Examiner.com article: Raleigh churches help with disaster relief in Japan
I’ve published another article for Examiner.com as the Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner. The article is called “Raleigh churches help with disaster relief in Japan.”
There is a Japanese congregation in Raleigh that has been in the news alot lately. Obviously, they are concerned about the people of Japan following the earthquake and tsunami last week.
But, what about churches who are not ethnically Japanese? How should they respond to this natural disaster or other similar disasters?
Here is part of my article:
How will the church in Raleigh respond? In the New Testament, two famines struck the area around Jerusalem. In each case, the churches outside the area sent support to the believers in Jerusalem. In the later famine, Paul encouraged churches far away from Jerusalem to collect money and choose individuals to take that money to the churches around Jerusalem.
Please use the link above to jump over the Examiner.com and read the rest of this short article.
Examiner.com article: Sunday 101: What about pastors?
I’ve published another article for Examiner.com as the Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner. This article is part of my “Sunday 101” series and is called “Sunday 101: What about pastors?”
In Scripture, it is clear that leaders are important for the life and development of the church – not necessary, but important. But, what we typically see today in churches concerning leadership is a far cry from what we read in Scripture.
Here is the start of my article:
Churches in Raleigh (and around the Western world, actually) are often known according to their senior pastor. In fact, some people describe a church as “Pastor So-and-So’s” church. But, in Scripture, we do not find that same kind of association. In fact, in Scripture, we do not find the idea of a single pastor, much less a senior pastor, being in charge of a church.
Please use the link above to jump over to Examiner.com and read the rest of this short article.
Examiner.com article: Who was St. Patrick?
I’ve published another article for Examiner.com as the Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner. The article is called “Who was St. Patrick?”
As you might imagine, this article presents some of the background information about the real Patrick. Legend says that Patrick banished all snakes from Ireland, but what did he really do?
My article is a little different than my earlier post here. The article includes this quote written by Patrick himself:
“Therefore, indeed, I cannot keep silent, nor would it be proper, so many favours and graces has the Lord deigned to bestow on me in the land of my captivity. For after chastisement from God, and recognizing him, our way to repay him is to exalt him and confess his wonders before every nation under heaven.”
Please use the link above to jump over to Examiner.com and read the rest of his short article.
Examiner.com article: Dear “Preacher,” Were you serious?
I’ve published another article for Examiner.com as the Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner. The article is called “Dear ‘Preacher,’ Were you serious?”
Yes, this is the “letter” that I wrote to a “preacher” on my blog yesterday. Remember, a young woman told me her “Preacher” said that God was punishing her, but everything would be better if she got married.
However, there is a broader group of readers at Examiner.com, so it will be interesting to see what kind of reaction that I get there.
Please take the time to jump over to Examiner.com and read this short article, and perhaps interact in the comments to help others think about this important issue.
Examiner.com article: Sunday 101: Who should speak to the church?
I’ve published another article for Examiner.com as the Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner. This article is part of my Sunday 101 series. It is called “Sunday 101: Who should speak to the church?”
While the modern church has certain requirements one has to meet before speaking to the church, Scripture has a different set of requirements. Interestingly, in Scripture, any believer is given the opportunity to speak to the church as long as a few simple things are kept in mind.
Here is an excerpt from my article:
There is nothing in Scripture that limits speaking to the church (in any setting, even the Sunday morning worship service) only to leaders, pastors, or other specially trained and ordained individuals. Instead, the Spirit provides what is needed through any believer to speaks motivated by love and desire to edify the church.
Please use the link above to jump over to Examiner.com and read the rest of this short article.
Examiner.com article: Local student builds relationships in Belgium music scene
I’ve published another article for Examiner.com as the Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner. The article is called “Local student builds relationships in Belgium music scene.”
The article is about my friend Josh (who graduated from college in the Raleigh area). Josh is building relationships with people in the Belgium music scene, and because of their shared love of music, he is finding that those relationships become deep much faster than normal.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
But, Christians do not have to go to Beligium, or Africa, or Asia to find people who need a living example of the gospel. The world has come to Raleigh. All we have to do is walk out our front door (or leave our church buildings) and find neighbors, coworkers, and friends who either believe in nothing or everything.
Of course, like Josh, we also have to be willing to enter their world and meet them where they are. In Josh’s case, this means sharing a love of music.
Please use the link above to jump over to Examiner.com and read this short article.
Examiner.com article: Local church teaches and practices generosity
I’ve published another article for Examiner.com as the Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner. The article is called “Local church teaches and practices generosity.”
The article is about a church in Raleigh that not only teaches love and generosity as theology, but provides opportunities for people to practice love and generosity.
Here is an excerpt from the article that describes one way this church encourages people to practice generosity:
In order to encourage generosity, Vintage 21 hosts “Sacrificial Saturdays.” Every other month, on the last Saturday of the month, the church invites people to take part in a variety of events that take place from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. They say, “Each activity will challenge us to consider what being sacrificial really looks like in our own lives.”
Please use the link above to jump over to Examiner.com and read the rest of this short article.
Examiner.com article: Sunday 101: Preaching to the choir
I’ve published another article for Examiner.com as the Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner. This article is part of my “Sunday 101” series. It is called “Sunday 101: Preaching to the choir.”
For the modern church, the focus of church life and discipleship is preaching, which has been defined as a 30-45 minute monologue lecture. But, while preaching was very important for followers of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, it took a very different form and it was presented to a different audience.
Here is part of my article:
The over-emphasis on preaching by a pastor/elder to the church today tends to deemphasize the importance of proclaiming the good news to those who are not part of the church and to deemphasize the importance of all believers preaching the good news. Furthermore, the over-emphasis on preaching today leads to a misunderstanding about how the church should speak with one another when they gather together.
Please use the link above to read the rest of my short article.
Examiner.com article: Where is the power of God in Raleigh?
I’ve published another article for Examiner.com as the Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner. The article is called “Where is the power of God in Raleigh?”
Many people look to specially trained or ordained people to demonstrate the power of God. We expect our pastor, bishops, deacons, or professors to demonstrate the power of God for us.
But, Scripture says that the power of God is at work in us when we all work together.
Here is part of my article:
Where is the power of God? The power of God is found in the lives and activities of every child of God when working together with other Christians. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to the church as they are knit and joined together.
Please use the link above to jump over to Examiner.com and read this short article.
Examiner.com article: RDU area church offers opportunties to serve your community
I’ve published another article for Examiner.com as the Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner. The article is called “RDU area church offers opportunities to serve your community.”
This article is about Summit Church, and their annual week of outreach. They invite others in the community to join with them to serve in various ways.
Here’s a short excerpt:
In 2005, Summit Church in Durham began a campaign to encourage people to serve others in their local community. The project was called “Hope for Durham.” The project has now expanded to include the entire Triangle area and has been renamed ServeRDU.
Please use the link above to jump over to Examiner.com and read this short article.