The Christian Message

A WARNING to all Christians… There are times when I just have to share the Sunday message I receive, and this is one of those times. Often when I’m out and about with Christians, I get the “what can we do, it all seems so hopeless” line. And folks I gotta tell ya, noting upsets me more than to hear Christians talk about a situation being termed as hopeless. Many believe there’s nothing that can be done against the progressive socialist and secular humanist left’s assault on religious freedoms and liberty. Case in point: look what’s happening in North Carolina because they have a law stating that you’ll use the bathrooms and facilities corresponding to the gender on your birth certificate. We know what’s happened to Christian bakers in Oregon, Christian florists in Seattle, Christian photographers in New Mexico — all because they honored their faith. he state, meaning the progressive socialist ideological government, has declared that you can have your faith, your religious ...

THE BIBLICAL SOLUTION TO RACIAL TENSIONS POSTED: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2016 |  ABRAHAM HAMILTON III  |  POP CULTURE - Urban Family Talk AddThis Sharing Buttons Recently, a pastor I hold in high esteem said to me, “I haven’t seen it this bad since the tension of the 1960s…but police officers weren’t being killed then.”  He made that statement due to the national tension we’re experiencing after the deaths of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castille in Minnesota, and the murdered police officers in Baton Rouge, LA and Dallas, TX.  Like many, the palpability of the societal strain has wracked my heart.  Yet, as it is in all matters, God has provided the guidance we need in His holy word.  Proverbs 28:5  says, “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.”  This brings things like the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement into clear focus when we fully grasp the reality t...

FAMILY MATTERS 06/30/16 Are We in Danger of Losing Our Religious Freedom? Dr. Linda Mintle  - Family Matters Blogger I routinely read stories in the news that continue to attack religious freedom. The latest involves a move by  California democrats to stop students at Christian universities and colleges from attending chapel or professing Christ  -- the very reasons students often choose these schools. Groups that claim victimization by intolerance are now using intolerance toward Christians. The hypocrisy is astounding. Bible believers are regularly accused of being judgmental and haters. This twisted accusation is from people who don't understand the Christian faith or don't like the message. Christianity is regularly misrepresented in our culture by a few disenfranchised groups and a liberal elite. This Independence Day weekend, I urge you to pray. Religious freedom is under attack by those who twist the teachings of Christ and try to make Christianity look scary, d...

The Passive Wrath of God It’s long been acknowledged that there are two ways that God’s wrath manifests itself: active and passive.  God’s active wrath is that anger of God expressed in his  doing  something to punish sin.  This active wrath manifests itself in things like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and in people like Ananias and Sapphira being struck down dead. The other aspect of God’s wrath is of the passive sort.  This kind of wrath is when God lets people go on in sin leading to their own suffering and destruction.  God doesn’t have to do anything but sinful people themselves make their own decisions and basically self-destruct. In Romans 1:18-32 is one of the clearest texts where God’s passive wrath is shown.  In it the apostle Paul explains that because people suppressed the truth (that they were perfectly aware of God) and ignored God instead by living in their own sinfulness, God gave them over.  There it is.  ...

Five Dangers of Speaking in Hyperbole March 6, 2016 by  Sam Rainer Pastors and politicians are notorious for speaking in hyperbole. I’d rather not blog on politics, so I’ll focus this post on pastors and church leaders. Most pastors communicate with good intentions, and most pastors are genuinely excited about God’s work in their churches. In fact, one of the main questions I get when I consult with pastors is  How can I get my church more excited?  I start by telling them it’s unlikely anyone in your congregation will have the same level of passion as you do. As a pastor, you’re the shepherd. You lead by example. Leading out with passion is part of shepherding people. I’ve noticed a recurring theme among pastors, especially with—but not limited to—social media. We tend to exaggerate. I’m among the guilty bunch. For example, every Sunday isn’t the BEST EVER. Not every social media post about your church needs three exclamation points!!! Telling people an a...

Pastor Julius T. Davis Jr. Sunday School March 12, 2016 - Mark 10:17-31 The rejection of God’s kingdom by trust in riches (10:17–27) (Matt. 19:16–26; Luke 18:18–27) This event probably took place as Jesus was leaving the house (cf. Mark 10:10) somewhere in Perea. The rich man illustrated those who fail to acknowledge their own inability to gain eternal life and to receive it as God’s gift (cf. vv. 13–16). 10:17. As Jesus was setting out on His way (cf. comments on 8:27) to Jerusalem (10:32) a man, influential, wealthy, and young (cf. Matt. 19:20, 22; Luke 18:18), came running to Him. His eager approach, kneeling posture, sincere form of address (Good Teacher, not used by Jews to address a Rabbi), and profound question revealed his earnestness and respect for Jesus as a spiritual Guide. This man’s question indicated that he viewed eternal life as something to be achieved by doing good (in contrast with Mark 10:15; cf. Matt. 19:16) and also that he felt insecure about his fut...

Thus, the Day of Atonement beautifully portrayed the grace of God toward His people, not only cleansing them through shed blood but also removing sin from His sight. But as striking as this picture is, it was imperfect and temporary, only prefiguring a complete and final atonement. Hebrews 9:24-28 The writer of Hebrews stated this truth clearly when he contrasted the yearly sacrifices with the final sacrifice of Christ for our sins (9:24-28). The fact that the ceremony had to be repeated annually proved that the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins (10:1-4). They just postponed God’s judgment—a judgment that eventually fell upon Jesus and ended the annual cycles (vss. 11-14). Those who trust His saving work enjoy an access to God that Israel never knew (vss. 19-22). Bible Expositor and Illuminator (Christian Life Series) by Union Gospel Press

By Carey Nieuwhof 8 Reasons Most Churches Never Break the 200 Attendance Mark There’s a world of difference between how you organize a corner store and how you organize a larger supermarket. In a corner store, Mom and Pop run  everything , Want to talk to the CEO? She’s stocking shelves. Want to see the Director of Marketing? He’s at the cash register. Mom and Pop do everything, and they organize their business to stay small. Which is fine if you’re Mom and Pop and don’t want to grow. But you can’t run a supermarket that way. You organize differently. You govern differently. There’s a produce manager, and people who only stock shelves. There’s a floor manager, shift manager, general manager and so much more. So what’s the translation to church world? Here are 8 reasons churches who want to grow end up staying small: 1. The pastor is the primary caregiver.  Honestly, if you just push past this one issue, you will have made a  ton  of progress. When th...