Debunking Megachurch Myths
Especially the One About Sheep Swapping
Yes, there are some terrible megachurches. Just like there are some terrible churches that run 125 every week. But my job, and yours, is not to indiscriminately cast stones at every church that happens to be, or not to be, a certain size. So this week inadvertently turned into Megachurch Week on the blog.... Continue Reading
Considering a Call Amidst the Clamor of Bigger is Better
Do not despise the day of small things for in the small things God’s glory is magnified.
We may come to believe that our ministries are only important if they are reaching a large number of people. We are tempted to believe that a pastorate can only be considered greatly effective if there are great multitudes hearing it. We think those pastors who are the greatest are those who have produced the... Continue Reading
“Lincoln” – My Complaints, Part II
Who is the real hero of abolition in the United States? Is it Abraham Lincoln? Hmm
My biggest complaint with Spielberg’s Lincoln is that it gives the impression that one great, pure man brought about “the greatest measure of the nineteenth century.” The reality is that while most of the country followed Lincoln’s lead, Lincoln was following the lead of runaway slaves, free blacks and abolitionists. And none of this would... Continue Reading
The Moral Elephant in Black America’s Room
What would happen if moral virtue hailed supreme in low-income black neighborhoods?
One has to wonder how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would respond to the state of black America in 2013. From the nonsense that regularly spews from the mouth of rappers like Lil Wayne to the black-on-black violence that continues to plague many black urban and rural neighborhoods, we are moving further away from King’s... Continue Reading
The Creedal Imperative
A review of Carl Trueman's book
Apparently, this book is too cool for a subtitle. Carl Trueman has a market on cool by rebelling against cool. Especially skinny jeans. But I digress. I’m thinking something like, “The Indicatives are Imperative.” But that’s just me. Does your church catechize or teach with creeds? Sure it does. Trueman makes the case that all... Continue Reading
The Senior Adult Dilemma, Part 2
If we want to reduce the amount of stress and heartache experienced both by church leaders and seniors a modified approach to discipleship is needed
Far from “callous disregard” for seniors’ concerns, those entrusted with spiritual leadership should help seniors see their true needs, learn to trust God instead of routines, and continue to press on toward the goal of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. In my last post I explored a few issues involved with... Continue Reading
A Tempted Savior Is A Helpful Savior
Because Jesus suffered and was tempted, He is perfectly suited to help us in our temptations.
Jesus suffered like no one else. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He felt the loneliness of being abandoned by his family and the utter grief of being abandoned by the Father. He had a real human body that was racked with pain and sickness. He had a real back that... Continue Reading
A Tiny Lending Library With A Very Big Heart
Holly Pelton, one of the founders, is wife of TE Corey Pelton, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Travelers Rest
Last spring, a neighbor brought over a USA TODAY article about Little Free Library and said, “You look like people who would want to do this,” Pelton recalled the neighbor saying. They used material from their home renovation, including cabinet doors for the sides and tin for the roof. Pelton makes wind chimes out of... Continue Reading
What Are “Dead Works”?
Unless we have been washed in the blood of Christ, all our good deeds are worthless, useless, vain, and dead
These works are lethal because the thing that most keeps people from Christ is the belief that they can be good without Him. Their lives may be filled with good deeds in the eyes of men, but such works are not necessarily good in the eyes of God. Unfortunately, many have been led astray by... Continue Reading
The World Hates You!
We have become members of the Kingdom of Heaven, and that means we are automatically at odds with the world.
Because the world first hated Christ. If we just look at the number of times that John talks about how Jesus was not received, or rejected or hated or threatened with death, we see that the world absolutely despises our Savior. The rejection is complete. I know that there are those who like to say... Continue Reading