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3 Tips For Your Christmas Series Ministry Ryan Kimmel Lead Pastor Peace Church Published On: November 10, 2023 As a pastor who connects with other pastors, there are a few things I know to be true about this most wonderful time of the year. We love Christmas, and when we are honest, we kind of dread it too. We love it because we are celebrating something incredibly powerful, the incarnation of our Lord and Savior. We love it because it’s a great chance to welcome visitors to our church, but we dread it because there is so much work that comes with it. We dread it because when it comes to the Christmas message, it can feel like the same thing year after year… How do we keep the Christmas sermon series both true to the message, but also feeling fresh enough to where we can approach it with renewed energy? Here are some thoughts as we approach Christmas each year… 1. It’s Christmas. Yes, focus on it! You may get sick of preaching the same story year after year, but your church doesn’t get sick of hearing it. Or worse, the over-commercialization of Christmas has turned you off to a Christmas focus. You may be tempted to use this time to focus on something else you’re itching to preach on, but don’t stray from the birth of Christ. Not only is the incarnation a critical aspect of Christian theology, but it’s a tenet of our faith that doesn’t get enough attention, so don’t miss the change to detail this beautiful theology. Christmas is a unique time where the hopeless world is looking for hope, so don’t forget to show the lost world the power of hope that Christmas brings! I spoke to an unbelieving neighbor of mine who went to church (not the church I am pastoring, but a different one) for a Christmas series. She told me she just wanted to hear what Christmas really meant and if hope was possible in this world. But instead of the birth of Christ, this pastor used the Christmas season to talk about Jesus challenging the chief priests. I’ll never forget her words when she said, “I went to church on Christmas to hear what Christmas was all about, but instead I learned that Jesus debated religious people…” This, to me, just sounded like the pastor was using pulpit time to get something off his chest rather than a time to give the people something they needed to hear. This first point is simple: It’s Christmas – focus on Christmas, not because it’s the commercial season, but because people need to hear the Christmas story. 2. Don’t try to be so creative that you forget the actual Christmas message! Here is what I have fallen prey to when I’ve come to write a Christmas series: I get tired of saying the same thing every year at Christmas, so I try to be so creative with the Christmas message that I’ve missed the point entirely. The truth is, there is so much to Christmas that you can be very creative and still share the simple message that God came to earth. Whether through surveying the Old Testament prophecies that point to Christmas or hearing the news of Christmas through each of the major players of the nativity scene, Christmas doesn’t need to be re-envisioned; it simply needs to be retold. Here are samples of some of our previous Christmas series. Vintage Christmas This series is about how the old and already fulfilled prophecies of Christmas still show us something new. We had vintage-themed branding, and we set up our lobby with Christmas trees decorated with the different styles of the decades. Home for the Holidays In this series we blended the Christmas series with a family focus as we looked at how Christmas is not something for your family just to survive, but how it’s a time to thrive. We did an expositional walkthrough of Matthew 1 as we learned how a family can thrive at Christmas when we (and these were the sermon titles) 1) Remember God’s Plan, when we 2) Receive God’s Son, and when we 3) Recognize God’s presence. *Check out the link for details on this series And when it comes time to plan out your Christmas series, remember this last point: 3. Let your soul be filled by remembering the power of the incarnation. If you are not first finding the joy of Christmas yourself by immersing yourself in the Christmas story, I’m afraid you won’t deliver a message that also fills the souls and the hearts of the people who gather at Christmas. One thing I do is I spend time in the Scriptures reflecting on the birth of Christ, and as I survey the stories and prophecies of Christmas, I look for a word or phrase that the Spirit really highlights for me, and I often use that as the seed for a series. For instance, one year I was reading Luke and came to the line from the angel, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” In that simple phrase are a number of powerful statements that we used to blossom into a full series. Using each of these phrases as a sermon theme for each message in the series, we looked at how Christmas is 1) Good News. It’s the root of the Gospel! We then saw how Christmas brings us 2) “Great Joy” and then we looked at how Christmas is an invitation to 3) “All people” to come see and believe in the newborn King. God used this series to bless hundreds of people and it started when the Holy Spirit highlighted those words for me as I sat and read the story of Christmas, being filled personally in my own soul. You cannot pour out what you have not been filled with, so fill yourself with the powerful message of Christmas! So, no matter if you listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, or if you can’t stand it even on Christmas Day, the birth of Christ is a momentous time that we should be eager to announce. I pray these tips are helpful to you, what else would you add? Also, I’d love to hear what series you’ve come up with – contact me and let’s share more ideas. More Blogs You'll Like What Is a Deacon? Exploring the Role, Qualifications, and Purpose of Deacons in the Church Read More What Is An Elder? A biblical definition of those who are called to lead Read More Why Church Membership Understanding the Biblical Foundations of Church Membership Read More

Offering Teenagers Hope for Their Habits Ministry Logan Bailey Family Pastor Peace Church Published On: May 31, 2023 Do you watch TV? Like, a lot of TV? I know I am not the only one who frequently finds myself coming home, sitting on the couch, and turning on Netflix (or Hulu, or Disney+, or YouTube—you get the idea). Here is the scary part: I usually do it without even thinking. And I am willing to bet that you do this, too. Maybe you are not a big TV-watcher, but you probably do have a few compulsive habits just like me. Maybe it has to do with social media, or food, or video games, or even reading. Neurobiologists and cognitive psychologists say that more than 50 percent of our lives are made up of habitual behavior. We constantly do things without even thinking about it. Destructive or healthy, this is just how we live. Habits are inevitable—and they’re either destructive or life-giving. Like a train on its tracks, our habits drive us in one of two directions. The sad fact is, we all have a lot of pretty destructive habits. As youth ministers, we observe the power of habits in our students as well as ourselves. What can we possibly say to the high school sophomore who is addicted to pornography, and has been for 3 years? Or to the senior who constantly lies with no remorse? Or even to yourself, as a leader in the church—what are you supposed to do when your own habits lead you astray? The Bad News (it’s worse than you think) In Matthew 15:11 and 18, Jesus says, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth… What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person” (ESV). Essentially, being defiled means deserving separation from God. And since God is the very source of life, being separated from him is the greatest danger to all of humanity. The logic behind Christ’s words in Matthew 15 is also found elsewhere in Scripture, particularly in Proverbs 4:23: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (ESV). The NIV says, “everything you do flows from it.” In other words, the state of our hearts determines how we live. Actions are never the source of defilement, our hearts are. Spoiled actions always flow from a spoiled heart. Most people Jesus was speaking to (and most people today) assume separation from God comes from a lack of religious activities. Instead, Christ took the focus away from our religiosity and onto the state of our hearts—and no one’s heart is righteous (Jer. 17:19). This teaching is so inclusively damning that only Jesus himself can meet the standard required to avoid being labeled as defiled. This helps to explain why we struggle with so many bad habits (gossip, laziness, sexual sin, judgmental attitudes, and more); our hearts are separated from God to begin with! Even if we manage to do something positive or religiously significant, if our hearts are spoiled, we will only be scratching the surface of what God requires of us—like being satisfied with a glass of water when God intends for us to experience a flowing river. A defiled heart is categorically unable to be in relationship with God and therefore unable to live the flourishing life for which God designed us. No wonder the Pharisees were so upset with Christ’s teaching, and not just angry but actually offended (Matt. 15:12). Since we can’t help but have defiled hearts, we will all continue to be separated from God no matter what we do. The Good News (it’s better than you think) Jesus taught us that we don’t need superficial changes or behavioral modification; we need new hearts. To the unrepentant, Christ’s words are offensive and damning, but to the repentant, his words bring radical hope: “You can’t get a new heart because you’re not capable. Only I can give you one. Only I can heal your relationship with God.” Thank God for Jesus—he is offering us