Did you know that when a pastor leaves a church, anecdotal evidence suggests that 25% of the congregation will also leave the church as a result? Not a guaranteed stat. It could be way less. Could be more. But it should be zero, of course depending on the situation. What I am referring to isContinue reading “How not to leave a church – Relationships: In the Church, Part 5”
Tag Archives: fruit of the spirit
Why dying to self and rising again are the way to have healthy… – Relationships: In the Church, Part 4
We continue the story of Jesus to see how his birth, life, death and resurrection is instructive for church family relationships. We celebrate Jesus coming in the flesh at Christmas. We must also consider Good Friday, as Paul reminds us in Philippians 2 that God, who was willing to take on human flesh, also tookContinue reading “Why dying to self and rising again are the way to have healthy… – Relationships: In the Church, Part 4”
The surprising beginning of the first church family – Relationships: In a church, Part 1
Calling the people in a local church congregation a “family” is pretty normal in Christian circles. In fact one of the most common ways that the New Testament writers refer to the people in a church congregation is by using the terms “brothers” and “sisters”. We are siblings in Christ. I wonder if that soundsContinue reading “The surprising beginning of the first church family – Relationships: In a church, Part 1”
Sometimes healthy relationships need boundaries – Relationships: Family, Part 5
Sometimes family relationships need boundaries. As a family grows, we simply cannot care for everyone deeply, and frankly some people don’t want to be cared for. Worse, some people are toxic. Some are abusive. When people behave badly, it is okay to impose boundaries on theme. We place boundaries on relationships to stop the hurt,Continue reading “Sometimes healthy relationships need boundaries – Relationships: Family, Part 5”
Sibling rivalry and the Fruit of the Spirit – Relationships: Family, Part 4
We’re talking about relationships, and this is part 4 in our five-part series on family relationships. We’ve looked at husbands and wives, singles and then parents and children. In this post, we’ll discover what the Bible has to say about siblings. We parents earnestly desire that our kids will be close friends. Sibling rivalry, however,Continue reading “Sibling rivalry and the Fruit of the Spirit – Relationships: Family, Part 4”
How the Fruit of the Spirit helps us be healthy parents – Relationships: Family, Part 3
One of the unique ways that married people can serve the Lord is by choosing to grow their family by adding children. Not all married couples will have children, and we would do well to pay attention to the couples who want to have children but wrestle with infertility. We reach out to them withContinue reading “How the Fruit of the Spirit helps us be healthy parents – Relationships: Family, Part 3”
Healthy marriage, healthy singleness – Relationships: Family, Part 2
I think this will not surprise you: husbands and wives are to love one another. In Colossians 3:19 Paul wrote, “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” Ephesians 5:25, similarly says, “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” A few verses later,Continue reading “Healthy marriage, healthy singleness – Relationships: Family, Part 2”
Is the breakdown of the family the cause of societal collapse? – Relationships: Family, Part 1
Some of our favorite television shows of all time are about families. Did you watch Father Knows Best? Leave it to Beaver? The Brady Bunch? When Michelle and I were young parents, we loved Parenthood about the Braverman family, led by parents Zeke and Camille and their four adult children and many grandkids, who allContinue reading “Is the breakdown of the family the cause of societal collapse? – Relationships: Family, Part 1”
Self-control is choosing – Fruit of the Spirit, Self-control, Part 5
Editor’s Note: This post is written by guest blogger, David Hundert. David is a current Master of Divinity student at Evangelical Seminary. I want to leave you with one last thought as quoted from the author, Max Lucado. He states, I Choose Love…No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today IContinue reading “Self-control is choosing – Fruit of the Spirit, Self-control, Part 5”
Why self-control is vital to leadership – Fruit of the Spirit: Self-control, Part 4
Editor’s Note: This week welcome guest blogger, David Hundert. David is a current Master of Divinity student at Evangelical Seminary. Self-control is so important to Paul, that several times, in several letters, Paul includes it in his list of requirements for Church leadership. Paul states in Titus 1:7-8, “Since a leader manages God’s household, heContinue reading “Why self-control is vital to leadership – Fruit of the Spirit: Self-control, Part 4”
Engaging Scripture 