Women, stop submitting to men?

Those of us who hold to so-called “traditional gender roles” are often assumed to believe that women should submit to men. This isn’t true.

Indeed, a primary problem in our culture and in our churches isn’t that women aren’t submissive enough to men, but instead that they are far too submissive.

First of all, it just isn’t so that women are called to submit while men are not. In Scripture, every creature is called to submit, often in different ways and at different times. Children are to submit to their parents, although this is certainly a different sort of submission than that envisioned for marriage. Church members are to submit to faithful pastors (Heb. 13:17). All of us are to submit to the governing authorities (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17). Of course, we are all to submit, as creatures, to our God (Jas. 4:7).

And, yes, wives are called to submit to their husbands (Eph. 5:22; 1 Pet. 3:1-6). But that’s just the point. In the Bible, it is not that women, generally, are to submit to men, generally. Instead, “wives” are to submit “to your own husbands” (1 Pet. 3:1).

Too often in our culture, women and girls are pressured to submit to men, as a category. This is the reason so many women, even feminist women, are consumed with what men, in general, think of them. This is the reason a woman’s value in our society, too often, is defined in terms of sexual attractiveness and availability. Is it any wonder that so many of our girls and women are destroyed by a predatory patriarchy that demeans the dignity and glory of what it means to be a woman?

Submitting to men in general renders it impossible to submit to one’s “own husband.” Submission to one’s husband means faithfulness to him, and to him alone, which means saying “no” to other suitors. Keep reading

The Heart of a Pastor

“Father, forgive them. For they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34)

. They were killing Jesus. They would run up and spit on Him, then back off and laugh at Him and call Him blasphemous names. They would quote His words back to Him and dare Him to come down from the cross and prove Himself.

. They were mean-spirited and ugly and hatefilled, and He loved them.

. As they killed Him, He prayed for them.

. That, my friends, is a pastor. A shepherd. A lover of God’s people.

. The heart of a pastor is a wonderful thing.

. Something inside me wants to say preachers either have hearts of a pastor or they do not. And if not, they should turn down every invitation from search committees to become pastors because it’s a perfect set-up for disappointment on his part and disaster on theirs. The preacher who can deliver a fine sermon but who is unavailable and ineffective during the week one-on-one should ask the Lord to show him other ways to use his gifts and calling.

. The pastorate is not for him.

. On the other hand, I imagine a large segment of pastors have dominant drawings to study and preaching, and with a minor, if you will, in the actual pastoral work. Even so, any minister of the Gospel without a strong appreciation for the people of God and his accountability to God for their care and nurture is missing something essential in his makeup. Keep reading

Gospel Proclamation vs. Gospel Demonstration

The Dilemma
There is an interesting conversation going on right now in a lot of churches. Many people, and specifically people in leadership are asking, “How do we balance gospel proclamation and gospel demonstration?”

Gospel proclamation is proclaiming the gospel clearly. People hear the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ and have the opportunity to respond by grace and through faith.

Gospel demonstration is serving others in the name of Christ, showing his love when we act upon what we say we believe about Christ. Christians must be salt and light in a world that deeply needs that salt and light. I've preferred calling that "living out the implications of the gospel," but it is ultimately a demonstration of that gospel transformation.

People have debated, “What is the mission of the church?” Is the church to speak truth, or show truth? I didn’t know we had to choose. And in fact, we don’t. Balancing these two important aspects of the mission is often more difficult than it appears, which has led to debates. As humans, we tend to lean in certain directions in life and ministry. The same happens in this discussion.

But we don’t always balance well, so some people end up doing more of one than the other.

At the same time, debate can be helpful as we figure out how to effectively show the love of Jesus as we continually share the love of Jesus. Keep reading

Brother of slain Coptic Christians thanks ISIS for including their words of faith in murder video

The brother of two of the 21 Coptic Christians murdered in Libya last week has thanked their killers for including the men's declaration of faith in the video they made of their beheadings.

Speaking on a live prayer and worship programme on Christian channel SAT-7 ARABIC yesterday, Beshir Kamel said that he was proud of his brothers Bishoy Estafanos Kamel (25) and Samuel Estafanos Kamel (23) because they were "a badge of honour to Christianity".

Harrowing scenes of the murders have been seen around the world. The last words of some of those killed were "Lord Jesus Christ". Keep reading

If an advertisement page appears when you click the link to the article, close the page and click the link again. 

Photo: SAT-7 

ISIS' Apocalyptic Magazine: Islam Is 'Religion of the Sword'

Muslims Will Continue Beheading Non-Believers Until Jesus Slays the Antichrist

In the newest edition of its apocalyptic English-language propaganda magazine, the Islamic State terrorist organization refutes the long-standing mantra that Islam is a "religion of peace" and insists that Islam is a "religion of the sword."

Countering the popular opinion that Islam calls for peace among Muslims and non-Muslims alike, an article in the seventh edition of Dabiq magazine states that Allah calls for Islam to be a religion of violence and any Muslim who believes otherwise holds a heretic view.

"There is a slogan repeated continuously by apologetic 'du'at' [callers for Islam] when flirting with the West and that is their statement: 'Islam is the religion of peace,' and they mean pacifism by the word peace," reads the ISIS article, which was translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute.

