Found this on one of the blogs I regularly read and thought it was so appropriate. Hope it stretches you!
"Nothing (truly nothing) hurts more than to see people reject the hard road in search of an easier one. We get lazy when things are too easy - and it's far too tempting to do that. It breaks my heart when I pass by someone's house on Sunday that used to attend our church - and notice that all of their cars are still in the driveway. Who knows if they are attending at an odd service time, but it still hurts to know that they could be missing out on what God wants to do in their life. It hurts to see a family teach their children that they are more important than God - by switching churches based on a kids program and not the leading of the Holy Spirit. It kills me to hear critics complain when they themselves have not shared the Gospel (much less invited someone to church) in years.... All in all, God wants our spirit to be broken so He can fill us with His. You cannot experience true brokenness while you are working to feed your own ambitions in life.... Sacrifice, risk, and the Gospel are partners that spend a ton of time together.... and they cannot be separated! "
- Patrick Gillen @ Active Pursuit
Showing posts with label Making Decisions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Making Decisions. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Thursday, November 1, 2007
How Do You Know?
How do you know which decision to make when faced with options?
It can be an especially challenging task when more than one of the choices before us is seem equally "good." I do not intend here to tell you the option to take when considering a career, a home location, a school to attend, the mate to marry, or even pork versus beef brisket barbecue. I do hope to provide some guidelines, however, for your evaluation of a local Christian congregation.
A dozen "Biblical" characteristics.
1. Biblical THEOLOGY. A congregation which knows and teaches the truth about the One, True God of the Bible as He reveals Himself.
2. Biblical WORLDVIEW. A congregation which shares an understanding of global human needs and God's unconditional, perfect and personal provision.
3. Biblical MESSAGE. A congregation which communicates compassionately that those deserving judgment may receive forgiveness and life through Jesus Christ.
4. Biblical PREACHING. A congregation which strives carefully to explain the meaning and application(s) of God's Word, the Scriptures in a culturally engaging way.
5. Biblical IMPACT. A congregation which reaches its wider community with the truth about their deepest spiritual needs, and their real consequences.
6. Biblical HUMILITY. A congregation which demonstrates an appropriate wisdom in knowing the local congregation is not perfect.
7. Biblical LEADERSHIP. A congregation which identifies and trains mature, right-hearted officers to serve as models and mentors to shape generations.
8. Biblical TRANSFORMATIONS. A congregation which invites and facilitates radical spiritual changes for good among the people, as well as sincere forgiveness and encouragement for all.
9. Biblical DISCIPLINE. A congregation which equips, teaches, challenges and corrects thought and behavior according to scriptural principles, without condemnation.
10. Biblical GATHERINGS. A congregation which unites people for specific purposes, such as worship, service and restoration, and gladly welcomes neighbors to join.
11. Biblical MEMBERSHIP. A congregation which welcomes fellow travelers through life in a supportive, extended family of faith relationship.
12. Biblical GROWTH. A congregation which increases people's thoughtful and prayerful understanding -- and its numbers -- in a healthy and consistent fashion.
So, how do you decide whether a local congregation is a "good" one?
Well, in my humble opinion you will want to discover in a fellowship of saints as many as possible of the above distinctives. Remember, though, do it with a generous and gracious spirit.
There you go, these are for free. Hopefully, they will be valuable to you now and in the future. You may just want to suggest these characteristics to your family, friends and neighbors, as well. It may be that you will be used of God to inform those close to you as to how to get close to God and His people. That should fill your sails for a while.
As for me, I'll take the pulled pork BBQ.
(A little vinegar, a little mustard, and a little ketchup based sauce, please -- you see, I just can't decide!)
It can be an especially challenging task when more than one of the choices before us is seem equally "good." I do not intend here to tell you the option to take when considering a career, a home location, a school to attend, the mate to marry, or even pork versus beef brisket barbecue. I do hope to provide some guidelines, however, for your evaluation of a local Christian congregation.
A dozen "Biblical" characteristics.
1. Biblical THEOLOGY. A congregation which knows and teaches the truth about the One, True God of the Bible as He reveals Himself.
2. Biblical WORLDVIEW. A congregation which shares an understanding of global human needs and God's unconditional, perfect and personal provision.
3. Biblical MESSAGE. A congregation which communicates compassionately that those deserving judgment may receive forgiveness and life through Jesus Christ.
4. Biblical PREACHING. A congregation which strives carefully to explain the meaning and application(s) of God's Word, the Scriptures in a culturally engaging way.
5. Biblical IMPACT. A congregation which reaches its wider community with the truth about their deepest spiritual needs, and their real consequences.
6. Biblical HUMILITY. A congregation which demonstrates an appropriate wisdom in knowing the local congregation is not perfect.
7. Biblical LEADERSHIP. A congregation which identifies and trains mature, right-hearted officers to serve as models and mentors to shape generations.
8. Biblical TRANSFORMATIONS. A congregation which invites and facilitates radical spiritual changes for good among the people, as well as sincere forgiveness and encouragement for all.
9. Biblical DISCIPLINE. A congregation which equips, teaches, challenges and corrects thought and behavior according to scriptural principles, without condemnation.
10. Biblical GATHERINGS. A congregation which unites people for specific purposes, such as worship, service and restoration, and gladly welcomes neighbors to join.
11. Biblical MEMBERSHIP. A congregation which welcomes fellow travelers through life in a supportive, extended family of faith relationship.
12. Biblical GROWTH. A congregation which increases people's thoughtful and prayerful understanding -- and its numbers -- in a healthy and consistent fashion.
So, how do you decide whether a local congregation is a "good" one?
Well, in my humble opinion you will want to discover in a fellowship of saints as many as possible of the above distinctives. Remember, though, do it with a generous and gracious spirit.
There you go, these are for free. Hopefully, they will be valuable to you now and in the future. You may just want to suggest these characteristics to your family, friends and neighbors, as well. It may be that you will be used of God to inform those close to you as to how to get close to God and His people. That should fill your sails for a while.
As for me, I'll take the pulled pork BBQ.
(A little vinegar, a little mustard, and a little ketchup based sauce, please -- you see, I just can't decide!)
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