Living Life as a Gift by Henri Nouwen

Gratitude goes beyond the ‘mine’ and ‘thine’ and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past, I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to receiving something good from someone. But as I grow in the spiritual life, I am learning that the deeper meaning of gratitude is to live life as a gift. When you wake up in the morning, realize that being alive is a gift, that seeing a friend is a gift, that hearing the rain against the window is a gift. Everything is grace. - Quote by Henri Nouwen 

Keeping Your Well Full: Pouring Out Without Running Dry by Skylar Spradlin

 I once stumbled upon an old well that was about 30 feet from an old farmhouse and 100 feet from a creek bottom. It seemed about 20 feet deep and 10 feet wide with brick walls and a brick opening. At the time, it had about two feet of crystal-clear water in the bottom, but it was also littered with old trash, dead animals, and other items that had been tossed in over the years. The water was clear, but because of the pollution, it had become contaminated.

That old well comes to mind when I think about our spiritual lives. God’s people are not hoarders of spiritual blessing—if we can pour ourselves out, we will. Paul says as much when he is summarizing his ministry to Timothy at the end of his life: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come (2 Tim. 4:6).” We pour ourselves out in service, teaching, care for others, good works, and in a number of other ways. Pouring ourselves out is a good, Christlike thing to do, but we must be careful lest we fail to pay attention to what pours into us and we become contaminated like that old well.

Like that old well, if we aren’t careful about what we put into our hearts and minds, we might find that our well is contaminated. Contaminated water is as useless as having no water at all. Likewise, our spiritual outpouring is useless if it is mixed with worldliness or falsehood. Thus, we must be diligent, discerning, and intentional about how we refresh ourselves when running low.

What You Are Filled with Matters

If you take the deepest well and begin to pump water out of it at the highest possible volume without ceasing, you will eventually exhaust that well’s resources. It may recover, but it will take time, and the following output levels will be much lower than they originally were. In fact, serious damage may be done, and the well may never return to what it once was. It is the same with our own spiritual output. We must pour ourselves out, but we must also fill ourselves up with what is honoring to God. If we pour ourselves out but never fill ourselves up, then severe damage can be done.

Continual ministry without refilling leads to consequences like burnout, half-hearted service, tainted care, and sin. Though called to pour ourselves out for Christ’s sake, we are not infinite creatures. We are finite, dependent creatures in need of recharging. We are reminded of our limited output every time we require sleep, water, and food; therefore, we need to be constantly recharged. So how can we be recharged?

Sources of Water for the Thirsty Soul

We can’t be filled by just anything—what you are filled by is equally important. We must be recharged by spending time with Christ. Below are three ways that we can be filled in a way that honors Christ:

1. We Must Fill Ourselves with the Word (1 Peter 2:2).

We must not wait until we have run dry before we seek to be refilled. Every day, we must continually replenish ourselves with God’s Word. We must let it encourage us, strengthen us, guide us, and mold us. Then, when we pour ourselves out in service to Christ, what will come out will be the pure water of the Word.

2. We Must Cultivate Our Relationship with Jesus Through Genuine Prayer.

Reading the Bible for the sake of intellect will not replenish a thirsty soul. However, Bible intake paired with genuine, relational prayer will fill up a parched soul with eternal springs of water (John 4:13–14). If we are walking with Jesus, the source of eternal life, we will be satisfied by his water. We must be connected to the Lord’s supply. We will be of minimal use if we are ministering from something other than a thriving relationship with Jesus.

3. We Must Be Replenished in the Context of the Local Church.

Our own personal Bible reading and prayer life can be a source of constant fruit and energy, but our efforts of walking with Jesus are incomplete apart from walking with a congregation of believers. This is by God’s design. Therefore, the local church is the final piece of the puzzle—the icing on the cake—to a full and abundant life of enjoying the treasures of Jesus and pouring them out in service to his name. Every time the church meets together, there is opportunity to be filled up, encouraged, strengthened, enabled, and sent back out to serve the mission of Christ.

Dear Christian, you are called to spend all your resources for the sake of Christ’s glory. But if you do not digest the Word of God regularly, have a vibrant walk with Christ, or be regularly filled in a local church, then your well will run dry. If your heart dries up, then bad things may happen. But Christ is an endless source of life. He can enable us to continue in our service to him. Let us remain connected to him that we may be useful in the King’s service!

What We Can Learn From Arranged Marriages by Eric Geiger

 Here are two scenes of two twenty-five-year-old young men.

Scene one: A 25-year-old sits alone in his apartment, swiping through dating profiles on the phone. At it for an hour. The faces blur together. Split-second decisions are made based on photos and a few lines of bio. No one else is involved. No one else even knows. It’s just the person, the algorithm, and hundreds of strangers.

Scene two: A large family dinner in another culture and another time. Three generations are seated around the table. The conversation turns to the 25-year-old son. The grandmother mentions a young woman from a good family she knows. The father talks about the woman’s character—how she cares for her aging parents. The mother has observed how she treats children at community gatherings. The uncle knows her work ethic. Multiple perspectives. Generational wisdom. The family discusses who will approach her father.

The second scene sounds crazy in our individualistic culture, but which scene is new and which scene is more proven?

I have two daughters and have had zero conversations about arranging their marriages. I am also thankful that Kaye’s parents did not believe in arranged marriages, as they would not have arranged her marriage to me. That is not me being humble. The reality is that all her siblings live on her father’s property in their own homes on lots of family land. And I was a preacher who was open to going anywhere, so the land allotted for Kaye and me remains unused.