"How far is their claim from the truth, for Allah has revealed Islam to be the religion of the sword, and the evidence for this is so profuse that only a zindiq (heretic) would argue otherwise." Keep reading

Also see
Article In Issue VII Of Islamic State (ISIS) English-Language Magazine 'Dabiq' Refutes Claims That Islam Is A Peaceful Religion, Says It Is Based On The Sword

Christianity is the true 'religion of peace,' promising peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Cruel men and religious fanatics like the Islamic militants of ISIS nailed Jesus to the cross where he atoned for the sins of the world and reconciled humanity to God. Those who believe in Jesus Christ receive all the benefits of his sacrifice. Their sins are forgiven, they receive God's own Spirit, and become God's adopted children. 

Keep Calm and Plant Churches

If you are using a Chrome browser and are experiencing difficulty in reading Anglicans Ablaze, you may wish to switch to a different browser. I am experiencing problems with both Blogger and Chrome. Neither is working properly.

A quick glance at world events over the past year, not to mention this week, presents an ominous picture. From beheadings to terrorism, nuclear negotiations to ceasefire negotiations, Supreme Court rulings to the court of popular opinion, the daily headlines don’t exactly evoke confidence and stability for Christians.

In seemingly dark times, how should Christians respond? Keep reading

Why People Are Attending Church Less Often And How to Respond—An Interview with Will Mancini [Podcast]

One trend almost every church leader is talking about today: people who attend church are attending less often. I started a series on the subject yesterday, outlining 10 reasons why even committed church attenders are attending church less often.

Today’s podcast episode is the second part of that series.

In this episode, Will Mancini walks us through the trend of declining attendance and helps us see how to respond and how NOT to respond as this new reality unfolds around us. The interview is full of insights for everyone wondering why people aren’t coming to church as often anymore. Keep reading

Organizing for Denominational Revitalization

Revitalization can be a tenuous task, but it is a worthy goal. How can you lead your churches or denominations to new life?

Churches and denominations need a revitalization movement. That much is clear to most people. But how do we create or facilitate that revitalization? Our answer is important for the future of churches.

I co-wrote a book specifically around church revitalization called Comeback Churches. We studied 324 churches from 11 different denominations that experienced significant revitalization after a protracted period of decline.

I’ve also written several books on church vitality, like Transformational Church, which was the largest research project of its kind ever done. We surveyed seven thousand Protestant churches from across all different Protestant expressions to look at what led to transformational activity that included professions of faith and community impact. Here’s how a movement of churches can work toward revitalization. Keep reading

City Orders Church to End Music Camp

Court to decide in April if zoning laws were violated

In July, the city of Auburn, New York, ordered a church to cease using property for a music camp, stating that this activity is commercial and therefore a zoning violation. Last week, a judge reviewed a case challenging this and set a court date in April, according to The Citizen.

Zoning cases are often among the top five reasons churches go to court. Churches should be aware of how zoning laws apply to churches. Keep reading

Can hope be wrong? On the new universalism

This ain't your Grandma's universalism (if your Grandma was, say, a Unitarian). The (relatively) old universalism was a liberal universalism of "many-roads-to-God-who-is-a-big-cuddly-Grandpa" (or, more recently, Grandma). Such a universalism was generally embarrassed by Christian particularity and any claims to the divinity of Christ. Instead, Jesus was a kindly teacher like so many others pointing us all to that great kumbaya-sing-along in the the "beyond."

In contrast, the "new" universalism is an evangelical universalism, a Christocentric universalism. If all will be saved, they will be saved in Christ, because of the work of Christ as the Incarnate God who has triumphed over the power of sin and death (the new universalist Christ is a victor, not a redeemer).

The question, then, is just what compels one to be an evangelical universalist? Some resort to prooftexting, operating with a naive, selective reading of Scripture. I'm going to do the evangelical universalist a favor and ignore such a strategy, only because I think it can be so easily refuted. (Many of these evangelical universalists would pounce on such selective prooftexting in other contexts.) Keep reading

10 Tips for Pastoral Care Visits – Rainer on Leadership #099 [Podcast]

Pastoral care visits are a lost art for many pastors and church leaders. While not limited to pastors making them, these visits are often expected—or even required—for church staff. So today, we cover how to make these visits and proper hospital visitation etiquette. I also tell the story of first funeral I ever conducted, which might have been my most embarrassing moment ever in ministry. Keep reading

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:02 — 22.0MB)

5 Ways to Keep Your Audience Engaged During a Message

The average attention span of an adult is about five minutes. The average weekly sermon is 30-40 minutes.

This can be a problem.

If you’re a pastor, you might notice individuals nodding off or reaching for their phones during your messages. What can you do to help your congregation stay engaged? What methods work best to curb waning attention spans? Keep reading

The Middle East is red with the blood of Christians [Video]

The atrocity by Islamic State sympathisers in Libya highlights the worsening persecution of non-Muslims all over the Middle East – violence that is driving them from their Biblical homelands

The beheading of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya by forces sympathetic to Islamic State over recent days is sadly not an isolated case. On the contrary, it is the latest of countless outrages perpetrated against Christians in or near the Church’s Biblical heartlands over many years.

