The last in a three-part series on measurable growth in the churchâand whether it matters. Â God does care about numbers. That much is clear from the book of the Actsâand makes sense considering that each number represents a person receiving grace, being regenerated in Christ. At the same time, some of the numbers that bring us elation (and even pride) receive more attention than they merit. Attendance, while necessary as we strive to bring…
The second in a three-part series on measurable growth in the churchâand whether it matters. Yesterday we saw that God does care about numbers. He inspires the historian Luke to devote too much time to the unstoppable numerical growth of the primitive church to think otherwise. However, we do not want to be simplistic in our affirmative answer. We would do well to ask not only if God cares about numbers, but also what…
The first in a three-part series on measurable growth in the churchâand whether it matters. The simplest answer to the question âDoes God care about numbers?â would be to point to the God-breathed book Numbers within his holy Word. Now, this might seem a reductionist, disingenuous attempt to answer a complicated questionâespecially since God did not entitle the book. Still, the book was given its title for a reason: there are a lot of…
One of the practical ramifications of âthe greatest commandmentââloving God with all of who we areâis the breakdown between the sacred and the secular. There are no longer some activities that are worshipful and spiritual, and others that are mundane and secular. As Paul says with as wide a sweep as any statement in Scripture, âwhatever you do, do it all for the glory of Godâ (1 Corinthians 10:31). However, acknowledging the breakdown is easy;…
Pride is undoubtedly the great enemy of all Christian ministry. One area where it often bares its fangs is in ministry transitionsâa topic that has been on my mind a lot lately, as I transition from the mission field to ministry in the United States, from a chaplaincy to a pastorate. A simple test to determine if you are bringing an overweening pride into your ministry is this: do you regard yourself as innovative…
Kevin DeYoung recently listed ten distinctions between vibrant, robust churches and their squishy evangelical counterparts. It is worth reading the whole article and carefully reflecting on the ten distinctions he delineates. For pastors and church leaders, it would be valuable to evaluate our ministry in the light of these considerations. I wish to add another distinction to the list: decentralization. I would contend that a vibrant, robust church will move unstoppably outward from the…
While discussing Wednesdayâs post with a friend and colleague, he shared a story that demonstrates the need for cultural discernmentâwhat I called âloving judgmentââamong ministers of the gospel. My friend had spent the past few weeks speaking with a group of missionaries from a decidedly post-Christian nation. These missionaries were lamenting the state of the nation, giving as an example a recent church retreat at which half the attendees shacked up in cabins with…
At one point in his letter to Titus, Paul goes on a ârantâ that, were he to utter it in todayâs culture, would surely have gotten him dismissed from his apostolic post. He says to his young charge, âOne of Creteâs own prophets has said it: âCretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.â This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faithâ (1:12-13). These are strong…
The charge of favoritism arises inevitably whenever real disciple-making happens. Disciple-makers recognize that, as humans, we cannot build into everyone we know equally. This is ministerial humility. We are not God; we havenât the ubiquity to be able to be all things to all people in our sphere of influence. And so choices must be made. We must choose to devote ourselves to someâa student or member of the youth group, a friend or co-workerâto…
One day on the shores of the River Jordan, the incarnate Son of God passes by his older cousin. Though Jesus has walked this path the past two days, John the Baptist still marvels at his presence: âLook, the Lamb of God!â (John 1:36, NIV). Two of his disciples hear him say this, and rightly turn to follow after the Christ. And so we come to the inauspicious beginning of the Church, that holy…