Nuff Said: “Ordinary” Sundays, Methodists circa 2014, Top 35 Christian blogs and the Youth Pastor Accidental Screenshare

Nuff said is a collection of posts/articles from around the web that has drawn my attention in the following ways:

Made me think
Made me wonder
Made me feel

Here’s what I’ve noticed lately:

Get Ready for the Most Super Ordinary Sunday Ever!

I think Trevin Wax nails it in this post about the temptation to promote every. single. Sunday. as being “the best ever” or “you don’t want to miss!” Church staff unfortunately want everyone to show up each Sunday (and then some). There is a significant difference between what church leaders consider “regular attendance” (every Sunday) and what church members now think of as regular attendance (2x a month). That’s worth another post for another day.

But let’s face it. Not every message, every song, every service will be spectacular.

Brothers, we are not hype-machines.

He offers three thoughts that are worth repeating here. (I encourage you to click over and read the whole article):

Let’s not overemphasize the dramatic results of one incredible worship service and underemphasize the long-term results of faithful, ordinary church-going.
Be thankful for the days when God performs open-heart surgery on us through His Word.
Let’s not downplay the ordinary Sundays – the beauty of God’s service to His children on non-holiday weekends, the Sundays that don’t stand out on the calendar.

Is a Way Forward for a “United” Methodist Church Really a Way Forward? 

This was an article written in 2014 – before February’s disturbingly close affirmation of biblical teaching about sexuality. In a vote of global clergy, 438 voted in favor of a traditional, biblical interpretation of scripture and 384 voted against (53% to 47%). That close of a margin portends deep fissures for the future.

Asbury Theological Seminary President Timothy Tennent began a series of articles about the U.S. denomination’s “way forward” proposed by some of their leading pastors, including Adam Hamilton, Mike Slaughter and others. He advocates “holy contention” and says that the proposal by these leaders borders on inevitable compromise of biblical teaching and does not preserve denominational unity.

It’s powerful to consider his prophetic voice five years before the events of this past February and well worth reflecting on again.

The Top 35 Blogs Christian Leaders Need To Continually Read In 2019

Do you read blogs? You should.