Category Archives: Church Life

Church Life should be governed by God’s design and purposes for the Body of Christ with Jesus as its Head and us as members united though diverse.

Young People’s Perception of the Bible

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Perception of BibleI read a Barna report about how young people today take a different approach to the Bible than previous generations and I have to admit that as I look at the overall landscape, I do see it.  Of course, not all young people hold this perception of the Bible but enough do that it should raise some questions.

The report is not saying that young people do not value the Bible or that they never read it.  Rather, it refers to the perceptions of young people toward the Bible, which would, in turn, affect the way they approach Bible study.  The report notes the following changes in young people from older generations.  For descriptions of the following perceptions, go to the Barna Report.

  1. less sacred
  2. less accurate
  3. more universalism
  4. skepticism of origins
  5. less engagement
  6. Bible appetite

How Did People’s Perception of the Bible Change in These Ways?

The first question we might ask ourselves is, “How did it get this way?”  Once we figure that out, answers to how to change the tide will become more evident.

Surely it did not get this way overnight.  And, change will not come by throwing on a few bandaids.  The seeds were undoubtedly planted over the course of time and the roots go deep.  If that is true, it means change must begin with the older generations as obviously we have been the ones who planted the seeds.  What have we done, or not done, that led young people to view the Bible in these ways?

We must also factor in the influence of the world with all of its relativistic and universal thinking.  In light of Romans 12:1-2, any change of perspective is going to be a transformation “by the renewing of the mind.”  What must that look like in discipleship efforts with young people?

We can be encouraged by the last point on Barna’s list.  Young people do have an appetite for the Bible, an “interest in gaining additional Bible knowledge” that scores higher than other generations.  That’s encouraging.  That gives hope that the tide can change.  But it also brings us back to those of us in older generations.  If we don’t have as much of an appetite for the Word, perhaps then we haven’t been modeling an approach to the Bible that communicates its worth and sufficiency.  Have we forsaken our first love?  If so, let’s be reminded of Jesus’ words to the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:5 —

Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Consider also that a low view of the Bible could lead to a low view of the Church. What’s to keep young people coming once they’ve graduated if the Word we teach has minimal value to them?

More: Youth Ministry Resources

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Homelessness: How to Get Your Church Involved

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Jesus Views Helping with Homelessness as though Done to Him so How Can the Church Help?
You believe that Jesus takes how we respond to people’s needs personally. You see the needs of the homeless and want your church to get involved in this kind of ministry. Yet, even the mention of homelessness raises concerns.

Concerns Related to Homelessness & Getting Involved

Homelessness is broad and far reaching.  As an individual believer or church, you might feel there isn’t much you can do.

Homeless ministry demands a lot of resources.  You might feel you have enough problems and needs of your own.

Homelessness takes many of us out of our comfort zones.  You might have fears and insecurities about involvement.

Reasons not to get involved will abound so you need to just begin, but how?

A process for getting your church involved in Ministry with the Homeless:

  1. Promote an awareness of the causes and  solutions of homelessness.   Look at it from a biblical, theological perspective as well as the practical side.  — Educate people about homelessness.
  1. Partner with other ministries and community programs through giving of time, finances, and other resources.  Encourage individual giving but also set the example as a church and an easy path for individuals to give.  — Expose people to homelessness.
  1. Present or provide opportunities for people to help both in preventing homelessness and assisting those who are homeless locally and beyond.  Encourage everybody to do their part in ways that fit with their gifting and skill sets and you will make greater inroads into motivating them to get involved.  — Engage people with the homeless.

Note the process:

Educate, expose in less threatening ways, and then engage.
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Address Real Needs in Homelessness, Not Just Symptoms

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Jesus Views Helping with Homelessness as though Done to Him
Obviously people who are homeless need shelter, food, warmth, and personal goods and Jesus views whether we help or not as though we’re doing it to Him. Distributing these items is a meaningful ministry, sharing the love of Christ in tangible ways. However, if we never get beyond the symptoms of homelessness to addressing the causes and real needs, we will do little to solve this problem.

Reasons for Homelessness Point to the Real Needs

Those who lost their jobs, can’t afford health insurance, and the like need help finding employment and paying medical and other bills — need a sense of security.

Those in family crisis (death, divorce, estrangement) need counsel, comfort, and practical assistance — need a sense of perspective.

Those with substance abuse problems need help overcoming their addictions — need a sense of victory.

Those released from prison need help getting back into society, gaining employment, etc. — need a sense of forgiveness.