new hearts! The gospel is not a band-aid for a surface wound; it is a total renovation of the heart. So, if you and your students are anything like me, you have some bad habits. And, if you are like every other human being, your bad habits are flowing from a defiled heart. There is no hope for any of us unless our hearts are made right—and the only hope for that ever happening is through Jesus. This is the hope we need to administer week in and week out in our youth ministries and churches—and equally to ourselves. The gospel is not just theoretical; it is immensely practical. The good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection changes us from the inside out. Three Hopeful Practices for Habits Here are some recommendations, both for ourselves and as we disciple the students in our care. First, take inventory. Slow down and consider the state of your heart next time you pull out your phone and mindlessly open up Twitter or Instagram. Which heart are you listening to? Your old, sinful, and defiled heart? Or the new heart, with its desires for righteousness and communion with God, that Jesus has given you? The first step is to simply be aware of the direction of your desires, asking God to help you want what he wants. Second, affirm your new identity. We all struggle with identity issues, and who we think we are directly affects the state of our hearts. But we need to see ourselves the way God sees us; his opinion matters most. Therefore, every morning we ought to remind our hearts who we truly are. We are God’s children! Our students are not bound by the identities their peers push onto them, and neither are we. We are adopted sons and daughters of the King. As we hold up our God-given identity above all other identities, we will start to see our habits reformed. Third, flex your spiritual muscles. Our hearts’ desires pretty much determine what we do. How do we change our sinful desires? Well, we can’t. But by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live into stronger desires! We can urge our students to actively listen and follow their God-given heart desires (to follow Christ and commune with him) even if it is hard to hear under the screeching of your old heart. As we encourage our students to put these practices to use, we need to lean into them ourselves as leaders, remembering the Good News of God’s grace: That those who have been made new by Jesus are invited back to him no matter how far our hearts may wander. Read the original post here: https://rootedministry.com/offering-teenagers-hope-for-their-habits/ More Blogs You'll Like What Is a Deacon? Exploring the Role, Qualifications, and Purpose of Deacons in the Church Read More What Is An Elder? 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Killing the Characters: Mistake #1 in Teaching the Bible Ministry Shannon Popkin Author & Podcast Host Live Like It's True Podcast Published On: January 18, 2024 I didn’t go to seminary. I don’t have a Bible degree either. Yet most months, there are several times that I stand before a group of women with my Bible open, and offer a message of truth. It would be wonderful to enroll in a seminary class, but where would I find the time? My ministry calendar is bulging full. Can you relate? Now, I’m not saying I’m completely ill-equipped. I have been taught to study God’s Word, and I regularly experience the Spirit’s empowerment and guidance. I know I wouldn’t have any insight apart from Him. But sometimes when I prepare a message or stand up to share it, I have a vague sense that I’m making mistakes which could be avoided. And you know what? A while back, I found out I was right. Three Common Mistakes I had the privilege of attending a workshop where Jeff Manion , who taught at Ada Bible Church for over thirty years, shared three common mistakes Bible teachers make. As my page filled with notes during the workshop, I realized I was making all three! Yet I didn’t leave discouraged. I was excited! It was like having new tools in my hands, as I got back to work studying God’s Word and teaching it to others. I’ve already been amazed at the difference it makes to know about these pitfalls so that I can avoid them. Jeff graciously agreed to let me share these three common mistakes with you in a three part series which was first offered as a Revive Our Hearts Leaders’ Resource . Mistake #1: We Kill the Characters Perhaps it’s because we know that the Bible is inspired by God that we sometimes feel the freedom to wipe away the background stories of the Bible’s characters. For instance, we might teach a psalm without telling the backstory of the psalmist. Or we quote from Isaiah without mentioning the prophet, the people he spoke to, or their time in history. Or we teach the logical flow of a chapter in an epistle, but we fail to mention that this chapter is part of a letter, written by someone to a group of someones. I do this all the time. I’ll say: “In Philippians it says . . . ” Or, “God tells us in Romans 6 . . .” I would never do this when quoting from other books. I always mention the author and a little background, saying something like, “Here’s a quote from Jim Elliot, who was a missionary martyred by the Aucas . . . ” Or, “Listen to the words penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford after losing his daughters in a shipwreck . . . ” I think that maybe we kill the characters because we’re in too much of a rush. We see little overlap between the here-and-now lives of our people and the there-and-then lives of Bible people, so we rush ahead to the application. We want our listeners to hear directly from God—that’s the important part, so we put these characters from a different era and culture on mute. But in doing so, we vacuum away much of the richness and meaning packed around the words of the text. Yes, it’s true that God’s breath on these Bible words is what gives them living power! But God was pleased to use real people in real situations to unfold these truths. And if we’ll look carefully, we have far more in common with Bible people than we might expect. By allowing Bible characters to “live” and by inviting them to be part of the message we share, we provide our people with more depth of understanding and greater implications for their lives, not less. Here are a few examples. Example 1: To the Pastor of a Wealthy Church I’m pretty sure I’ve used this verse in every article, chapter, or message I’ve ever shared on the topic of generosity: As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy . ( 1 Tim. 6:17 , emphasis mine) But here’s the part I left out. I never mentioned that this verse was part of a letter written to Timothy, the young pastor at a church in Ephesus ( 1 Tim. 1:3 ). I also never mentioned anything about Ephesus being a trade city. Anything you wanted to buy, you could get it in Ephesus. Its excavated terrace houses were elaborately decorated with mosaic floors, ornate columns, and marble structures. And its Square Agora, which was surrounded on all four sides with double-colonnaded stoas, housed nearly one hundred shops. Since the Jesus-followers of Timothy’s church were definitely affected by the wealth of Ephesus, Paul was mentoring this young pastor on how to give guidance. For those of us who lead or mentor wealthy people, Paul is mentoring us also. Look back at 1 Timothy 6:17 and notice how Paul offers balance in the two words I put in bold. We’re to train our listeners to enjoy what God has blessed them with, but not put their hope in what they have. Example 2: The Song of a Grieved Parent I have quoted this verse many times, in my writing and teaching: You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. ( Ps. 3:3 ) But here’s the part I left out. This is a song written by King David, when he fled from his son Absalom. David deserted the palace in Jerusalem; He was away from home. His son had betrayed him, and his life was in danger. Imagine the devastation and shame David felt as Absalom publicly undermined and sought to kill his own father to get his position and possessions. As we serve our people, imagine how much richer the application becomes for the parent who has experienced a child’s betrayal. Perhaps someone’s son has left the faith and is living in a way that doesn’t even remotely reflect the way he was raised. Or perhaps another person’s daughter only remembers the mistakes her parents have made. She refuses to forgive and holds her parents in constant contempt, which she has gradually made more public. Or perhaps still another lost custody of her children. Her ex-husband has deceitfully stacked the evidence against her, and she’s trying to find her way through the fog of shame of what her neighbors think, now that the kids don’t live there anymore. Each of these listeners is wondering, “How am I to respond? What should I do with this grief and pain?” And here is the Bible’s response: a song, lifted by a parent whose eyes were filled with tears of grief and shame and fear. King David was at one of the lowest points in life, yet who was his shield? The Lord. Who was the lifter of his head? The Lord. This same Lord is the shield and lifter of the heads of our dear people as well. Keeping the Characters Alive In both of these examples, we could lift the words off the page and offer them to our listeners. They would still be the inspired words of God, and they could still offer guidance and hope. But by allowing the characters to speak, we give the verses the richness of context. Here are a few more tips for you, as you work to include Bible characters in your message prep: With the epistles, repeatedly draw your people back to the context. This is a letter with a writer and recipients. If you teach a series on the book of Philippians, then invite Paul and the church in Philippi to be part of every lesson—not just the introductory one. In Psalms, be sure to read the ascriptions at the beginning of the individual psalms. Find who wrote the song and when they wrote it. Study that part of the Bible’s history to understand it better. Suppose you’re teaching in the Old Testament, and you want to reference a verse from the New Testament. Spend a moment to add a little bit of context. You could say: I want you to hear from an inmate on this subject of contentment (then read from Philippians) Listen to what a man who spent three years with Jesus had to say about Him (then read from First or Second Peter) Here is what a man who had supernatural wisdom had to say (then read from Proverbs) Here is part of a song written by a brokenhearted father (then read from Psalm 3 ) I want you to hear a mentor’s advice to a young pastor (then read from First or Second Timothy) So are you ready to go open your Bible and get back to work? Whatever chapter you open to, remember not to kill the characters! We’d love to hear from you, with examples on how you’re putting this in practice. And check in next time for a second post on common mistakes we make when teaching the Bible. Read Mistake #2 in Teaching the Bible: Killing the Characters Read Mistake #3 in Teaching the Bible: We Villainize the Villains More Blogs You'll Like What Is a Deacon? 