Upcoming sermon on priorities

jwolf6589
For my upcoming sermon I am gonna advocate personal evangelism and tract evangelism, but not so sure about street preaching. I have seen so many abuses of this form of evangelism, and it has a very negative reputation. It also may not be as effective in a relational generation. So personal & tract evangelism are better. Thoughts?

Discussion

"The World's Most Controversial Hymn Book"

Brenda T

“Dr. Watts’s Hymn-book does not satisfy and suffice me,” said London Congregational minister Thomas Toke Lynch to his Mortimer Street church in 1851 (Memoir of Thomas T. Lynch, p. 95). Three years later, Lynch began penning his own hymns. In November 1855, while minister at Fitzroy Chapel on Grafton Street, Lynch published The Rivulet: A Contribution to Sacred Song also known as Hymns for Heart and Voice. A second edition appeared in 1856 and a third in 1868.

Lynch’s hymns were laden with his own religious interests and poetic expressions and light on doctrine, creed or orthodoxy. In the preface to the second edition, Lynch wrote that his intent was to supplement, not supplant, existing hymnody.

Within two months of the first edition of The Rivulet, conflict broke out among religious newspapers and within the Congregational Union the likes of which has never been seen in any denomination concerning a hymn book. John Campbell, editor of the Congregational Union’s official newspaper, used a newspaper not supported by the Union, titled the British Banner, as a means of criticizing Lynch, his hymns, and those who spoke favorably of them. James Grant, editor of the Morning Advertiser, joined Campbell’s cause. The Nonconformist and Eclectic Review fought back by supporting Lynch and his hymns. By the time “The Controversy”—as it came to be called—ended a year and half later many other periodicals joined the fray. Hundreds of articles and pamphlets had been written in criticism or defense of the hymnal. The bitter debate so engulfed the Congregational Union that the regular autumnal meeting scheduled for September 23, 1856, at Cheltenham, was canceled out of fear that peace could not be maintained.

Discussion

Congregational Government: A Response to James McDonald

Fred Moritz

On June 9, 2011, James MacDonald posted a blog article under the title “Congregational Government is from Satan.”1 SharperIron provided a link to the article, thus I am replying through SharperIron.

MacDonald begins his message by saying:

NOTE: the tone of this post is intentionally aimed at engaging those who are engulfed in this system of church government that neither honors the Scriptures nor advances the gospel.

That’s right! It’s actually the title to a book I have had percolating in my mind for a long time. After almost 30 years in ministry I have come irreversibly to this conclusion: congregational government is an invention and tool of the enemy of our souls to destroy the church of Jesus Christ. So there, I have said the strongest part of the message first; now some commentary.

In his commentary MacDonald lists five arguments against congregational church government. They are:

1. Congregational meetings are forums for division. He says:

When church life is going well, the leaders of a church struggle to get a quorum for decision making. When things are going wrong, every carnal member lines up at a microphone to spew their venom and destroy the work of Christ in the church.

Discussion

Is street evangelism effective?

jwolf6589
I like to do street evangelism & street preaching. However this is not a popular or practiced method in my church. Having done street evangelism since 2008 I can say that its not exactly the most effective method. I do not think results are up to me, as they are up to God. But then again living in the Bible Belt where there is a church on every corner, I wonder if its possible that many of my gospel tracts, gospel of John’s, books, and such that I have given out to so many have been wasted and such resources may be better off in another context.

Discussion

Where do I Belong?

Jimmy Anderson
I’ve just recently read a 2 part posting of why a man had left a particular denomination in search of a “church” that was more suitable to his liking. He gave a brief description, in part one,

of his attendance to various schools in the persuit of a pastorial position, but decided not to enter that arena of “employment”. In part two of his posting he describes in short detail many different “plegues” of today’s “chruch”. The end result of his “search” has been that he “landed” at a doctrine/denomination that even there he is not sure of.

Discussion

Interesting Outreach Program in our Area

Mike Durning
EACH (Everyone a Chance To Hear) is a program started in Metro Detroit. Churches and para-church organizations engage in community service programs (helping the poor, re-building after fires, etc.), and they also promote the gospel during these programs.

The gospel presented is similar to the 4 Spiritual Laws tracts from the old Billy Graham days, but with a somewhat heightened call to commitment to Christ alongside the faith.

Discussion

Comparing Fundy and Conservative Evangelical Pulpits

FredK
Is it just me or are the CEs producing more top of the line, expository teachers? I’m in a IFB church yet I usually find the Lutzers, Swindolls, Stanleys, Jeremiahs more engaging, more stimulating. Here locally, the largest churches are CE with exceptionally good teaching.

Now with itinerant evangelists I see perhaps the opposite. We fundys have a goodly number of on fire, energetic, godly speakers both young and established. After hearing them you know you have been to church.

Discussion