decision-making in the church - how to respond to a decision that is now obsolete

Joel Tetreau
I’ve been able to do some thinking and writing on my work on decision-making over the Christmas and New Year break. I want to throw out a thought and get your response.

“Sometimes a decision is right when we made it initially but immediately after the decision is made, circumstances change the environment of a decision to such a degree that the initial decision is now obsolete.”

The point I’m making here is that wise leadership will recognize when this happens and be willing to pull back instead of having “blind loyalty” to the initial decision.

Discussion

Easter 2011 Plans

Anthony Hayden
‘Tis the year of the “drama” for us here at Mt. Tabor. We try to do a rotation of sorts and our Easter program is up to do a drama. We are preparing to do “The Easter Lily” from Majesty. It is included in their choral book “Times and Seasons”. We are purchasing octavos instead of the books so we can change up the music a bit. It will still be mainly Hamilton stuff, which my small to medium size volunteer choir really enjoys singing.

Song 1: Christ Arose by Lloyd Larson - a fresh look at “Low in the Grave…”

Song 2: Lift Him Up by Hamilton

Discussion

Seminary students "seem so blissfully unaware of the inherent contradiction in paying somebody to help them cheat in courses"

Jim
The Shadow Scholar - The man who writes your students’ papers tells his story I do a lot of work for seminary students. I like seminary students. They seem so blissfully unaware of the inherent contradiction in paying somebody to help them cheat in courses that are largely about walking in the light of God and providing an ethical model for others to follow.

Discussion

What is "Missional"?

Larry

“Missional” is a common buzzword in ecclesiology today. You don’t have to read very much to realize that there is a lot packed into this word. But not all agree on what should be packed into it, or more precisely, how it should be played out in the church. “Missional” involves varying views of the Kingdom of God and varying views of how the church is related to the kingdom. It has to do with how God is at work in the world, what God is doing and how people should be involved in that work.

There is a tendency among some to judge the value of a word or idea by looking at who predominantly uses the word or idea. Some are hesitant to use the word because of who else uses it. In this case, “missional” is a word frequently used among the “emerging” type of churches and ministries. It is frequently connected with a lack of orthodoxy and a heavy emphasis on social justice. It is also frequently connected to what is known as “incarnational ministry,” the idea that believers are to “incarnate” the gospel just as Jesus did when He came to earth. This, too, makes some wary of the word.

The idea of missional

Yet I think that the idea is pretty simple and useful, even if we don’t like the word “missional,” and even if we do not agree with the doctrinal aberrancies and the social emphases of some who use it.

The idea of missional is based on the idea that God is a missionary God. This incorporates a number of elements that center on the fact that God is active in the world through both His incarnation and His people. Missional thinker Alan Hirsch says “By his very nature God is a ‘sent one’ who takes the initiative to redeem his creation.”1 Gibbs and Bolger say “God is a God who redeems, a God who seeks and saves…. [T]here is only one mission—God’s mission.”2

Mission embraces an even larger point. It is not simply that God sends, but that God is at work (on mission) accomplishing His purpose which is to bring glory to Himself through the redemption of sinners, the building of His kingdom, and the restoration of creation. In His mission, God has taken the initiative to come to man to reconcile Him, and now God calls man to join Him on His mission.

Fundamentally, our mission (if it is biblically informed and validated) means our committed participation as God’s people, at God’s invitation and command, in God’s own mission within the history of God’s word for the redemption of God’s creation.3

To be missional means to participate with God in God’s mission.

Discussion

Following Jesus

BobL
We find the word “disciple” in the Gospels as concerning those who follow Jesus. Some went back and followed Him no more (John 6:66). Other than “The Disciples” —referring to the twelve who were ordained as Apostles, we find no further ref. to Christians thus. That is because the true believers are seen as more than followers, and are sealed as saints, believers, heirs, children and sons of God, etc. We have a “high calling” in Christ Jesus.

Discussion

Philosophy of Sunday School

jwolf6589
I have heard Dan Miller compare the European & american models of education in podcasts a number of times. Seems like he prefers the european model instead of the lecture based american model. I would agree.. Living in the south there tends to be a number of Fundamentalist churches around who use the american model of education for Sunday school which is strictly to preach/lecture at you in SS.

Discussion

David Platt & the book Radical

jwolf6589
Ever read this book? From what I gather Platt is loading people with guilt trips to sell all that they have and be a missionary to India, or some third world country. But perhaps the reviews I have read on amazon.com are wrong. However some were quite in depth and were constructive critiques of the book. What do you say?

John

Discussion

The Essence Of The Gospel

BobL
Being too “wordy” can negate a witness. Christians need to speak the essence of the gospel message to get quickly to the point, then they can qualify it thereafter as time permits. Here are a few verses to consider:

> God is holy (Psa.145:17), and no sin can come into His presence (Hab.1:13);

> Man is born in sin so needs a new (spiritual) birth (Psa. 51:5; John 3; Rom.3; Rom. 5:12; Rom.10), and he must realize that and confess it (Lev.10:10; I Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:3);

> Christ died for the ungodly (Rom.5: 6-8) and rose again (I Cor. 15: 3-4);

Discussion