The latest victims were migrant workers from Upper Egypt. The announcement by the authorities in Cairo of retaliatory bombing raids on terrorist training camps in Libya should not blind us to an inconvenient truth – that more than 600,000 Christians have left Egypt over the past 30 years under both Islamist and supposedly secular regimes. Many got out because their homes or churches or businesses had been firebombed.

Before travelling to Egypt to research my book Christianophobia, I interviewed immigrant Copts in Britain whose stories formed a pattern. One, a senior GP, explained how no Christian medical student at his university in Asyut, Upper Egypt, had been placed in the “Good”, “Very Good” or “Excellent” classes in their final exams. The injustice convinced him that he would never prosper in his own country, especially with the rise during the 1970s of the militant Gama Islamiya, whose members dominated some campuses. “They started attacking Christian students,” he told me, “barging into our rooms and tearing down pictures of the Virgin Mary and other religious materials. A fight ensued. I and other Christians were expelled from university accommodation, but the Muslims who caused trouble were allowed to remain.” My interviewee was fortunate in some respects. Other Christian students in the region were murdered. Keep reading

The Top Ten Most Fiercely Defended Traditions in Churches

I recently embarked on a major research project for a new resource I will soon be offering. Part of my research included a long review of thousands of comments made on this site over the past few years. Though my research had another purpose, I became intrigued by the comments related to church traditions.

Of course, by “traditions,” I am referring to those extra-biblical customs that become a way of life for many congregations. A tradition is neither inherently good nor bad. Its value or its distraction in a given church really depends on how members treat the traditions.

With that in mind, I began noting the most frequently defended traditions in churches. As a corollary, these traditions can also be a potential source of divisiveness. They are ranked here according to the frequency of the comments.Keep reading

10 Reasons Even Committed Church Attenders Are Attending Church Less Often

It comes up in a surprising number of conversations these days. And no one’s quite sure how to respond to it.

The issue? Even committed church attenders are attending church less often.

Sure, the trend has been happening for years (gone are the days when people attended 50 out of 52 Sundays), but the issue is reaching a tipping point in the church today. Keep reading

5 Cautions About Emphasizing Leadership Over Followership

Leadership matters. A lot.

But sometimes I wonder if we’ve elevated the value of church leadership over a much more important biblical trait – followership. Also known as discipleship.

Before any of us are leaders, we’re all supposed to be followers of Jesus.

At best, any leadership authority we have in the church is reflected and borrowed leadership from Jesus himself.

Paul encouraged the Corinthians to “follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” The very strong implication of that statement is that if the leader stops following Jesus, we should stop following that leader.

That’s why church leaders need to be very careful to be followers of Jesus first. In fact, our followership should be more obvious than our leadership.

Another phrase for this is “servant leadership.” And the order of those words matters. Being a servant always comes first.

When we forget this, bad things can happen. I don’t need to go over the list of Christian leaders that have fallen. But it’s hard to think of any Christian servants that have fallen.

If you’re in church leadership – a high, noble and important calling – here are five cautions we should all be aware of.... Keep reading

A Great Teacher Can Simplify without Distortion

The K-I-S-S principle is frequently requested in a learning environment. The acrostic stands for “Keep it simple, stupid.” It seems we are a people who loathe difficult study. We want easy answers and we want them quickly. Mastery of a subject, however, requires years of diligent labor and study. But once the teacher has mastered his material, how does he transmit it to his students? Keep reading

Ash Wednesday: Picking and Choosing our Piety

It's that time of year again: the ancient tradition of Lent, kick-started by Ash Wednesday. It is also the time of year when us confessional types brace ourselves for the annual onslaught of a more recent tradition: that of evangelical pundits, with no affiliation to such branches of the church, writing articles extolling Lent's virtues to their own eclectic constituency.

Liturgical calendars developed in the fourth century and beyond, as Christianity came to dominate the empire. Cultural dominance requires two things: control of time and space. The latter could be achieved through churches and relics. The former was achieved through developing a calendar which gave the rhythm of time a specifically Christian idiom. It remains a key part of Roman, Orthodox and later Anglican church practice.

The rise of Lent in non-Roman, Orthodox or Anglican circles is a fascinating phenomenon. I remember being on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary a few years ago on Ash Wednesday and being greeted by a young man emerging from Miller Chapel with a black smudged cross on his forehead. That the bastion of nineteenth century Old School Presbyterianism had been reduced to this - an eclectic grab-bag of liturgical practices - struck me as sad. Old School Presbyterianism is a rich enough tradition not to need to plunder the Egyptians or even the Anglicans. Keep reading

The imposition of ashes was not reintroduced into the Anglican Church until the mid-nineteenth century and then in Anglo-Catholic parishes.From these parishes the practice would gradually spread to other parts of the Church. The practice had been dropped at the time of English Reformation as unbiblical and superstitious. Letting a priest daub some ashes on one's forehead is not the same thing as repenting in sackcloth and ashes. The 1662 Book of Common Prayer provides for the reading of the Commination on Ash Wednesday after Morning Prayer and the Litany. The 1662 rubrics direct that the Collect for Ash Wednesday should be read throughout Lent after the Collect of the Day.

IS beheadings: Christian Copts killed in Libya [Graphic Video]

EGYPT has launched seven airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Libya after the extremist group released a grisly video showing the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians it had held hostage for weeks.

