The Easter church “holds the belief that new & resurrected life in Christ looks a certain way and lives by certain standards.” It may be a conservative congregation that has strict doctrinal or behavioral standards or a progressive church that implicitly forces conformity to particular social justice perspectives.
The Good Friday church functions as a hospital for the wounded. They “make room for our woundedness … they also allow us to remain there.” She notes that they often focus their ministry on a particular demographic or specialize in responding to particular needs and devote themselves to tending the injuries of those broken by life.
The Pentecost church “witnesses to our worst wounds and our best actualizations, and it echoes the Spirit’s unending call to fuller life in Christ.” They regularly challenge people to refuse to settle for the outward righteousness that may pervade the Easter church or the wallowing in woundedness that may characterize those in the Good Friday congregation.
http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/rachel-hackenberg-on-three-types-of-churches
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
When To Leave A Church?
J. Lee Drady says,"If you see any of these seven warning signs in your church, my advice is to run as fast as you can."
1. No accountability. There is safety in the multitude of counselors (see Prov. 11:14). There is much less safety—perhaps even danger—when a leader does not bother to seek counsel from a diverse group of his peers, as well as from gray-haired men and women who have the wisdom that comes with experience. If a pastor or church leader isn't open to correction or financial oversight, he is headed for a train wreck. If you stay in that church, you may crash with him.
2. Spiritual elitism. Healthy leaders love the entire body of Christ. Beware of any church that claims “exclusive” revelation or suggests they are superior to other Christians. This is how cults start. There is a large charismatic church in Hungary that began in revival, but the founder began teaching that their church was the only place people could truly be saved. If a pastor ever makes such claims it is time to shake the dust off your feet and move on.
3. Entrenched immorality. The apostle Paul commanded leaders to enforce biblical discipline. This must be handled with gentleness (see Gal. 6:1) but nevertheless with firm resolve, because the enemy wants to infiltrate the church with moral compromise. If a pastor has been involved in adultery or perversion and continues preaching, meanwhile refusing discipline, his unrepentant spirit will infect the entire congregation—and you can expect to see immorality spread throughout the church. Don’t be defiled.
4. An authoritarian spirit. Some leaders develop a dictatorial style and try to control people through manipulation, threats and legalistic demands. I’m amazed at how much spiritual abuse is tolerated in churches today. No pastor is perfect, and we are called to be patient with each other’s faults. But if a church leader is verbally abusive toward his staff or members of his congregation, he is in direct violation of Scripture. The Apostle Paul taught that church leaders should not be "violent" or "quarrelsome" but "self-controlled" and "gentle" (see 1 Tim. 3:2-3). It’s best to find another pastor if yours cannot control his anger.
5. Unbridled greed. Paul made it clear that a leader has no business being in the ministry if he isn’t “free from the love of money” (1 Tim. 3:3, NASB). Yet we have turned that requirement on its head today. We have given greedy charlatans access to the airwaves and allowed them to corrupt the church with a money-focused message. Your pastor does not have to live in poverty, but if he insists on living in luxury—and manipulates people during offering time to squeeze more money out of your wallet to pay for his toys—you are supporting his habit. You should leave.
6. False doctrines and manifestations. A pastor should be open to the Holy Spirit’s spontaneous work, but he or she should also protect the flock from deception. In many segments of the charismatic movement today, bizarre New Age influences have been wholeheartedly embraced—and Christians seem to have thrown away the gift of discernment. If your church is focusing on a particular prophet’s revelations, or is going off on weird tangents—at the expense of solid doctrine—then you should go elsewhere fast.
7. A culture of pride. Some church leaders are so insecure that they manufacture a sense of importance around them in order to function. They surround themselves with security guards, “armor bearers,” handlers and assistants—and never actually build genuine relationships with their church members. They think church is all about their stage performance, so they rely on volume, theatrics, clothes and a grand entrance to impress the crowd rather than just being normal, touchable, accessible servants. If your pastor is building a personality cult rather than a dwelling place for God, run for your life!
J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma and the director of The Mordecai Project (themordecaiproject.org). His latest book is Fearless Daughters of the Bible. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady.
