Since its inception twenty-four years ago, the Church Growth Movement has promised rapid numerical growth to American churches. Through researching the sociological, demographic, and psychological needs of people groups, an approach to numerical church growth was proposed. Full length books, hot off the press, with flashy titles such as “Your Church Can Grow” and “Church […]
Paul knew it was goodbye! He would see the Ephesian elders no more this side of heaven. So in an impassioned appeal he left for elders everywhere a trumpet call to arms. In a series of couplets, he laid out a strategy for spiritual warfare which he had proved in the trenches. 1. Two Forms […]
The ceremonials of the Jew’s religion could give no peace to Saul of Tarsus. The power politics of the Roman empire could offer no hope. The philosophies of the Greeks could present no deliverance from guilt, nor cleansing from defilement. He did not find the answer until that day when this rising star in Judaism […]
Camping made many memories for us as we raised our children. Some of those memories were around a campfire singing hymns together, visiting with new friends, oh, yes! and enjoying tasty treats. We’d wait till everybody went back to their tents and it was just our little family. Sidney would bring out the sticks he’d […]
We are not going to discuss technique or even doctrine but the inward qualities of effective gospel witnessing. Notice five of these: knowledge, earnestness, faithfulness, dignity and tenderness. These are the indispensables of true evangelism. Knowledge We remember hearing a listener say to his neighbor at an open-air meeting, “This man knows what he is […]
Dan Smith (1907-1988) lived a life remarkable for its variety. Born in England of Scottish stock, he carried the gospel to remote mountains in China, India, and Sri Lanka. He preached extensively in England, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. His acquaintances and co-workers had their own notoriety–a who’s who in the Kingdom: Gypsy Smith, […]
There are mysteries and there are mysteries. The New Testament mysteries are the revelation of truths previously hidden (Eph. 3:9-11; Col. 1:26; 1 Pet. 1:11-12). But it is another kind of mystery I am thinking about today. The kind nobody can explain. These are mysteries observed around the breaking of bread meeting. Maybe you have […]
I was witnessed to last week, the first time I can remember. Sherry was a kindly looking lady sitting by the airplane window, probably in her mid-sixties. She made a frontal attack. Point blank, she told me she was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That was the last […]
The whole Sabbath day Christ lay in the grave. But the resurrection morning comes, and Peter and John, told by Mary Magdalene that the Lord had been taken from the sepulcher, run to the grave, and Peter is outrun by John. I know some say that Peter was older than John, but I do not […]