Gospel Living

36  And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37  and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38  And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39  And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. We get a lot of funny ideas about the point of ministry.  Sometimes we think more people is better than fewer, and we think the point is to draw crowds with spectacle.  Because of that, we also tend to deemphasize classical elements of church services, such as preaching.  Jesus challenges our misconceptions with His singular purpose for ministry. Christ did not come to gather a crowd.  Remember that this is still the morning after His long day of working miracles.  His disciples words should be no surprise to us—“Everyone is looking for you” (v. 37).  He was the buzz, and Peter and the others ...

This is a repost from 2012 with an updated, embedded video: What is wrong with building a "purpose-driven" church?  This two-hour video (while one-sided and in need of editing) documents the major problems with framing a church around the needs and wants of the lost world; it unveils a church of tares.  The expanded description from the YouTube page is below.   I highly recommend the video: This film is non-profit and FREE, not to be bought or sold, but you do have permission to make copies and distribute freely. To obtain a DVD, simply contact us for a free copy or make a donation with your request: www.holybibleprophecy.org HBP is viewer-supported and your support is greatly appreciated. Resources are mailed as time permits. Your patience is appreciated. Please give extra time if this material is needed by a certain date. Can the Church borrow the marketing tools of the world and apply them to the Church? What is the history of the Church Growt...

We ventured into a Family Bookstore a couple of days ago to pick up an extra Bible and some books for a small group study.  While the kind clerk rang us up, she described a program for troops to receive teaching from top Bible teachers.  So, there's that awkward moment: I told her that I couldn't recommend anyone to listen to half the teachers on the advertised list. "Uh-oh" and a moment of silence followed. Perry Noble, pastor of the multi-site NewSpring Church in South Carolina, prominently featured with the other teachers. Fumbling the ball on what Noble and other like-minded pastors call "Superbowl Sunday," a.k.a. Christmas, Noble taught a mix of semi-Pelagian theology and legalism in calling people to embrace the "promises" known as the Ten Commandments.  How?  Noble is under the false impression that the word "command" doesn't exist in Hebrew, and that we could understand the Decalogue to be "the Ten Promises" to ev...

For those who love conversion stories and also serve in ministry, Phil Johnson shared the practical implications of the text that served to save him from his sins.  I strongly recommend it: Watch Video (Youtube)

What is wrong with building a "purpose-driven" church?  This two-hour video (while one-sided and in need of editing) documents the major problems with framing a church around the needs and wants of the lost world; it unveils a church of tares.  The expanded description from the YouTube page is below.   I highly recommend the video: This film is non-profit and FREE, not to be bought or sold, but you do have permission to make copies and distribute freely. To obtain a DVD, simply contact us for a free copy or make a donation with your request: www.holybibleprophecy.org HBP is viewer-supported and your support is greatly appreciated. Resources are mailed as time permits. Your patience is appreciated. Please give extra time if this material is needed by a certain date. Can the Church borrow the marketing tools of the world and apply them to the Church? What is the history of the Church Growth movement and its false premises? Who is involved in the n...

(A caution: one naughty word used at the beginning... yes, by the pastor.) Mike Porter over at A&OMin posted a good response to the video about the starvation of Christ's sheep and Perry Noble's general attitude.  I agree with it, and recommend that short read to you. On the one hand, I appreciate what Noble might be getting at in this vid, because I have been often tempted (especially in my earlier ministry) to want the "deeper" stuff with little regard for application.  Similarly, I've met folks who have heads full of religious knowledge but have no clue about what they would call "the basic stuff."  So, I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt there. On the other hand, he claims to say this to everyone.  I hope that is not true.  Porter is right; honest Christians desire more, growing thirstier the more they drink.  With the current famine sweeping American churches dry of the Word, I weep to imagine a hurting lamb being turned a...

Presto!  You now have a cool church that will make everyone love you. "Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo . What do you mean, "Where's the Gospel?"  They mentioned an impoverished nation, right? (HT: Dan Phillips ) All you need to do next is hire the ultimate youth pastor ...