CENI: A Better Way — The Acts of the Apostles

Posted on May 17, 2009 by Jay F Guin

man-behind-the-curtainLet’s try the same thing with Acts. After all, Luke wrote Acts as something of a sequel to his Gospel. Let’s again purge from our minds the notion that Acts is all about baptism. It’s not. Let’s try to take a fresh look.

What’s in Acts?

* We can’t help but notice that the outline of Acts follows the command given the apostles at the beginning — go first to the Jews, and then Samaria, and then the Gentiles.

* The work of the Holy Spirit is unmistakeably prominent. Peter presents the coming of the Spirit as in fulfillment of prophecy regarding the Messianic age. And we see the Spirit pushing the Kingdom farther and farther out into the world. In fact, whether it’s an angel, the Spirit, or even God himself, all the big steps in Acts are initiated from heaven. Continue reading →

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How One Preacher Deals with His Critics

Posted on May 16, 2009 by Jay F Guin

If someone calls you “blasphemous” while you speak, how would you respond?

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CENI: A Better Way — The Gospels

Posted on May 16, 2009 by Jay F Guin

man-behind-the-curtainTake a deep breath and repeat after me: “The New Testament is neither a constitution nor a blueprint. The New Testament is neither a constitution nor a blueprint. The New Testament is neither a constitution nor a blueprint.”

Much of the Torah is in fact a constitution. Deuteronomy is written in the form of an ancient treaty. But the New Testament is plainly not written in that form. Therefore, we should not read it as a legal document.

I’m a lawyer. I know law when I see it. Deuteronomy is law. The New Testament is not.

Okay. One more time: “The New Testament is neither a constitution nor a blueprint. The New Testament is neither a constitution nor a blueprint. The New Testament is neither a constitution nor a blueprint.” Continue reading →

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Elder Training Poll

Posted on May 16, 2009 by Jay F Guin

trainingAlthough opinions are split, it seems that most believe that a formal program of training — as opposed to only personal Bible study and church Bible classes — is needed for our elders. In an effort to get some solid data, I’m posting a poll, and I may post some follow up polls as we go.

For those new to the blog, this discussion begins with Ed Stetzer on Reversing Our Decline — the Cure, Part 1 and Thinking Out Loud About Elder Training.

I’m limiting this poll to elders, former elders, ministers, and former ministers. This is not to discount the opinions of others, but to give a sense of whether, if such a program were offered, the elders and ministers would actually participate.

For those not familiar with ElderLink, Continue reading →

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Ed Stetzer on Reversing Our Decline: The Cure — Networking

Posted on May 15, 2009 by Jay F Guin

downward_trend.jpgIn the latest issue of Outreach Magazine, Ed Stetzer makes a point that caught me a little off guard — but I think it’s exactly right: Networking will go a long way toward fixing our churches. It’s not the cure, but it’s surely a part of the cure.

Here’s his article —

Networking for Comeback Change

Turning around a declining church is not easy. Most won’t make the change. And, that should not surprise us. Sick people and sick institutions don’t naturally change by themselves.

In Fast Company Magazine, two studies were compared–one in which “90% of heart patients can’t change their lifestyles” and another in which 77% of patients did. The difference? The latter provided “support groups with other patients, as well as attention from dieticians, psychologists, nurses,” etc. In other words, left alone, most patients choose death over change. When in a setting with relational support, the numbers are almost reversed.

And in Comeback Churches, we saw the same pattern in churches–those who changed often did so with help from others. Continue reading →

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How “Church of Christ” Are You?

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Jay F Guin

MisconceptionsHere’s a Facebook application that’s been making the rounds: How “Church of Christ” Are You?

You fill out a survey and find out whether your are sound, a lost heathen, or somewhere in between.

Whoever posted it sure knows his Church of Christ. (Rumors notwithstanding, it wasn’t me.)

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CENI: The Laws Behind the Curtain

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Jay F Guin

great_ozWhat’s really going on? Why do our leaders feel so comfortable — so insistent — that their interpretations are right, when it’s obvious that the scriptural support for many of their positions is very, very thin?

Well, it all goes back to a conversation I had with a friend back when I was in law school — over 30 years ago. We both had a fascination with Church of Christ doctrine and CENI. We were trying to figure out the rule — the real rule — that tells us which commands, examples, and inferences are truly binding. We passed theory after theory back and forth, and none fit the conclusions that the Churches had drawn.

Finally, I said, “What about this? A command, example, or inference is binding today if (a) the practice is mentioned in the Bible (not necessarily as binding) and (b) it’s shown by the Patristics (uninspired writings of early Christians) to have been the practice of the early church.” We kicked it around, and of all the theories we’d tried, this one fit Church of Christ doctrine the best. Continue reading →

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In Honor of My Birthday, by Sir Paul McCartney

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Jay F Guin
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The Blue Parakeet: The Story and Women, Part 2

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Jay F Guin

parakeetLet’s skip ahead all the way to the central controversial text of the controversy —

(1 Tim 2:11-14)  A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

The translation

Notice a few interesting things here.

* Paul instructs that “a woman should learn.” This was contrary to the cultural norms of the day. The Jews offered a limited education to their daughters, but girls didn’t study Torah. In some surrounding cultures, women were left altogether illiterate. Continue reading →

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The Blue Parakeet: The Story and Women, Part 1

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Jay F Guin

parakeetIn The Blue Parakeet, Scot McKnight spends about half the book showing how the narrative approach to hermeneutics changes our thinking on the role of women in the church. In our lesson series, we’re not going to spend so much time on it, because I didn’t want to give the impression that we were studying this book just to study the role of women — and because there were so many other lessons to cover that are important, too. But neither can we skip the lessons. Continue reading →

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