Category Archives: Index

Renewing Our Worship: Announcements and Talking in the Aisles

No, announcements aren’t in the five acts of worship. And, yes, people pretty much hate announcements. But your attitude toward announcements says a lot about your understanding of what the Bible really says about the assembly. You see, as crazy … Continue reading

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Renewing Our Worship: The 16 Acts of Worship

Good morning, class. I think we’ve had some fabulous worship services these last few weeks, don’t you? The class nods vigorously. I mean, the worship committee has really some extra effort in these last several weeks, and I can really … Continue reading

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Renewing Our Worship: Attitudes

The tension in the room was palpable. You could seemingly even smell it. Five elders sat on one end of the table, trying to act like shepherds, even though they didn’t feel like shepherds. You see, they were angry, although … Continue reading

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Renewing Our Worship: Introduction

At the suggestion of Mark, I’m going to put down some ideas about upgrading the worship service of a typical Church of Christ. Of course, there’s no such thing as a typical Church of Christ. Some would find many of … Continue reading

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The Baptists’ Evolving View of Baptism (and the Churches of Christ, too)

One of the most pronounced identity markers of the Churches of Christ and Christian Churches is our view of baptism. In contrast to most evangelical churches, we reject infant baptism, insist on baptism by immersion, and consider baptism the moment … Continue reading

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A Lover’s Quarrel: A Colony of Heaven

Garrett’s twelfth and final wish for the Churches of Christ is — Let us be a colony of heaven — Cross-shaped, grace-oriented, Spirit-filled. There’s too much to say on this, so I’ll just quote Garrett —

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Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan: When Storms Come / Piercing the Darkness

I’m combining two lessons, because the stories are very familiar and Ray Vander Laan does a great job with each. There’s not a lot to add, and the two lessons fit together nicely. The Sea of Galilee The lesson is … Continue reading

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Churches of Christ in Decline: What Went Wrong

In the last post, I quoted passages from the first volume of Alexander Campbell’s The Christian Baptist in which he describes how we planned to unite all Christendom. Over and over, Campbell and Walter Scott, the Restoration Movement’s first missionary, … Continue reading

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Churches of Christ in Decline: Boundary Markers and The Christian Baptist

Alexander Campbell first published his teachings in a periodical called The Christian Baptist, begining in 1823. The following are some excerpts that remain instructive today. First, regarding the “bond of union among Christians.” Passing by, for the present, the various … Continue reading

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A Lover’s Quarrel: Renewed Assemblies

Garrett’s eleventh wish for the Churches of Christ is — Let there be renewal in our assemblies. We must find ways to make our assemblies more exciting and fulfilling. … Our preaching often lacks passion and a sense of urgency, … Continue reading

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