Thursday, June 30, 2022

How Churches Can Walk With the Sexual Abuse Survivor


As we walk alongside the sexual abuse survivor, the greatest truth we can patiently and faithfully impart is a robust theology of justice and hope that are only in our Heavenly Father.

By Jacki King

Have you ever been “sad-mad”? I know it isn’t a technical term, but it’s one I’ve used often with our three boys. Several years ago, we had to say goodbye to our beloved family dog, Saige. As we broke the news of the day’s event, my oldest (8 at the time) burst into giant tears. And our middle son (6) screamed in anger, “This isn’t right!”

I’ve thought of that moment often over these last few years in leadership and ministry. Grief, loss, injustice, and pain seem to hit us all differently. And lately, it seems like the brokenness of this planet is leaving us in a perpetual state of being “sad-mad.”

As I, like many of you, have read reports of grievous sins of sexual abuse and personally walked with women who have similar stories of trauma, this “sad-mad” feeling has left me with questions. When and how do I respond? What do I say? And most importantly, what do I do in these moments? I’m still learning what this looks like in my own life. But I’ve found, in many ways, the journey of lament is the path we need to take forward with a sexual abuse survivor. Read More

Children's Ministry Is Essential for Your Church's Success


By Dale Hudson

If you serve in children's ministry, you are serving in the most strategic ministry in the church.

If your church is going to grow, it will be because your children's ministry starts growing.

If you emphasize the importance of children's ministry, you will have people step up and serve in children's ministry.

The most important physical space in your church, is your children's ministry space.

Remember this.... Read More

Image Credit: relevantchildrensministry.com


The Mission of Your Church Will Shape How You Think


By Jonathan Leeman

What Kind of Church Will You Join?

A church’s mission impacts what kind of church you will join. Different churches will shape your conscience, your spiritual life, and your worship differently. What your church counts as “normal, faithful Christianity,” you will soon count as “normal, faithful Christianity.” Spend a few years in a church where the preacher and the members emphasize topic X, and you will most likely soon emphasize topic X. If they talk about Y, you’ll talk about Y.

One of your most important spiritual goals in life, therefore, should be to place yourself and your family in a church whose mission reflects the teaching and burdens of Scripture.

Yet look closely. I can point you to four churches that post the same statements of faith on their websites. But walk into these four churches on a Sunday morning, or look at their budgets, or watch their pastors’ social media feeds, and you’ll discover these churches follow different playbooks. Read More

Image Credit: Crossway

The Best Method For Discipling Believers In A Thriving Small Church


Could mentoring be part of the answer to the current wave of people – especially younger people – leaving the church in record numbers? The possibility is worth considering.

By Karl Vaters

“What discipleship curriculum do you recommend for small churches?”

I get asked that question a lot. And my answer almost always disappoints the questioner.

“Whatever works in your context.”

Here’s why I can answer so casually about such an important church subject. Read More
Discipleship is more than attending church, reading the Bible, and praying. It includes serving as Jesus' representatives and ambassadors to our community and the world,  engaging non-believers in spiritual conversations and pointing them to Jesus, discipling those whom God brings to a living faith in Jesus, and living our lives according to Jesus' teaching and example. When matching a new believer with a mentor, we need to be sure that the mentor meets all those requirements. 

What Happened to United Methodists’ Proposal to Split the Denomination?


Before United Methodists could vote on the widely endorsed plan, traditionalists went ahead and launched a new denomination and several representatives of centrist and progressive groups revoked their support.

By Emily McFarlan Miller

It was the thing that was supposed to save the United Methodist Church.

The Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, brokered by 16 United Methodist bishops and advocacy group leaders from across theological divides, outlined a plan to split the mainline Protestant denomination over its disagreement about the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ United Methodists.

But before delegates to the General Conference, the denomination’s global decision-making body, could vote on the widely endorsed protocol, so-called traditionalists went ahead and launched a new denomination, the Global Methodist Church. Read More

Image Credit: Kit Doyle, RNS

New Denomination Urges United Methodists to Walk Out of the Wilderness


The Wesleyan Covenant Association’s 6th annual gathering was broadcast live at dozens of local churches across the country and encouraged churches to move into a new denomination.

By Yonat Shimron

Fourteen United Methodists gathered in a sanctuary of a church Saturday (May 7) to watch a daylong broadcast of inspirational sermons from a group of Christians promising to lead them out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land.

The 6th annual gathering of the Wesleyan Covenant Association was broadcast live from Indianapolis to dozens of local churches across the country that are considering leaving the United Methodist Church for a new denomination they said is more orthodox in its adherence to Scripture.

