I read a piece from Jeff Deyo on worship, about now focus on being a worship leader, but a lead worshiper. That you shouldn't focus on making the people worship, or causing them to worship, but on worshiping yourself in a way that people can follow your lead and can worship. (http://higherpraise.com/worship/worship_beingaleadworshiper.htm) I think this applied to more than just worship, but I have become convinced beyond measure that this is exactly what Christian leadership should look like. There are so many books, articles, resources and trainings out there about Christian leadership, … [Read more...] about A New Paradigm For Christian Leadership
Archives for 2013
Great Expectations
Leopold Sambou is the grandson of a Jola chief, welcomed into the village of Moulomp, Senegal, into a family of honored tribal sages. He was raised to sacrifice to the spirits of the forest. Each week brought another sacred ceremony, another occasion for his family and friends to inebriate themselves on palm wine and stagger around the village in a stupor by nightfall. One day Leopold, by pure happenstance as far as he knew, tuned a radio into a Christian station. He was intrigued by what he heard, so he listened. The Lord used those radio broadcasts to bring Leopold to Himself. And so, … [Read more...] about Great Expectations
The Cycle of Biblical Ignorance
Last week Dave Miller posted an article asking Whatever Happened to Bible Study? In the comments of that post Dave shares a story: I was the pastor of a church in Virginia and instead of using the quarterlies (which at that point I had a very low opinion of), I was just using the Bible to teach Sunday School. The deacons chastised me and demanded that I use the quarterly to teach Sunday School. Adam G. followed with a story of his own: Had a very similar experience in north-central North Carolina. Our Sunday School class ALWAYS studied the Bible verse by verse and NEVER used the … [Read more...] about The Cycle of Biblical Ignorance
How NOT to Leave a Church (by Jeremy Vanatta)
Jeremy Vanatta is the pastor and an elder of Southside Baptist Church in Lebanon, TN. He holds a PhD in New Testament from Mid-America BTS. He blogs at The Threshing Floor, where this article originally appeared. Here’s an article that I’ve been wanting to write for years, but there’s never seemed to be a good time to do so because I always felt like someone who has left the church recently might think I’m talking about them. But I’ve come to realize that I’ll never be able to write this article if I continue to worry like this because there’s always people coming to and leaving the … [Read more...] about How NOT to Leave a Church (by Jeremy Vanatta)
Revive Us Again
There have been times throughout history and throughout America’s history when God has given visited us with great revivals. Usually, these are kindled in a small place in a small way, then just seem to ignite until God’s presence is manifest among his people and his power is displayed. In these great revivals, the church is restored and souls are awakened to their need for Jesus Christ and the salvation he brings. The lost are saved and saved are reignited in their passion for Jesus Christ and a nation is redirected; its march toward spiritual decay arrested, or at least stalled for a … [Read more...] about Revive Us Again
Pray For Your Son: 31 Day Challenge
In August over 2,000 men prayed for their wives. We saw the Lord do (and continue to do) many things in our lives. It is not only our wives that we are called to pray for. Men and women alike are called to pray for their sons. Therefore, on October 1st we will be launching the Pray For Your Son: 31 Day Challenge. Just as with the P4W challenge this will help our prayers to have a FACE: Focus—I need to know what specifically to pray for my son or I’ll just keep praying the same things over and over again. Accountability—I need a group of people to keep me accountable and remind me … [Read more...] about Pray For Your Son: 31 Day Challenge
When “Friendly Fire” Isn’t so Friendly (by Joel Rainey)
Joel Rainey is the Director of Missions at Mid-Maryland Baptist Association, an adjunct professor at Capital Bible Seminary and blogs at Themelios (Twitter - @joelrainey). This post was originally published at his site. Nearly two decades ago, Pastor Trey Rhodes was sitting in a meeting of other pastors who were considering the sponsorship of a new church. The local Baptist Association had called this meeting to discuss "concerns" that several of the pastors had relative to this new church proposal. Church planting wasn't nearly as "cool" back then as it is now, and in fact was held in … [Read more...] about When “Friendly Fire” Isn’t so Friendly (by Joel Rainey)
Just 4% of SBC Churches Give 50% of All Cooperative Program Gifts (by William Thornton)
William remains the SBC Plodder, when he is not out fishing. SBC Life has some interesting Cooperative Program statistics in the current issue. Under a short piece entitled, "Interesting (and Important) Facts about the CP?" one finds this: 2,025 churches reported giving a combined amount that equals 50 percent of all Cooperative Program gifts given through the state Baptist conventions — more than 240 million dollars ($240,704,503).*Among churches that gave this amount are: 89—churches with more than 2,000 in worship attendance 56—churches with 1,501 to 2,000 in worship … [Read more...] about Just 4% of SBC Churches Give 50% of All Cooperative Program Gifts (by William Thornton)
Whatever Happened to Bible Study?
Back in my day... I know, all you young whippersnappers cringe when us old fogeys start talking about how it used to be, about the good old days when we walked five miles to school barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways. And I know that we often see with the fuzzy eyes of nostalgia. In fact, I'm convinced that there are many ways in which the church of today is healthier and better than the church of my youth. A true curmudgeon would never admit such a thing, of course, so I've not arrived at that place yet. Having said that, I'd like to point out a modern trend that I find slightly … [Read more...] about Whatever Happened to Bible Study?
What’s the Difference Between Great Faith and Little Faith?
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen," (Heb 11:1). Everybody has faith in something, even the most diehard skeptic. The question is whether or not that faith is in the right place and of the right amount. The Scripture tells us that the right place for our faith to be in is in God, particularly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus himself calls people to have faith in God. Sometimes their faith in God is great, and other times their faith is little. What is the difference between the two? This question is … [Read more...] about What’s the Difference Between Great Faith and Little Faith?