A spokesman for the Armed Forces General Command announced the strikes on state radio Monday, marking the first time Cairo has publicly acknowledged taking military action in neighboring Libya, which has been beset by militia violence for months.

The statement said the warplanes targeted weapons caches and training camps before returning safely. It said the strikes were “to avenge the bloodshed and to seek retribution from the killers.”

“Let those far and near know that Egyptians have a shield that protects them,” it said. Keep reading

Also see
Archbishop of Egypt's statement on Libyan martyrs
Australia’s Coptic Community outraged by Libya beheadings

But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 HCSB

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. Revelation 22: 14-15 HCSB

Healthy Discipleship Requires Raising Up Disciplers

Disciples Need Leaders

I wonder how many church leaders don’t even realize the success of ongoing discipleship depends partly on how well they develop leaders.

God didn’t design the church to have one person lead everyone else in spiritual formation—far too often the model of evangelical churches. Throughout the New Testament, we see leadership development and delegation—or mass participation—of discipling others.

Paul repeatedly told young pastors to entrust the ministry to spiritual people who could then pass it on to the next generation. Keep reading

Multisite Church is New “Normal” in America

With the landscape of church changing dramatically in America, church models are shifting to better support today’s church-goer. In an increasingly secularized nation with overall church attendance in decline, multisite churches are growing in number and church attendance.

The multisite strategy has become the “new normal” for healthy and growing churches in urban, suburban and rural communities. leadership network reports that an estimated 5 million people attend one of the more than 8,000 multisite churches across North America. Going multisite changes how church leaders think and do church. So how is the “new normal” of multisite changing how we do church in America? Keep reading

Southern Seminary launches 'Global Campus'

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has launched its new Global Campus for students serving in ministry around the world to complete a master of divinity degree through online and other distance learning options.

"We do not merely want to have a program that allows people to access Southern Seminary online," President R. Albert Mohler Jr. noted in announcing the Global Campus in chapel Feb. 12 during the seminary's Great Commission Focus. "Our ambition is bolder than that -- it is to reach the nations."

Through the Global Campus, students can earn their M.Div. entirely through Southern Seminary Online or one of the institution's nine extension centers. Other distance learning options include hybrid modular, conference, mission trip or J-term courses and the Ministry Apprenticeship Program. Keep reading

Issues in Church Leadership: Five Articles

Pastors, Lead

A few years ago, I read an article that summarized almost 1,000 interviews with some of the nation’s top corporate leaders. The article declared that the #1 need a leader of a corporation needs to provide for everyone is clarity.

If a leader does not lead, he cannot provide clarity. If this is true for global business leaders, it is even truer for every pastor of a local church or one who is leading a Christian ministry or institution built on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Keep reading

The Immeasurable Influence of Encouraging Leadership

As a leader, I’ve always believed that one of my primary roles is it try to say “yes” to people’s ideas. This week, I heard a story that reinforces that principle in a very powerful way. For all of us. Keep reading

Leadership Questions Every Pastor Should Ask Weekly

John Maxwell loves to say, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”

In other words, if a person, event, or organization is incredibly successful you are likely to find great leadership present. Conversely, when we see organizational failures or events that are not quite up to par, we are likely to find poor leadership.

Everything rises and falls on leadership. I believe what Maxwell says is true. In fact, I believe you can apply the same maxim to the church. When it comes to the success of your church, its programs, vision, events, and initiatives, everything rises and falls on leadership (and the leading of the Spirit, of course). And we the pastors must take responsibility of the fact that as pastors, we are ultimately responsible for whether the church is led well or not.

Because of this reality, I have written a series of questions that I read to myself every week, sometimes daily. These questions are aimed at keeping me focused on the tasks that I must be about doing. I keep them saved on a document on my desktop that I can quickly pull up. There may be some questions that you add or change, but for me, these questions keep me on track. They serve as guardrails to prevent drifting into a leadership ditch. Here they are.... Keep reading

4 Groups to Whom the Leader Should Listen

The culture and direction of entire organizations, churches, ministries, and institutions is driven, in part, by whom the leader listens to. These people impact much of the leader’s decision-making, direction, and perception of reality—both challenges and opportunities. As I recently shared, wise leaders ensure they are hearing the right voices and listening to people who display humility, wisdom, and commitment.

But where should the voices come from? Where should leaders look to find the people who will speak into the direction of the organization? Where should leaders find people who will influence them? As you evaluate the voices you listen to and the feedback you elicit, consider the following four spheres of influence. Keep reading

5 Ways to Become More Self-Aware

You can’t be a good leader without self-awareness.

It lies at the root of strong character, giving us the ability to lead with a sense of purpose, authenticity, openness, and trust. It explains our successes and our failures. And by giving us a better understanding of who we are, self-awareness lets us better understand what we need most from other people, to complement our own deficiencies in leadership.

The question, then, is how can we cultivate and develop it further. There are many ways to do so. Below are five that I have found to work best.... Keep reading

Small Groups Are Not One Size Fits All

Instruction manuals are good things.

Whether you’re putting together a bicycle for a kid, installing a stove in a kitchen, or even putting together a 5,000 piece Lego set with your son, you’re going to be better off in the long run if you actually read the directions. Much repentance later can be avoided by reading the manual earlier.

