BibleWorks 8.0: Now That I’ve Read One of the Instructions

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Jay F Guin

BibleWorks 8 is definitely growing on me. Much of the awkwardness is gone, and my skills are growing. But I had to actually read one of the instructions — but just one.

The program bugs seems to have cleared with a couple of program updates — and I keep getting new free stuff. I just got Philo of Alexandria in the latest download! Very cool. Continue reading →

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A Different Way to Do Teen Ministry Campus Ministry Church, What This is Not

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Jay F Guin

https://i0.wp.com/www.unitydanville.org/skedlogo.gif?resize=264%2C203Family-centered ministry. Some congregations have seen the problem with overly segregating teens from adults and so have responded by having families do events and projects together. It’s a good idea. But it’s not the best idea. I mean it has some serious problems —

* Many teens come to church at the invitation of a friend and have no parents in church at all.

* Many teens have only one parent in church.

* And some teens have multiple step parents — leading to some very complex problems defining “parents” and “family.” Continue reading →

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At Last, Absolute Proof that the Churches of Christ Existed During the Renaissance

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Jay F Guin


Thanks to the Sacred Sandwich.

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The Fork in the Road: A Different Gospel, Part 2 (Gal 3)

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Jay F Guin

Galatians 3

In a truly astonishing passage, Paul explains that our salvation is found not in the Law of Moses (no surprise) but in the covenant with Abraham (big surprise) —

(Gal 3:2 ESV) Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Paul is speaking particularly of the Law of Moses, but he contrasts it with “faith.” Continue reading →

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Re Marcion

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Jay F Guin

https://i0.wp.com/pcsightings.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/spam-keybd.jpg?resize=180%2C170Dear readers:

A few days ago, I began receiving several posts from someone arguing in favor of Marcionism, a Second Century heresy related to Gnosticism. The posts struck me as anti-Semitic and blasphemous, and so I blocked the sender — and I told him this.

I asked the readers if anyone wanted to engage in a debate with the commenter — because I just don’t have the time (or the inclination). No one volunteered, and so I continue to block the comments.

I continue to receive Marcionite comments, which I continue to block or delete — and now they are coming in from multiple addresses (but I suspect from the same person). Therefore, it’s at least possible that when I delete these comments, I delete a comment I shouldn’t have. I apologize if that happens.

Dear Marcionite commenter:

Please stop. There are thousands of blogs. Someone else will surely be glad to chat with you. I do not have the time or energy at this time to engage in this debate — and your persistent commenting is taking far too much of my time to police. If you continue, I will mark your comments as spam, which will block you on all WordPress blogs.

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Business Advice for Church Leaders: Cash Reserves for a Church

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Jay F Guin

https://i0.wp.com/blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/church_money.250w.tn.jpg?resize=179%2C179I get emails —

Hi Jay. I frequent your blog and enjoy your thoughts. Although I don’t always agree I find your blog very thought provoking and helpful. For example, we now serve communion from the back of the auditorium!

I also have a copy of your tax and financial advice for elders. Do you have a recommended percentage of contributions that should be kept for emergencies? We try to be prudent about this but I also don’t think we should hoard money. My father, who once served as an elder, recommended at least one months contributions. What what be your advice? Continue reading →

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The Fork in the Road: A Different Gospel, Part 1A (Further on the “Law”)

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Jay F Guin

In Part 1, I stated that although Paul is discussing the Law of Moses in Galatians, his logic tells us that the conclusions he reaches apply to all efforts to be saved by works rather than by faith. I’ll explain this further as we work through what Paul wrote.

But we can see that Paul is speaking of more than the Mosaic Law in other ways as well. Consider, for example —

(Gal 2:15-16 ESV) 5 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.  Continue reading →

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A Different Way to Do Teen Ministry Campus Ministry Church, Putting Theory into Practice

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Jay F Guin

https://i0.wp.com/www.unitydanville.org/skedlogo.gif?resize=264%2C203Practice

I’m a big fan of youth ministry and youth ministers. I’m just not such a big fan of turning youth ministry into a sub-congregation that practices a Christianity unlike that practiced by the rest of the church. It’s unhealthy for the church and even more unhealthy for the teens.

Here’s the idea —

1. Every single outreach ministry, service project, and mission trip needs to be a congregation wide event. That’s the ideal. This means some programs get thrown out and some get added. It’ll take time. Continue reading →

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The Shepherding Model, 21st Century Version

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Jay F Guin

At last, rather than talking about sheep in pens and leading sheep through the wilderness and protecting sheep from wolves, we have a catchy modern metaphor.

Announcing a new seminar for elders: Teaching the Sheep to Surf!*

* Involves no mixed bathing.

(Thanks to X-Ray for finding the video.)

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Bad Elders: Leadership Hubris

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Jay F Guin

Good or Bad LeaderThom S. Rainer is a well-known author, consultant, and speaker on church growth and leadership. He recently posted an article in his blog about hubris among church leaders.

“Hubris,” of course, means pride. It’s the Greek word for the kind of pride that goes before a fall.

Rainer teaches some lessons based on the failures of the Big Three American auto makers — Continue reading →

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