- See more at: http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/fire-in-my-bones/16895-when-is-it-time-to-leave-a-church#sthash.kBHFbGjf.dpuf
1. No accountability. There is safety in the multitude of counselors (see Prov. 11:14). There is much less safety—perhaps even danger—when a leader does not bother to seek counsel from a diverse group of his peers, as well as from gray-haired men and women who have the wisdom that comes with experience. If a pastor or church leader isn't open to correction or financial oversight, he is headed for a train wreck. If you stay in that church, you may crash with him.
2. Spiritual elitism. Healthy leaders love the entire body of Christ. Beware of any church that claims “exclusive” revelation or suggests they are superior to other Christians. This is how cults start. There is a large charismatic church in Hungary that began in revival, but the founder began teaching that their church was the only place people could truly be saved. If a pastor ever makes such claims it is time to shake the dust off your feet and move on.
3. Entrenched immorality. The apostle Paul commanded leaders to enforce biblical discipline. This must be handled with gentleness (see Gal. 6:1) but nevertheless with firm resolve, because the enemy wants to infiltrate the church with moral compromise. If a pastor has been involved in adultery or perversion and continues preaching, meanwhile refusing discipline, his unrepentant spirit will infect the entire congregation—and you can expect to see immorality spread throughout the church. Don’t be defiled.
4. An authoritarian spirit. Some leaders develop a dictatorial style and try to control people through manipulation, threats and legalistic demands. I’m amazed at how much spiritual abuse is tolerated in churches today. No pastor is perfect, and we are called to be patient with each other’s faults. But if a church leader is verbally abusive toward his staff or members of his congregation, he is in direct violation of Scripture. The Apostle Paul taught that church leaders should not be "violent" or "quarrelsome" but "self-controlled" and "gentle" (see 1 Tim. 3:2-3). It’s best to find another pastor if yours cannot control his anger.
5. Unbridled greed. Paul made it clear that a leader has no business being in the ministry if he isn’t “free from the love of money” (1 Tim. 3:3, NASB). Yet we have turned that requirement on its head today. We have given greedy charlatans access to the airwaves and allowed them to corrupt the church with a money-focused message. Your pastor does not have to live in poverty, but if he insists on living in luxury—and manipulates people during offering time to squeeze more money out of your wallet to pay for his toys—you are supporting his habit. You should leave.
6. False doctrines and manifestations. A pastor should be open to the Holy Spirit’s spontaneous work, but he or she should also protect the flock from deception. In many segments of the charismatic movement today, bizarre New Age influences have been wholeheartedly embraced—and Christians seem to have thrown away the gift of discernment. If your church is focusing on a particular prophet’s revelations, or is going off on weird tangents—at the expense of solid doctrine—then you should go elsewhere fast.
7. A culture of pride. Some church leaders are so insecure that they manufacture a sense of importance around them in order to function. They surround themselves with security guards, “armor bearers,” handlers and assistants—and never actually build genuine relationships with their church members. They think church is all about their stage performance, so they rely on volume, theatrics, clothes and a grand entrance to impress the crowd rather than just being normal, touchable, accessible servants. If your pastor is building a personality cult rather than a dwelling place for God, run for your life!
J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma and the director of The Mordecai Project (themordecaiproject.org). His latest book is Fearless Daughters of the Bible. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady.
- See more at: http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/fire-in-my-bones/16895-when-is-it-time-to-leave-a-church#sthash.kBHFbGjf.dpuf
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Post Preaching Agony
The overwhelming pains of discouragement and soulish agony often befall those who minister the word. What can be referred to as spiritual "postpartum depression" is the experience associated with conception of the life of God's word in the soul of man and then agonizingly being birthed as a message into the world of a local congregation.
I applaud J. Lee Grady for being so candid concerning his own experience that follows his ministry of the word. Especially when it has the strength of prophetic tone in the proclamation.
This extract is a great read.
rgh
"What we need in today’s pulpits is less glitz and polish and more gut-level honesty"
"Ever since God called me to preach, I’ve battled with deep insecurity about my delivery style. I can’t electrify a crowd like T.D. Jakes, pack an arena like Reinhard Bonnke or get audiences to turn sermons into trending topics on Twitter like Craig Groeschel or Steven Furtick. Those guys hit home runs when they preach. I get base hits—or strikes.
For years I felt like the reluctant Moses, who complained to God by saying, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent” (Ex. 4:10). For years the Lord kept pushing me out of my comfort zone, urging me to surrender my fears so that I would take the microphone willingly. Once He told me: “I didn’t call you to be T.D. Jakes. I called you to be you.”