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When Forgiveness Is Out of Reach Jon Delger Multiplication Pastor Peace Church Published On: It may shock you to hear that Jesus spoke of an unforgivable sin. You would not be alone in your shock. In 1856, when the German poet and journalist Heinriche Heine was on his deathbed, a priest reportedly asked him if he thought God would forgive his sin. In response, Heine replied, “Of course God will forgive me; that’s his job.” Heine’s words reflect the unspoken assumption of many people today. We imagine God to be a gentle old man passing out Werther’s Originals. When we sin, he winks at us, tells us it is ok, and hands us a piece of candy. We have a low view of God and a cheap view of grace. By contrast, the Bible tells us that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect standard (Rom 3:23), and that what God owes us is not grace but death (Rom 6:23). Rather than being shocked that there is an unforgivable sin, we should be amazed that God would forgive any of our sin. Mark 3:28-30 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” For full context, you can read Mark 3:22-30 (see also Matthew 12:22-32 and Luke 12:8-12). Some religious leaders were saying that the reason Jesus was able to cast out demons was not because he had the power of God, but because he himself was possessed by a demon. Jesus points out the absurdity of this claim, and then goes on to warn his opponents of the seriousness of their words. They make a claim that has consequences. This is not the only such warning in the Bible. Scripture is quite clear that sin is nothing to fool around with and that a hard heart is dangerous (for example: 1 John 4:20; Hebrews 10:26-31; Hebrews 3:7-12). What is the Unforgivable Sin? Bible scholar Wayne Grudem summarizes nicely (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 508). The unforgivable sin includes: (1) a clear knowledge of who Christ is and of the power of the Holy Spirit working through him, (2) a willful rejection of the facts about Christ that his opponents knew to be true, and (3) slanderously attributing the work of the Holy Spirit in Christ to the power of Satan. In this case it is not that the sin itself is so horrible that it could not be covered by Christ’s redemptive work, but rather that the sinner’s hardened heart puts him or her beyond the reach of God’s ordinary means of bringing forgiveness through repentance and trusting Christ for salvation. So the person who has committed the unforgivable sin has heard the truth, rejected the truth, has hardened their heart against God, and is rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit. This reminds me of another passage, 1 John 1:8-10. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. If we confess our sin to God and ask for forgiveness, believing in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then God gives us the gift of forgiveness. However, if we reject the conviction of sin that the Holy Spirit brings, our heart becomes hard, we do not repent, and we do not receive forgiveness. Have I Committed the Unforgivable Sin? You might be reading this wondering, have I committed the unforgivable sin? Let me start by sharing some good news. If you are concerned about having committed the unforgivable sin, then you probably have not committed it. Remember, the nature of the unforgivable sin is that it comes from a heart so hard that it is rejecting Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. If you are feeling convicted of sin, if you desire a relationship with God, and if you would like to repent and believe in Jesus and receive salvation, then your heart is not so hard. Praise God! However, let me also share a warning. Sin is not something to fool around with. Living in continual sin leads an increasingly hard heart. Do not be fooled into thinking that you can just have a little and it will be enough. Do not think that you can continue just a bit longer before putting a stop to it. Be careful. Hearts aren’t hardened overnight. They become harder one step and one day at a time. Turn back before it is too late. More Blogs You'll Like

What is Covenant Theology? Theology Jon Delger Multiplication Pastor Peace Church Published On: February 21, 2024 What is Covenant Theology? Covenant Theology is a way of understanding the complete story of the Bible from beginning to end, including how the old and new testaments fit together. Covenant Theology is “Reformed” theology, and is taught in historic confessions such as the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Confession & Catechisms. The opposite of Covenant Theology is Dispensationalism. Key Points of Covenant Theology What is a covenant? A relationship sealed by promises. (Like a marriage) What are the components of a covenant? Promises, conditions, blessings, curses. What is the Bible about? The Bible is the story of God’s relationship to human beings which takes the form of a covenant. God loves his people, promises relationship to them on the condition of obedience, the blessing of obedience is life with God, the curse for disobedience is death. What are the main (big picture) covenants in the Bible? Covenant of Works Text: Genesis 1-3. Promise/Blessing: eternal life with God. Condition: obedience (the tree). Curse: death. Story: God creates human beings, places them in paradise where He will live with them, and gives them only one rule. Man violates the covenant by disobeying God. In His mercy and patience, God gives man only part of the curse and leaves the possibility for another man to fulfill the conditions of the covenant, pay the price for the broken covenant, and thereby restore the relationship between God and man, earn the blessing of eternal life with God, and remove the curse of death. Covenant of Grace Text: Genesis 3 - Revelation 22 (the rest of the Bible). Promise/Blessing: eternal life with God. Condition: obedience. Curse: death. Story: After the failure of Adam, God doesn’t give up. From Genesis 3 through the end of the old testament, we read a story of God continuing to pursue humans even though they keep sinning against him. We’re still waiting for someone to come and be faithful to the covenant like Adam was supposed to. Heroes rise up like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, but even they fail. A whole nation (Israel) arises who is supposed to be faithful to God, but the old testament ends with that nation in exile because of their sin and God has stopped sending prophets, priests, or kings. Finally, the new testament opens with the birth of someone special - Jesus. He is fully man, but also fully God. He lives a life of perfect obedience, fulfilling the condition of the covenant like Adam was supposed to. He dies on the cross not for his own sin, but for the sin of all who trust him, paying the price for the broken covenant under Adam. His sacrifice is accepted by God who resurrects Jesus from the grave. For all who are in Christ by faith and repentance, the curse is broken and they will receive the promise and blessing of eternal life with God. Relationship of the Covenant of Works & Grace The Covenant of Works is so named because Adam had the chance to earn eternal life by his works in the garden. The Covenant of Grace is so named because God offers humans salvation by grace through faith. But really, this is a continuation of the same covenant. Our salvation is still earned by works, but by JESUS’ works, not our own. What are the specific covenants recorded in the Bible? There are several, such as the covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, and the new covenant. These covenants fit within the big picture of the covenants of works & grace. These covenants progressively reveal more about God, his will, and his gracious plans for his people. Best resource for studying these texts in detail: Robertson, Christ of the Covenants. Applications of Covenant Theology How do the old and new testaments relate to each other? They are one continuous story. The old testament is before Christ, the New Testament begins with the birth of Christ. How were people saved in the old testament versus the new? They were saved in basically the same way - by God’s grace, by repenting of their sin and putting their faith in God’s savior. Old Testament believers were saved through faith looking ahead to the coming savior. New Testament believers are saved through faith looking back to the savior who has already come. How do Israel and the church relate to each other? In the old testament, the nation of Israel is the form that God’s people take. It is the covenant community, those who have faith in God, worship God, seek