Pragmatic Expediency
Mike Ratliff
The proponents of the seeker-sensitive church growth model may very well have had good intentions when through it was spawned the rise of contemporary mega-churches such as Willow Creek and Saddleback Valley Baptist and their clones. The focus was outreach to the unchurched. That is a proper function of the New Testament Church, however, one of the model’s fundamental components is actually an antithesis of the clear instruction to Church leaders found in God’s Word. That component is pragmatism. … (Clink the link above for the rest)
The Church of England is Dying, Should We Care?
And we wonder why the Church of England is dying? When the current Archbishop of Canterbury–who was in New York, not far from ground zero during the chaos of September 11, 2001–tells a frightened New Yorker that “God is useless in times like this” we start to get a sense of why the C of E is in such a sad and rapid state of decline. Click here: Rowan Williams: September 11, where the hell was God? -Times Online
Pay Attention to Details
Why the little things make a big difference in your group experience.
I once heard a professor share some wise counsel with a group of preachers: “On Sunday morning, before you ascend to the holy pulpit to preach God’s inerrant Word before a waiting, hungry congregation, take a moment to make sure that your pants’ zipper isn’t down.” He knew the main point would be missed if the details were left undone.
Details matter. They matter to God, and they matter to your people. So here are some areas to keep an eye on as you prepare for your cell-group meeting.