Those from a foster care background need to know they matter to someone, have someone they can trust, and find help in establishing roots — need a sense of belonging.

Those who are victims of natural disaster need help rebuilding their lives, maybe their homes — need a sense of hope.

Of anybody, shouldn’t we as Christians be able to provide people with that sense of security, perspective, victory, forgiveness, belonging, and hope?  Meeting those needs goes beyond the physical realm.

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What Do You Think About Your Pastor?

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October is National Clergy Appreciation Month in the U.S. with the second Sunday of the month being Clergy Appreciation Day (perhaps also known as Pastor Appreciation Day or Ministry Appreciation Day).

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If we were to take a poll asking people what they think about their pastors, we’d probably get a mixed review . . .

from quite happy to very disgruntled with the pastor.

The reasons behind those responses would vary, even if people marked the same level of satisfaction.  Some would be reporting objectively while others subjectively.  Hence, some could be based on reality and some on false perceptions.  Personal preferences and biases can enter in.

How God Encourages Us to Respond in Terms of Pastor Appreciation

We need to acknowledge how we think and feel. But, even more importantly, we need to determine how God wants us to respond no matter where we fall on the spectrum of “quite happy to very disgruntled” with the pastor.

A verse often used for Pastor Appreciation Day is 1 Thessalonians 5:12 —

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.

But, where does that leave those of you on the more disgruntled side … especially those who are basing your perception on reality because the pastor truly isn’t doing a good job or has made a series of poor choices?  Let’s keep going in 1 Thessalonians 5 to verses 13 – 18.

  1. Live in peace with each other.
  2. … warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
  3. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
  4. Be joyful always.
  5. Pray continually.
  6. Give thanks in all circumstances.

… for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

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How Much Do You Need to Understand Mental Illness to Come Along Side?

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In the U.S. the first week of October is Mental Illness Awareness Week, established in 1990 due to the increase of mental illness.  Tuesday of that week is the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Awareness Recovery and Understanding.

So I ask:

How much do you understand about mental illness?

How much is physiological? (i.e., chemical imbalance)

How much is psychological?   (i.e., faulty belief system)

How much is emotional?  (i.e., reaction to trauma, loss, abuse, etc.)

How much is sociological?  (i.e., conditioning, environmental)

How much is spiritual?  (i.e., result of a hardened heart, sin, or spiritual warfare)

I’m not sure that we can always know the answers to those questions which supports the need to minister to the whole person.  God made us with a body, mind, will, emotions, and a spirit and He made us a relational being.  All these areas weave together and can affect each other.

Come Alongside of People with Mental Illness by Ministering to their Whole Being
Coming Alongside of One Another with Mental Illness

If you don’t fully understand mental health issues and don’t know how to come along side of people with mental illness, just practice the “one another” commands in Scripture and treat them as whole people.

Physiological:  Encourage them to get regular physical check-ups, to eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep.

Psychological:  Help them work through faulty beliefs.

Emotional:  Comfort, support, and encourage.

Sociological:  Point the person to the power of God to break cycles.

Spiritual:  Pray for them.  Engage in a discipleship process.  Share God’s Word with them.

Just as you might not fully understand a person’s physical health issues, so you might not  be able to get a good grip on mental health issues.  That doesn’t mean you avoid them.  You still love them, accept them, and come along side as you are able.  You treat them as whole people made in the image of God and loved by Him. You view them with value as you would any other human being.

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Does Communion Equal Communion?

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On the first Sunday of October some will celebrate World Communion Day.  Yet, the ordinance of communion depicts one of the many differences among Christendom.

Not all churches celebrate communion the same way.  Some use a single cup and some provide a small plastic cup for everyone.  Some use a loaf of bread and others small wafers.  Some pass the elements while some have people come forward.  And that is just methodology.   Theological differences exist among churches in the ordinance of communion as well as how often communion should be served.

What Makes Communion Equal Communion … Fellowship, True Unity

At minimum, communion provides a remembrance of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.  Let’s get to the bottom line of communion, the work of Jesus on the cross, and find our commonality in Him.  When we do, communion equals communion, not just with God but also with one another.

With all the liberal and immoral influences in the world around us, as Christians we need to lay aside our differences and come together with one voice in Christ to be that salt and light so desperately needed.  We can do that when we remember that it is who we are “in Him,” because of what He did on the cross, that really matters. Then, differences don’t have to divide. We fellowship with one another, in true unity, because of Him, not because we believe exactly the same on all matters.

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