to live according to God’s Word, repent of sin to God, share with others about God. Scripture is clear that Israel was a mixed bag (ie. Romans 9), not all Israelites were true believers or faithful to God. In the new testament, the church is the form that God’s people take. It is the covenant community, those who have faith in God, worship God, seek to live according to God’s Word, repent of sin to God, share with others about God. Like Israel, we are also a mixed bag, not all who call themselves Christians or go to church are true believers or faithful to God. Israel and the church are two manifestations of God’s people from different times in the history of God’s people. The church is the fulfillment of Israel, God’s people of every tribe and tongue. What are the sacraments? The sacraments are signs and seals of the covenant. In the Old Testament, circumcision and the Passover were signs of God’s covenant with Israel. In the New Testament, baptism and the Lord’s Supper are signs and seals of the covenant. These are not primarily signs from us to the world, but from God to us. For example, in baptism, God is providing us with a visible sign and seal that his conditional promise is true - all who believe will be saved. In the old testament, children received the covenant sign of circumcision. Likewise, in the new testament, children should receive the covenant sign of baptism. What do we believe about the end times? While views on the end vary among reformed theologians, they are united in rejecting dispensational premillennialism, the view popularized by the book series, Left Behind. Resources for Further Study Graeme Goldsworthy, Gospel & Kingdom O. Palmer Robertson, The Christ of the Covenants Gregg Strawbridge, The Case for Covenantal Infant Baptism Systematic Theologies by Berkhof, Horton, or Frame Waters, Reid, Muether, Covenant Theology Geerhardus Vos, Biblical Theology More Blogs You'll Like Do the Resurrection Accounts Contradict? 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Grace in the Gap Christian Life Stephanie Delger Podcast Host Mom Guilt Podcast Published On: “Hey, Mom, I am starting to feel really sick. Is there any way that you could come and watch the kids for me while I lie down?” I was so thankful to have my mother close by. I felt blessed that she was able to come over and watch the kids while I took a much-needed nap. But at the same time, I felt defeated. Asking another person for help felt wrong, even if it was my own mother. I was already annoyed that I was getting sick and my ‘to-do’ list wasn’t going to get accomplished. I felt guilty, I should have been able to handle it. Other moms who don’t have family close by are forced to continue taking care of their kids while they are sick. It seemed like I was somehow cheating. What started as a head cold quickly turned into the flu. The afternoon childcare quickly turned into an overnight stay at Grandma’s house. I sat down in my abnormally quiet home to catch up on my bible study. I read 2 Corinthians 12:9, “ ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” I stopped. Moments like this really make us wonder if God has a sense of humor. Here I was, sick, exhausted, and needing help watching my own children, and God says that I am supposed to boast in my weakness. Yuck. Toughing it out, getting my ‘to-do’ list accomplished, and keeping up with laundry sounds like something to boast about, not needing help from others! At that moment, I was struck that this wasn’t a coincidence. God coordinated this moment for my good. It wasn’t an accident that I read this verse while sick. What does this verse mean, and how am I supposed to boast in my weakness? God’s grace is sufficient The thing I need most in life isn’t physical health. It isn’t the ability to take care of my kids while I am sick. It isn’t being able to drink my morning coffee out of a mug inscribed with “Super Mom.” It’s not even the ability to make a sourdough starter and keep it alive and well. What I need most in life is God’s grace. I don’t deserve God’s grace. You don’t deserve God’s grace. Grace is a gift, and a gift, by definition, means it cannot be earned. It is freely given. God chooses to love and bestow grace on His people not because of what they have done but simply because He has chosen to do so. I am not more deserving of grace when I am on top of my game, than when I need to reach out and ask others for help. God’s grace isn’t dependent on my actions. His grace is given freely, and it is all I need; it is sufficient. Our identity and worth need to be grounded in the Lord and what He has done. When I am weak, my identity and standing before the Lord doesn’t change. This is because it isn’t based on something that I have done. And if it isn’t based on my merit and actions, it means that my standing before the Lord is secure - regardless of what I have or haven’t done. What we do matters, but our actions should flow from a heart of worship, not from trying to earn favor with God or to impress Him. God’s grace is sufficient. My weakness magnifies God’s strength So often, I try to do things on my own. I want to be strong, to persevere through trials and sickness. I don’t want to let things derail my perfectly planned day. I don’t want to be weak, or even worse, for others to see my weakness! Being weak seems like something to run away from, not something to boast about. Asking for help admits that I don’t have what I need. This goes against our individualistic culture. In our culture, we strive for independence and being able to take care of things ourselves. We are taught to try harder and to do better. To ask others for help is looked down upon. We view self-reliance as a goal to be admired above all others. But this isn’t the gospel. The gospel, at its core, is a cry for help. We are a sinner who cannot save ourselves. We cannot try harder or do more to get into Heaven. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” We cannot boast about our salvation because it doesn’t come from us. Our weakness, our inability to save ourselves, must be understood. Only then can we cry out to the Lord to save us? Our weakness magnifies God’s strength. We have the opportunity as moms to magnify Christ in our weaknesses. When we are vulnerable and ask others for help, we are showing them that we have limits. We are finite beings who cannot do all things and be all things. We have limits placed upon us, which sometimes include catching a cold. In these moments, I need to not boast in my strength but rather lay it down at the feet of our Savior. I need to admit that, unlike Him, I need to rest. Unlike God, I need to ask someone else for help. Unlike God, I have limits and need to acknowledge them and live within them. How do we boast in our weaknesses? Boasting in our weakness isn’t posting pictures of our overflowing laundry baskets or sinks full of dirty dishes to social media with the caption #BoastingInWeakness. While I appreciate the attempts to be real and seeing moms strive to debunk the myth that we should be able to do it all and be it all, it doesn’t capture the heart of what God is asking us to do. Boasting in our weakness doesn’t mean that we are prideful when we don’t have our lives all together. It’s the opposite of pride. We shouldn’t be prideful or arrogant in our actions but rather seek to humbly point others to the Lord. We are not promoting laziness or a slothful lifestyle. When we are struggling and need help, we need to ask for it. When we do this, the Bible tells us that we will have the power of Christ resting upon us. This is something I desire, don’t you? God is working in us and through us in our weaknesses. When we try to do things in our own power, in our own strength, we are on display. Others look at our lives and might say, “I want to be like her.” But when we are weak and let others see that, they will say, “I want what she has.” We have the opportunity to tell others about Jesus, their Lord and Savior. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses. More Blogs You'll Like Is Prioritizing Love Un-Christian? What Does The Bible Say? Read More More Than Meets the Eye Discovering God’s Purposes for Motherhood Read More Mom Guilt and How to Fight It Read More

How to Run Your Race, Not Hers Christian Life Shannon Popkin Author & Podcast Host Live Like It's True Podcast Published On: January 19, 2024 There’s something I do that always compounds my weariness in this race of life: I glance sideways at the person in the land beside me who doesn’t seem to have as much to bear. This might happen when I’m leading Bible study and look over at the group that can barely fit around the table, while my group has gaps of space between us three. Or when I look over at some other person’s child who is thriving and leading, while my child is faltering and shrinking back into the darkness. Or when I see a friend planning to add a new son-in-law to her growing family, and my family has just shrunk with a loss. As I turn my gaze sideways at this other person, my heart fills with envy, strife, pride, and grief–which only drains the endurance I need for my own race. The writer of Hebrews says: Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. — Hebrews 12:1 That word endurance paints an image of a long road, not a short sprint before collapsing in a lawn chair. Endurance requires pressing on, even when I grow tired, frustrated, or bored. It involves putting one foot in front of the other when challenges arise and the incline grows steep. The writer of Hebrews says that Jesus must be my example in this endurance: “Consider him who endured . . . so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” ( Heb. 12:3 ). Why Comparison Saps my Strength There’s something about glancing sideways which makes me want to quit. But there’s something about returning my gaze to Jesus—the One who endured the steepest climb of all up Golgotha's