A View from the Pews

Luke writes in the book of Acts to remind us of how God instructed the church to be ordered. I don’t read it to mean structure it like a corporate business in which the responsibility of the elders changes from focusing on ministry to the congregation to protection of the lead minister. I don’t understand…

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Prayer for Today

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Father God, I come in humility and with reverence for who you are to ask that you make a way where there seems to be none. Prepare my path. Bring those who don’t know Jesus. Holy Spirit, prepare my mind through study of the Word. Embolden me to represent well. Grant me wisdom and discernment…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20220413

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Today is a beautiful day, because the apostles were willing to die for the message of the resurrection, “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Corinthians…

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I just wonder, does a healthy church really need to pressure the congregation into greater giving? I’m not sure I have an answer. It seems to me that a strong church family gives faithfully to fund the work of the kingdom. The pastor of the church I currently attend has not once asked the brothers…

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Prayer for Today

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Father God, thank you for the teaching of my childhood. Thank you for parents who took me to Sunday School, no matter how intermittently. Thank you for the teachers who helped me memorize enough verses to earn my first Bible. Thank you for bringing me to a saving knowledge of who you are and who…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20220412

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Today is a beautiful day, because Paul taught with the eyewitnesses, “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15: 12 ESV) Resurrection #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday

A View from the Pews

I recognize the need for oversight of the various ministries within a church body through reporting and even in-person updates to leadership and to membership. However, micromanagement chokes off the freedom that allows the church body to select missions they choose to support. As I mentioned in my last #aviewfromthepews blog, it also chokes off…

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Prayer for Today

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Almighty God, there is nothing too hard for you. Your Holy Spirit can turn the hearts and minds of kings like the meandering of the rivers. I come to your throne in humility and with reverence for who you are to ask for a supernatural turning of the world leaders down to local leaders toward…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20220411

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Today is a beautiful day, because Paul’s faith held strong through stoning and imprisonment, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:5 ESV) Resurrection #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday

A View from the Pews

The power play to no longer allow church members to designate where they want their tithes and offerings applied strips the congregation of its control over the church finances. The corporate church model opens the purse strings to potentially allow leadership to use funding in ways the church body may not support. The switch of…

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