Quote from John Piper’s interview with Mark Driscoll
Great thoughts also about raising boys vs. girls, ministry demands, and Piper’s wonderful honesty.
So I think that God’s character, as it is reproduced in a community of people, must be one of the most powerful witnesses to the truth of the gospel, both for evangelism and the edification of those already converted. So I would like to see evangelical churches— while not becoming unsophisticated in how they interact with culture—keep cultural interaction in perspective, and realize that the life-blood of your church continuing is not your contextualization (your similarity to the culture), but how you are blessedly distinct from the culture. The church is full of people who are born again.
From a conversation between C.J. Mahaney and Mark Dever. Listen to the full version here.
Great post by my former pastor, and close friend, Chris Rhodenhizer
what people expect…
safe place
smiling face
healthy atmosphere for worshipunhealthy, unspiritual, and unrealistic EXPECTATIONS some may have…
desiring that we have things
different belief system
critical spiritwhen we strive for excellence…
we work our hardest for God’s glory
we usually meet the expectations put on us
we go first, not just show up firstwhen EXCELLENCE crosses the line…
we create a consumer mentality
we begin to build our own “kingdom”
we become critical
Fabulous article from Collin Hansen, which has particular relevance for New Life Church and the transient students who make up much of our congregation
How do you encourage the deep fellowship that only develops with years of experience if the congregation switches like a hockey team’s line change? Longevity is necessary for the kind of lay leadership that really gets things done in the church.
Anonymity is the enemy of ministry.
For the sake of loving each other and loving our neighbors, Christians should re-learn how to put down roots in one community. There will often be valid financial and educational excuses for leaving. But if you invest in your community, the community will invest in you. For too long Christians have followed that American dream to greener pastures, to the neglect of their genealogical and ecclesiological families. If we hope to reverse this trend, shepherds should set the example.