Category Archives: Index

The Mission of the Church: Wrapping Up, Part 4 (The Call of the Wild, Part 2)

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Jay F Guin

So how do we get there? I’m not sure. But I know where it starts. This is from a comment I posted a few weeks ago: Does meeting with my earthly family at home provide something better than an assembly … Continue reading →

Posted in Missional Christianity, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Advice to a New Elder: They Smell Like Sheep, Part 10 (Smelling Like Sheep)

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Jay F Guin

I am a fan of the work of Lynn Anderson, the author of They Smell Like Sheep. And I’ve been blessed to have had a couple of phone calls and meetings with Lynn in which the elders of my church … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice to a New Elder, Elders, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The Mission of the Church: Wrapping Up, Part 3 (The Call of the Wild, Part 1)

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Jay F Guin

So what am I meant to be? What is it about the ordinary life of an ordinary American Christian that misses the point? Wolves gotta hunt. What do Christians gotta do? Well, love one another. We were designed from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Missional Christianity, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Advice to a New Elder: They Smell Like Sheep, Part 9 (Eze 34 and John 10, Part 2)

Posted on July 8, 2016 by Jay F Guin

Now, if we ignore the context of Eze 34, it’s easy to conclude that elders ought to be shepherds (true) and that their primary job is to heal the weak and injured, that is, care for their social and emotional … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice to a New Elder, Elders, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

The Mission of the Church: Wrapping Up, Part 2 (The Hollow Church)

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Jay F Guin

I’ve told this story before, but it bears repeating. I’m a lawyer. I represent lots of churches. And several years ago — at least a decade ago — I met with the church leadership for a congregation in another town … Continue reading →

Posted in Missional Christianity, Uncategorized | 26 Comments

Advice to a New Elder: They Smell Like Sheep, Part 8 (Eze 34 and John 10, Part 1)

Posted on July 6, 2016 by Jay F Guin

In the last 20 years or so, the “Good Shepherd” passages in Eze 34 and John 10 have been highly influential in our thinking regarding what an elder/shepherd/overseer should do. Some find here evidence that pastoral duties (shepherding) are the … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice to a New Elder, Elders, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The Mission of the Church: Creation Care, Part 2 (The New Testament)

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Jay F Guin

Col 1:15-23 Christopher Wright quotes, (Col. 1:15-23 ESV) 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones … Continue reading →

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Advice to a New Elder: They Smell Like Sheep, Part 6 (inclusive decision making)

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Jay F Guin

So how does a too-busy eldership include the congregation in decision making? Well, it depends on the size of the church and the decision being made. We know from Acts 15 (doctrinal decision) and 1 Cor 5 (decision to withdraw … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice to a New Elder, Elders, Uncategorized | 17 Comments

The Afterlife, Lesson 4, Theories About Where the Saved Are After They Die

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Jay F Guin

Lesson 4, focusing on where the saved are between their deaths and the return of Jesus. Download from Lesson 4. Right click and select “Save Link As” to download. (If you left click, it will stream.) Or stream:  

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The Mission of the Church: Wrapping Up, Part 1

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Jay F Guin

So it turns out that the mission of the church is a huge topic. How does an eldership respond to this in their leadership of the church? Here are some thoughts. I’m open to other suggestions. After all, I can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Missional Christianity, Uncategorized | 8 Comments