On many occasions after speaking in a church or conference, I would sulk. I battled constant discouragement and wondered if my words had hit the mark. Did I preach OK? Did the message sink in? Finally I asked an older pastor if he had ever struggled with disappointment in his pulpit performance. He smiled and told me: “Son, I feel that way every Monday of my life.”
I’m learning an uncomfortable secret about preaching: Those who dare to allow God to speak through them will always squirm in holy agony. Preaching the gospel is both a glorious and a horrifying responsibility. When we speak under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and impart the very truths of Christ, we get so dangerously close to Him that our pride is challenged."
http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/fire-in-my-bones/16716-the-secret-of-becoming-a-prophetic-preacher
I applaud J. Lee Grady for being so candid concerning his own experience that follows his ministry of the word. Especially when it has the strength of prophetic tone in the proclamation.
This extract is a great read.
rgh
"What we need in today’s pulpits is less glitz and polish and more gut-level honesty"
"Ever since God called me to preach, I’ve battled with deep insecurity about my delivery style. I can’t electrify a crowd like T.D. Jakes, pack an arena like Reinhard Bonnke or get audiences to turn sermons into trending topics on Twitter like Craig Groeschel or Steven Furtick. Those guys hit home runs when they preach. I get base hits—or strikes.
For years I felt like the reluctant Moses, who complained to God by saying, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent” (Ex. 4:10). For years the Lord kept pushing me out of my comfort zone, urging me to surrender my fears so that I would take the microphone willingly. Once He told me: “I didn’t call you to be T.D. Jakes. I called you to be you.”
On many occasions after speaking in a church or conference, I would sulk. I battled constant discouragement and wondered if my words had hit the mark. Did I preach OK? Did the message sink in? Finally I asked an older pastor if he had ever struggled with disappointment in his pulpit performance. He smiled and told me: “Son, I feel that way every Monday of my life.”
I’m learning an uncomfortable secret about preaching: Those who dare to allow God to speak through them will always squirm in holy agony. Preaching the gospel is both a glorious and a horrifying responsibility. When we speak under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and impart the very truths of Christ, we get so dangerously close to Him that our pride is challenged."
http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/fire-in-my-bones/16716-the-secret-of-becoming-a-prophetic-preacher
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Hyper Calvinism
Contemporary critics of Calvinism often attack the doctrines of grace by erroneously identifying them with “hyper-Calvinism.” Phil Johnson gets it right and by doing so, demonstartes that hyper-calvinisn should never be confused with Calvinism and to do so is intellectually dis-honest.
rgh
Phil Johnson has a helpful primer on the subject, offering a fivefold definition:
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2013/02/08/hyper-calvinists-are-not-the-same-as-hyper-calvinists/
rgh
Phil Johnson has a helpful primer on the subject, offering a fivefold definition:
... varieties of hyper-Calvinism, listed here in a declining order, from the worst kind to a less extreme variety (which some might prefer to class as “ultra-high Calvinism”):You can read the whole thing
A hyper-Calvinist is someone who either:
All five varieties of hyper-Calvinism undermine evangelism or twist the gospel message.
- Denies that the gospel call applies to all who hear,
- OR Denies that faith is the duty of every sinner,
- OR Denies that the gospel makes any “offer” of Christ, salvation, or mercy to the non-elect (or denies that the offer of divine mercy is free and universal),
- OR Denies that there is such a thing as “common grace,”
- OR Denies that God has any sort of love for the non-elect.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2013/02/08/hyper-calvinists-are-not-the-same-as-hyper-calvinists/
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
2013 Gathering In Dallas,Texas
Greetings Brothers
Planning is underway for our "Reformata Family of Ministers and Churches"
Gathering this year so I need your prompt action please. Jacob and Jon Paul
have requested that their new church plant,"Covenant Community" to host the
event in Dallas, Texas. Therefore, we have tentatively scheduled May 2nd-5th.
Gathering this year so I need your prompt action please. Jacob and Jon Paul
have requested that their new church plant,"Covenant Community" to host the
event in Dallas, Texas. Therefore, we have tentatively scheduled May 2nd-5th.