The Global Methodist Church, a new theologically conservative denomination, was formally launched last week, emerging after decades of rancorous debate over the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ United Methodists. The liberal wing of the church would like to extend full rights to LGBTQ people; conservatives adamantly oppose it. Read More

Image Credit: Yonat Shimron, RNS
A similar appeal was made to delegates to the inaugural Provincial Assembly of the Anglican Church in North America by then-Archbishop-Elect Robert Duncan. It was darkly suggested that those who did not vote in favor of the proposed Constitution and Canons of the ACNA would be leading the "traditionalist" Anglicans back to Egypt. As evangelical Anglicans who were Protestant in their beliefs and practices would discover, the Promised Land to which Archbishop-Elect Duncan led them was not a land flowing in milk and honey for them, but only those self-identified Anglicans who were Anglo-Catholic in their beliefs and practices or who had a "three streams, one river" view of the Anglican Church and were receptive to Anglo-Catholic beliefs and practices. 

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Wednesday's Catch: 'Thoughts on Navigating Our Church Effectively in a ‘Moved’ Neighborhood' and More


Being neighborly is a choice, according to Jesus.

Anti-Abortion Movement Faces Internal Divisions after Roe’s Fall
After the Dobbs decision, abortion foes hope to ban abortion where they can and find ‘creative approaches’ like shareholder activism to punish abortion rights supporters.

Pro-Life Black Christians Don’t Focus on Abortion Alone
Overturning Roe v. Wade draws attention to what they’ve known all along: There’s much more to upholding life than banning abortion.

7 Practical Questions to Create Your Best Strategy
To successfully lead change, a smart strategy is always needed.

Three Leadership Practices Every Young Church Leader Should Do Right Now
There are a few practices young church leaders can do right now that will help them grow immediately.

3 Practical Steps to Solve the Student Ministry Volunteer Shortage
The student ministry volunteer shortage magnifies other issues in the church. If this continues, we can expect several undesirable outcomes.

Grand Rapids Church Won’t Remove Gay Deacon, Votes to Appeal Denomination’s Order
Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church was ordered by the denomination to reverse its decision to ordain a deacon in a same-sex marriage. It has refused.

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (June 29, 2022) Is Now Online


All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

While Jesus was here on earth, he went around doing good. As his disciples we are expected to do good deeds too. We are expected to help others and show them kindness whenever we have an opportunity. How are we doing at that?

The Scripture reading for this Wednesday is Galatians 6: 1-10 We harvest what we plant.

The homily is titled “Instruments of God’s Love.”

The link to this Wednesday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/06/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for_29.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Tuesday's Catch: 4 Post-Roe Policies Worth Pushing For


Supporting unborn children requires more than government, but not less.

After Roe, Choose Compassion over Culture War
Now isn’t the time for the church to beat its chest in celebration of a victory in the culture war. This is a moment for us to step up in love.

7 Things You Should Know About Repentance
Few would argue that teaching about the doctrine of repentance is lacking in our churches and Christian organizations. And if there is going to be revival and renewal in our churches today, it will be preceded by a clear and robust teaching on this core doctrine.

A Roof over Their Head: Churches Use Tiny Homes for Homeless
Churches across the U.S. are tackling the big question of how to address homelessness in their communities with a small solution: tiny homes.

Technology as a Smokescreen: Cultivating a Spirit of Innovation and Openness to Change in Our Churches
COVID-19 forced churches to pivot quickly to online formats. But in our pivoting, did we actually embrace the changes we were being forced to make? Or did we just go through the motions, awaiting a time when we could go “back to normal?”

3 Ways to Raise Up Teen Gospel Activists
Teenagers can be equipped to be a powerful force for the gospel if we adjust our thinking.

FBI Raids Churches Near Military Bases; Former Members Warn of Cult
In three states last week, the FBI conducted raids of properties connected to the House of Prayer Christian Church. The organization, which also uses the name Assembly of Prayer, is active near U.S. military bases and for years has faced allegations of cult-like activity.

Monday, June 27, 2022

Three Reasons Churches Resist Change


By Gavin Adams

We often hear that people resist change. I’m not sure that’s entirely accurate.

We’ll tackle that partial truth another time. For now, let’s focus on why pastors and churches are so resistant to change. Read More

A Church Without Evangelism


By Thom Rainer

A church without evangelism becomes a church that does not make disciples,

Because there are no new Christians to disciple.

A church without evangelism becomes a church where members fight over their preferences,

Because the members do not focus on reaching those who are not followers of Christ.

A church without evangelism becomes a church without true fellowship.

Because true fellowship not only cares for its own, but it looks beyond its own. Read More

Sunday, June 26, 2022

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (June 26, 2022) Is Now Online

 


All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

How serious are we about following Jesus?

