Sometimes there are blog articles that really get you thinking. Nathaniel Bickford’s article, “Solutions?” is just that kind of piece. Honestly, I’ve thought along his lines for awhile, but I couldn’t help noticing how it grabbed the attention of so many of you.
Read MoreThere is a joke that I have heard and, admittedly, said, many times within our denomination: “The primary qualification for any board position is saying yes.” It is certainly in jest, but often stems from the frequent frustration caused by the difficulties of finding candidates for our many board positions.
Read MoreLet’s talk about making assumptions, and why that’s bad. Especially concerning the people sitting around you in the church pews.
Read MoreA Case for Biblical Egalitarianism: Part Two
Read MoreEgalitarianism. Otherwise known as - being in support of women in ministry and women holding positions of spiritual authority.
Read MoreSo I attended a house church.
This was brought about by what had become the routine invitation by an acquaintance. My excuses for not attending finally felt uncomfortable enough that I accepted. I had no real experience with the conduct of house churches, and at the time my life had generally improved having worked towards a habit of not having an opinion, the labor of which being most directed towards events like church. By the time I had found a use for thinking charitably.
Read MorePastors and churches have been forced into new territory over the last year as COVID-19 restrictions have greatly diminished or eliminated the local church’s ability to assemble for times of worship, fellowship and preaching. Looking for ways to minister to flocks they couldn’t meet with, many, perhaps most, pastors quickly found themselves somewhere they never thought they would be – online. To their credit, these pastors have quickly and nimbly adapted to using new technology for ministry, most notably in the Sunday morning worship service.
Read More“Why is there so much inconsistency within the Advent Christian denomination when it comes to the ordination of women?”
This question came to mind recently while watching a live podcast episode of Bible Banter that had Dr. Mark Woolfington on as a guest for the topic of discussion: Ordination Standards.
The broad discussion was centered around what ordination standards are in place currently, what should change, and what is needed in ordination standards for Advent Christians. As I was listening and watching, I made a comment about the need for consistency in ordination standards, which led to more discussion on the need for a commonly identified theological foundation in order to build more consistent ordination standards.
Thinking about the inconsistent ordination standards, methods, processes, and practices got me thinking…
Read More“Are these practical ministry courses really necessary?”
This was the question that I asked throughout college and seminary. In college, I was a Biblical Studies major, and I was able to get out of preaching classes since I was not a Pastoral Ministries major. I didn’t have any practical ministry courses in college, but that was a different story in seminary. When I got to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I could not get out of the three required preaching classes, the required “mentored ministry” classes/credits (I had to be actively involved in ministry in some way, with a mentor to supervise me), and the practical ministry courses.
Needless to say, in the beginning I was upset.
Read MoreJust over one-third of the way through the fall a holiday makes its annual appearance. For some it is a night of masquerade, mystery and the thrill of trick-or-treat, or harmless pranks. For others it is a night of spiritual significance, both good and bad; and for still others it holds nothing at all. That holiday is Halloween, October 31st.
Read MoreWe. Are. Not. Walmart. Greeters. We are not here to smile and wave and hand out shiny stickers.
Read MoreTweet tweet. Tweet tweet.
Welcome to 21st century American Christianity, a cacophonous medley of accusation, insinuation, and ultimately, distraction.
Read MoreWe never thought we would be here. More than a month has passed and our church buildings remain shuttered, the members of the Body of Christ scattered and isolated from one another. Yes, on the basis of our duty to love one another and our neighbors, it is has been justified. Yes, God has been at work in the Body, revealing our weaknesses and idols, forging us in the flames of hardship to acquire a strength heretofore unknown. Yes, this whole season has the makings of a fast, if we would but embrace that aspect.
Read More· I am weak, but He is strong. Camp is exhausting, but God never sleeps.
· Campmeetings are sweet and wonderful and used by the Lord in unique ways, yet are no substitute for local churches through which God is carrying His mission forward in this world….
Read MoreI have become accustomed to the indoctrination. Truly, I have.
Read MoreWhy are leaders always so shocked when they begin a new initiative only to discover there is “equal and opposite reaction”?
Read MoreIn articles across the web one finds titles like, “Overcoming Spiritual Inertia in Your Church,” and the like as though all inertia is bad (i.e. not changing is a good thing if “change” means compromise with the world!). Typically, only the first part of Newton is cited. Then the argument is made that the church is a ‘body at rest’ that needs us, pastors/leaders, to get it going and keep it moving. Such is most certainly…
Read MoreIf getting out of the way is of first importance to remove friction and let God’s church burst forth, our main job thereafter becomes about either speeding it up, slowing it down (for good reason), or changing its direction.
Read MoreWhen we speak of the church as a spiritual “force” we mean to borrow from the physical world in hopes of deducing principles and perspective for the modern church[…]some churches, like the boulder, have been sitting around for a long time to the chagrin of their pastors and leaders, yet, if the Spirit can add the velocity needed, that same church could become a powerhouse for the Gospel.
Read MoreWhere are all our missionaries? As we come to the end of the second decade of the 2000s, we have zero full-time missionaries from North America serving through Advent Christian General Conference’s Department of International Missions. Zero!
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