But if you’re trying to lead a small group or helping others to do so, instruction manuals only get you so far. That’s because small groups are not “one size fits all.” Sure, it would be simpler if leading a group came with a simple checklist to complete, but the reason that doesn’t work is because small groups are not made up of Lego pieces. They’re made up of people. And each of those people in the group brings their own preferences, previous experiences, and personal expectations into that group environment. Keep reading

Twenty Twitter Tips

I’ve now been on Twitter for exactly two years. I didn’t know how to use it at the start, as anyone who read my feed for the first few days will be aware, and it took me a while to get my head round the jargon, the functions, and the etiquette. But I absolutely love Twitter now, and have found it an enormously useful tool, both as a follower (it is much the best aggregator of news and information I know of, and people can be both hugely helpful and hugely funny), and as a followee (I’ve used it to make friendships, get feedback, answer questions, ask questions, commend other writers, promote books, arrange travel, and even launch conferences). Used wisely, I’d recommend it to anyone. Here are twenty suggestions for those who may be starting out, or perhaps reviewing the way they use it. Keep reading

Take Me to Church? Half of Pastors Believe Faith Will Become Online-Only Experience

Barna survey examines how Protestant senior pastors use the internet today.

The key phrase Hozier sung at the Grammys last Sunday from his hit song, "Take Me to Church," will grow outdated for many, nearly half of Protestant senior pastors believe. Today 47 percent agree that at least some people will experience their faith exclusively through the internet within the coming decade.

Is the prospect a problem? Theologically no, according to the nearly 9 out of 10 pastors (87%) who told the Barna Group it is "theologically acceptable" to seek "faith assistance" or "religious experiences" online. Nearly 4 out of 10 pastors (39%) say they now do so themselves, according to Barna's recent survey examining the online actions and attitudes of more than 600 pastors.

By comparison, in 2000 only 78 percent of pastors felt online religious experiences were theologically acceptable, and only 15 percent used the internet for their own religious experiences. Keep reading

Image: Barna Group

Music for Sunday Mornings: "All You Works of God Bless the Lord!" [Video]

If the music you use on Sunday mornings is what is sometimes called the “New Traditional”—a blend of classic hymns, newer compositions, and songs from the World Church, you may want to take a look at Stephen P. Starke’s metrical version of the canticle Benedicite, “All you works of God bless the Lord!” Set to LINSTEAD, Doreen Potter’s adaptation of the Jamaican folk tune LINSTEAD MARKET, this hymn makes a lively addition to any congregation’s repertoire. It can be sung a cappella or to the accompaniment of a box drum, conga, djembe, or steel drum. The refrain may be punctuated with a sharp handclap on the last three syllables of the refrain each time the refrain is sung: “…all you works of God, bless (X) the (X) Lord (x)!”

YouTube has a video of the choir and orchestra of First Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina performing a choral and instrumental arrangement of the hymn. SmallChurchMusic.com has a downloadable mp3 of the organ accompaniment to the hymn.

“All you works of God bless the Lord!” is published in three hymnals. The hymn is #313 in the Celebrating Grace Hymnal (2010), #930 in the Lutheran Service Book (2006), and #39 in Worship and Rejoice (2001). Stephen P. Starke copyrighted the hymn in 1995. Concordia Publishing House administers the copyright. Hope Publishing Co. holds the copyright to LINSTEAD. The meter of LINSTEAD is LM with refrain.

I have made inquiries at Concordia Publishing House about the availability of a choral arrangement of “All you works of God bless the Lord!” It is available on Concordia Publish House's website as a downloadable file. Or you can contact Concordia Publishing House's Customer Service Center and they will print it for you upon request. The item # is 983330pdf.

Inspiration from John Owen to Diligently Preach the Gospel

The Word is like the sun in the firmament. . . . It hath virtually in it all spiritual light and heat. But the preaching of the Word is as the motion and beams of the sun, which actually and effectually doth communicate that light and heat unto all creatures. — John Owen

The first and principal duty of a pastor is to feed the flock by diligent preaching of the Word. — John Owen

John Owen once said to King Charles II, “Could I possess the tinker’s abilities, please your majesty, I would gladly relinquish all my learning.” This “tinker” Owen was referring to was none other than John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress. The anecdote is revealing, for it displays not only Owen’s high regard for those whom God had gifted in preaching, but also Owen’s great esteem for the proclamation of the Word of God itself.

An excellent avenue into Owen’s thinking about preaching can be found in a sermon he delivered at an ordination service on September 8, 1682, which is titled "The Duty of a Pastor." The sermon text was Jeremiah 3:15, “And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” This sermon stands out above the rest, in my estimation at least, because Owen instructs this freshly minted preacher on the aim of preaching itself. Keep reading

How to Make Announcements in Worship Services – Rainer on Leadership #098 [Podcast]

Announcements in the church service may seem like a trivial issue. But for many churches, they carry great importance in how they are made, when they are made, and by whom they are made. So today, Jonathan and I explore this topic and how it relates to churches communicating what’s important for their congregation to know. Keep reading

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:59 — 19.2MB)

Should Satan Be Part of Evangelism and Early Discipleship?

(UPDATED) The Devil is too distracting at baptisms, major denomination decides.