The Scripture reading for this Sunday is Luke 9:51-62 The Cost of Following Jesus.

The homily is titled “No Part-Time Disciples.”

The link to this Sunday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/06/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday_26.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Saturday, June 25, 2022

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (June 25, 2022) Is Now Online

 


All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

Many Christians adopt a rule of live as a way of helping them to become like Jesus and do what Jesus did. John Wesley’s three general rules that he prescribed for local Methodist societies in the early days of Methodism offer a basis for such a rule of life.

The Scripture reading for this Saturday is Galatians 5: 1, 13-25 Freedom in Christ.

The homily is titled “Harm No One and Do No Evil.”

The link to this Saturday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/06/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday_25.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Friday, June 24, 2022

Friday's Catch: 'Supreme Court Overturns Roe' and More


Supreme Court Overturns Roe 
On Friday (June 24), the United States Supreme Court ruled to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, thereby revoking abortion as a constitutionally protected right and sending the decision on abortion legislation back to the individual states.

6 Times to Talk to Your Guests
...there are strategic times during the worship service when we should especially address our guests. When we do so, we serve not only our guests, but our members and regular attendees as well. Addressing guests reminds a growing church that there are newcomers in the midst, and encourages a plateaued or declining church of our evangelistic responsibility.

Pastoral Priorities: Returning to the One Thing
As you lead your congregation to maintain an unwavering focus on Jesus and His gospel mission, here are four pastoral priorities to remember.

The Purpose of Jesus' Most Perplexing Miracle
On the surface, it makes no sense to me why Jesus would kill a tree for failing to bear fruit out of season. But I believe if we explore the meaning of this miracle more, it will become a transformative miracle, helping us see the purpose of everything Jesus continues to do in our world.

TikTok Evangelism
Here are five things I’ve learned that can be applied to many, if not all, algorithm-based platforms for your ministry....

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Spiritual Warfare and the Lives of Pastors and Church Leaders


By Brandon A. Cox

The struggle is real.

When you drop the phrase spiritual warfare into a casual conversations, you often get mixed reactions.

On the one hand, a lot of people are skeptics when it comes to anything invisible or supernatural. In fact, many people will believe in heaven and angels but choose not to believe in hell or demons.

On the other hand, a lot of people can get downright superstitious about the subject. Everything bad that happens is perceived as a demonic attack.

In the middle are most of the pastors I know, who believe rather strongly in the existence and power of heavenly beings – both angels and demons – that exist all around us in a heavenly, spiritual realm hidden to our eyes and human senses.

And this spiritual realm is not, right now, at peace. It’s a war zone. Read More

3 Ways to Live Humbly Online


It isn't easy, but it is necessary.

By Chris Martin

A lot of us misunderstand humility to be self-hatred. A great quote on this misunderstanding from Rick Warren (often misattributed to C. S. Lewis), goes like this: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” When I was in high school, my student pastor taught us, “Humility is understanding who you are in light of who God is.” I’m not sure if he got that from someone or came up with it himself, but I think it’s helpful.

These two maxims about humility have guided my understanding of the principle throughout my adult life. We are not called to self-hatred. In fact, self-hatred can be a form of pride, as the self is the focus of the thought! The point of humility is to recognize who we are in light of who God is—that is to say, feeble, broken humans—and focus on the good of others rather than the good (or flagellation) of ourselves.

If we are to effectively push back against the darkness of the social internet, we must recognize that pride is integral to so much of the dysfunction we find online. A simple unwillingness to admit wrongdoing undergirds much of the persistent conflict that can make spending time on the social internet emotionally taxing and perpetually discouraging. For all sorts of reasons, the social internet brings out some of the worst in us. Antagonism thrives on the social internet more than protagonism. Conflict drives engagement, content with lots of engagement spreads the quickest, and, thus, conflict is ever-present and inescapable.

How much better might our experiences online be if large groups of people committed to value humility? What if people admitted they were wrong? What if people didn’t let fear lead them to tear others down? What if we encouraged others rather than seeking attention for ourselves?

What is to stop you and me from being the people who start such a movement? How might we demonstrate that humility is valuable through our engagement online? Let’s look at a few ways. Read More

Learning to Listen Well


The keys to getting better at hearing people with humility, love and hope.

By David Bennett

Recently I had the opportunity to attend an open rehearsal with the Oregon Symphony. Now I love to listen to classical music, and because I am from a family of musicians, my ear has been trained to hear the different instruments and melodies and rhythms.

But what amazed me during the rehearsal was the things the conductor could hear, which I did not. He stopped the orchestra again and again, to correct subtleties and nuances that I had missed. In many areas we need to be trained to listen.

