Notable Voices and the Week in Review: February 23, 2019
From Around the Web:
When Leaders Fail: The Process for Handling Sexual Abuse in the Church — Sam Rainer
Too many individual churches took the path of “we don’t want to hurt the entire congregation with this issue” and hid the abuse or dismissed accusations. Satan uses this line of thinking to continue the horrors. Jesus left the ninety-nine to go find the one. Protecting one is the same as protecting the entire church. What can you do? What can your church do? You may not be part of the SBC, but you can be prepared to act.
Pastors Want Broad Approach to Illegal Immigration — Facts & Trends
As U.S. lawmakers continue to debate the best approach to illegal immigration, most Protestant pastors say the solution should be multifaceted. Nashville-based LifeWay Research surveyed 1,000 Protestant pastors on their views on illegal immigration and how the church should view those in the country illegally. 70 percent of pastors say they are in favor of an immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for those who are currently in the country illegally. Seventeen percent disagree and 13 percent are not sure.
How to Jump Back In to Bible Reading — Ted Olsen
Many times the Holy Spirit really does use Scripture to illuminate our sin and to make us deeply uncomfortable. It is, after all, “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). And “no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful” (Heb. 12:11). Nevertheless, my experience with reading supernaturally convicting passages of Scripture tends to look like Augustine’s “light of relief and certitude.” It’s only when I’ve been away from Scripture for a while that I start thinking of it as a text where I will encounter discomfort and “agonizing anguish.” Ironically, guilt over not reading the Bible is more uncomfortable than those moments when a challenging passage seems particularly apt.
What Does the Bible Really Say About Debt? — Art Rainer
For the sake of transparency, you need to know that I am a big advocate for pursuing debt-free living. The Bible teaches us that we are to give our first and best (Proverbs 3:9). Generosity is our priority. It is the foundation upon which real biblical financial health is found. And debt is a generosity killer. It often hinders our ability to give generously. But what does the Bible really say about debt? As you dig through Scripture, you will come across three principles.
This Week at ThomRainer.com:
Five Reasons More Churches Are Moving from Vertical Growth to Horizontal Growth
Two of the most dramatic trends in churches the past decade are declines in attendance frequency and the move to horizontal growth…READ MORE
10 Dangers of Denial in Dying Churches
The problems will only worsen.
Future generations are forsaken.
Leaders will have regrets.
Churches will miss opportunities for solutions.
There is no urgency for change.
Maintenance ministries engender frustration and conflict.
Churches in denial are usually disobedient.
Many of these churches will tolerate open and flagrant sin.
The church will lose its best members.
Comfort becomes an idol.
Five Micro-Strategies for Growing Your Church
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership
http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/rainerpodcast/Rainer-on-Leadership/Episode512.mp3
Six Different But Important Questions Pastors Are Asking
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership
http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/rainerpodcast/Rainer-on-Leadership/Episode513.mp3
The Simple Power of Focusing on One Thing in a Revitalization
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Revitalize & Replant
http://media.blubrry.com/revitalizereplant/s3.amazonaws.com/rainerpodcast/Revitalize-and-Replant/RR-Episode081.mp3
