Three Ways to Organize an Adult Bible Department

Posted on February 10, 2007 by Jay F Guin

TeacherThe only three ways that I know to organize an adult Bible program, with advantages and disadvantages considered. Three Ways

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This Month’s Christian Chronicle: We Are Losing Our Children

Posted on February 3, 2007 by Jay F Guin

YouthThis month’s Christian Chronicle reports that the Churches of Christ have grown only 2.6% in the last 26 years!

The attachment does the math to see if we are even keeping our own children in the Church. The answer: We most definitely are not. We aren’t even converting enough from outside the Church to replace the growth we’ve lost from failing to convert our own children! Here are some thoughts on what has be considered an absolute disaster: We Are Losing Our Children

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How Our Universities Can Reunite the Church

Posted on February 2, 2007 by Jay F Guin

UniversityI’m persuaded that the only institutions with the resources needed to restore some measure of unity to the Churches of Christ are our universities. I’ve driven to two of our universities to present these ideas in person. I’ve met some wonderful, Godly men who care deeply about the Church. But, so far, no takers.

Here’s my position paper: How Our Universities Can Reunite the Church. If you agree with me, please tell the administration of any university you have influence with.

I’m convinced that three or four of our universities will fail financially if the Church undergoes another split, and we’re almost there. Not many can survive with support from only side of the divide.

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Born of Water

Posted on February 1, 2007 by Jay F Guin

BaptismA 13-chapter book on whether baptism is essential to our salvation. Being a lawyer, I argue both sides. I then try to reach a conclusion. Born of Water. I’ve never felt that either side gave due respect to the other, and as a result, both sides have only argued their case at a very superficial level. This goes deeper than the usual polemics.

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The “Gospel Advocate” Creed

Posted on February 1, 2007 by Jay F Guin

WomanLately the Gospel Advocate’s insistence on establishing a new creed for the Churches of Christ has really started to bother me. I mean, it’s just so very wrong to claim to stand in the shoes of the founders of the Restoration Movement all the while trying to impose a creed—in exact contradiction to what they stood for.

Restoration background

Nowadays, a creed is simply a statement of belief. But as the word was used nearly 200 years ago, Continue reading →

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Faith vs. Opinion: What Did Campbell Really Mean?

Posted on January 29, 2007 by Jay F Guin

alexander campbellIt’s been customary in the Churches of Christ since the time of Alexander Campbell to draw the fellowship line between faith and opinion. We base this on the famous saying of Campbell’s—

In faith, unity
In opinion, liberty
In all things, charity

It is my experience that many in the Churches define “faith” as anything addressed in scripture and “opinion” as anything else. Hence, the doctrine of divorce and remarriage or the age of the earth becomes a matter of “faith.” Thus, we must agree on these issues or else consider the other damned. Continue reading →

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Our Repentance Hypocrisy

Posted on January 28, 2007 by Jay F Guin

TeacherThere are several questions that the Churches of Christ are wrestling with today, but I believe we may have missed one of the most important ones: what does it mean to repent? Amazingly, this question has divided many of us from one another for decades. It’s time to give some attention the question. Continue reading →

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An Unconventional Approach to Mission

Posted on January 27, 2007 by Jay F Guin

FootwashingA short paper on the mission of the church, a bit out of the mainstream:

An Unconventional Approach to Mission

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On Building a Church Building

Posted on January 27, 2007 by Jay F Guin

church under constructionSome lessons learned from chairing a building program and expansion. Building

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How to Argue Like a Christian

Posted on January 25, 2007 by Jay F Guin

TeacherA series of lessons on getting rid of bad logic and other bad habits in how we debate doctrine. How to Argue Like a Christian

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