Then over the weekend I read that two MIT neuroscientists have discovered that singing evokes a unique response in the human brain. They identified a previously undiscovered group of neurons in the auditory cortex that respond specifically to songs—not to speech, or other sounds, not even instrumental music. Just singing.

We are hardwired by God to listen—in some surprisingly specific ways. And we can be trained to listen better. But we also need the desire to listen. Read More


Pastors Have Clarity on Same-Sex Marriage, Not the Role of LGBTQ+ People in Churches


Although most pastors haven’t been asked to marry a same-sex couple, many have guidelines on where LGBTQ+ people can serve in their churches.

By Marissa Postell

This month marks seven years since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage with its Obergefell v. Hodges decision. Five years later, the 2020 American Community Survey from the United States Census Bureau estimated there were more than 570,000 same-sex married couple households in the United States.

But most of these same-sex couples did not ask a Protestant pastor to marry them. A study from Lifeway Research found 87% of Protestant pastors have never been asked to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony. Of those who have been asked, 9% have been asked within the past five years, while 3% say it’s been over five years since they were asked to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony. At the time of a 2016 study from Lifeway Research, 88% of Protestant pastors had never been asked to perform a same-sex wedding, and 11% had been asked. Read More

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Wednesday's Catch: 'The Case of a Small Church in an Oversized Building' and More


Lewis A. Parks, author of Small on Purpose, describes how smaller congregations can easily squander their last resources for ministry attempting to keep up with the mounting demands of an aging facility. He says such churches must decide for the people of God rather than their present building, before it’s too late.

Is Jesus Safe?
He is not safe, but he is good.

One Surprising Way to Grow in Love
What does the greatest command hinge upon? Love. What will be the defining characteristic of followers of Jesus? Love. What will never pass away, even after faith and hope are gone? Love.

Resisters Are Not the Enemy
While the church should be acting as a positive influence by showing the world how to handle differences, the sad truth is that society is having a much greater influence on the church. How should we respond to resistance?

People Give to People
People give to people. This is a fundamental principle that most in the church have failed to grasp.

Why Pastors Need Hobbies
Pastors may feel hobbies are a waste of time. Yet, studies demonstrate mental and physical health benefits of having a hobby.

5 Ways Senior Pastors Can Affirm the Value of Small Group Leaders
Whether your church is small, medium or large, your senior pastor can do a short list of things that will affirm the value of small group leaders.

7 Things Christians Should Give Up to Reach Unchurched People
So many church leaders (staff and volunteer) struggle to lead beyond the preferences of the church members. And as soon as they try, they get inundated with complaints and angry emails. Too many Christians feel like it’s their right to have a church that caters exactly to their tastes and whims, and millions are paying the price for that (including unchurched people).

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (June 22, 2022) Is Now Online

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

How disciplined are the members and attendees of your church in following Jesus, living their lives according to his teaching and example? How intentional are they in doing the same thing? How much positive impact is your church having upon your community?

The Scripture reading for this Wednesday is 1 Peter 2: 4-12 Called to Be God’s People


The homily is titled “A Disciplined, Intentional Discipleship.”

The link to this Wednesday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/06/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for_22.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Tuesday's Catch: 'Summer Solstice Reminds Us of God’s Grace to All' and More


Summer Solstice Reminds Us of God’s Grace to All
Why it matters that the Lord lets the sun rise on both the evil and on the good.

Here Are Five Summer Tips from a Church Secret Shopper
I stay busy with church secret shopper consultations during the summer, as wise churches prepare for the Fall. Now that Summer has begun, let me give you 5 practical tips to implement at your church so you can prepare for a killer Fall.

5 Ways Pastors Can Take Advantage of Summer
The summer months are coming soon. In most churches, that means lower attendance. With lower attendance comes a bit of a slower pace of ministry. Some churches try to fight this. But maybe, instead of fighting the summer, you should embrace it. Just because ministry is slowing down, doesn’t mean that pastors can’t take advantage of summer to grow their church and themselves.

How Pastors Can Make Their Church Safe for Sexual Abuse Survivors
We want our churches to be places of fruitful ministry for pastors and safety for sexual abuse survivors. May we protect and help them heal better than we have.

4 Ways to Involve Your Small Groups in the Great Commission
If you want your church to balance God’s purposes and grow in a healthy way, your small groups must lead the way.

Supreme Court Rules Against Maine Policy Denying Christian School Aid
Update: Justices say that exempting religious schools amounts to discrimination.

High Court Rules Religious Schools Can Get Maine Tuition Aid
The outcome could fuel a renewed push for school choice programs in some of the 18 states that have so far not directed taxpayer money to private, religious education.

