This is not the first time the Church has faced a crisis. Let's look back at Saint Augustine's ministry to the Church during the sack of Rome in 410 A.D., and examine his pastoral, Gospel-centered message that still relevant to us today....
Some prayer targets and some biblical wisdom for navigating these crazy times ...
Everyone has family Christmas traditions. I'm sure one of yours instantly was brought to mind. After years of Alexandra and I trying to establish our own for our kids, we have finally discovered one that was an instant hit, and that is being repeated as we speak - hopefully to be repeated year after year: Using Handel's "Messiah" as a sort of Advent Devotional Guide for nightly family worship....
After being on sabbatical for 2 and a half months, the Lord has shown me (Pastor Eric) some interesting things and I am eager to share them with the body...
A brief introduction to this Summer's sermon series...
We are a month away from launching our 2nd church plant and here's a little description about how and why we do it...
The Passion Week, aka the week leading up to Easter, usually presents the church with extra opportunities to gather for corporate worship. I am merely suggesting that we should take advantage of those opportunities. ...
If you watch the news or engage any areas of social media or just look around, it is clear that there are areas of racial tension and injustice in this nation and many of these issues have been polarizing in the church rather than bringing unity. It is nearly impossible to engage the topic without offending someone who sees things differently. It is further complicated by many of these issues be highly politicized. It's hard to know what to say or do. But even if it's difficult to know what to say or do, doing nothing and saying nothing should not be an option. The church is on the precipice of opportunity to be a light in the midst of confusion. But how do we engage this topic with wisdom from above and be vessels of change? Hopefully this modest contribution is a start....
If you watch the news or engage any areas of social media or just look around, it is clear that there are areas of racial tension and injustice in this nation and many of these issues have been polarizing in the church rather than bringing unity. It is nearly impossible to engage the topic without offending someone who sees things differently. It is further complicated by many of these issues be highly politicized. It's hard to know what to say or do. But even if it's difficult to know what to say or do, doing nothing and saying nothing should not be an option. The church is on the precipice of opportunity to be a light in the midst of confusion. But how do we engage this topic with wisdom from above and be vessels of change? Hopefully this modest contribution is a start. ...
If you watch the news or engage any areas of social media or just look around, it is clear that there are areas of racial tension and injustice in this nation and many of these issues have been polarizing in the church rather than bringing unity. It is nearly impossible to engage the topic without offending someone who sees things differently. It is further complicated by many of these issues be highly politicized. It's hard to know what to say or do. But even if it's difficult to know what to say or do, doing nothing and saying nothing should not be an option. The church is on the precipice of opportunity to be a light in the midst of confusion. But how do we engage this topic with wisdom from above and be vessels of change? Hopefully this modest contribution is a start. ...
If you watch the news or engage any areas of social media or just look around, it is clear that there are areas of racial tension and injustice in this nation and many of these issues have been polarizing in the church rather than bringing unity. It is nearly impossible to engage the topic without offending someone who sees things differently. It is further complicated by many of these issues be highly politicized. It's hard to know what to say or do. But even if it's difficult to know what to say or do, doing nothing and saying nothing should not be an option. The church is on the precipice of opportunity to be a light in the midst of confusion. But how do we engage this topic with wisdom from above and be vessels of change? Hopefully this modest contribution is a start. ...
We take a look at our church's role in Christian education. It is an area that often has more questions than answers, so rather than looking at the macro, I will leave that to the "experts" while I try to share a non-experts thoughts on an important matter. ...
As we get closer each day to our new church plant, we want to use every means possible to help people be as informed and as prayerful as possible as we embark on this new mission. For many, the idea of planting churches is a new concept. Others have perhaps heard about it but never participated and have questions. Others may question the model, things like: "what do you mean by campus?". or "why plant so close to the existing church", or "why not focus our efforts on growing the church that we already have rather than reproducing so quickly?". This series of blogs, video blogs, teachings from the pulpit and prayer meetings will be aimed at creating a dialog and helping us to embark on this journey as a called, prayerful, prepared and informed people. If all of your questions are not answered in each post, that is kind of by design. Each entry is aimed at taking a look at one discussion point and fleshing it out enough to help answer questions and promote future dialog. ...
Recently on a NPR special, they were taking calls concerning the realization that the “American Dream” isn’t as readily available for my generation (those born in the 1980s to now) as in past generations. It’s too expensive, good paying jobs are harder to come by, and college is becoming essentially unaffordable for the average American. The question posed was this: “How can we fix this, or can we fix it? - Call us with your answers and ideas.”...
This is a time of year where we celebrate new life. Trees are growing new leaves, flowers are in bloom, people are emerging after a long winter. This is also a time where we celebrate the greatest of all New Life, our new life in Christ. ...
I have done my best to take a look at the issue of "chronic pain" through first and third person lenses. I am my no means an expert on the topic. Nor do I claim to always be victorious in the struggle. These thoughts are my own. That being said, I believe they are in line with what I read in God's Inspired and Holy Word. ...
Paul and the Apostles understood this commission of Christ as a call to plant churches. He would travel to major urban cities with regional influences, plant a church, and then move on to the next city. People traveling to and fro from these cities would carry the Christian message to the outer limits and small towns outside the city, and thus more churches were planted. In this way, the Gospel traveled from "Jerusalem, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8)....
As we begin a new year at Redeemer Fellowship, the beginning of our first full year as a church, we are going to use this time to restate the foundational truths that join us together as a church. We strongly encourage each member of the body to read these posts, as they give us opportunity to reinforce what is shared from the pulpit and to take added time and care to clarify, encourage, cast the vision for a new year by simply rejoicing in truths that we share together and celebrate as a new work here on the Jersey Shore. ...
