Keeping with the theme of the last post about going to church, it has been found that 45% of Christians who go to church do not go to the same denomination that they went to as children. Is this a good thing or a troubling aspect of Christianity? Some say troubling and some say not. For me personally it is a good thing in that … Continue reading Church Hoppers?

Just what does it mean to be a Christian. There are many opinions on this topic: Some think being a Christian means to go to church regularly and to honor all the traditions and history of the church. Some think being a Christian is about constant repentance and always striving to keep the ten commandments. Some think being a Christian is about fearing God and … Continue reading What does being a Christian mean?

To me he short answer is yes. The longer answer is yes, but without the fellowship that a church provides it is more difficult. We all have our own opinions about just about everything. At least I certainly do. If we are left to our own account we will often develop a very distorted view on many things. It is only by conversing with others … Continue reading Is it possible to be a good Christian without going to church?

In many church calendars last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. That was a very dramatic event in early church history. Acts describes it as this: Acts 2:1-12 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed … Continue reading Pentecost – What was it all about?

Did Jesus mean for everyone to know of the Kingdom of God? Luke 8:10 “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ Luke 9:26-27 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man … Continue reading The Kingdom of God Study 5

Here is the verse we will use for this discussion: Luke 17:20-21 “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” Jesus clearly says that the kingdom is not a place that you can observe or see but that it is within you. This … Continue reading Kingdom of God Study 4

Who gets into the Kingdom of God? Everyone wants to see the kingdom of God but Jesus points to some qualification on getting there. Let’s look at those verses: Luke 6:20 Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14-16 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to … Continue reading The Kingdom of God Study 3

 Something has been on my mind for the last few day so I am going to interrupt my study of the Kingdom of God for a quick non-related post. What does it take to get individual congregations to cross denominational boundaries for the common good? Jesus told us to be one as He and the Father are one. But it seems that that is an … Continue reading Crossing Denominational Boundaries

Here is a quote from a book by Gregory A Boyd that is the basis for this post: The heart of Jesus’ teaching was “the kingdom of God”. He spoke about that topic more frequently than any other, and it pervades all his actions as well. Indeed, the Gospels make it clear that Jesus was the embodiment – the incarnation – of the kingdom of … Continue reading The Kingdom of God vs. the Kingdoms of the World

I can’t find it right now but I do remember the verse about “to whom much is given, much is expected. I don’t think Jesus was against a person being worldly rich although he did tell that one rich man to sell everything 🙂 . What he is against is people who obsess on money. These days we discover that seems to be many in … Continue reading A Moral Disconnect

Matt 25:35-40 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when … Continue reading Who are the “Least of These”?

I have read a book entitled “101 Ways to Reach Your Community” by Steve Sjogren who is the founding pastor of Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati. (A full review will come later.) He is a graduate of Lutheran Bible Institute and is the founding pastor of that non-denominational mega-church. In that book there are some very unique ways to draw the community to your church.  He … Continue reading Some Personal Views on Outreach – Multipronged Outreach

This is the last post of the review of Reggie McNeal’s book the “Present Future”. This time we will look at the last reality. The Rise of Apostolic Leadership. This last area obviously has to do with how we go about the paradigm shift in church leadership to accomplish making disciples rather than doing “church”. Again Mr. McNeal is rather blunt in his assessment. Let’s … Continue reading The Rise of Apostolic Leadership.

I recently received a desperate plea from the Salvation Army to contribute to them. I liked the quote from William Booth, the founder: You cannot warm the hearts of people with God’s love if they have an empty stomach or cold feet I find it embarrassing to admit that Christian giving trails off during hard economic times. I understand a family’s need may increase but … Continue reading Warming the hearts of people with God’s love

Continue reading A Joyous Easter to Everyone

        Let’s spend this post contemplating how our actions, or inactions, made it necessary for Jesus Christ to go to the cross for our sins. It wasn’t just an act for “them”. It was for us. Continue reading He took on the sins of the world

At first glance this post might not seem like one on outreach but, in my mind, it really is. Like it or not our actions put a face on Christianity to the current crop of unbelievers.  There was a recent article in the Christian Science Monitor entitled “The Coming Evangelical Collapse” http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0310/p09s01-coop.html%3E . In it the author is described as: Michael Spencer is a writer … Continue reading The Coming Evangelical Collapse

 Continuing with my focus on Christian outreach, I want to give you an extended quote from Rick Richardson in his book “Evangelism – Outside the Box” I would highly recommend the book to anyone who is truly willing to look outside his personal or his churches box. Religious people tend to create programs and ministries that meet the needs of other religious people. Jesus knew … Continue reading Lost People matter to God.

Who are the unchurched and why aren’t they there? Here are some statistics about our mission field Group Born Attend Church Builders Born Before 1946 51% Boomers 1946 – 1964 41% Busters 1965 – 1976 34% Bridgers 1977 – 1994 29% Source: Surprising Insights from the Unchurched by Thom S. Rainer , Zondervan Press 2001    The growing ranks of the unchurched are not due … Continue reading Why aren’t they here???