Monday, June 20, 2022

Monday's Catch: 'Lambeth 2022 and African Anglicanism' and More


Lambeth 2022 and African Anglicanism
This article looks, first, at the large number of Africans who will boycott the conference, then at the eclipse of the once central South African Anglican church, then at the new provinces emerging in the most unlikely parts of the continent. Americans and Brits may or may not realize this truth, but to understand the Anglican Communion, we have to start in Africa.

Seven Reasons Churches Are in Denial More Than Ever Today
Why are churches in denial more today than ever? We identified seven reasons.

Of Course We Want Our Church to Grow—We Just Don’t Want to CHANGE
How do you respond when people want a church (or organization) to grow, but not change?

Encourage Your Church to Encourage Each Other
Here are a few ideas to consider if you’re hoping to foster a culture of encouragement in your own local church....

Grappling with the Sacred in Juneteenth’s Celebration of Freedom
With Juneteenth falling on Sunday this year, Christians especially are taking the opportunity to consider the spiritual charge of the day.

At Annual Meeting, Southern Baptists Draw the Line
The SBC has to decide for itself whether it will be smaller and purer or bigger and more accepting.

Sunday, June 19, 2022

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (June 19, 2022) Is Now Online


All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

What are the social divisions in your community? How do they affect your witness to and for Jesus?
 
The Scripture reading for this Sunday is Galatians 3: 23-29 God’s Children Through Faith.

The homily is titled “One in Jesus Christ.”

The link to this Sunday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/06/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday_19.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Saturday, June 18, 2022

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (June 18, 2022) Is Now Online


All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

A faithful God. An unfaithful people. A cluster of grapes.

The Scripture reading for this Saturday is Isaiah 65: 1-9 Judgment and Final Salvation.

The homily is titled “Bad Grapes, Good Grapes.”

The link to this Saturday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/06/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday_18.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

The Royal Law – Love Your Neighbor as Yourself


By Robin G. Jordan

James the Elder, Jesus’ older brother, called the commandment to love one’s neighbor as oneself the “royal law” (James 2:8).

What does it mean to love one’s neighbor as oneself, to love others? Jesus identified loving others as the second greatest commandment, equal in importance to loving God. Loving God and loving others, he taught, summarized the Law and the Prophets and were the essence of true religion.
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 36-40 NLT
Since the early days of Christianity, orthodox Christians have affirmed as one of Jesus’ key teachings what are often called “the Great Commandments.”

Before we look at what it means to love others, let us first take a brief look at what it does not mean.

Loving others does not mean belittling them or looking for their failings, mistakes, and weaknesses, and drawing attention to them. It does not mean passing on untrue reports about them or in other ways attacking or maligning their character. Loving others does not mean telling them lies and half-truths or keeping the truth from them and trying to deceiving them. Loving others does not mean viewing other with disdain and contempt and showing them no respect or courtesy. Loving others does not mean harboring ill-will toward them and nursing grudges against them. Loving others does mean hating and detesting them and wishing them harm. Loving others does not mean letting our negative attitudes and feelings toward others cloud our judgment and control our actions. I could write more but I think that you get the idea.

What then does it mean to love others? In this regard we must look to Jesus for instruction. What Jesus taught and practiced provide us with insight into what he meant.

In examining what Jesus taught and practices, we must not forget that Jesus claimed not just to be an ordinary teacher or even a sage, a person who was wise. Jesus claimed to be God himself fulfilling his promise to instruct his people and to make them his disciples. Jesus did not claim that his teaching was his own but God’s. As he put it, what the Son heard from the Father. For those who are genuinely his followers, what he taught and practiced holds far greater authority than whatever anyone else teaches and practices.

In the third decade of a century in which many who profess to be Christians have become obsessed with politics, political figures, and political causes, we need to bear this critical difference in mind. If we indeed believe that Jesus is the Christ, he holds a far greater claim on our loyalty than anything else in this world.

Among the things that Jesus taught not just his disciples but also the crowds that gathered to hear him was to be merciful toward our fellow human beings as God was merciful toward us, to be kind and forgiving like God. He taught them not to just love those who love them but those whom they consider their enemies, those who despised them and whom they feared, even Roman soldiers who oppressed them, forcing them to carry heavy burdens, stealing their garments, extorting money from them, and otherwise treating them badly. Jesus astonished his disciples and the crowds, telling them that they should do good to their enemies, praying for those who mistreated them, and asking God’s blessing upon those who cursed them. I can imagine his listeners shaking their heads in disbelief and muttering to themselves. “Love the Romans!! He must be out of his mind!!”

