As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“One of Christianity’s greatest strengths is its explanatory power. Christianity can explain the human experience and the human condition far better than any other worldview. …It’s especially true when it comes to explaining human activity and ability, such as artistry, athleticism, and work.” - Breakpoint
“The new initiative, first reported by the Jewish Daily Forward, was formally unveiled on a conference call organized by Intercessors for America and led by longtime Trump adviser Paula White. The Pentecostal megachurch pastor said…” - RNS
“In their recent 2021 study, Lifeway Research found that eleven percent of American evangelicals have read all of Scripture, nine percent have read all of Scripture more than once, ten percent none at all … twelve percent almost all of it.” - Ref21
I’d like to share the way our congregation structures its worship service. I have nothing special to offer―only my own reflections on where our congregation is, and perhaps where we’ll go. What we do on Sunday mornings, and how we do it, is important. Perhaps my comments here will be useful.
Many Christians don’t think critically about what happens on Sundays. This isn’t a rebuke, just an observation. Over 40 years ago, Robert G. Rayburn shared similar misgivings:
“…the vast majority of American adults (69%) self-identify as ‘Christian’ and embrace many basic tenets of the faith. But a closer look shows that at the same time, many in this group hold views clearly in conflict with traditional teachings and only 9% actually possess a biblical worldview” - CRC
“They accurately cited that I did not find anti-Christian sentiment increasing but did not cite that I also found that those with anti-Christian sentiment have grown more powerful in society over the past few decades” - George Yancey
“The next issue of The Master’s Seminary Journal just released. It’s on regeneration. I contributed this article…. This article inductively examines what key passages in the Gospel according to John say about election, regeneration, and faith” - Andy Naselli
“I had been prepped to be wary of family-dominated churches, of people whose people had been in the church for multiple generations. It was an unwritten rule that many generations in a church was probably not healthy, that those people would reflexively side against their ‘outsider’ pastor. Bah, humbug. Bad advice.” - SBCVoices
“Pastor Greg Fairrington, during an Aug. 1 sermon, told congregants of his church to ‘do your job as Christians on Sept. 14 and vote yes on recalling an immoral governor.’” - C.Post
“If we speak of Holy Scripture as altogether true and trustworthy, or as wholly reliable in its own terms, making no false assertions, claims or promises on its own account (however many lies told by good men, bad men, and devils it records), we shall be expressing in formula terms exactly what these words mean.” - Packer
Prior to 2020, there was only one stretch of time in my life when people ceased from their normal routines and showed a profound interest in spiritual things.
That, of course, was in the days following Sept. 11, 2001. The response was palpable. It was overwhelmingly patriotic, unifying and somber. People also turned their minds toward eternity. In fact, their reaction was so robust in those early days and weeks after the terrorist attacks that some even pondered if we were witnessing the beginnings of a genuine revival.
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to block enforcement of the measure in response to a last-ditch request by abortion-rights organizations meant the law became the first heartbeat ban to take effect in the United States.” - BPNews
“A new clothing company hopes to help Christians look good while sharing their faith and regaining their identity as believers.” - RNS
“The necessity of a first among coequals in human economies is resonant with (though not equivalent to) the way the Son submits to his Father in the incarnation (Philippians 2:5–11), as well as in the order God ordains in the home (Ephesians 5:21–33). Leadership is not a consequence of the fall, but represents God’s good design for human flourishing in a well-ordered world.” - Desiring God
“Does this mean that Epstein has just been hired for a new job as Harvard’s atheist chaplain? Has he become Harvard’s ‘chief chaplain’? Does this mean that he now ‘leads’ and is “in charge of” Harvard’s other chaplains? Did these other chaplains decide that they ‘couldn’t think of anyone better’ for spiritual chaplaincy at the university? Is this a big, new change for campus ministry at Harvard? … the answer to all of these questions is ‘No.’” - IRD
“A new study has found that even moderate drinking can increase the risk of A-fib, a heart rhythm abnormality that afflicts some 3 million Americans.” - P&D
“Each big anniversary of the 1996 welfare reform … sees an outpouring of retrospectives … It’s long been clear that single mothers flooded into the labor force after the reform, and that their income went up. What’s less clear is whether some particularly disadvantaged families were left behind, and how overall well-being changed for the affected households.” - IFS
“Almost 7 in 10 U.S. adults (68%) say they trust the people who live in their local community, according to a study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research. Close to a quarter of Americans (23%) disagree, and 10% say they aren’t sure.” - Lifeway
Solitary confinement is said to be one of the worst forms of punishment. Often referred to as “the hole” in prisons, solitary confinement deprives prisoners of communication and conversation, making it a form of torture. Being alone, with no one to share life with, is a horrific way to live. In fact, prolonged time in “the hole” has detrimental mental and physical effects on prisoners.
“…to hear some Christians talk, we’re apparently in a war with others, culturally and politically. I’ve been told things like, ‘We’re in a battle for the soul of America’ and ‘If we don’t win against the Liberals we won’t be able to preach the Gospel.’” - P&D
“The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Aug. 31) voted to authorize a $400,000 payment to settle a legal battle with Grace Community Church over lead pastor John MacArthur’s defiance of COVID-19 restrictions in the early months of the pandemic. Under the agreement, which the board unanimously approved without discussion, the state of California will also pay the church $400,000.” - RNS
“As jarring as it may sound, it’s likely that Paul has in mind an active, delegated role for believers in the final judgment.” - TGC
“In an order issued Monday, the Virginia Supreme Court granted an appeal to review the merits of a lower court decision in favor of elementary school teacher Byron Tanner Cross and agreed to keep an injunction reinstating the teacher in place.” - CPost
“Among both conservatives and progressives, there are claims that the world is getting worse and that the American family had a better standard of living, better opportunities for employment, and a simpler life forty years ago… . There are several factors that play into this perception. The first is that we suffer from … negativity bias. It is easier for us to see the bad things that are happening rather than the progress.” - IFWE
“About a quarter (27%) of mothers with children younger than 18 at home said this in the October 2020 survey, up from 19% who said so in a summer 2019 survey.” - Pew
“Evangelical ethicists and legal scholars agree that many followers of Christ object to the COVID-19 vaccines, but they’re split on whether any of the objections commonly articulated among believers constitute religious objections. The distinction between religious liberty objections and more general objections could become a key issue as more businesses require employees to be vaccinated.” - BPNews
“Just as humanity’s relationship with technology goes back to creation, so do the principles that should guide our usage of it.” - Lifeway
“Police arrested Muhammad Yahya Waloni, a former Protestant who became a Muslim in 2006 and later an imam, from his home in the national capital of Jakarta on Thursday” - CPost
“Wicca… whose adherents, regardless of gender, call themselves witches, began in the U.K. in the 1940s. Wicca and Witchcraft are part of the larger contemporary pagan movement, which includes druids and heathens among others. All these spiritual paths, as pagans refer to them, base their practices on pre-Christian religions and cultures.” - RNS
