Scripture
-
Interactive Prayer Stations on Leadership
Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. . . [God] handed out gifts above and below . . . [God] handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically…
-
Mary & Martha: Women in Ministry in the 21st Century
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.…
-
Interactive Ideas for Stewardship
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops. (Proverbs 3.9) Most churches focus on stewardship in the month of November. A few years back, the leadership at my church decided to do it in January. Although there are some pros and cons with waiting to do a stewardship campaign in…
-
He Said, She Said: a Personal Journey through the Use of Inclusive Language
9 ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, . . . ” (Matthew 6.9) Growing up, the use of inclusive language was a foreign concept. Although I grew up in diverse church settings — Korean Presbyterian, Southern Baptist, Vineyard, and Pentecostal — one thing they all had in common was the heavy use of masculine…
-
Covenant: Intergenerational Faith Community
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.14 Whenever I…
-
Advent: A Prayer, My Subaru, & Community
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there,…
-
Interactive Prayer Stations
27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20.27) I’ve always wondered why Thomas got the name Doubting Thomas. Is it simply because he needed tangible proof and physical evidence of Christ’s resurrection? Maybe it wasn’t…
-
Both Sides of the Truth: Non-Geographic Presbyteries
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him…
-
You’re Either In or You’re Out
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3.16) In my Southern Baptist and Pentecostal days, I used to have Scripture memorized backwards and forwards. These days, John 3.16 is pretty much all I have comfortably…
-
Daughters of Deborah: What Is a Leader in the 21st Century?
Deborah was a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth. She was judge over Israel at that time. She held court under Deborah’s Palm between Ramah and Bethel in the hills of Ephraim. The People of Israel went to her in matters of justice. (Judges 4.4-5) There aren’t many examples of women leadership in the Bible. Luckily…