Covenant community is willing to graciously assist with housing, meals and
Airport transfers. This makes Dallas a very conducive location and the following
even more so:
Airport transfers. This makes Dallas a very conducive location and the following
even more so:
>Frank, Jacob and Jon Paul are already in the region.
>Dr. Seif has shared willingness to join us and he lives in DeSoto..
>We plan to invite continuing Friends from Redeemed and make it a reunion of sorts.
>The event will be announced to invite other guests and interested ministers from DFW.
>Covenant Community congregants will attend the gathering.
These points make for a well attended-celebratory-and relational RFM Gathering
with added potential for future growth.
with added potential for future growth.
This means the rest of us need only purchase airfare for the event and advertised prices are currently excellent. Spirit Airlines is offering $167.80 round trip from Atlanta and American Airlines in a modest $216.00 round trip as well.
Please check your locational listings and promptly procure your airline ticket.
Kind reminder that you are encouraged to bring your wife and invite other ministers who may be interested in RFMC.
For The Kings Honor!
Richard G. Hanner
RFMC
Sr Presbyter
Monday, December 31, 2012
John Piper Shares "Things I Have Learned"
1. The right road always leads to the right place; therefore, get on the right road and go as far as you can on it.
2. There is only one thing to do about anything; that is the right thing. Do right.
3. Happiness is not found by looking for it. You stumble over happiness on the road to duty.
4. The door to success swings on the hinges of opposition.
5. God in the right place in my life fixes every other relationship of life (Matthew 6:33).
6. It is never right to get the right thing in the wrong way — like good grades, wealth, power, position. Don't sacrifice your principles.
7. It is a sin to do less than your best. It is wrong to do [merely] well.
8. It is wrong to be yoked to one who refuses the yoke of Christ.
9. The part of your character that is deficient is the part that needs attention.
10. Don't quit. Finish the job. God can't use a quitter.
11. Anything you do that hinders your progress for God is wrong.
12. Beware of any society in which you feel compelled to put a bushel over your testimony.
13. It isn't enough to be good. Be good for something. The essence of Christianity is not a passionless purity.
14. Positive living produces negative effect[s].
15. Learn to be sweetly firm.
Pastor John
1. The right road always leads to the right place; therefore, get on the right road and go as far as you can on it.
2. There is only one thing to do about anything; that is the right thing. Do right.
3. Happiness is not found by looking for it. You stumble over happiness on the road to duty.
4. The door to success swings on the hinges of opposition.
5. God in the right place in my life fixes every other relationship of life (Matthew 6:33).
6. It is never right to get the right thing in the wrong way — like good grades, wealth, power, position. Don't sacrifice your principles.
7. It is a sin to do less than your best. It is wrong to do [merely] well.
8. It is wrong to be yoked to one who refuses the yoke of Christ.
9. The part of your character that is deficient is the part that needs attention.
10. Don't quit. Finish the job. God can't use a quitter.
11. Anything you do that hinders your progress for God is wrong.
12. Beware of any society in which you feel compelled to put a bushel over your testimony.
13. It isn't enough to be good. Be good for something. The essence of Christianity is not a passionless purity.
14. Positive living produces negative effect[s].
15. Learn to be sweetly firm.
With abiding and deep thankfulness for my father's wisdom,
Pastor John
By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: www.desiringGod.org. Email: mail@desiringGod.org. Toll Free: 1.888.346.4700.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Please Don't Get Stupid!
From Charisma Magazine-"10 more stupid things ministers should never do".
1. Abuse the sheep.
2. Water down the gospel.
3. Refuse to release people into ministry.
4. Focus on gimmicks and programs rather than people.
5. Ignore evangelism.
6. Refuse to network with other leaders.
7. Failure to make prayer a priority.
8. Overemphasizing spiritual warfare teaching.
9. Quenching the Holy Spirit.
10. Burning out.
http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/the-plumb-line/16052-10-more-stupid-things-ministers-should-never-do
1. Abuse the sheep.
2. Water down the gospel.
3. Refuse to release people into ministry.
4. Focus on gimmicks and programs rather than people.
5. Ignore evangelism.
6. Refuse to network with other leaders.
7. Failure to make prayer a priority.
8. Overemphasizing spiritual warfare teaching.
9. Quenching the Holy Spirit.
10. Burning out.
http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/the-plumb-line/16052-10-more-stupid-things-ministers-should-never-do
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