Well the guys at the SMP are at it again. For those who don’t know the SMP is now private but the discussion is still as open and edifying as ever. If you have been involved in the past or were a lurker who would love to join in now go to www.simplemindedpreacher.com. Make sure you accept the guidelines and hit apply and if your like me you will experience the same sensation Charlie did when he found the “Golden” ticket.
Archive for Ministry Helps
Where are you going?
Well,
It should come as no surprise to me that people will leave a church. It has happened from the beginning of time and will continue until after the 1K reign. Lifeway did a recent survey, in this they listed 6 reasons (as if there were only 6).
- Poor leadership
- Different Style
- Specific Program
- Disillusionment
- Inner Hurts
- Church Size Read the rest of this entry »
Are you for real???
Well we have adopted a new saying at out church and it is one that i hope we can stick with “Make it Real!!!” We live in a world of virtual everything, with plastic people and false pretenses. Jesus Christ came to be real, John would say He is the “Living Word”. Jesus sought to keep it real, He was real with His family, His disciples, and even His accusers. So I ask you (or maybe I am just aksing myself) “Why is it so hard to keep it real?” Read the rest of this entry »
I now pronounce you Family & Church!
Church, the Koinonia, the body, a family all mean the same to me. In case you didn’t know the church I call home doesn’t have a membership per se. I mean we want everyone to feel at home and fellowship and invest their lives into our body but we don’t have a formal membership regiment. And as some of you know there are churches where membership is everything, very similar to wedding vows. As I write this my only disclaimer is that I am not here speaking to a regular, everyday churchgoer, I am specifically speaking to those who have accepted the call (mantle) of leadership. Read the rest of this entry »
There is no such thing as “FREE” Porn
Please check out the article on the Phoenix Preacher. BrianD has struck a chord in relation to a silent and stealthy epidemic which plagues our society today. Pornography is an epidemic of massive proportions which if allowed to go unchecked can and will ruin the lives of those involved with it and anyone around them. This post has inspired me to pray about having an accountability group within my church, I really like the X3 watch program and think it would be a great tool to use. Ultimately the only way that we can overcome this addiction is through honesty, prayer, and a realization that as Paul would say “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”, and also “Set your mind on things above”. If we through the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit can do this I think we will find ourselves living no longer under the condemnation and slavery that is brought about buy this “secret” sin.
God works in mysterious ways
Well I started looking out at the Blog world today and stirred up a little discussion over on the SMP.
**WARNING: The following is not for the softhearted (just the bitter it seems)**
Out of the ashes of the Phoenix Preacher rose this thread.
Which led me to the discussion with this blogger. As you read the comments made please pray that this will be an open door for God to continue to speak to someone who He has been speaking to for a long time. Also please as are so many continue to be praying for Bryon Mondok and his family
And now for something completely different
The SMP has had some stimulating discussion on the Holy Spirit and His role in our lives. I think that coupled with the awesome article on Mark Driscoll’s blog by John Piper, has been such a blessing for me. As I have been following the discussion and reading the article I was thinking this is exactly the message I want to send to those I disciple and serve alongside. Everything we do should be done heartily as unto the Lord, and that nothing is worth doing unless we are going to do it by His Spirit.
