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Category Archives: Church Growth
Rick and Barack
Much ink has been spilled about Rick Warren and Barack Obama. Warren is trying as usual to play both sides of the aisle, none too successfully at the moment. I’m not sure if this all about grandstanding and self-promotion, or … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Politicaddiction
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Fundamentally organic and mysterious
[Church growth proponents] apply industrial and mechanical models to something that is fundamentally organic and mysterious, the Body of Christ. Modern ideas about church growth stem directly from business techniques… –Recovering Mother Kirk, p. 45. The church does not need … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth
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Sterilized Christianity
Come on, Pastor, they’re just meeting market needs. You’re not going to grow churches or radio stations if you don’t give the people what they want to hear! “Sterilized” is actually a good term for it.
Posted in Church Growth
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An incredible sinless life
As we age, God shows us more how we are, in the end, unprofitable servants (Luke 17:10). As Lewis said, “All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you; I’ve never had a selfless thought since I was born.” Any godliness … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Glory!
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Ring the bells now or wring your hands later
Baylyblog is stirring the waters again with Carolyn Custis “two last names” James. Pastor Gleason has followed suit. Why all this whining about pastorettes and deaconesses? Moody would’ve asked us to focus on winning souls. Today’s leaders might ask us … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Feminism, History, Ills
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A New Year’s Thought
As Chrsitians, we believe that God has revealed Himself in His word. The Bible is a revelation of what we need to know. It doesn’t tell us everything about everything, but it tells us, in the words of the Westminster … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Feminism, Ills, Politicaddiction
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Opposites attract
We have been told that we have to make the Church attractive to the man outside, and the idea is to become as much like him as we can. There were certain popular padres during the first world war who … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth
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How’s this for chutzpah?
Check out the ad that Pastor Timmons ran across (from a local non-denominational church) and the scolding response from that church’s pastor. Unbelievable.
Posted in Church Growth
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Some unfocused thoughts on church music
In the worship service it has long been during the music where I’ve struggled hardest to worship. I would much rather hear a professional musician play the organ than hear five praise band amateurs try to keep time and play … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Ills
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A real spiritual legacy
Ron Gleason asks some good questions: How long should it take before a Presbyterian Church in America church or church plant actually ends up looking Presbyterian? If it is true that both the mega-church and Emergent conversations are bankrupt, why … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth
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The heyday of non-denominationalism
Even in small towns, there appears to be a shift afoot. People who once attended moderate-to-liberal mainline churches are leaving to attend non-denominational ones. Mainline denominations have done their best to assist this with their liberal gibberish. Is this migration … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth
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The good shepherd
PCA Pastor Ron Gleason writes about the neglected evangelical practice of pastors visiting the congregation in their homes as “an office bearer in a true congregation of Jesus Christ.” How different this is than the megachurch philosophy that sees the … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth
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Luther’s Church Growth plan
I simply taught, preached, wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such … Continue reading
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Jesus in the parables
Ask a fellow citizen what he thinks of Jesus, and the answer will likely be that Jesus was a good man who wouldn’t harm a mouse. Read the Parables, though, and one thing you’ll notice is a recurrence of martial … Continue reading
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Evangelicalism Divided
Iain Murray’s Evangelicalism Divided teaches on every page. Murray was born on that precious stone set in the silver sea. In the best English way, he confronts error firmly and yet gently. His knowledge of Scripture and fear of the … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth
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Signs of a true church
Following on the last post, this helpful study of the seven churches of the Revelation by author Bob DeWaay sums up the key virtues that Christ sees in a true church: Overcoming & maintaining one’s confession in the face of … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth
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King of the Hill
Some funny satire. “Day by Day…” Isn’t leaving your church over pews kind of old school, though?
Posted in Church Growth, Worship
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Juvenile culture: a semi-serious rant
As a public service, I have pinpointed the acme of American popular music. It occurred in 1956 during the final 1/3 of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” An oboe solo (!) resolves to a joyous, Riddle-led orchestra, and a … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Culture
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Wilson and McLaren
Doug Wilson is busy pummelling “A Generous Orthodoxy” chapter-by-chapter with a rubber truncheon, and he is making brilliant observations in the process. To restate a few of them in Bunyan-speak: “I’m Mr. Worldly-wiseman, meet my brothers: Mr. Holier-than-thou, Mr. Garble, … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth
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Bring back the organ
As a recent Internetmonk posting noted, there is a basic issue of musical competence in our churches. You once had one music professional on the organ, and that instrument covered the bases. Now, unless perhaps you attend a megachurch, you … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Worship
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What happened to content in worship?
One of the popular trends that continues to build steam is the dominance of “contemporary” worship services. Pop music and a casual atmosphere have replaced the pipe organs and reverence as the church has sought cultural relevance. Many contemporary services … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Worship
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