Update (Feb. 13, 2015): Yesterday's vote made it official: Parents and godparents will no longer have to promise to "reject the Devil and all rebellion against God" at baptisms in the United Kingdom's largest denomination, and will instead pledge to "turn away from sin" and "reject evil."

Mark Burnett's Son of God film dropped Satan scenes to prevent viewers from focusing on him instead of Christ. Most Christians may not miss him: A 2009 poll found that nearly 60 percent of U.S. Christians view the Devil as only a symbolic character.

We asked experts whether Satan should be part of evangelism and early discipleship, or whether it's better to talk about evil and re-educate people on the devil later on. We're posting responses below on a spectrum, from those who think it's better to wait up top, and those who think Satan should be part of early discussions near the bottom of the article. Keep reading

Also see
Sin but no devil: Church of England debates its baptismal liturgy

This article is classified as "registered, limited access." You may have to register to read it.

Moore: SCOTUS will 'probably' OK gay marriage

The U.S. Supreme Court likely will legalize gay marriage nationwide, labeling it a constitutional right under the 14th Amendment, Southern Baptists' lead ethicist told state convention executives and Baptist state paper editors Feb. 11.

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas was "probably right" in his apparent prediction that the Supreme Court's recent denial of a stay to halt legalized same-sex marriage in Alabama "is a signal of what the court intends to do," Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said at a meeting in Orange Beach, Ala. "... I think we do see the court moving toward handing down a decision that would place same-sex marriage as a 14th Amendment issue."

The 14th Amendment mandates that a state not "deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Alabama had asked the high court to delay enforcement of a federal judge's ruling striking down the state's ban of same-sex marriage until the Supreme Court rules on the issue nationwide. Seven justices agreed to deny the stay, but Thomas and Antonin Scalia dissented. Keep reading

Manslaughter charge prompts church to examine relationship with alcohol

With a history of sherries at church coffee hour and wine during Holy Communion, Episcopalians have long endured — and shared — jokes about their drinking. (For example: “wherever two or three are gathered, there’s a fifth.”) Yet the relationship is complicated.

The denomination stood out a century ago for saying alcoholism wasn’t an evil. And Episcopal clergy played a significant role in the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous.

So perhaps it was surprising that this week a top church leader said the case of Heather Cook — the Maryland bishop now accused of killing a cyclist while driving drunk — revealed Episcopalians’ “systemic denial about alcohol and other drug abuse.” Leaders will review church policies on drug and alcohol abuse for the first time in 30 years when they have their once-every-three-years meeting this summer. Keep reading

Also see
Case of bishop accused in bicyclist’s death opens debate about theology of addiction

My mother's parish (and my church when I was a teenager and for several years when I became an adult) stopped serving wine at church functions and substituted sparkling apple cider and other carbonated fruit juices when my nieces and I attended the church with my mother. One parishioner wanted to know why my mother and I were  allowing my youngest niece to drink wine. My mother and I explained to her that it was sparkling apple cider. The church adopted this policy after it became more actively involved in ministry to recovering alcoholics. But the church eventually fell off the wagon and went back to serving wine at these functions. Newcomers were regularly invited to attend wine and cheese parties in the parish hall on Sundays. At the church where I was senior lay reader for fifteen years, the choir gathered in the kitchen after rehearsals and tippled a glass or two of wine. The choir stored bottles of wine and even small kegs of their favorite vintage in the kitchen refrigerator. I was not comfortable with the practice and went straight home after choir practice. I have no idea how much wine was consumed at these post-rehearsal wine-bibbing sessions. Ephesians 5:18 tells us not to become drunk with wine but filled with the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 23:31-32 warns us not to look on wine when it sparkles in the cup. At the end it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper. 

How to Drop Your Church’s Secret Menu and Make Your Guests Feel Welcome

Every church has a secret menu. Things we say and do that our regulars take for granted, but can be confusing and frustrating to newcomers.

Here’s an example of how frustrating a secret menu can be.

I was at a Starbucks this week, when the man in front of me ordered a short latte. The employee responded “that’s a tall latte”, causing this exact exchange between them. Keep reading

Starbucks is not the only business where this sort of thing happens. A number of positive things can also be learned from Starbucks. The church in which I am involved operates a cafe on Sunday mornings and we have learned a lot from Starbucks about creating the kind of environment that makes first time guests feel welcome and helps them to connect with each other and those who regularly come to the church's worship gatherings. 

15 Concerns in Children’s Ministries

Recently, I spent time with a church that is upgrading their children’s wing. In the midst of those discussions, we talked about some of the common problems our Lawless Group consulting team sees in a children’s ministry. Here are 15 of those problems.... Keep reading

Q&A: Sleeping Arrangements for Minors

Safeguards to protect youth and your ministry.

Q: Our church is sending a group of high school students on a 10-day missions trip. What sleeping arrangements would result in the least risk? Should there be an adult in each room containing minors?

A: I am often asked about the appropriate sleeping arrangements for church-sponsored overnight trips that include minors. For a camping trip, minors usually sleep in tents or cabins. But for other trips, minors often stay in hotels. Here are several points to consider.... Keep reading

'Practising' gay clergy could be ordained by United Methodists

United Methodists have signalled a shift in their historic opposition to same-sex relationships after a denomination-wide leadership conference, the United Methodist News Service reports.

