From Lost 2 Found

It is often said that the Bible says we are NOT to judge, but is that really true? The truth is, Scripture seems to give a mixed message on this topic. In one place it says we are not to judge, lest we be judged. In another place it states that we should not only judge, but we should condemn and expel others from fellowship based on that judgment. Can these two teachings be reconciled? I believe so, and rather simply. We are not to judge others on how they worship, but we are to judge others on how they live. The context for not judging others in the New Testament is around religious observation: holy days, unclean food, etc. The context for judging others in the New Testament is on the basis of morality. Though none in the church are perfect, all should be seeking to live by the guidelines God has established. Someone caught cheating on their taxes or having a baby out of wedlock should not be shunned. Neither should a homosexual. But all should be counseled on what the Word o

The following is a post left on a community website I occasionally visit. The first part was written by a member of an ELCA church and is a request for guidance in how to respond to what her local congregation is currently going through in response to the ELCA decision to ordain active, practicing homosexuals for ministry. (for more on the decision, click HERE or just Google it.) The second part is the response I left on the website, one of 50+ comments, from a fairly wide variety of opinions. PART ONE Churches leaving the ELCA I currently attend a church whose Pastor is working actively to get the congregation to approve leaving the ELCA after the recent acceptance of Gay Pastors. I personally feel that this goes against the Lord as it is against rule number one, Love thy neighbor. This seems so much like people judging others and I say, let he who without sin cast the first stone. I also believe that the Lord created each of us in the manner that he wanted and he or s

September 11, 2009 Donna, I can’t express how disappointed I am by your comments on today’s show regarding Ellen Degeneres and the TV show American Idol. While I believe that you are entitled to your opinion, I felt strongly that I must also express mine. In response to a caller who stated that he would no longer watch or support American Idol because Ellen Degeneres is a lesbian, you asked something like, “What about everybody else’s sin. Isn’t it better that she doesn’t hide it? You can dig up dirt on anyone, anyone.” I commend your desire to love all in Jesus name, but I believe that you have mis-understood the will and desire of God regarding sin, and in so doing have cheapened his grace. Undoubtedly, if you were to examine my life you would find sin. Undoubtedly, if we were to examine your life we would find sin. Undoubtedly, if we were to examine Ellen Degeneres’ life we would find sin. For some people, we don’t have to look very hard. For others we do. That isn

A great little booklet for those who have given up on Church. Here is a copy of the Table of Contents: Reason #1: I don't believe in organized religion..........................3 Reason #2: I have my own way of connecting with God.................5 Reason #3: I got tired of the church always asking me for money.....8 Reason #4: My life situation changed, and I just never went back...10 Reason #5: I don't have to go to church to be a good person..........13 Reason #6: I'm too busy, and Sundays are my only time to rest......16 Reason #7: Church is boring...............................................18 Reason #8: The people tend to have their own cliques-I never fit in.20 Reason #9: Christians are judgmental and hypocritical................22 Reason #10 I don't think I'd be welcome anymore -I've done some bad stuff......................24 Why People Are Coming Back to Church.................................27 How Do I Go Back to Church?..................

The following is part of an ongoing conversation I am having with a friend via the internet. The friends started the conversation several weeks ago and we have sent messages back several times since then. While there might be some value in sharing the entire conversation with you, I would not feel comfortable with doing so unless both parties (my friend and I) agreed to do so. Nonetheless, I feel compelled to share my most recent response. (In order for you to understand the response you must first know that my friend has never made church attendance a priority in their life.) I would love to hear your comments/thoughts/questions. You are not bothering me at all. And I didn't mean to leave you hangin'. I really have been swamped and I want my response to be clear, so that means I have to think pretty hard :). I don't know which questions are burning hotter and need attention, but I will take a stab. Feel free to steer me toward other issues if you would lik

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”      -Acts 2:37-39 When God’s word is at work, as it obviously did through Peter’s preaching, there must be a response. God’s word always calls for a response. When the law quickens our spirit and awakens us to our hopelessness, we may respond with indifference, disbelief or repentance. Is repentance enough to be saved? Do we receive the Holy Spirit through repentance? Not according to this passage of Scripture! The promise spoken of by Peter is Christ’s promise of the Holy Spirit, which Peter links directly to the act of baptism. Through baptism we receive forgiveness of si

2009 Adult Sunday School Plan Topic: Adult Confirmation: a thorough overview Rationale: Many adults in the church have not participated in confirmation instruction in their youth. Of those who did, it was many years ago, and some have expressed a desire to have a refresher course. The nature of corporate worship leads us to repeat certain activities (Communion, Baptism) or statements (Lord’s Prayer, Apostle’s Creed) without taking the time to explain and teach what we are doing and why. Repetition can be useful for low-level learning, but can be counter-productive to higher-level understanding and applying. Adults need the opportunity to not only hear the teachings of the church, but to evaluate and at times even question them, in order to develop spiritual maturity. Challenges: Students will likely possess a wide variety of experience with the topics presented. Some may feel they know all they need to know. Others may feel as though these teachings are no longer relevant f

When the day of Pentecost came…all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…when the people heard this, they were cut to the heart.  -Acts 2:1ff God’s Holy Spirit, promised by Christ, came with a power that overwhelmed all the disciples of Christ and worked in them “as the Spirit enabled them.” What was the response of others? verse 6: they came together in bewilderment verse 7: they were utterly amazed verse 12: they were amazed and perplexed and were asking questions verse 13: Some made fun of them, even accusing them of being drunk How do people respond to the Holy Spirit’s powerful presence in my life? I don’t often see bewilderment or amazement. I don’t often receive questions. I seldom am accused or ridiculed. Is it possible that I stifle the Spirit’s work, for fear of how people will respond. I notice that none of those mentioned responded with faith, but evidently some were prepared for a faith-filled response to the preaching that followed. The Spirit’s

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” -Acts 1:11 It has been said that it is not polite to stare, yet staring seems to be a part of our human nature. Too easily we get fixated on someone or something and we are unable to move past it. How long would the disciples have stood and stared if they had not been instructed to move on? In the church today we talk about keeping our eyes on Jesus, but do we do it at the expense of our mission? We must find a balance between watching for Christ and living for Christ. Is it a fair question to ask: “Which would Jesus rather have us doing when He returns, watching for him or serving others in His name?” He is coming, but until He returns we must be about the business He has called us to – loving others in His name and making disciples of His kingdom.

I am just beginning to read this work by Henry and Melvin Blackaby. My interest in it stems from having been radically tranformed by God through Henry Blackaby's study " Experiencing God ." It truly has affected how I see the world, ministry, and myself. My hope for " A God-Centered Church " is that I will discover ways to help lead others in my congregation and in my community to experience God and be radically tranformed as well. I claim no expertise, only a honest and sincere hope in a rising, living Savior and a firm belief that He desires for us to know Him in a way that is far deeper than most modern Christians currently experience. Here are a few quotes from the introduction which help to lay the foundation for the rest of the book: "Their [Christians crying out for somthing more in their relationship with God] struggle tends to come from the fact that they never understood the nature of God's great salvation. More specifically, they never unders