There is a painful story that is underneath this post. It’s helpful for all circumstances but I think it’s especially helpful for those trapped in a cycle of abuse to be able to diagnose true repentance from false. Anytime someone feels “owed” forgiveness it’s usually an indicator that it isn’t legit repentance.
3 Dangers of (Merely) Messy Christianity
There is a ton of truth in this. Redemption is messy. Look at how messy it was in the Exodus. The new Exodus is just as messy. But it’s not ONLY messy. And to exalt the mess as if it ought to be messy isn’t ultimately helpful.
Is Scripture Sufficient for Counseling?
I think the “all-or-nothing” nature of this debate/discussion has caused us to speak past one another. To me this is an incredibly important sentence: “Sufficiency does not mean that Scripture provides a script for all occasions”.
Three Sentences Pastors Hate to Hear
Though the wording might be different I think the core of these sentences anyone would hate. But there is something about hearing them right before trying to preach that makes it really difficult. And “people are saying” is one of the most difficult to navigate in those moments. Rainer is correct when he says, “Most church members really love their pastors. The few exceptions, though, are incredibly painful exceptions for pastors.”
This is a bit of a “sound the alarm” piece but I think it’s correct. I also think the call here for rethinking church economics is necessary. One of the biggest factors, I believe, is the difference in giving among millennials and builders. I think it’ll shift more to “cause” oriented giving.
How to Master Any Subject by Making it Interesting
I’ve seen this play out in my own life. There is also another side to this for teachers/preachers. This shows the importance of answering the “so what” question early on in our sermon/talk and helping our people know why this matters for them.
