She’s talking about the church being in the world, but not of it. Pretty good stuff.

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A couple of secrets Ron shares:

• Many senior pastors fear the possibility of failing in their role, so they thrive on the encouragement and prayers of others.
• Our spouse is sometimes the loneliest person in the church and often feels extreme pressure to live up to unrealistic expectations.

See the rest at Ron’s blog. Here’s the link:
10 Secrets of Many Senior Pastors

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Link: 7 Ways Satan Tries to Destroy a Church – Ron Edmondson

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Our God is a creative God. He spoke the universe into existence (Genesis 1) and actually carries the ultimate title of Creator (Romans 1:25). One of the ways we enjoy imaging him is also through being creative in our life and work.

Take a look. (Thanks to Ben Arment for the link)

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First get the centre of the fire hot, and people will be warmed on its outskirts, and drawn in. If we want the gospel to spread in the community of which we are a part, we would be unwise to start with some evangelistic outreach. We would be much better employed in paying attention to the quality of our church life. That is going to be the magnet that draws others to the Jesus who has made us into His body. But if our fellowship is cold, if nobody stays behind after the services because they are, frankly, ready to get away, if the music is dominated by an orge, if the minister is too fond of his own voice, if people are made to feel of a consumer mentality, rather than participants, if joy is frowned upon, then we are unlikely to see significant growth.
- Thirty Years that Changed the World by Michael Green

What do you think of this?

Image from http://bridgestothebridge.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/understanding-the-process-of-evangelism/

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It would probably not be an exaggeration to say that disobedience is one of the main characteristics of modern Christianity. We know what Jesus teaches but we do not do it. Disobedience in sexual morals, in relationships, in attitudes to those who make life hard for us. Disobedience in lack of hospitality, in begrudging our money, in unwillingness to change. Our disobedience is not marginal to our lives: it’s central. We do not make time to spend with God, but give it all to our work and our pleasure. We do not set our affections on things above and find treasure in heaven, but are more materialistic than any previous generation has ever been. We do not obey the Lord’s last command to go and make disciples. Instead we are hesitant about the content of the good news, and reluctant to talk about it. … God can do wonders through an obedient person, however limited their capacities. God cannot and will not use a habitually disobedient person, however great their talents.
- Thirty Years that Changed the World by Michael Green

Thoughts?

(Image from http://rectorscorner.blogspot.com/2010/04/beginning-of-sin.html)

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Why should God add people to His church until there is something warm and loving for Him to add them to? He does not hatch chickens in order to put them in deep freezers. I often find myself being asked by churches to speak on evangelism. And sometimes I conclude that it is premature to address the subject in that church: there is no warmth, no incandescent love in the congregation. How could newcomers survive and be nourished? The whole project would need to start much further back, by equipping the church to be the church of Jesus Christ, exhibiting something of His love, His compassion, His joy.
- Thirty Years that Changed the World by Michael Green

Wow, what do you think of that?

(Image from http://www.valleymillscc.com/)

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photo by Bob Travis

You can go right down to the end of the second century and you find Christian writers boasting, “We have no altars, no temple, no priesthood.” Their altar was a cross. Their temple was the body of believers. Their priesthood included the whole Christian membership. To be sure, there were those with particular gifts and functions within the body of the church, and these included gifts of leadership, of administration, of prophecy, and so forth. But it was a one-class society.”
- Thirty Years that Changed the World by Michael Green

What do you think of this quote?

(photo by Bob Travis)

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(Thanks to the Web Evangelism Bulletin for pointing to this resource)

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