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Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Archives for Church

Four reasons for division in the church

Posted on September 1, 2014 Written by Mark McIntyre 6 Comments

Division

In a previous post, I outlined the problem of division in the church. Today I seek to discuss the reasons why it takes place. I can think of four reasons why church leaders cause division over non-essentials: pride, misunderstanding, insecurity and idolatry.

Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: Church, division, Healing, pride

On megachurch pastors and failure

Posted on August 12, 2014 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

Mars Hill Church

The problem I see in society is that we have a celebrity culture which ascribes superhuman status to the lucky (or unlucky depending on your perspective) few who have been deemed celebrities. Celebrities can do no wrong and they always seem to get the benefit of the doubt.

Filed Under: Church Leadership Tagged With: Church, failure, leadership, megachurch, pastor

The problem with power

Posted on August 4, 2014 Written by Mark McIntyre 1 Comment

Power in Leadership

The problem with power is that those who seek it are often the ones least qualified to wield it. This is no less true in the church than in society at large.

Filed Under: Church Leadership Tagged With: Church, leadership, ministry, power

Tim Keller on the Gospel

Posted on July 23, 2014 Written by Mark McIntyre 1 Comment

Center Church

It is quite easy to assume that if we understand the gospel accurately and preach it faithfully, our ministry will necessarily be shaped by it. – but this is not true. Many churches subscribe to gospel doctrines but do not have a ministry that is shaped by, centered on, and empowered through the gospel. Its […]

Filed Under: Quotation Tagged With: Church, Gospel, theology

Thank God for the children

Posted on February 12, 2014 Written by Mark McIntyre 10 Comments

Running Child

In my last post, I wrote about some church leaders’ misunderstanding of the role of the building in worship. This was in response to a note that I had gotten from a reader. In that note, the writer also said that the pastor of the church he visited made a comment about not allowing children […]

Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: child, children, Church, play

The church building is a tool

Posted on February 10, 2014 Written by Mark McIntyre 9 Comments

Chrome Plated Church Building

I received an email yesterday from a man who visited a new church only to be confronted by the pastor because the man’s wife brought a drink into the “sanctuary.” Lest you think that this is uncommon, it was not long ago that I attended a church where the pastor made a huge deal out of anything other than water being brought into the auditorium. Presumably, such rules are in place because of fear that coffee or other drinks might get spilled on the carpet and result in a stain.

Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: carpet, Church, coffee, fellowship, sanctuary

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Foot Washing

Be served to serve

While we have not had the experience of physical foot washing, as Christians we have had the experience of receiving forgiveness for our sin and failure. That knowledge of forgiveness should be the engine that drives us to offer forgiveness to others. We have been served so that we can serve others.

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning: When visitors complain that your church is cold

When the Apostle Paul said farewell to the Ephesian elders, he quotes Jesus as saying, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) Paul pointed to his own work to support himself while among the Ephesians as an example of this. Along these same lines, Matthew 20:28 tells us that Jesus did […]

Abusive Churches

Some thoughts on abusive churches prompted by an article by Pat Zukeran of the same title.

Morris Cross

Leon Morris on Jesus’ friendship with sinners

We are right in the middle of the Christmas season. Perhaps more than any other time of the year, those who do not know or believe in Jesus are curious as to what Christianity is all about. As we interact with those who do not believe, it is important to remember how Jesus dealt with […]

Culture Wars

Toward a response to the moral chaos that surrounds us

The recent flap over Dan Cathy’s comments in support of marriage highlights the church’s need to respond to the moral chaos around us. This post provides some things to consider as we respond.

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