Jesus taught that we should treat other people as we would wish to be treated by them. If we wished other people to treat us with compassion, friendliness, forgiveness, generosity, gentleness, kindness, leniency, patience, and respect, we should treat them the way we wanted them to treat us. Jesus encouraged his disciples to be charitable in their judgment of others and to make allowances for them. Before pointing out their faults to them, we should first examine ourselves and deal with our own faults.

When his disciples asked him how many times that they should forgive someone, his response was that they should not put a limit on the number of times that they forgave a particular individual. Jesus taught them to ask God to forgive them as they forgave others when they were praying. He taught them that if they did not forgive other people’s failings, they should not expect God to forgive theirs.

Jesus taught that seeking reconciliation with someone with whom they had experienced a rift came before pursuing their religious duties. They were to make every effort to make peace with that individual and to reestablish friendly relations with them.

When he was questioned who was our neighbor, Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan. In that parable a Samaritan, a member of a people group whom the Jews hated, was the one who had compassion on a Jewish traveler, robbed by bandits, beaten, and left for dead. It was the Samaritan whom Jesus’ questioner was forced to admit acted truly as a neighbor to the injured man.

Jesus also gave his disciples a new commandment, telling them that in keeping this commandment, the world would know that they were his disciples. As he loved them, they were to love each other.

In talking about loving others, Jesus is not talking about a warm fuzzy feeling that comes over us when we think about other people. Rather he is talking about an ongoing attitude that we maintain toward other people. We refuse to give into what it is described as “the negativity effect,” the tendency to think the worst of other people, and to think in all kinds of flawed ways that support this negative view of other people. We charitably assume that they are dearly-loved children of God and therefore should be rightly loved by us too.
As John points to our attention in his first general epistle, those who love God love his children. They show their love for God ‘s children by loving God and by obeying God’s commandments. The commandments to which John is referring is loving one’s neighbor as oneself, loving our fellow disciples with the same kind of love as Jesus, and the other teachings that Jesus gave us.

Loving others is not only an attitude of the mind but also an act of the will. God’s grace working in us enables us to desire to love others and once we have that desire, works with us to keep that desire and to act upon it. We set our hearts and minds on loving others and do not go back. We keep loving them whatever happens. We love them not because they deserve or merit our good will and favor. We love them as God loves us.

Loving others is also an embodiment of what Jesus taught and exemplified. We exhibit in our thoughts, words, and actions those qualities of character that Jesus himself exhibited. We are proof of God’s grace working in humankind and in the world.

5 Major Tips for Your Summer Outreach Programs


The desks have been cleaned and the report cards handed out, but there’s only one thing on every child’s mind—the sound of the last bell that rings out loud and clear, “SUMMER IS HERE!” Yet it’s typically a matter of only a few days until parents hear those dreaded words, “I’m bored.”

And how does the church respond? Some answer by placing a Summer Vacation sign on their children’s ministries door. But when Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me,” he didn’t mean only when school was in session. Summer is when we can minister to kids without the typical challenges and distractions that can be overwhelming during the school year. To reach out to kids and families in this ripe season, use these ideas that really work. Read More

Friday, June 17, 2022

Fridays Catch: '3 Reasons Why Your Church’s Marketing is in Trouble' and More


Your church’s marketing may be in trouble and you’re not aware of it. Unless you have a clear idea of who you are, what you do, and why you do it, then your audience will be confused and your marketing will be ineffective. Here are three reasons why your church’s marketing may be in trouble....

Called to Show Up
Not only do people not want to go back to work, they don’t seem to be wanting to go back to church either.

The Ending of Seminaries as We’ve Known Them

It will take more than right sizing, relocations and reductions to put seminaries on solid ground. They need to rethink seminary education itself.

First-Time Guests at Church: 5 Things You Should Avoid
First-time guests at church are wonderful! But you need to handle them with care. If you’re asking first-time church visitors to do any of these things, you may be unknowingly pushing them away. Worst-case scenario, they might not return.

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Liturgical Folk -- A Musical Resource for Liturgical Worship

 

I came across the Liturgical Folk's album, Matins & Vespers, on youtube.com several months ago while looking for settings of the Phos hilaron and other songs of Evening Prayer. It was an exciting find.

The Liturgical Folk began as a music project centered on the religious poetry of retired ACNA priest Nelson Koscheski set to the folk tunes of songwriter and musician Ryan Flannigan.

