Church Discipline is not something that the unchurched understand. This may be partially because they perceive church like a social club or a charity organization and the aspect of discipline of members seems very cultish. They may also not understand the relationship of accountability that is formed between disciple and discipler. I had no idea about church discipline before I was a member of a church and watched one of my fellow members undergo such a proceding. Continue reading “Accountability vs. Discipline”
Month: January 2012
Do Not Judge
The Bible says that we should not judge others, because the same standard will be applied to us.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37
There are many, many passages in the New Testament about judgement. This may be the most quoted, and most misunderstood. The sense of judgement used here indicates a “cutting off” – a finality – that would prevent someone from being eligible for God’s grace. In a clear sense, in modern english – it says “Don’t write someone off, totally – such that you are no longer willing to “hope” for their salvation or repentance.” Continue reading “Do Not Judge”
What Sets Your Church’s Website Apart
A church website has a purpose. Maybe it has multiple purposes. If you want your website to stand apart from the rest, you need to clearly articulate that purpose, and vigilantly guard that purpose against every idea that gets in the way of that purpose. Continue reading “What Sets Your Church’s Website Apart”
Five Signs of a Recovering Church
A couple months ago, I read this article about five signs of a declining church, or something like that. When I wrote my curation post, I said that I might write a post about five signs of a recovering church.
Your church has been through a difficult time. A split, a staff member is disciplined, core members dribble away for a couple years, a big fancy mega-church opens a campus down the street and half of your congregation is now “over there”, your senior pastor left to answer a call in Tucumcari, NM. Stuff happens, and it can take the wind out of your sails.
What are 5 signs of a recovering church?
1) Leadership is not in denial about the underlying problems that caused <whatever problem> and are actively forming a plan to correct them. Continue reading “Five Signs of a Recovering Church”