At its meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, the United Methodist Church's Connectional Table, a forum for discussion among national leaders of the world-wide body, affirmed a proposal to remove prohibitive language that makes it an offense under church law for clergy to be "self-avowed practising homosexuals" or to officiate at same-sex weddings.

It adopted the 'third way' in preference to leaving the rules as they were or opting for a fully inclusive approach, as some campaigners have demanded.

The approach would leave the question of whether to perform a same-sex marriage up to individual clergy. Clergy would not be required to bless same-sex unions. Conferences would have the option of ordaining openly gay individuals.

However, the proposal notes that the denomination "historically has not condoned the practice of homosexuality and has considered the practice incompatible with Christian teaching." It also retains the denomination's ban on using church funds "to promote the acceptance of homosexuality".

Any legislation adopted by the Connectional Table would go to the 2016 General Conference for a decision. Keep reading

As one can see from this article, liberal US Methodists are pretty persistent in promoting the gay rights agenda in their denomination. At the same time it must be noted that the United Methodist Church in the United States, like the Episcopal Church, is in decline. The UMC outside of the United States, which is more conservative and opposed to the normalization of homosexuality, the ordination of practicing gays, and gay marriage is growing. 

Church of England: Rural churches could disappear within ten years

The Church of England has warned that local churches could disappear across large parts of rural Britain in less than a decade.

The local church could disappear across large parts of rural Britain in less than a decade as ageing congregations die off, the Church of England’s ruling General Synod has been warned.

Members were told that the church could be “eliminated” in its heartland unless it urgently attracts new members.

The Doomsday warning came amid a discussion about plans to dip into the Church’s multi-billion investments to fund a modernisation drive.

It follows a call from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, for members to put aside “nervousness, uncertainty and guilt” to speak openly about their faith. Keep reading

Also see
Nearly one in five Britons is atheist, says poll
UK Muslim population increased by more than 1 million in a decade

Survey: 1 in 3 Americans worry about Sharia law

As President Obama seeks to ramp up military action against the terrorist group known as ISIS, Americans remain uneasy over the place of Islam in the United States and in the world, a LifeWay Research survey shows.

More than a third (37 percent) say they are worried about Sharia law -- an Islamic legal and moral code -- being applied in America.

One in 4 (27 percent) believe the terrorist group ISIS reflects the true nature of Islam, while 4 in 10 (43 percent) believe Islam can create a peaceful society.

And most Protestant senior pastors (76 percent) say they support military action against ISIS. Keep reading

Also see
Fear of Islamic terrorism on rise, Pew reports

8 Questions about Church Revitalization

I recently was interviewed by someone who is considering church revitalization for his next ministry assignment. My answers are not formalized — it was a casual conversation — but I figured someone else might have the same questions.

There were 8 questions — I was sure there would be 7 — but 8 was the number.

And, that’s just a little humor to get us started in the discussion of church revitalization. After experience in church planting and church revitalization, let me say neither should be attempted without some ability to laugh — at times — other than pray of course –that’s all you can do. And, so here’s another smiley face to brighten your day. Keep reading

Salvation is all God’s doing

The second area of systematics about which there may be confusion is the process of salvation.

Do I contribute to my own salvation? Do I repent and believe and thus God regenerates me or is it the other way around? Is faith my contribution to the whole process – God does his bit and I add my necessary contribution?

This, of course, goes to the heart of the gospel we preach. Keep reading

Fighting Blue Monday: Be Helpful, Not Great

Blue Monday.

If you are a ministry leader at any level of the local church, then you are familiar with something like a “Blue Monday.” In a preaching ministry, Blue Monday is the Monday after Sunday when a pastor reviews the past Sunday’s sermon and begins to think about next Sunday’s sermon. In a Sunday school ministry, it can be when the teacher thinks about last Sunday’s lesson and begins to prep for the next Sunday’s lesson. In small group ministry, it is the day after the meeting when the small group leader begins to plan for the next meeting. The same goes for student ministry and children’s ministry.

And in each one of these crucial ministry areas, there is a content provider who will inevitably experience a sense of panic and concern, asking themselves, “What in the world am I going to say next week?” Keep reading

William Tyndale: The Father of Modern English

With his New Testament, William Tyndale became the father of the Modern English language. He shaped the syntax, grammar, and vocabulary of the English language more than any man who ever lived more than the author Geoffrey Chaucer, the playwright William Shakespeare, or the poets Percy Shelley and John Keats. Keep reading

Why Your Church Should Be On Social Media Right Now

Social media is the new town square. Study the culture, and connect your church with your community.

My mother-in-law is on Facebook, which can be, well, fun. The same is true for my teenage daughter.

Actually, about three-fourths of online adults are on some form of social networking.

This means that for the sake of the gospel and the mission, your church needs to have a voice there as well. Keep reading

Bishop Heather Cook suspended following fatal hit-and-run

Bishop Heather Cook, who killed cyclist Tom Palermo in an accident in Baltimore last year, has received a formal Restriction on Ordained Ministry from the Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop, Rt Rev Katharine Jefferts Schori.

After the accident on December 27, it emerged that Cook had a long-standing alcohol problem including a previous conviction for drink driving, and that she was suspected of being drunk at her own consecration.

