January 2014 – Let's Talk About Sunday

The Church’s Frightful Kodak Moment

Originally posted on Holy Soup:
We walked through the nearly empty, formerly flourishing space of the Kodak manufacturing plant near our home. The plant manager, a friend from church, sadly described how Kodak plants had been downsizing and closing ever since the advent of digital photography. “We have a wish here,” he said. “We just…

What is the most foolish thing you’ve ever done?

As I write this, I’m sitting in the lobby of Firestone, waiting as they change the oil in my car. On the lobby TV, they are showing a program about drunk people. It is the top 20 videos of drunk people acting incredibly foolish. One plastered guy they just showed was passed out in theContinue reading “What is the most foolish thing you’ve ever done?”

Are we majoring on the minors? – 1st Corinthians 1:10-17

Yesterday during our continuing study of 1st Corinthians, we talked about BNPs! After a very encouraging greeting, Paul begins to deal with the problems coming out of the church in Corinth. First up, people claiming that they are followers of certain Big Name Preachers of their day. Apollos, Peter, Paul himself and even Jesus. ItContinue reading “Are we majoring on the minors? – 1st Corinthians 1:10-17”

Big Name Preachers we love!

So who is your favorite Big Name Preacher??? Do you listen to any Big Name Preachers (BNPs) on TV? Radio? Online? Podcasts? I hear people talking about Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, Beth Moore and Charles Stanley. A lot people have said they really like his son, Andy, too. Who do you like? I recently heardContinue reading “Big Name Preachers we love!”

On being in Christ – 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

As Paul gets set to start confronting the Corinthians for their less-than-holy behavior, he starts off with a couple reminders that frame the context. First, what we studied in 1 Cor 1:1-3, that in Christ they are holy and called to be holy. Second, yesterday’s passage 1 Cor 1:4-9, a very encouraging section. I thinkContinue reading “On being in Christ – 1 Corinthians 1:4-9”

You Suck?

Beautiful words, aren’t they? Has someone ever told you that you suck? I’m not talking about the kidding “you suck!” after you just pranked them. And I’m not talking about the “you suck” after you just beat your friend in a race. I’m talking about the mean-spirited, angry, spiteful “You suck!” The kind that hurts. Continue reading “You Suck?”

On Being Holy – 1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Two days ago we started a series teaching through the book of 1st Corinthians. It’s actually not a book, but a letter. As I mentioned last week here, Paul is writing to a church that is struggling to maintain it’s discipleship to Jesus in the midst of the wealthy overly-sexualized culture. In other words, he’sContinue reading “On Being Holy – 1 Corinthians 1:1-3”

How do you write a letter to a church in a hyper-sexualized culture?

How do you start a letter to a church that is out of control? What would you say? Imagine you’re a leader of a group of churches. Maybe a denominational CEO, a bishop, a district superintendent, a conference minister. You are responsible for the spiritual health and vitality of the many pastors and congregations underContinue reading “How do you write a letter to a church in a hyper-sexualized culture?”

Blog Year in Review – Best of 2013?

Take a guess, what do you think was the most viewed blog post in 2013? Faith Church added a new traditional worship service back in June, and I wrote quite a bit about worship over the last year. In fact, my post entitled “Could Starting An Addition Worship Service Be Of The Devil” was theContinue reading “Blog Year in Review – Best of 2013?”