Continual Prayer for Revival
"Our chief design was to implore a revival of godliness in our own souls, in our churches, and in the church at large."
There is little doubt from the record of history that God heard the prayers of Sutcliff, Fuller, and their fellow Baptists. As they prayed, the Calvinistic Baptists in England began to experience the blessing of revival, though, it should be noted, great change was not immediately evident. In the last post on the revitalization of the... Continue Reading
Reformation Bible College Announces New Accelerated Degree Program In Partnership With Several Seminaries
In partnership with several respected seminaries, Reformation Bible College’s new Accelerated Degree Program is launching Fall 2018.
Instead of the traditional seven years to earn both degrees—four at college, three at seminary—the Accelerated Degree Program is designed to launch students into ministry in six years, saving the time and expense of one year without compromising the education and training needed for the high calling of pastoral ministry. Our current seminary partnerships are... Continue Reading
Does the Church’s First Spiritual Abuse Verdict Give Critics a New Weapon?
We emulate Jesus when we expose abuse. But dividing it into categories may do more harm than good.
“Sadly, many historic institutions—the church included—have sought to silence the reporting of abuse for fear of tarnishing the reputation or public image of those institutions. There are too many instances where Christian leaders have mistakenly thought that it was in the best interests of the church, or maybe even of the gospel, for abuse to... Continue Reading
How a Playground Led to Churches Qualifying for Federal Disaster Relief
Three churches in Texas and two Jewish synagogues in Florida filed lawsuits challenging the exclusion for FEMA funding.
Non-profits have typically been ineligible from receiving FEMA funds if the damaged facilities were established or used primarily for religious services, religious education, or religious activities, such as “worship, proselytizing, religious instruction, or fundraising activities that benefit a religious institution and not the community at large.” The Story: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently... Continue Reading
The Rise of Reformed Charismatics
A 21st-century global movement sets the Word on fire with gospel preaching and powerful spiritual gifts.
The Reformed tradition has tended to be cessationist, either denying or avoiding the continued practice of charismatic gifts like healing, tongues, and prophecy, believing they were only for the foundational era of the church. Charismatics, on the other hand, are continuationists, believing these gifts are still available and valuable. The rollicking worship pulsed for... Continue Reading
Jesus Doesn’t Give a Standing Ovation to Sexual Assault
If the church is going to function as God intended, we need to take stand against sin in our midst.
This is grievous to God. Sexual assault utterly appalls him. A confession of sexual assault is not something to be applauded. Yes, we can be grateful that the event has come to light, but we shouldn’t be applauding a man for a half-hearted confession that should have happened twenty years ago. There is nothing admirable... Continue Reading
The Peculiarity of Early Christian Worship
Or How Early Christians Managed to Offend Just about Everybody
So, Christian worship managed to irritate just about everyone. The Romans were agitated. The Jews were upset. Christianity was seen as a subversive threat. But, here’s the key. Christians did not, for these reasons, decided to abandon, change, or modify their worship. Despite the opposition, they stayed true to their practices and true to their... Continue Reading
3 Lessons I Learned From Burnout
Pastors aren’t supposed to have breakdowns. So I thought.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us: “But when Christ, had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God… For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Heb. 10:12,14) This means the performance can stop. We can stop trying to do, and simply be in... Continue Reading
Evangelical Chaplain’s Suspension Intensifies Denomination’s Gay Marriage Debate
Other ECC pastors also face disciplinary action for taking part in the nuptials of gay couples or affirming them in other ways.
The Rev. Judy Peterson, ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church and pastor at its flagship North Park University in Chicago, presided at the wedding of two men in April. That act resulted in her suspension and then a petition drive calling on ECC leaders to place a moratorium on their guidelines forbidding clergy to officiate at... Continue Reading
“Don’t do it!!” Why You Shouldn’t Practice Church Discipline
What’s the pastor to do? My advice would be, “Don’t get yourself into this situation in the first place. Once you’ve discovered that corrective church discipline is biblical, hold off on practicing it for a while.”
What finally sends these otherwise nice, normal, well-adjusted, previously popular pastors over the edge is their discovery that some churches do, in fact, practice church discipline. Not strange, maladjusted churches, but happy, growing, large, grace-oriented churches like Grace Community in Sun Valley, California, or Tenth Presbyterian in Philadelphia, or First Baptist in Durham, North Carolina,... Continue Reading
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