You can learn more about the Liturgical Folk at their website at: https://www.liturgicalfolk.com/liturgical-folk

You can purchase Liturgical Folk CDs and songbooks at: https://liturgicalfolk.bandcamp.com/music

You can listen to Liturgical Folk albums at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs0OM3JpZ5_jvHpoJiHy5rQ

Image Credit: liturgicalfolk.com

Thursday's Catch: 'What Tree Does the Fruit Grow On? and More


What Tree Does the Fruit Grow On?
Western Europe (and North America) is moving further and further from its moorings in a Christian view of life. Some are glad to see the back of what they might term ‘superstitious nonsense’. Others are deeply troubled that the religious foundations with which they grew up are being shaken.

Let Your Sins Be Strong
We all tend to minimize our sinfulness. We look at the wrongs we have done and do everything we can to try and justify our actions. Doing this, however, fails to take full ownership of our sins.

How Do I Forgive? 
Most of us have suffered the wounds of betrayal in some form or another—by a parent, a spouse, fellow believers, etc.... How do we lift these wounds up to the Lord for healing so that we can forgive those who betray us?

5 Quick Takes for New Culture Wars
This is the last in a series on the rise of the neo–Religious Right, in which I’ve sought to explain and describe some of the historical and contemporary features of this movement, as well as some cautions and concerns I have for younger evangelicals going forward.

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

The Impact of Shrinking Work Commute Times on Your Church


People dread the commute to work. In a recent survey, over half of those who work remotely stated commute times are the top reason they do not want to return to the office. Other reasons include well-being and flexibility, which are also tied to the length of commuting times.

For years, commute times slowly got longer. The pandemic seems to have broken this trend. Anything longer than twenty-five minutes is the new limit.

Will this trend last? Will a desire for shorter commute times be temporary, or is the shift a permanent change? Behavioral patterns shift during pandemics. Depending on the severity of the pandemic, people will change their behavior for up to two years. Most revert to previous habits.

This change appears to have lasting power. People are moving. The US population dispersed at greater rates during the pandemic. It’s unlikely that many of them will move back to their old locations. Additionally, mass transit will not be built quickly enough to change this trend. For example, in the Tampa Bay region where I live, we desperately need an updated mass transit system. Unfortunately, it will take decades to build.

As with any significant demographic shift, the church will feel the impact. How might your church be affected by shorter work commute times? Read More

Wednesday's Catch: '7 Habits of Generation Z Your Church Might Be Ignoring" and More


7 Habits of Generation Z Your Church Might Be Ignoring
I’m seeing 7 habits of Generation Z that your church might be ignoring. Here’s the list....

Keeping Kids in Church: 3 Common Traits of Youth Who Stay
What sets apart the kids who stay in the church?

Worship Music Versus Group Singing. What We’ve Gained and What We’ve Lost
At the first service of the church which I joined, only one worship song at best is accessible to the congregation and it is usually the shortest. There are accessible worship songs. Praise bands, however, are not using them and they are not repeating the more accessible songs they do use enough times for the congregation to learn them.

Christian Reformed Church Codifies Homosexual Sex as Sin in Its Declaration of Faith
Over the years, the small Calvinist denomination has given its churches a degree of latitude in ministering to LGBTQ people. That may now change.

SBC Messengers Vote Overwhelmingly in Favor of Sexual Abuse Reforms
On Tuesday (June 14), the SBC’s Sexual Abuse Taskforce (SATF) gave its highly anticipated report to SBC messengers in Anaheim, California, and presented recommended reforms in light of the Guidepost Solution report regarding the SBC Executive Committee’s handling of sexual abuse allegations from 2000 to 2021. Those reforms were overwhelmingly accepted by SBC messengers.

In Another Win for Abuse Reform, SBC Elects Bart Barber as President
Texas pastor beats Conservative Baptist Network–endorsed Tom Ascol in a runoff.

Saddleback Female Pastors Debate Raises Bigger Questions for the SBC
Even without a decision on whether to disfellowship Rick Warren’s megachurch, Southern Baptists are left wondering about where a denomination of independent churches draws its boundary lines.

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (June 15, 2022) Is Now Online

 

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

You have an appointment with God.

The Scripture reading for this Wednesday is 1 John 5: 1-12 Faith in the Son of God.

The homily is titled “An Opportunity to Meet God in His Word.”

The link to this Wednesday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/06/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for_15.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

'Tuesday's Catch: 'When Churches Put Love at the Center' and More


How "beloved community" helps us envision tangible ways to embody kingdom values.

How to Win Back the New Church Dropout
In addition to praying for God to move in their hearts, there are several practical steps that churches can take to win back COVID dropouts.

What If Service Projects Are Actually Our Best Evangelistic Tool?
At a time when people want to be a part of restoration, a focus on the vulnerable would help the church to stand out.

Our Mission: Make More Disciples and Fewer Performers
The point of conversion is a transformed life, the kind of life that re-centers itself around Christ.

