A Different Way to Do Teen Ministry Campus Ministry Church, Prologue and Introduction

Posted on April 19, 2010 by Jay F Guin

https://i0.wp.com/www.unitydanville.org/skedlogo.gif?resize=264%2C203Prologue

I’m not a youth minister. I never have been. I do have four sons who’ve been part of youth ministries under several different ministers. But many readers have been or are youth ministers. Therefore, I write this knowing that in this crowd, I’m not an expert on this subject. And so, I’ll spread the posts over a few days, so I can modify my ideas (and not embarrass myself too much) as the discussion progresses.

These posts are built on the theology in the “Cruciform God” series, these posts in particular — Continue reading →

Posted in Church Ministries, Multi-generational/Orange Ministry, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 31 Comments

The Political Church: The Church and Power

Posted on April 18, 2010 by Jay F Guin

Church StateThere’s been considerable discussion lately in our churches and among Christians over whether the United States is or should be a “Christian nation.” Much of the discussion centers on what the framers of the Constitution meant by certain words in the First Amendment and what Thomas Jefferson meant by his reference to a “wall of separation.”

But precious little time has been spent determining whether God wants the United States to be a “Christian nation.” Now, obviously, he wants all people to come to Jesus and be saved. He wants all Americans (and all Afghans) to be saved. And so, if we mean by “Christian nation” a nation filled with saved people, yes, God wants all nations to be Christian nations. Continue reading →

Posted in Church & Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 30 Comments

BibleWorks 8.0, Introduction, Part 2

Posted on April 17, 2010 by Jay F Guin

Installation

Installation was a breeze. I’ve seen no compatibility issues with Windows 7. It runs fast (but this is a brand new computer).

Searching

When I opened BibleWorks and got past the registration process, I saw a “search” box. Now, the opening screen was filled with windows and icons I couldn’t immediately interpret, and the interface is a bit intimidating. But in the upper lefthand corner there’s a box that says “[Enter search words or verse here]” That I could interpret.

So I’d just written this post interpreting Eph 5:19 in some detail. I thought I’d see what happens when I type in “Eph 5:19.” Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study Resources, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

BibleWorks 8.0, Introduction, Part 1

Posted on April 17, 2010 by Jay F Guin

As I mentioned several days ago, my trusty old copy of QuickVerse — the Windows 95 edition! — died when my old computer died. I’ve had to buy a new computer, and that meant going to Windows 7. And the 64-bit version of Windows 7 won’t run any of my old Bible study products.

And so the good people at BibleWorks have provided me with a review copy of BibleWorks 8, which is a massive program and far beyond anything I even imagined would be available on the market. Things have sure changed since 1995! It makes me feel, you know, ante-Diluvian. It makes me feel as old and backwards as my kids think I am! Oh, well. Maybe they won’t read this. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study Resources, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Image in Search of a Caption

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Jay F Guin

(from Jesus Creed)

Just to warm up the crowd —

“And so that’s how to tell whether an example is binding!”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 54 Comments

The Fork in the Road: Scruples, Part 2

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Jay F Guin

In some settings, the scruples of the weaker brothers effectively prevent doing God’s missions if the brother with stronger faith does not submit to the weaker brother. Hence, Paul had Timothy circumcised to be able to teach unconverted Jews who were too bigoted to listen to a Gentile.

My own experience is that to be a teacher or leader, you often have to yield to the community in which you participate. If the congregation wears suits to church, my conscience would let me be casual, but I’ll wear a suit so I can teach. I submit so I can serve God’s mission.

Over time, after better instruction on grace, perhaps I can break the khakis out. Besides, a church gets to make these kinds of rules. If I don’t agree, well, I’m not the decision maker. Continue reading →

Posted in Fork in the Road, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

The Fork in the Road: Scruples, Part 1

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Jay F Guin

[A couple of commenters have asked about scruples — how Paul’s teachings in Rom 14 teach us to deal with those with weaker or stronger faith. This and the next post are from 2 1/2 years ago.]

A friend in another town recently asked me about Paul’s instructions on the scruples of other Christians. It seems some brothers suggested to her that she should consider them the “weaker brother” described in Romans 14 and so refuse certain behaviors to avoid “offending” them.

Just so, many in the a cappella Churches of Christ are calling on the instrumental independent Christian Churches to give up the instrument for the sake of fellowship. They argue: shouldn’t you consider us the weaker brother and give up the instrument for the sake of our consciences? Continue reading →

Posted in Fork in the Road, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 38 Comments

This Has Nothing to Do with the Instrumental Music Controversy at All. Really.

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Jay F Guin

It’s amazing how we delight in creativity. It’s because, I believe, the creative side of humans is very much in the image of God. When we delight in the arts, we delight in a spark of God that remains in us despite our sinful, broken nature. Continue reading →

Posted in Instrumental Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 35 Comments

The Fork in the Road: The Progressive Agenda

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Jay F Guin

I get emails —

You get emails.

You may have already done this, so just link me if so.

Succinctly stated, what is the Progressive agenda?  I don’t mean agenda in a negative way.  What do you hope to accomplish? Continue reading →

Posted in Fork in the Road, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 34 Comments

The Political Church: Should the Church or the Government Do Welfare?

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Jay F Guin

Church StateIt’s become popular to argue that the church should handle the welfare needs of the poor and the healthcare needs of the uninsured — rather than the government. I thought I’d check how realistic this might be.

According to USGovernmentSpending.com, total state and federal welfare spending has varied from 2.69% to 5.13% of GDP over the last 10 years. It’s a total of $750 billion for 2010 — which is signficantly higher than in prior years. There are about 112 million households in the US (average size of 2.2). About 47% attend church regularly.

If the church-attending households took on the entire state and federal welfare burden, it would cost them about $14,750 per Christian household per year. That’s a lot of money. Of course, the churches would be vastly more efficient than the government, but I have trouble seeing the churches carrying the entirety of this load. Put it this way: in a church of 220, giving would have to increase by $1,475,000 per year — above current giving! Continue reading →

Posted in Church & Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 42 Comments