hill—which gives me strength to take the next step. And the one after that. When I’m sweating and straining, I want the person next to me to be sweating and straining, too. I want to know that I’m not alone. And truly, as I run this Christian race, I’m not alone. I am part of a running group of followers who span the globe, and we all experience the same kinds of runners’ aches and struggles ( 1 Peter 5:9 ). The measuring and comparing is sideways energy, which distracts me from my race and saps my energy. If I want to run with endurance, I have to look “to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of [my] faith” ( Heb. 12:2 ). What About Him? After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to the disciples one morning after they had been fishing. They ate breakfast together, and then Jesus took a walk with Peter and gave him a glimpse into the race ahead—which would require great endurance and many trials, including death. As Jesus shared this, Peter turned and saw John trailing behind and asked, “What about him?” Jesus replied, “What is that to you? You follow me!” ( John 21:23 ). Friend, are your eyes drifting to someone else’s lane today? Are you—like Peter— craning your neck and becoming distracted? Are you comparing your race with that of another disciple? If so, turn your eyes to Jesus and listen as He says, “What’s that to you? You follow me!” God, Thank you for choosing me to be your disciple and marking out a course just for me. Help me to stop glancing sideways and keep my eyes on Jesus as I run my race to the finish. Reflect and Respond Read James 3:14–16 and describe any bitter jealousy or selfish ambition causing your eyes to drift from Jesus. How has this sideways focus been distracting you or sapping your energy? What is the Lord asking you to endure today? What is one way that you will “stay in your own lane” and keep following the Lord? Read 1 Peter 5:5–11 and make a list of Peter’s instructions and promises in these verses. Choose one that you will cling to, as you keep your eyes on Jesus and run with endurance. More Blogs You'll Like Is Prioritizing Love Un-Christian? What Does The Bible Say? Read More More Than Meets the Eye Discovering God’s Purposes for Motherhood Read More Mom Guilt and How to Fight It Read More

From Ketchup Stains to Salvation Christian Life Stephanie Delger Podcast Host Mom Guilt Podcast Published On: December 20, 2023 Does what I do really matter? How can picking up Cheerios off the floor for the third time today really make a difference in eternity? Being the mother to my four children is one of the best, hardest, and most rewarding things that I have done in my life. I know this, but if I’m honest, it doesn’t always feel that way. Housework Reflects the Gospel There is often a disconnect between what I know to be true and what I feel is true. I know that serving my family by cooking meals, washing, and folding the laundry are important. These are good things, important things that need to be done, especially since I don’t want my kids to be malnourished nudists running around the neighborhood. But when I am cleaning up yet another glass of spilled milk on the counter, I often find it hard to believe that this could have an eternal significance. Housework reflects the gospel. But what if God has designed us to be lights in a dark world not by doing extraordinary things, but by doing the mundane, ordinary things that point to an extraordinary God? What if through these seemingly boring, unimportant tasks, we were able to show our families how God loves them? What if doing the laundry, cooking food, and cleaning up the toy room show our children in a concrete tangible way who the Lord is and what He has done for them? What if the ordinary things point them to their Savior? What if all these things are an everyday reminder of the gospel? Gospel Work In The Laundry Laundry has to be my least favorite household chore. Not only is it time-consuming, but unless you are doing laundry while everyone runs around naked, you are never done with it. At the end of a full day of laundry, everyone has to change into their pajamas and BAM! More laundry in the hampers. Someone once pointed out to me that if Adam and Eve never ate the fruit from the tree in the Garden, we wouldn’t have laundry. It was only after Adam and Eve sinned that they realized they were naked! Laundry is a direct result of the fall! (Can I get an Amen?) Some of you may really enjoy doing laundry, and if that’s you, can we please be friends and you can come over to my house and do mine anytime you would like? A few weeks ago I took both my girls out clothes shopping and they bought some much-needed warm clothes for winter. They were so excited to wear them. They changed into them as soon as they could. They sat down to eat dinner and within the first few bites, one of them had a huge glob of ketchup dribbled all down the front of their cream-colored shirt. She started frantically scrubbing the ketchup trying to get it off, as I just told her to be careful because ketchup stains. I had her take the shirt off and walked to the laundry room to start the stain removal process to try and get the bright red condiment off her not-so-white-anymore shirt. Thankfully, the ketchup stain came out and I was able to present her with a beautifully clean shirt. My daughter didn’t mean to spill ketchup on her brand-new shirt, but when she did, what did she do? She tried to handle it herself which only made the problem worse. Isn’t that what we often do with God our Father? We sin, and rather than immediately asking for help, we try to clean it up ourselves. We try to hide our sin from others and from God. It’s only when all our attempts have failed, that we ask for help. And God is there for us! God takes our dirty, ketchup-stained lives, and through the blood of Jesus, restores us to Himself. When I brought the now clean shirt to my daughter, I was showing her what God has done for her (and me!). 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” In doing laundry, in taking something that was stained and dirty and making it clean, we can tangibly show our kids what God has done for them on the cross. Jesus, on the cross, took the wrath that we deserved and gave us his righteousness. It is only by what Jesus did on the cross that we and our families can be saved. Jesus promises that if we put our faith in Him alone for our salvation, He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We can reflect this truth in something as simple as wiping away ketchup stains from a shirt! Gospel Work In Cooking How many moms have spent sometimes hours preparing a meal for their children and when they set the dish in front of them, are met with a look of disgust? A battle usually ensues at my house over how much they need to eat to get down from the table. After the meal, I scrape a decent amount of food from their plate into the trash thinking, “Why do I do this? Does it really even matter?” My dear husband has consoled me many nights because it is so frustrating to spend all this time and energy making food that just ends up in the trash. How can this routine which happens at least three times a day really matter in eternity? When we provide food and nourish our families, we can show them how God our Father provides for us and nourishes us. In the Old Testament, God provided for his people in the desert by giving them manna and bread. The Israelites thought that their biggest problem was hunger. However, they had a much deeper problem, a heart full of sin. God is so gracious and He provided them with food to quench their physical hunger, while also promising them something greater to come. The Israelites had a physical and spiritual problem. When Jesus was in the Upper Room with his disciples hours before he was betrayed, tortured, and crucified, Luke 22:19 says, “And he (Jesus) took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you.” God provides. God provided for His people with manna, but He provides for our spiritual needs through Christ. When preparing yet another peanut butter and jelly sandwich for our kids, what if we do this, reminding ourselves and our kids how all our needs are ultimately provided for us by Christ? Gospel Work In Organizing I don’t know about your house, but at my house, there are usually toys everywhere. It usually only takes one well-placed Lego left on the floor to be stepped on by me, before I lose my cool and yell “Enough! We don’t live in a barn, please clean up this room!” So we all spend the next thirty minutes to an hour cleaning up the room. I walk out to tackle the next task, and when I return to the room again, much to my dismay, it looks like we never cleaned it in the first place! I am tempted to throw in the towel and call it quits. What is the point of cleaning when it just gets messy again a few minutes after walking out of the room? I am so glad that God doesn’t look at my life this way, aren’t you? Paul, in Ephesians 2:4-5 , writes that we have sinned and were God’s enemies, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” When we’re messy and dead in our sins, the Bible tells us that God loves us, forgives us, and brings us into a relationship with Himself. God does this again and again. When a person becomes saved, they have the Holy Spirit which comes to dwell inside them. Because of God, we have the ability and strength to fight sin in our lives. But as much as we want to, we still sin. We still need forgiveness. And just like a messy room that gets picked up again and again, God doesn’t quit on us. He doesn’t throw in the towel and decide that we are no longer worth saving. God continues to work in a believer’s life, sanctifying us. Praise God! Housework For The Glory of God Jesus often told parables to his followers to help them understand biblical truths. Jesus could have chosen to simply tell them in a lecture-style format