Church Acoustics: Four Must-Know Basic Concepts
It doesn’t matter how much you pay for your new sound system. If the acoustical environment in your worship space is problematic, your worship sound will suffer to some degree. It’s unavoidable. Sound systems and church acoustics go hand in glove.

How to Know When a Child Is Old Enough to Accept Jesus as Their Savior Here are the things a child needs to know if they are going to enter a relationship with Jesus.

SBC Pastors’ Conference Rejects CRT critic Voddie Baucham in Vote for President
The election marked a day of setbacks for the Conservative Baptist Network, which claims the SBC has become too liberal.

UMC Conference and Exiting Megachurch Reach Legal Settlement
The North Georgia Conference and its largest-membership church have reached a multimillion-dollar settlement to end a high-profile legal battle.

UMC Florida Conference Clergy Session Vote Highlights LGBTQ Divide
The Florida Conference clergy session last week decided against approving an entire 16-person slate for advancement on the track to becoming ordained elders or deacons. The decision roiled the conference, reverberated across The United Methodist Church and underscored the denomination’s conflict over full LGBTQ inclusion.

Monday, June 13, 2022

The Community Is Not Coming to Your Church


By Thom Rainer

For decades, many church strategies have been built around getting people in the community to come to your church. Big events. Great signage. Social media marketing. The attractional church. You get the picture.

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with any of the “y’all come” approaches. Frankly, those are better than what most churches do to reach people: nothing.

The Old Paradigm

Most of the church growth tactics of the past half-century were built on the premise of expecting people from the community to attend our churches. But these strategies were built upon an assumption that most people in our communities were looking for a church home. Well, they are not looking anymore. And it is mainly futile to build a strategy upon a flawed premise.

The old paradigm meant that a few churches were at least seeking ways to get people to attend our churches. But the less healthy churches just expected people to show up because the church had a building and a sign. As one less-than-friendly church member told me during an interview I conducted for a church consultation: “I don’t even know why you are here. People in the community know where our church is located. They can come if they want to.”

I am glad I didn’t respond with the immediate thoughts on my mind. Read More
I was once involved in a church with a similar attitude. For a season I was licensed as a lay reader in pastoral charge of the congregation. One Sunday after church I conducted an informal survey at the local IGA supermarket. The store clerk at the checkout had never heard of the church. One of the customers told me that she passed the church building on the way to work every day but she had never visited the church. 

During the time I was at the church, only a handful of people visited the church. With one exception none came back for a second visit. The church had negligible connections with the community in which it was located. For the better part of the time I was there none of the church members lived in the community. The congregation has now disbanded and sold its church building. 

Monday's Catch: '8 Reasons The Church is a Light in a Troubled World' and More


8 Reasons The Church is a Light in a Troubled World
As you read through this post, ask yourself which of the eight reasons are you fully living out and which ones could your church lean into more?

Churches Are Putting the ‘Hospital’ Back in Hospitality
COVID-era congregations are finding better ways to minister to their grieving parishioners and neighbors.

Who Is the New Church Dropout?
Thinking about the similarities between a church dropout during college and COVID may offer church leaders more realistic expectations and ways to think about reaching those who still haven’t returned.

What Is Over-Realized Eschatology?
Oftentimes the word “eschatology” is thought of only in terms of the timeline of Jesus’ return. This is one aspect, but certainly not the full meaning of what eschatology is.

5 Truths You Should Know Before Entering Ministry
I’d like to share what I’ve learned from being on staff at NewSpring for the last 20 years. Here are five things I wish I could go back and tell 22-year-old me before entering ministry. I hope it’s an encouragement and challenge to you!

5 Tips That Will Definitely Make You a Better Communicator
Here are 5 simple tips that can definitely make you a better communicator before you give your next talk. They’ve definitely helped me.

Worship Ministry: 12 Keys To Promote Growth
I hope these 12 keys challenge you like they challenge me. I have been leading worship and pastoring for over 30 years but I still go back to this list to see what I need to work on!

Holy Fire in New Covenant Worship
Who gets to decide what we may do, must do, and must not do in church?

7 Tips for Becoming a Better Encourager
To “encourage” means to provide support, confidence, or hope. As ambassadors of Christ we extend a better encouragement than the world because we herald a message of hope.

God Sent Jonah to Nineveh--Where's He Sending You?
What is your Nineveh?

Sunday, June 12, 2022

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (June 12, 2022) Is Now Online

 

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

We live in a world that can be described with one word—change! But Jesus is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be tomorrow.

The Scripture reading for this Sunday is John 16:12-15 The Spirit of Truth.

The homily is titled “Unchanging and Changeless”

The link to this Sunday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/06/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday_12.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears. An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.