Editor’s Note: This week we welcome guest blogger, Emily Marks. Emily is an adult & community educator. She and her husband Sean live in Lancaster, PA, with their dog Corvus. Emily grew up as a pastor’s kid, and therefore she brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to this week’s passage. When weContinue reading “How to evaluate your pastor – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Part 5”
Tag Archives: evaluation
Do Christians need accountability? – Holding one another accountable, Preview
In my county, there’s a company with a sign advertising “Ultimate Accountability.” How does “ultimate accountability” sound to you? Harsh? Restrictive? Legalistic? Freeing? Gracious? Good? Accountability is a fraught concept. That company is an accounting firm, working with businesses to make sure their bookkeeping and taxes are legal and ethical. Very important. But accountability can be nerve-wracking,Continue reading “Do Christians need accountability? – Holding one another accountable, Preview”
How to listen to a…New Years Psalm of Wisdom, Part 1
While it is true that New Year’s Day is just another day of year, I’m glad for a marker. Yes, today, New Year’s Day 2024, is just another Monday. A day off for people who work at companies that give off for New Year’s Day. An extra day of family, food, football. But I amContinue reading “How to listen to a…New Years Psalm of Wisdom, Part 1”
An evaluation of our lives – New Year Psalm of Wisdom, Preview
Each time I teach a class for Lancaster Bible College, there is a course evaluation. It’s not just my classes. Every LBC class includes an evaluation. Here’s how it works: all students in the class are sent an email with a link that they can click on to evaluate the course. In my experience, aboutContinue reading “An evaluation of our lives – New Year Psalm of Wisdom, Preview”
Should a church bar its members from taking communion? – John 7:53-8:11, Preview
Every May my denomination, the Evangelical Congregational Church, has a conference for all pastors and for one representative from each church. At the conference we attend worship gatherings, business meetings, and hear reports about what God is doing throughout the life and ministry of the denomination. From what I have heard from other denominations, ourContinue reading “Should a church bar its members from taking communion? – John 7:53-8:11, Preview”
Don’t Judge Me! (Is it always wrong to evaluate other people?) – Colossians 2:16-23, Part 2
“Judge not lest you be judged.” Jesus said that. As a result, is it possible that judging has gotten a bad rap? What did Jesus mean? That we should never, ever form judgments about people? Is that even possible? Keep reading as we’ll seek to learn about this from what the Apostle Paul wrote inContinue reading “Don’t Judge Me! (Is it always wrong to evaluate other people?) – Colossians 2:16-23, Part 2”
How do we evaluate the dumpster fire that was 2020? – Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8, Part 2
How do we evaluate 2020? As I mentioned in the previous post, it could be very easy to just say it was so bad that there is nothing to learn. Instead, we should have the posture of learners, no matter the situation, and the next passage in Ecclesiastes is a wonderful guide to help usContinue reading “How do we evaluate the dumpster fire that was 2020? – Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8, Part 2”
Engaging Scripture 