She has been charged with automobile manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, failing to remain at the scene of the accident, driving while under the influence of alcohol and texting while driving during an accident that results in death or serious bodily injury. Keep reading

Also see
Maryland Episcopal Bishop Heather Cook Indicted for Deadly Hit-And-Run, Facing More Charges

Photo: Episcopal Diocese of Maryland

Alabama Baptist minister backs gay marriage 'enthusiastically'

Following a federal court's legalization of same-sex marriage in Alabama, a volunteer minister at a Southern Baptist church has begun performing gay weddings.

Meanwhile, in an apparent conflict with the federal government, the state judges responsible for issuing marriage licenses have denied them to gay couples in 12 counties. In 40 additional counties, probate judges stopped issuing marriage licenses altogether Feb. 9, when the federal court's ruling took effect.

The chief justice of Alabama's Supreme Court advised probate judges not to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said no probate judge will be punished for failing to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Keep reading

In a denomination in which the local church is the final authority in ecclesiastical matters, the local church has the last word in who it ordains as a pastor. A local church may call a council of the pastors of the other churches in an area to examine a candidate for ordination and make its recommendations. The local church is not bound to accept the council’s recommendations. The churches whose pastors formed the council are also not bound to recognize the ordination if the local church ordains the candidate against the council’s recommendations. While the ordination of a woman pastor is unusual, it is not entirely unknown. Such an ordination is generally a strong indicator that the local church who ordained the woman pastor is a “progressive” or “liberal” church. Consequently the pastor of this particular church’s acceptance of gay marriage is not surprising nor is the woman pastor’s officiating at a same sex wedding ceremony. Whether the state Southern Baptist convention and area Southern Baptist association declares that they are no longer in fellowship with the church remains to be seen. This is what has happened elsewhere.

ISIS Female Police Disfugure With Acid 15 Women for Not Wearing Niqab

The Islamic State policing unit in Mosul severely disfigured the faces of 15 Iraqi women by pouring acid on them as a form of punishment after the women were caught without their faces being veiled appropriately, by ISIS standards, last weekend.

ISIS' all-female policing unit, the Al Khansa brigade, which polices the streets of the group's Syrian stronghold of Raqqa and Iraqi stronghold of Mosul, reportedly carried out the punishments after the women were detained on Sunday in the Mosul neighborhood of Salamiya, a kurdish official told BasNews.

The official from the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Mosul, Saed Mamuzini, told the news site that the women were subject to the cruel, face-deforming punishment simply because they were caught in public without wearing a Niqab, the cloth like veil that fully covers the face except for slit for the eyes. Keep reading

Photo: Twitter

Revitalizing Denominations Through Church Planting

Church planting is crucial to church health and revitalization.

From 1795 to 1810 the Baptists and the Methodists planted 3,000 churches in 15 years on the western frontier: Kentucky and Tennessee. But today, Methodists and Baptists are declining.

Methodists and Baptists—now in many different denominations—are seeking to recapture that passion. Of the denominations in decline, the ones that have a chance at growth will embrace a church planting focus.

Even mainline denominations are asking how to engage in church planting.

Many from mainline denominations get frustrated when they see the urgency with which evangelicals try to reach people. They’ll lose this frustration when they realize those are the people who plant churches.

How will mainline denominations need to go about this kind of change? Some haven’t planted churches in a while. They’ll have to relearn a part of their own history. They’ll also need to look into other traditions, denominations, movements, and networks to see what else is being done in this area.

I was recently with some mainline denominational leaders and was asked how they might accelerate their church planting focus. Keep in mind this was to mainliners, and not all will apply, but they are all worth considering. Keep reading

3 Solid Reasons Why You Should Go To Church

Some believe the local church is dead and that her best days are behind her. The church is not dead, its alive. Her best days are now and ahead. I believe, as Bill Hybels says, “the local church is the hope of the world.”

I grew up attending church. Many of my earliest memories are times spent at the Mars Hill Baptist Church of Chicago, with church people, or in church services. So when I meet people who aren’t regular attenders it’s a surprise to find that sometimes they don’t know why you might be a part of it.

Why go to church? What’s the benefit of attending regularly? When you understand the “why” it makes it easier to understand the “when” and “where.” Keep reading

Also see
The "Plus One" Approach to Church
How to Start at Your New Church

Nine Keys to Successful Sermon Preparation – Rainer on Leadership #097 [Podcast]

Preparing to preach a sermon, or multiple sermons, each week is the most daunting and most important thing a pastor does as the shepherd of a church. So this week, we cover some essential practices for pastors to employ that will aid in sermon preparation. Keep reading

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:53 — 19.1MB)

Islam: Inherently Violent or Peaceful?

Scholar Warren Larson has a surprising answer to this difficult question.

Given the growth of terrorist groups such as ISIS, what is the true nature of Islam—violent or peaceful? President Obama says that the terrorist group, the Islamic State, ISIS, or ISIL, is “not Islamic.” But others insist that the entire religion founded by Muhammad is inherently violent. Where does the truth lie? Stan Guthrie, a CT editor at large and author of the new book God’s Story in 66 Verses, interviewed Warren Larson—professor emeritus at Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies at Columbia International University and author of Islamic Ideology and Fundamentalism in Pakistan: Climate for Conversion to Christianity?—to shed new light on this question. Keep reading

This article is classified as "registered/limited access." You may have to register to read it.