truths about God and His Kingdom. But rather than simply give a lecture, he told them stories. We are wired to love stories. They help us identify deeply with what is being taught. Stories can bring our hearts and minds to worship in a way that spoken words alone cannot. What if we started treating housework as parables, which point both our hearts and our family’s hearts and minds towards the gospel? As we do the dishes, we think about God cleansing our hearts from sin. As we change yet another dirty diaper, we can recall from Isaiah 64, that our good works presented towards God with a bad heart posture, are like giving him this dirty diaper. As our newborn baby or toddler cries for milk, so too should we yearn for spiritual nourishment. ( Psalm 84:2 ) Having something tangible, something right in front of us, makes these truths hit a deeper way. God in his goodness, gives us real-life, everyday activities that can bring us closer to Him. Recalling all that God has done for us while doing everyday housework, is a way that we can live out Colossians 3:17 which says, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Whatever you do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus, recalling who God is, and what He has done, remembering all the blessings that He has given you, and giving thanks to God the Father. Housework Models Jesus’ Servanthood While we serve our families, we can also model for them how Jesus served. The Bible says that Jesus came to serve others, not to be served. ( Matthew 20:28 ) If anyone in all of history had the right to be served and waited on, wasn’t that person Jesus? He is the Son of God, God incarnate. Yet this is the opposite of how Jesus thought and acted. Jesus took on flesh and came to earth as a human baby, covered in blood and bodily fluids. He spent his first night not sleeping on a comfortable crib mattress, but in a manger, filled with scratchy straw. Jesus spent his time not seated on a throne, but healing the sick and eating with the social outcasts. On the night of his betrayal, we see him get on his hands and knees and scrub the dirty, stinky feet of his disciples. This includes the disciple who would in a few hours betray him with a kiss. Jesus exemplifies what it means to love and serve others. Philippians 2:3-8 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” God invites us into a life of servanthood which not only gives God glory but brings our families closer to Him. So as you clean yet another sink full of dirty dishes, you can do this as an act of worship. Worship the Lord for what He has done for you and your family, all while showing your children how much you love them, just as your Heavenly Father loves you. More Blogs You'll Like Is Prioritizing Love Un-Christian? What Does The Bible Say? Read More More Than Meets the Eye Discovering God’s Purposes for Motherhood Read More Mom Guilt and How to Fight It Read More

Avoiding Confusion: Practice Putting It in Writing Leadership Nate Harney Executive Pastor Peace Church Published On: February 21, 2024 Put It in Writing We expect all staff to put things in writing when they are working with other staff members, board members, and volunteers in their ministry areas. We believe that simply telling people things verbally and not following up with a clear and written summary of what was said or decided can lead to confusion and uncertainty. However, when we communicate in writing, we offer maximum clarity and direction for ministry. This honors those we serve with, helps us clarify where we are going, and it honors Jesus because we lead with excellence and transparency. If we rely on only verbal communication and hope people will remember it, we risk missing crucial details and have no way of knowing what was really said. So, we commit to, “Put it in writing!” If we ever wonder, “Is this something I should put in writing?” and are on the fence about it… we will default to putting it in writing just to be sure. Values: Why is this so important and helpful? When things are in writing… We can remember what was communicated. Others have a clear record of what was said or agreed on. We stop unnecessary confusion and potential conflict. There are clear and recorded lines of responsibility. All parties get clarity and if one person has the wrong idea about what was communicated, this clears things up or invites the parties to talk and make sure they are tracking together. Once there is clarity, we put that in writing too. Costs: What can happen if we don’t do this? When things are not in writing… We think our communication was clear, but the other person (or the group) might have heard something entirely different. We simply forget what we said. The other person forgets what was said. Important details get forgotten (and every detail in a church context can impact a person who is loved by Jesus). Implementation: What can I do to get started? Be as brief as possible while communicating with precision and clarity. So don’t write a long message when you can simply send: “I look forward to meeting in my office next Tuesday at 1 pm.” Use the form of communication that is most common and comfortable for that person or group (Text message, e-mail, social media post…) Ask for a response. Suppose you chat with a committed ministry volunteer in the hallway after church, and they say they want to help with Kids Ministry at the 9:00 service next Sunday. You might follow up with a text: Thanks for your willingness to serve in the 3rd grade class this next Sunday at 9:00. I love your heart for kids. I’ll follow up with the details soon. Please send me a thumbs up if you are all good for Sunday. When someone you serve with (staff, board members, church volunteers, anyone) sends you a communication clarifying a meeting time, the commitment you made, or any ministry detail, always respond quickly and clearly. (Even a thumbs-up icon, a “Got it!” or “Thanks,” will work). Putting things in writing can seem unnecessary to some. Others might think that it is a waste of time. The truth is, that you will spend a lot more time and energy cleaning up the messes that come from unclear communication or assumptions made after a verbal conversation. Let’s all commit to using the simple tools of text messages, email, and other ways to put things in writing so we can serve Jesus and His Church in the most effective ways. More Blogs You'll Like How To Conduct Staff Reviews Read More How To Create A Church Budget Read More Four Steps to Manageable Sermon-Writing Read More

Delegation Without Guilt Leadership Jon Delger Multiplication Pastor Peace Church Published On: November 21, 2023 Pastors, church leaders, and church boards know that they can’t do it all, but how do they delegate important work to others without shucking their responsibility? The primary objection I hear is this - “But that’s my responsibility. I am accountable to God and to other people for what happens. How can I pass it off to someone else?” Let me quickly make the case for delegation and share some practical steps toward delegating. The Case for Delegation in Your Church There is much to be done; you can’t do it all. What are the live options? There are three - work more, do less, or delegate. In a world of overwork, working more is rarely the solution. Doing less in order to do a few things well should be the solution some of the time. Good leaders say “no” to good opportunities so they can focus on the best ones. But what about the rest? What about work that must be done but does not belong on your plate? Work may not belong on your plate for several reasons. Wise leaders are choosy about how they spend all their resources - not only time, but also energy, money, talent, and attention. There is also the question of calling - Is this something I am called to do? Is it something I am called not to do? Is this something someone else has been called and given the resources to do? By the way, we left out a fourth option for handling work that doesn’t belong on your plate - promise to do it, but then never get around to it (or do it poorly) because there wasn’t really room on your plate. Also, not a good option. Where does that leave us? What do you do when your church needs hospitality ministry, but leading that ministry does not belong on the plate of your pastor? What do you do when your church needs someone to keep the books and do payroll, but none of your elders are gifted accountants? What do you do when a gentlemen within your church has the resources and calling to lead a ministry to men, but he’s not a pastor or elder? For a great many situations, the answer is not to work more or do less, but to delegate. At this point, many throw up their hands and feel like they are surrendering to a necessary evil. They believe they are giving work to someone else when it should be done by them. They feel a mixed sense of guilt and fear. This is when we must clearly distinguish delegation from abdication. Abdication is a failure to fulfill a responsibility or duty ( Oxford English Dictionary ). Delegation is to entrust a task or responsibility to another person ( Oxford English Dictionary ). Delegation means entrusting someone else with the work while retaining responsibility for the outcome. This is difficult and important work. How do we do it well? Four Steps to Delegate Well 1) Determine what work to delegate. At any given moment, there are lots of things we could do with our time, but what has God called us to keep at the center? For many pastors, it may be preaching and leadership. For boards, it should be big big-picture vision. Each leader should have a central focus in their role. Each leader should always be working towards doing mostly what only they can do or have been called to do. All of us have to do things we don’t want to do or don’t feel called to do, but we should work towards keeping the main things the main things. Don’t hold onto tasks, projects, or ministries out of guilt. Think strategically. Does this fit into the bullseye of my calling or not? 2) Identify an appropriate person or party to delegate to. If a task or project doesn’t fit into the bullseye of my calling, is there someone else who may be called or capable of taking it? Don’t let “there is no one to take it, or there is no one as capable as I to take it” become an excuse. Find someone and teach them. Don’t let pride or fear win. Don’t overspiritualize. Yes, we have been talking about calling and gifting. However, sometimes work simply needs to be done by someone who can do it. And sometimes, this is precisely how we discover our calling. Other times, this is how we imitate the servant-heart of our savior. 