3 Statements that Don’t Sum up the Message of the Bible
I heard a pastor of a large church say the following, “I’m going to give you the cliff notes version of the Bible: Love God Love One Another Love Your Neighbor as Yourself” This might sound pretty good to the average congregant, but it presents some serious problems. Let’s examine these three statements one by [...]
Osama’s Death: A Christian Perspective
I hear that Osama Bin Laden was dead last night. My first reaction was simply to pause. I didn’t know what to think. My emotional response to things is often delayed as I try to figure out what I should be feeling. I went to bed after seeing a few shots of people celebrating outside [...]
Relevant Preaching and Teaching
Recently I took a few college students to the Christmas Conference in Denver put on by Campus Crusade (http://godcc.com). I will be writing a separate post about the conference. They invited Scott Nickel, one of the teaching pastors at Flat Irons Community Church to speak several times (http://www.flatironschurch.com). So often when you talk to students [...]
Do Apologetics Help?
Remember when you were a kid and your parents said utterly ridiculous things like, “eat your vegetables and you’ll grow up big and strong.” My parents used all kinds of methods to get me to eat vegetables. They new how important it was that I learn to eat in a healthy manner. Some of those [...]
Identity & Evangelism
Who am I? “Who am I?” This is the question virtually every teen asks themselves. Identity is important in more ways than most could imagine. It isn’t just about a sense of self worth, it is much more. Students gather into groups based on ethnicity, dress, activities, and all kinds of other things in an [...]
Heroes Never Die!
My Grandpa and spiritual mentor passed away a couple of hours ago(as I write this). My eyes are dried up, but occasionally they well up and spill a little more. I have been going through one of his old Bibles that I am privileged to have. I know it is weird, but I am actually [...]
Youth Ministry Models
John Byrne talks about youth ministry models, what they are, and how we use them.
Theology-Philosophy-Praxis
John Byrne explains why it is important to develop a good theology of ministry before you figure all that other stuff out.
Calling: Aptness to Teach
“In the second place, combined with the earnest desire to become a pastor, there must be aptness to teach and some measure of the other qualities needful for the office of a public instructor.” -Charles Spurgeon, Lectures To My Students
Called: Consider the Cost
What does it mean to be called to ministry? How do you know? Charles Spurgeon gave some help to his students regarding this very question. Over the next four to six posts I will be going over some of the criteria for understanding calling. Why should you read these? There are two reasons, first, to evaluate yourself in light of these things, and second, to help you determine who in your ministry might be called into ministry. Hear it goes.
