouraging to hear of this amazing work. The church meets at 242 S. Edwards in Wichita (north of Friends University). Pray for this work as they are currently looking for a like-minded leader to help in leading the musical parts of worship. Let’s ask God to do amazing things through Aaron and this church.
Wells on the Church….
David Wells’ recent article in Tabletalk is online. The article entitled “Quitting and Finding Church“, would be well worth your time. He concludes:
We who worship and we who preach really do need to humble ourselves before God and ask for a restoration in our country of the kind of preaching that He can really use. If God does not visit us afresh in this regard, I am afraid that our “churchianity” will continue unabated and there will be many who genuinely are asking for something better who will not be able to find it.
This is a great call and reminder that we need God to move, not another program or technique. Are you desperate for God?
Recap – Josh…
Well, we are back. Got back into town last night and am back in the office rolling on another week. Have a busy day today as well.
Just got done getting Josh Seachris’ sermon preached here yesterday online. I’m excited about listening to it. Josh always handles the Scriptures well and points us to great application as he wrestles with texts. The sermon was entitled “Reverence, Contentment, and Faith: The Appropriate Response to a Sovereign God” from Ecclesiastes 3:1-15. Any applications stick out to anyone from this sermon?
Hope you all have a great week.
Marriage Prep
In a timely post in light of this weekend, John Piper provides some questions to ask when preparing for marriage. Enjoy!
Theology
* What do you believe about…everything?
* Perhaps read through the Desiring God Affirmation of Faith to see where each other is on various biblical doctrines.
* Discover how you form your views. What is the reasoning-believing process? How do you handle the Bible?
Worship and Devotion
* How important is corporate worship? Other participation in church life?
* How important is it to be part of a small accountability/support group?
* What is the importance of music in life and worship?
* What are your daily personal devotional practices? Prayer, reading, meditation, memorization.
* What would our family devotions look like? Who leads out in this?
* Are we doing this now in an appropriate way: praying together about our lives and future, reading the Bible together?
Husband and Wife
* What is the meaning of headship and submission in the Bible and in our marriage?
* What are expectations about situations where one of you might be alone with someone of the opposite sex?
* How are tasks shared in the home: cleaning, cooking, washing dishes, yard work, car upkeep, repairs, shopping for food, and household stuff?
* What are the expectations for togetherness?
* What is an ideal non-special evening?
* How do you understand who and how often sex is initiated?
* Who does the checkbook—or are there two?
Children
* If and when, should we have children? Why?
* How many?
* How far apart?
* Would we consider adoption?
* What are the standards of behavior?
* What are the appropriate ways to discipline them? How many strikes before they’re…whatever?
* What are the expectations of time spent with them and when they go to bed?
* What signs of affection will you show them?
* What about school? Home school? Christian school? Public school?
Lifestyle
* Own a home or not? Why?
* What kind of neighborhood? Why?
* How many cars? New? Used?
* View of money in general. How much to the church?
* How do you make money decisions?
* Where will you buy clothes: Department store? Thrift store? In between? Why?
Entertainment
* How much money should we spend on entertainment?
* How often should we eat out? Where?
* What kind of vacations are appropriate and helpful for us?
* How many toys? Snowmobile, boat, cabin?
* Should we have a television? Where? What is fitting to watch? How much?
* What are the criteria for movies and theater? What will our guidelines be for the kids?
Conflict
* What makes you angry?
* How do you handle your frustration or anger?
* Who should bring up an issue that is bothersome?
* What if we disagree both about what should be done, and whether it is serious?
* Will we go to bed angry at each other?
* What is our view of getting help from friends or counselors?
Work
* Who is the main breadwinner?
* Should the wife work outside the home? Before kids? With kids at home? After kids?
* What are your views of daycare for children?
* What determines where you will locate? Job? Whose job? Church? Family?
Friends
* Is it good to do things with friends but without spouse?
* What will you do if one of you really likes to hang out with so and so and the other doesn’t?
Health and Sickness
* Do you have, or have you had any, sicknesses or physical problems that could affect our relationship? (Allergies, cancer, eating disorders, venereal disease, etc.)
* Do you believe in divine healing and how would prayer relate to medical attention?
* How do you think about exercise and healthy eating?
* Do you have any habits that adversely affect health?
Weekend Update…8/8
As you may or may not know, we (Me, Meghan, Andrew, Gabriel) are in Colorado Springs, CO for Tyler Dixon’s Wedding this weekend. The wedding is in a few hours at Cathedral Pines Lodge. Rehearsal went well yesterday and wedding is today. Should be a fun time. As you think of them, pray for Tyler and Melanie as they begin their new life together.
Tomorrow, back home at Crestview, Josh Seachris will be filling in, continuing his series through Ecclesiastes. I don’t have it in front of me, but I believe Josh told me that his sermon would be from Ecclesiastes 3 on the Sovereignty of God.
In the evening, the church will continue in worship meeting in small groups to discuss our unity of purpose and how that connects us to one another from Philippians 1:27-30. Hope the weekend goes well there.
Pastors Need Heart Work Too…
My life really resonated with Thabiti’s recent post on Pride and Preaching. Here’s an excerpt…
oh! how often the heart craves to hear that good report, that positive appraisal of “our” sermon and preaching. And, oh! how often we want to preach for God’s glory and all the while “be known” for preaching for God’s glory. Pride is sneaky, and the preacher is as vulnerable to it as everyone else.
These are great words and counsel. Too often we can forget that before we can boldly thunder God’s Word, we must humbly receive the correction that Word thunders in us. Pray that I would model this kind of humility for the people God’s entrusted to me.
Josh Harris on Correction.
Earlier this week, Tony Reinke did a post on Josh Harris’ sermon from this past Lord’s Day. The sermon, Lady Wisdom’s Food and Drink, was based on Proverbs 9:1-18.
I had a chance to listen to this excellent sermon today and was freshly convicted about responding to correction. I think all of us in the church would benefit from this sermon. Here’s a summary from Reinke’s post on the spectrum of responses to correction:
The Wise—(1) Loves correction. (2) Pursues correction.
The Growing—(3) Appreciates correction. (4) Begrudgingly accepts correction.
The Simple—(5) Is open-minded to correction. (6) Is indifferent towards correction.
The Fool—(7) Is annoyed by correction. (8) Judges those who correct.
The Scoffer—(9) Hates correction.
Now, today, Josh has posted a PDF outlining a Correction and Encouragement Evaluation. Take advantage of this great resource and see if you don’t grow in wisdom and the fear of the Lord.
Biblical Parenting – Infant to Age 5
One of Covenant Life Church‘s pastors, Brian Chesemore, gave 2 talks last fall on parenting those aged infant through age 5.
Biblical Principles of Parenting (Part 1) – Audio and PDF
Training, Discipline and The Rod (Part 2) – Audio and PDF
In our church, we have a burgeoning nursery ministry and many parents in this age group. I hope you can take advantage of these excellent resources.
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