• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • …
  • 13
  • Next Page »
I have the opportunity to go to Istanbul, Turkey this summer to minister to Syrian refugees. If you would like more details about this trip, please use this link Mark McIntyre - Istanbul, Turkey Please note that this trip is fully funded, but I would appreciate your continued prayer. The trip will take place June 27 - July 6, 2025.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

Cash Register

Faithfulness – The currency of God’s economy

God has called us to faithfulness and to leave the results in his hands. King Saul provides an example of one who did not understand this.

Not dismayed by the cycle

The point is that all the striving, all the effort, all the marketing plans, and methodologies for church growth cannot change a single heart. Only God can do this.

Bigger isn't always better

Bigger isn’t always better

Certainly we should try to reach as many people as we can with the good news of Jesus Christ, but all the while, we should also remind ourselves that some of the people in our crowd will walk away and we should not be devastated when they do. Bigger isn’t always better.

Mercy over Judgement

We all fail to live up to the standard we have set for ourselves. We are all inconsistent in having our actions match what we claim to believe.

Foolish and slow of heart

Perhaps my reader cannot relate to this, but I often feel that I am foolish and slow of heart to believe. In fact, I know that I am. Like those travelers to Emmaus, I can feel that God’s plan has been derailed and I can often think that I am the villain that derailed it. It is sometimes difficult to look past my failures to see God.

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
July 2025
SMTWTFS
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031 
« Jun    

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2025 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in