Ephesians 3:1 – 13

Posted on October 2, 2010 by Jay F Guin

Ruins of Celsus Library in EphesusReaders may notice that I’ve skipped all of chapter 2. Don’t worry. I’ll fill in the gap. But I’ve just got to prepare tomorrow’s Sunday school lesson. I’ve been traveling the last two weeks, and my able, accomplished substitute teacher made it all the way to the end of chapter 2 without me. But I don’t have time to type up thoughts on chapter 2 (one of my all-time favorite passages) just now, but I’ll get back to it.

(Eph 3:1-3 ESV) For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles — 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.

“For this reason” is a reference back to the concluding verses of chapte 2, in which Paul celebrates the unification of Jews and Gentiles through the grace of God made available through faith rather than works. The point Paul was making in chapter 2 is not just salvation by faith rather than works, but that this kind of salvation allows God to incorporate the nations into Israel. Continue reading →

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Instrumental Music: Everett Ferguson Responds to Danny Corbitt

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Jay F Guin

MoreTHanMusicLast week, Danny Corbitt presented his work regarding instrumental music at the Abilene Christian lectures, called “The Summit,” based on his book Missing More Than Music. Today, I received the September 2010 issue of the Gospel Advocate, containing an article by Dr. Everett Ferguson attempting to refute Danny’s work: “Missing the Meaning: A Review of Missing More Than Music” (pp. 33 ff).

I’ll not attempt a comprehensive rebuttal, because one isn’t necessary. The question isn’t what Clement of Alexandria or Philo really meant. The question is whether it’s sin to worship God in the Christian assembly using an instrument. And Ferguson’s arguments fail because they are built on two seriously flawed premises. Continue reading →

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Elders: The Care and Feeding of Elders in a Progressive Congregation: Micromanagement

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Jay F Guin

* Don’t whine about micromanagement

I know this will sound terribly cynical — largely because it is. But in my experience (not speaking of present staff), when a minister complains of “micromanagement,” he’s actually complaining of management. But elders are charged by God with being overseers, and “overseer” is the Greek word for supervisor. It’s the word used for middle management.

Yes, yes, yes, good managers don’t micromanage. If you delegate a responsibility, you should also delegate enough discretion to do the job. Elders shouldn’t be about second guessing too many decisions by the minister. Continue reading →

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Catching Up

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Jay F Guin

What with being out of town the last two weekends, needing to work on Wineskins articles, and other stuff (life intrudes), I may need to skip a few days worth of posts. It galls me no end to contemplate a day without writing a 1,500-word essay, but these things happen. (Be saving up reading time for later this year for the Wineskins issue I edit.)

I’ll not be dead or sick or traveling — but I will take off enough time to watch Alabama challenge the Florida Gators on Saturday. And I’ll be going to Crossbridge for their “At the Cross” event Sunday. And Wednesday is for elders meetings and class.

But that should leave time to think of something to say about something or other. (Good to have a definite plan, you know.)

Postings will return in a few days. Definitely.

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Evening of Praise: At the Cross

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Jay F Guin

The Crossbridge Church of Christ is inviting “all Christian tribes, denominations and traditions to unite together in worship to our common Lord, Jesus Christ” to join with them in an evening of praise. Details are at their website.

The event is called “AT THE CROSS – Greater Birmingham Evening of Praise,” and will be held Sunday, October 3, 2010, 4:00 to 6:00 PM.

This is a truly remarkable thing for an Alabama Church of Christ, and I encourage readers in this area to support this event.

PS — One of the speakers will be Shon Smith, pulpit minister for the University Church of Christ, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

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The Fork in the Road: Contextualization, Timothy, Titus & Freedom

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Jay F Guin

I was asked to teach a class Wednesday night as part of a series on the Missional Church. I got a little outside of the notes I was provided (you are surely not surprised to learn), but I tried to stick with the essence of the lesson. Contextualization — teaching and practicing the gospel in the cultural context where you are — is a critical element of the gospel — as shown by the scriptures. But it’s an area where we often get confused, because we get confused as to whose context we are to work within.

Let me explain. I think we have to start in —

(1Co 9:20-23 ESV)  20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.  21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.  22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.  23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Continue reading →

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Life Outside the Blog 9/26/2010

Posted on September 26, 2010 by Jay F Guin

So I’m back from Louisville, where I attended my cousin’s wedding. It was a good trip.

First, Louisville is a great town to visit. I mean — it has the Louisville Slugger museum! What could be better? And a very attractive downtown area.

Second, we stayed at the Seelbach Hilton, which is a very attractive, very old hotel downtown.

Truly excellent service. It just has these teeny, tiny bathrooms. We decided to consider these an intended safety feature. You see, they’re so small that if you fall down and hurt yourself, you’ll necessarily fall out the door and into the bedroom — so your wife will surely notice. Continue reading →

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Elders: The Care and Feeding of Elders in a Progressive Congregation: Duties to the Whole Flock

Posted on September 26, 2010 by Jay F Guin

* The flock

Elders are shepherds, and shepherds care passionately about the flock — all the flock. Ministers are often placed over one or two programs. Sometimes they let their passion for their ministry overwhelm their passion for their flock. Sometimes they let their passion for the latest fashion in how to do church overwhelm their passion for their flock.

Elders will be upset and react very negatively every time a minister says something like, “Yes, I know 30% of the church will leave if we add drama to our services, but BIG CHURCH uses drama and so must we!” or “We need a more public role for women — so let’s bring in a woman preacher for a special Easter service. I know half the members will be offended and never return, but I know this woman who gives an incredible testimony …” Continue reading →

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Church: “We’re all congregationalists now” — Stanley Hauerwas

Posted on September 25, 2010 by Jay F Guin

In a recent interview published in Christianity Today, Stanley Hauerwas discussed his recently published autobiography. Hauerwas is a scholar who helped found the neo-Anabaptist school of thought with John Howard Yoder. He is a Methodist who taught at Catholic Notre Dame and who attends an Episcopalian congregation. He said,

A. Let me be clear: I am a Methodist. By that, I mean I think John Wesley was a recovery of Catholic Christianity through disciplined congregational life. Therefore, now that I am a communicant in the Church of the Holy Family [Episcopal Church], I understand myself still to be Methodist because I think the Episcopal Church is the embodiment of much that Wesley cared about. I think that’s true in much of Roman Catholicism. I don’t think any of us should look to Christian unity by thinking we can heal divisions of the past by some kind of artificial agreement. But by going forward, trying to live faithful to the charisms [gifts] within our ecclesial identifications, God hopefully will bring us into unity. Continue reading →

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Elders: The Care and Feeding of Elders in a Progressive Congregation: Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Jay F Guin

* Pat Lencioni is the expert

It’s my opinion that every eldership and every group of ministers should study these two books together: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable and Silos, Politics and Turf Wars: A Leadership Fable About Destroying the Barriers That Turn Colleagues Into Competitors. It would be best if the ministers studied these separately and the elders studied these separately and they then studied these together. They are fairly short, easy to read, and exactly what most church leadership teams need.

I’d further suggest that the ministers lead the discussions for the sessions where the elders and ministers are together, because this helps them take ownership of the ideas and assures them that the elders value their leadership and input. Continue reading →

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