Should Conservative Evangelicals and Fundamentalists Embrace Our Unity in Christ?
This is another response to Mark Ward Jr.’s article.
Biblical Literacy, Part 2
Read Part 1.
The Church
The central purpose of the church is to exalt Christ. We do that through evangelism, worship, fellowship, prayer and in general, making disciples (Acts 2:42-43). The primary means by which disciples are made is through the transforming power of the Scriptures as the Holy Spirit uses the inspired Word to change lives (Rom 12:1-2). Therefore, it is vital that the local church provide a variety of means by which the life-changing truth of God’s Word is taught and applied to God’s people.
At this point I want to discuss specific means by which the Word of God can be taught in the church setting and conclude with some comments about personal study. I have to say that as a pastor of the same church for over four decades there is nothing that is on my mind more frequently than how to communicate God’s Word to His people in such a way that it transforms lives. I often wake up at night thinking of a family or individual who is not doing well spiritually, praying for ways that they might be reached with the truth of God’s Word.
Discussion
Biblical Literacy, Part 1
From Think on These Things, March 2017; used with permission.
I concluded my article titled “Biblical Illiteracy” with these words:
Biblical illiteracy is well recognized today. There are many reasons why not only the general population but also the evangelical church has little understanding and knowledge of Scripture, and I have tried to identify some of these in the body of this article. With all of the attacks on the trustworthiness of Scripture, coupled with general lack of biblical knowledge and apathy toward what it proclaims, it would be easy to despair for the future of the Scriptures.
But God’s Word always accomplishes that which it is sent forth by the Lord to accomplish (Isa 55:1) which is to teach, reprove, correct and train His people in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). We have the promise of Jesus that His Word will never pass away (Matt 24:35). Rather than despair we should make every effort to pass along the Lord’s truth to the next generation (Deut 6:4-9; Psalm 145:4). At this point we need to consider some means to do so. What can we personally, and corporately as the church, do to address the issue of biblical illiteracy?
It is to this subject we now turn.
Discussion
Evangelism
My church needs an evangelistic focus. We have none - to the point where we don’t have Bibles for new visitors, tracts for members to give out, or any money budgeted for evangelism at all. We have no outreach ministries or programs. In short, we have nothing. I’ve been at this church for nine months. I spoke to the Pastor about this, and am basically starting this from scratch.
Discussion
Church Can Start Its Own Police Force, Alabama Senate Says
Body
“A large church in Alabama is one step closer to creating its own police force, a move that seems to be without precedent in the U.S. The state’s Senate has approved legislation that would give church police officers the same powers other law enforcement officers have in Alabama.” NPR
Discussion