The American Church is losing the war. I’m not thinking of the cultural war, or the war against abortion, or the war against same-sex marriage, or the war being waged against the faith of our children, or the war for respect among the elites in the media. I’m thinking of a much more important war … More The American Church is Losing the War.
I am currently taking our church leaders (we call them elders) through a study on the biblical concept of an elder’s roles and duties. This morning we met at 6:15 for prayer and study, working through the last pages of lesson 3 in the Biblical Eldership Mentor’s Guide by Alexander Strauch and Richard Swartley. It … More The Spontaneous Prayer: How We Learn to Pray
Or, “A Case of Disappering Prayer” “The feature that is supposed to distinguish Christian churches, Christian people, and Christian gatherings is the aroma of prayer. It doesn’t matter what your tradition or my tradition is. The house is not ours anyway; it is the Father’s. Does the Bible ever say anywhere from … More Does Your Church Pray?
Reading with the Pastor Proverbs 2; Psalm 63 and Hebrews 11 Reading Proverbs 2 today with the echo of yesterday’s chapter 1 and a glance across the page at chapters 3 and 4, I am struck by the concern Solomon displays for his son’s growth in wisdom and discernment. 1:8 “Hear, my son … More What Does a Thirsty Soul Want?
“Visit a church on Sunday morning—almost any will do—and you will likely find a congregation comfortably relating to a deity who fits nicely within precise doctrinal positions, or who lends almighty support to social crusades, or who conforms to individual spiritual experiences. But you will not likely find much awe or sense of mystery. The … More The Trivialization of God (and the Church)
6 I am weary with my sighing; . Every night I make my bed swim, . I dissolve my couch with my tears. 7 My eye has wasted away with grief; . It has become old because of all my adversaries. (Psalm 6, NASB) No, David didn’t weep … More I Am Weary with My Weeping
John Geiger has served as the headmaster at Eastwood Christian School in Montgomery, Alabama. John is both a former seminary classmate and also a former student of mine and now he is dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease. I remember John as a young man with an easy smile, a sensitive heart and an active, thoughtful … More Reflections of a Dying Christian
In response to an interview question, “What is a great lover?” the Actor Ricardo Montalban, famously replied, “A great lover is someone who can satisfy one woman her entire lifetime and be satisfied with one woman his entire lifetime. It is not someone who goes from woman to woman; any dog can do that.” Montalban … More Testing Your Manhood
We are always seeking to improve our process of making disciples. It is the task of the church so it makes sense that we would want to do it well so that the Savior receives all the glory and honor and worship that He deserves. But there are other reasons to do this well. Reasons to Do Discipleship Well Since we are stewards of the gospel and ambassadors to the world for the Kingdom of God we want to do spiritual formation and … More What Does it Mean to “Raise the Bar on What it Means to be a Disciple” in Your Church?
We don’t love what we will not sacrifice for. But God . . . “But God demonstrated His love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8 Be intoxicated with His love. And then go love everyone you know in His name.
