A Theology of Friendship

Filings

“Though this survey does not include every angle from which to view friendship (e.g., the ‘one another’ passages), this survey does provide a fairly good idea of the Bible’s theology of friendship.” - P&D

Discussion

6 Reasons to Sit in a Different Seat at Church This Weekend

Filings

“Most of us have a habit of sitting in the same place in church on Sunday, and I realize that nobody else is calling for changing this pattern. Nevertheless, I press on with my reasons that you and I should sit in a different place at church this weekend.” - Chuck Lawless

Discussion

The Role of Pastors’ Gatherings in a Changing Ministry Landscape

Filings

“Pastoral ministry has never been simple, but it has become increasingly complex. Rapidly developing technology, cultural pressures, and shifting expectations continue to place new weight on those entrusted with the care of souls…. Pastors were never meant to navigate these challenges alone.” - GARBC

Discussion

Five Ways to Beat Bitterness: #5 - Connect

Aaron Blumer

Read the series.

“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen; nobody knows my sorrow.” We all know the song—or at least that much of it—and we all know the feeling.

Oh, it’s true that the losses, disappointments, failures, and wrongs that tend to lead to bitterness are “common to man” (1 Cor. 10:13), but at the same time, each person’s experience is unique. Our hearts tell us no one understands or can understand.

From there, it’s a small step downward to the attitude that no one cares. Sometimes it may even be true.

Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. (ESV, Psalm 142:4)

Discussion

Biblical Truths vs. Ecumenical Unity

Richard Bargas

“And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him to his face and said to King Jehoshaphat, ‘Should you help the wicked and love those who hate Yahweh and so bring wrath on yourself from Yahweh?’” (2 Chronicles 19:2, LSB)

Working well with others is something we were hopefully taught as small children. Learning to get along with people, even people we don’t often agree with, is a mark of maturity and a necessity in any healthy society.

Discussion

The Tightrope of Separation: False Starts

John Miles

Read the series.

False starts

There are several false starts that we can make in the matter of separation. There is no doubt that God has called us to a position of separation. The question is how and in what way? There are several false responses that have been devised by man.

The first response is asceticism.

There are those who have said that Christians are not of this world and so they must get away from the world completely. Those who advocated this are called ascetics and they became hermits, went to monasteries, caves, deserts, and the wilderness. They said they had to get away from man and pleasures in order to be separate unto God. That however was a complete distortion of Scripture because we are commanded to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Scripture has told us to witness to, live before, and seek to reach men for Christ. After ascetics arrived out in the deserts and caves they discovered they brought the world with them because the sinful impulses exhibited in the world were also in them. Satan appealed to their pride, self, and false motives even when they were alone, and the world manifested itself in them. Wherever we go we take the sinful impulses exhibited in the world with us. Asceticism is not the answer.

Discussion

Three Biblical Marks of Healthy Financial Cooperation

Filings

“The means and methods of financial cooperation between churches are not the purview of accountants and finance committees only. Rather, how financial support is given and received within the kingdom of God on earth is a theological and pastoral question.” - 9 Marks

Discussion