3) Delegate both responsibility and authority in appropriate proportions. You have a task, project, or ministry to be delegated, and you have a person to receive it. Now what? This is where the real work begins. There is a whole world of literature, education, and professionals built around steps 3 & 4 - it’s called management, and it is often done poorly. Think of delegation as a hand-off. Doing it well begins with handing off the right things in the right proportions. Giving a delegated party the responsibility for a project without the authority to make decisions, give orders, or spend funds will result in frustration. Holding all the authority in your own hands while giving all the responsibility to a delegate won’t work either, this is a typical mistake of a poor manager or board. Delegating responsibility and authority in proper proportions is difficult and the amounts will vary with each project, person, and situation. Read some management books, give it a try, and learn from your mistakes. 4) Develop a system for communication, accountability, and support. Once you have completed the initial hand-off, the work is not over. Ongoing communication, support, and accountability are crucial to success. Your delegate will need to be able to ask questions. You will need to give good and timely answers. They will need encouragement and input. You will want updates. You will want to continue to supply vision and direction. The delegate will need to be held accountable for the responsibility placed in their hands. Don’t leave this all to chance. Work out a system for supplying these things. This may include regular meetings or reports. The amount of communication, support, and accountability required will also vary with each project, person, and situation. Do it and work at improving all the time. Make room for feedback on both sides - manager and delegate. Yes, delegation is a lot of work. It has a formal name, its own category of literature, etc. - management. It is often done poorly, but this doesn’t have to be the case. If you want to lead, you must delegate. If you’re going to delegate, think strategically, commit the time, and do it well. More Blogs You'll Like How To Conduct Staff Reviews Read More How To Create A Church Budget Read More Four Steps to Manageable Sermon-Writing Read More

Pick Up the Sword, Not Just the Gavel Christian Life Cory Smith Family Pastor Connection Church Published On: January 1, 2024 A DYNAMIC FORCE “The three years that have passed have brought but few changes to the quiet family. The war is over, and Mr. March safely at home, busy with his books and the small parish which found in him a minister by nature as by grace,—a quiet, studious man, rich in the wisdom that is better than learning, the charity which calls all mankind ‘brother,’ the piety that blossoms into character, making it august and lovely. These attributes, in spite of poverty and the strict integrity which shut him out from the more worldly successes, attracted to him many admirable persons, as naturally as sweet her draw bees, and as naturally he gave them the honey into which fifty years of hard experience had distilled no bitter drop. Earnest young men found the gray-headed scholar as young at heart as they; thoughtful or troubled women instinctively brought their doubts and sorrows to him, sure of finding the gentlest sympathy, the wisest counsel; sinners told their sins to the pure-hearted old man, and were both rebuked and saved; gifted men found a companion in him; ambitious men caught glimpses of nobler ambitions than their own; and even worldlings confessed that his beliefs were beautiful and true, although ‘they wouldn’t pay.’ To outsiders, the five energetic women seemed to rule the house, and so they did in many things; but the quiet scholar, sitting among his books, was still the head of the family, the household conscience, anchor, and comforter; for to him the busy, anxious women always turned in troublous times, finding him, in the truest sense of those sacred words, husband and father.”1 Louisa M. Alcott delivered these words nearly a century ago giving a vivid picture to the commands of Scripture for husbands to be the head of the household. Who wouldn’t want to be described in this way. As husbands and fathers we yearn to have others “always turn(ing to us) in troublous times.” But how do we achieve this description? Do we sit and wait for the family to come to us when trouble strikes? Is that what headship is? My purpose in this article is not to give a defense of the husband as the head and therefore the leader of the family (since this position is already assumed), but to help fathers to be described in a similar way as Mr. March — to act as the true head of the household. In order to do that we need to consider what it means to be the head of the household. The head of the household is the leader acting as the “dynamic force” of the family “that provides its direction and unity.”2 HEAD OF THE HOUSE The headship of the husband is found in a couple of passages in Scripture. Ephesians 5:23 “Because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.” 1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ.” The head of the house is the leader of the house with a purpose. That purpose is to create a family culture by providing direction and pursuing unity. This is done through being the dynamic force in the household. It is leadership. Sometimes we water down leadership to mean the one who makes the final decisions. We may say things like, “Why do you ask your wife for permission? You are the leader.” Making decisions is only one aspect, and a small one at that, of providing direction and unity. It is not possible to be a dynamic force creating the culture of the family if all that is done is making decisions. This may be a force, but not a dynamic one. It will take more initiative and a wider lens to be a dynamic force. PICK UP THE SWORD Initiative is important. We see this through the story of David and his lack of initiative in leadership. David, a man after God’s heart, had already won many battles in the name of his God. He had taken down a giant as a little boy. He went to war against nations for King Saul. He took out the Edomites, Moabites, the Ammorites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, the people of Zobah, and even won a civil war in his own nation. Then, right after he defeats the Ammonites we get this introduction: 2 Samuel 11:1 “In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.” For the first time, David is not leading his people in war. He drops the sword and only picks up the gavel telling Joab to go fight. It is a tempting way to lead. Either after success or realizing the power of the gavel (making choices) we put down the sword, losing our initiative, losing the dynamic force to provide direction and unity. In no way am I saying that men should not pick up the gavel and make choices. It is important to give voice to the direction and make choices that pursue unity. My point is to say that using only the gavel creates a static leadership. Men, we need to learn from David’s non-example and pick up the sword. GET UP, EQUIP YOURSELF, GO So, get up. Start taking initiative now. Think through what it looks like to give direction and unity in the family. What are your aspirations for your wife? Do they mimic Jesus’ goals for the Church? What are your aspirations for your kids? Do they pass the faith down from one generation to the next? Or are your goals passing on something else? What are your goals for your family? Equip yourself. Once you have thought through such goals, learn how you are going to be the dynamic force that achieves them. Get close to God, for your goals should pursue a closeness to Him. Learn what He commands of you, your wife, and your kids. Think through what spaces in life you are not picking up the sword in order to achieve these goals and equip yourself to do so. Go. Start being that dynamic force. Pick up your sword, pick up your gavel, and lead your family to honor God. We will talk about practical ways to do that in the articles to come: “Put on the Tutu” - Show love to your kids, by loving what they love “Don’t Lone Wolf It” - No man can lead well by themselves “Focus On Your Bride, Not Your Wife” - Look to the commands that are given to the husband before focusing on the commands given to your wife. “Just Do It” - Communion with God “Don’t Hide Behind the Bush” - Step out into hard spaces with the confidence of Christ’s work “Acknowledge Faults” - A good head of the household, recognizes he is not the perfect head “Take Pride in Your Work…at Home” - Do you work as diligently at home as you do at your job? “Teach Your Boys to Act Like Men” - Show the importance of leading well “Consistency, Consistency, Consistency” - Don’t be tossed around by every wave or new exciting thing “Create the Culture” - Create a family culture that makes outsiders think of God when they think of your family “Dump the Girlfriend of Your Youth” - Video games and the way they can ruin marriages. All of these articles will be written to help men pick up the sword, be that dynamic force, and be the head of the household “in the truest sense of those sacred words, husband and father.” 