As we begin a new year at Redeemer Fellowship, the beginning of our first full year as a church, we are going to use this time to restate the foundational truths that join us together as a church. We strongly encourage each member of the body to read these posts, as they give us opportunity to reinforce what is shared from the pulpit and to take added time and care to clarify, encourage, cast the vision for a new year by simply rejoicing in truths that we share together and celebrate as a new work here on the Jersey Shore. ...
As we begin a new year at Redeemer Fellowship, the beginning of our first full year as a church, we are going to use this time to restate the foundational truths that join us together as a church. We strongly encourage each member of the body to read these posts, as they give us opportunity to reinforce what is shared from the pulpit and to take added time and care to clarify, encourage, cast the vision for a new year by simply rejoicing in truths that we share together and celebrate as a new work here on the Jersey Shore. ...
As we begin a new year at Redeemer Fellowship, the beginning of our first full year as a church, we are going to use this time to restate the foundational truths that join us together as a church. We strongly encourage each member of the body to read these posts, as they give us opportunity to reinforce what is shared from the pulpit and to take added time and care to clarify, encourage, cast the vision for a new year by simply rejoicing in truths that we share together and celebrate as a new work here on the Jersey Shore. ...
What is the nature of true generosity and giving? This question needs to be asked as we enter into the Christmas season, where giving and generosity has actually been embedded not just within the Christian church, but also in our secular culture. This annual December generosity often takes the form of Christmas presents, but it is not unusual to see local food pantrys get stocked for the year, or churches to have large end of the year tithes, or needy families receive help and more. ...
As we prepare to kick off our Community Groups, people have had a variety of questions. This is a copy of what we have sent to each of the community group leaders, and we wanted to put it out to the church so we are all on the same page and to do our best to answer any questions. ...
We just finished our 2016 VBS, but I couldn't help but think how God used the 2015 VBS to set in motion a unique work of God on the Jersey Shore. ...
Check out the new blog on Spiritual Forgetfulness, how it impacts our pursuit of Jesus and what we can do to combat it. ...
As I enter year 12 of being in pastoral ministry, I am noticing a sad reality. Many who began when I did are no longer along for the ride. It is sad and it is sobering. This series is aimed at rethinking how we view the pastoral ministry, calling and vocation. There has been much written about how a pastor is to relate to their congregation, but tragically little aimed at how the congregation should engage their pastors. ...
As I enter year 12 of being in pastoral ministry, I am noticing a sad reality. Many who began when I did are no longer along for the ride. It is sad and it is sobering. This series is aimed at rethinking how we view the pastoral ministry, calling and vocation. There has been much written about how a pastor is to relate to their congregation, but tragically little aimed at how the congregation should engage their pastors. ...
As we prepare to move into our new home I'd love to share some thoughts on what humility and the heart of God look so we can join Him in His work here on the Shore. ...
In coming together as two separate churches from two different backgrounds, and becoming one family, language matters. When we take greater care to have our language and imagery be grounded in Scripture, it is easier to make a direct connection to God's Wisdom (what James refers to as "Wisdom from above (James 3:17)" rather than leaning on the wisdom of man and "hoping" God blesses it. ...
In a season regularly portrayed as "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," it is hard to imagine that for many people this is a season full of brokenness, loneliness, and unmet expectations. Every box, sign, and commercial has all the common phrases we are used to seeing and hearing, which happen to all be about, joy, happiness, and positive vibes. Yet for some of us, this ...
Keep ReadingHow is it possible that one event could produce such polarizing reactions? When we look at Matthew 2, the star that appeared marking the birth of Jesus drove some to the heights of joy and drove others to total madness. Not much has changed in 2000 years. Still the name of Jesus is seen as the sweetest of all names or an total intrusion into a conversation depending on wh...
Keep ReadingThis morning, I was walking the kids through their bible curriculum. This story from 30 Days to Understanding the Bible really impacted me. I am preparing to teach through the visit of the Magi this week and this missionary testimony of a "long walk" that was in itself, part of the gift, really touched my heart as I considered the long trek that the Wise Men took to follow...
Keep ReadingO come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.... "Jesus," the angel said I am to give the child the name Jesus. "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no ...
Keep ReadingIn the famous words of Dave Letterman, "96% of all statistics are made up on the spot." Yes, it is true that according to whomever does the research, it is difficult to have no bias whatsoever in the work. And it's also true that you can often hear two statistics concerning the same topic that completely and utterly contradict one another. In prefacing with this, I want t...
Keep Reading Everyone has family Christmas traditions. I'm sure one of yours instantly was brought to mind. After years of Alexandra and I trying to establish our own for our kids, we have finally discovered one that was an instant hit, and that is being repeated as we speak - hopefully to be repeated year after year: Using Handel's "Messiah" as a sort of Advent Devotional Guide for ...
Keep ReadingI got a call early this morning from my dad. His dear friend and ours, Syd Lawrence, had gone home to be with the Lord at 4 AM. Syd always referred to me as "The Part-timer", an old joke that people make about pastors "only really working on Sundays" but that joke never got old to Syd. He welcomed me with it just this past Sunday, 2 days ago, so "The Part-timer" would like...
Keep ReadingJesus says in Matthew's Gospel that "the kingdom of heaven is like atreasurehidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Thenin his joyhe goes andsells all that he hasand buys that field" (Matthew 13:44). Imagine discovering something so wonderful that you were willing to sell all you possessed to acquire it? In the world of Facebook Marketplace and eBay, selling...
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