1 Alcott, Louisa May. Little Women. The Saalfield Publishing Company, 1929; pg. 311-312. 2“Between 460 bc (the date usually ascribed to the first writings of Hippocrates) and ad 200 (the death of Galen, who developed Hippocrates’ findings), Greek medical science came to understand the head as the seat of intelligence. The body was able to operate efficiently only because the brain was capable of interpreting data received from the body (eyes, ears, skin, and so on), and because it was able to send out appropriate impulses to the various members of the body, based upon the data received. The ability of the brain to interpret and direct made the existence of the body completely dependent upon it… The apostle Paul drew from the OT metaphorical understanding of the term to express the authority of God over Christ, Christ over man, and man over woman (1 Cor 11:3–16; cf. Eph 5:23). In the light of these relationships, Paul encouraged women at Corinth to wear veils in worship. The veil gave a woman the authority to worship as an equal with men before God. The term is used again with the meaning “authority” to express the lordship of Christ over the universe (Eph 1:21, 22; Col 2:10). Paul used the image of the head and body to express the relationship between Christ and his church (Eph 4:15; 5:23b; cf. 1 Cor 12:12–27). In addition to the OT sense, the contributions of medical science in Paul’s day may provide insight into this image—for Christ is not only the dominant ruler over the church, but he is also the dynamic force that provides its direction and unity. The ability of the church to exist and the focal point of its activity are rooted in the work of its “head,” Jesus Christ.” Elwell, Walter A., Barry J. Beitzel, H. Douglas Buckwalter, Peter C. Craigie, James Dixon Douglas, Robert Guelich, and Walter R. Hearn. “Head.” In Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988. More Blogs You'll Like Is Prioritizing Love Un-Christian? What Does The Bible Say? Read More More Than Meets the Eye Discovering God’s Purposes for Motherhood Read More Mom Guilt and How to Fight It Read More

Do the Resurrection Accounts Contradict? Theology Jon Delger Multiplication Pastor Peace Church Published On: April 17, 2025 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all give different accounts of Easter Sunday. It is beneficial to have multiple testimonies to an important event, but what if those testimonies contradict each other? The Importance of the Question The entire Christian faith hinges upon the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul has said, “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). If Jesus is still in the grave, then it was all a lie. Jesus is not who he said he was, he has not paid for our sins, and we have no hope of resurrection ourselves. Although some like to think that faith and facts are of different realms, Christianity is a faith founded upon historical facts. If the Bible cannot be trusted in matters of history, then it cannot be trusted in matters of spiritual truth. Jesus cannot simply be a good moral teacher. He claimed to be the Son of God who came to die for the sins of his people and rise from the grave on the third day (Mark 9:31). In the famous words of CS Lewis, Jesus is either liar, lunatic, or Lord. The accounts of Jesus’ resurrection are critical historical evidence. Each of them claims to present eyewitness testimony. Some variation in the accounts supports their authenticity. However, if they contradict each other, this obviously undermines their integrity. So the question is: do they contradict? The Alleged Contradictions There are 5 primary alleged contradictions in the resurrection accounts: The number of angels at the tomb The number of women present at the tomb The time of day the women went to the tomb Whether or not the tomb was already open when the women arrived The order of appearances of the resurrected Jesus The 4 accounts of the resurrection can be found in these chapters of Scripture: Matthew 28 Mark 16 Luke 24 John 20-21 Let’s consider each of these alleged contradictions and evaluate whether they represent real contradictions. 1) The number of angels at the tomb Matthew and Mark both describe only one angel, while Luke and John describe two angels. Which is it? While Matthew and Mark only describe one angel, they do not say there was only one. It is important to remember that the goal of the gospel authors was not to give an exhaustive description of every event and detail. The goal of the authors was to tell the story of Jesus. Although Matthew and Mark leave out the detail about a second angel, this does not undermine the integrity of their accounts. 2) The number of women present at the tomb Matthew says “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.” Mark says “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome.” Luke says “Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them.” John says “Mary Magdalene came to the tomb.” Which women were present at the tomb? Once again, none of the authors say that only the women they mention were there. For example, even John who only mentions one woman at the tomb, later records Mary as saying “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him” (John 20:2, italics added). Clearly John was aware that Mary was not the only one at the tomb. For whatever reason, each gospel author focuses on one or a few of the women present. From the various accounts, we can see that a number of women were present greater than three. This variation in recording does not undermine the integrity of the accounts. 3) The time of day the women went to the tomb Matthew says “toward the dawn of the first day of the week.” Mark says “very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen.” Luke says “on the first day of the week, at early dawn.” John says “on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark.” So was it before dawn, at dawn, or after dawn? First, this is a very small variation. Each author says it was right around dawn. Second, the variation could be accounted for by the difference in what part of the trip the author was describing. If the women traveled to the tomb from Bethany, the walk would be about 2 miles. This length of journey may have begun in the dark and concluded after sunrise. This variation in recording does not undermine the integrity of the accounts. 4) Whether or not the tomb was already open when the women arrived Mark, Luke, and John say that the stone had already been rolled away when the women arrived. Matthew’s account appears to tell a different story. Which is it? The difference here is only in appearance. The confusion is created because of Matthew’s placement of the words of verse 2. He does not actually say that the women saw the earthquake and the angel moving the stone. He simply records that it happened. In reading the narrative, because Matthew begins to describe the women’s journey and then includes this detail, it feels like he is implying the women saw the stone roll away, but he does not actually say this. Matthew’s added detail does not undermine the integrity of the account. 5) The order of appearances of the resurrected Jesus This is the most complex issue of the alleged contradictions. We can only imagine the chaos created by the discovery of the empty tomb. There would have been much running to and fro to tell the story and try to process what was happening among Jesus’ followers. The first couple appearances of Jesus is where the main challenge lies. Matthew seems to say that after discovering the empty tomb and speaking with the angels, the group of women encounter Jesus on their way to tell the disciples. Mark simply says that Mary Magdalene was the first to see him. Luke’s first recorded appearance is on the road to Emmaus. John says that Mary ran to get Peter and John, the three of them ran back to the tomb, and then Mary encounters Jesus alone after Peter and John have again left the tomb. Which is it? Several different theories have been proposed to harmonize the stories. A fairly simple and compelling theory is as follows (credit for this theory to Tim Chaffey, author of In Defense of Easter: Answering Critical Challenges to the Resurrection of Jesus ): After the group of women discover the empty tomb, Mary splits from the group and runs into the city to tell Peter and John while the rest of the women begin the trip back to Bethany to find the rest of the disciples. Mary, Peter, and John run back to the tomb. Peter and John leave astonished. Mary is now left alone at the tomb and encounters Jesus (first appearance). After this, the rest of the women encounter Jesus on their own walk back to Bethany (second appearance). Have you ever received shocking news and then frantically tried to spread the word to friends and family… without a cell phone? Once again, we can only imagine the chaos created by the discovery of the empty tomb. It is quite reasonable that different groups of Jesus’ followers would have been running around and these different appearances would have all happened on Easter Sunday. The integrity of the accounts is not undermined. Conclusion While at first glance it may appear that the four accounts of the resurrection contradict each other, upon closer inspection they do not. Real genuine eyewitness accounts shouldn’t perfectly overlap, but they also can’t contradict. The four gospels continue to bear the marks of faithful historical witness. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to live the perfect life of righteousness that we could not live, die the death for sin that we deserved to die, and he conquered the grave so that we too can have new life by putting our faith in him. More Blogs You'll Like Do the Resurrection Accounts Contradict? 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