But we should understand that most research puts the divorce rate in the U.S. at 40% and the global divorce rate for arranged marriages at 1%. Why?

Those who advocate for arranged marriages point to the low divorce rates among arranged marriages. Divorce rates in the US are around 40% and arranged marriages globally have an often-cited divorce rate of 1%. Yes, there is a sad backstory to that stat. Not always, but in some cases, there is oppression, women are viewed as property, or the marriage is forced. As Christians, we are against that as we value women and men as image bearers. Not all arranged marriages are that way, and in arranged marriages where the divorce rate is low, sociologists point to the commitment from the families to each other and the mentoring the family provides.

In his insightful and research-based book Get Married, Brad Wilcox highlights Asian Americans as one of the groups he calls the “masters of marriage” because of their commitment to marriage through challenges and even seasons of “not being happy.” We have many Asian American couples in our church, so I loved reading Brad’s observations. One of the reasons their commitment to marriage is often higher is because of their commitment to community. The couples are not only thinking about themselves but also their kids, their immediate family, and their extended family. They have not bought the cultural lie that marriage is “just between us.” They realize that their marriage impacts a lot of other people.

The lesson is that we should date and be married in community. We should benefit from the wisdom of a God-honoring community, and we should remember that our marriages impact more people than the lie that it’s “just between us.”

These two Proverbs have always been and will always be true.

A fool’s way is right in his own eyes,
but whoever listens to counsel is wise.
(Proverbs 12:15)

Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
(Proverbs 15:22)

The post What We Can Learn From Arranged Marriages appeared first on Eric Geiger – Eric Geiger, Author and Senior Pastor, Mariners Church.

7 Lies About Our Love Lives by Eric Geiger

 Single, dating, or married, we are bombarded with messages from the culture about our love lives, and many of the messages are false and damaging. The clichés about our love lives that the world offers are presented as modern proverbs—pithy statements of wisdom for our good. But these modern proverbs from the world are leaving people frustrated and disappointed. There is a completely different set of Proverbs from the Word—pithy statements of godly wisdom that speak to your love life. The modern proverbs from the world hurt, but the Proverbs from the Word are helpful, beautiful, refreshing, and true.

1. Lie from the world: Find your soulmate.

The world pleads with you to find your soulmate—the one who can complete you. The cultural cliché hurts those who are single by hinting that they are lacking someone to make them whole. It hurts those who are dating by causing them to pass on great options in hopes of the mythical “one.” And it hurts those who are married, setting unrealistic expectations and causing some to view any conflict as a hint that “this must not be my soulmate.” The Word says you are not half a person who needs someone else to complete you. No, you were created by God and cut off from Him because of your own sin. But He came here to make you one with Himself, and if you fear Him, your soul is satisfied. Another person can’t satisfy your soul, but the God who created you will satisfy your soul if you trust Him.

2. Lie from the world: Follow your heart.

The world says, “follow your heart.” The Word cautions you against that advice because our hearts and our feelings are deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9) and can lead us down painful paths—including in our relationships. Instead, the Word encourages you to “guard your heart.” While some have said “the heart wants what the heart wants,” the Word helps us see that we train our hearts to want what God wants, which is best for us. We guard our hearts by carefully choosing the counsel we hear, where we go, and the friends we have.

3. Lie from the world: Love at first sight.

The world uses phrases like “love at first sight” and “love is a feeling.” But beauty is fleeting, and love is not a feeling; love is a commitment. In Proverbs 31, we see the qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman and a Proverbs 31 man—the qualities that outlast physical beauty and serve as a steady foundation for a relationship. Beauty is fleeting and charm can lie to you, but character can grow, and character must be the foundation of a relationship—not sight.

4. Lie from the world: Let love find you.

Marriage rates in the US are at the lowest point in history. Marriage has been presented as something to delay and something that could lower your happiness, despite research that points to the happiness of marriage (see the book Get Married by Brad Wilcox). Men are pursuing less for a myriad of reasons. Some look to the culture that has caused men to pull back for fear of being called toxic. Some look to men who have decided not to pursue. The cliché to “let love find you” is upended by the counsel from the wisdom writer to men to “find a wife.” Often, love does not find you; you must go searching. The Proverb holds women in high regard (she is a blessing, you don’t deserve her, and pursue her).

5. Lie from the world: It’s just between us.

The world, especially in the West, paints relationships as just between the two people. This hurts both dating relationships and marriages. Those dating and those married miss the wisdom and perspective from community. And cultures that view marriage as the union of families have much lower divorce rates than those that view marriage as just the union between individuals. The wise way to date and to be married is in community (where you can benefit from the collective wisdom of others) because “plans fail when there is no counsel.”

6. Lie from the world: Cut discomfort out of your life.

The clichés about cutting people out of your life, even a spouse who does not serve your life goals, abound. God uses marriage to make us uncomfortable, so we can cut the sin out of our lives, not the people we have committed to. After marriage, even with two amazing people, the reality is that there will be conflict. You can stir them up or you can cover them with love, commitment, and forgiveness. To be clear, I am not suggesting covering abuse or abandonment, but the inevitable conflicts of two people who are married.

7. Lie from the world: Variety is the spice of life.

The head of sales at Ashley Madison (the website designed to connect cheating spouses) said that their company’s biggest competitor was the Bible. The world gives you cliches like “it is just sex,” “you only live once,” and “variety is the spice of life,” which encourage people to find thrills and sex outside of their marriages. Proverbs 5:1-14 gives a strong warning against adultery and how it can ruin you and everything. But verses 15-20 give us the way to avoid adultery—rejoicing in the spouse of your youth and allowing him or her to be the only cistern you drink from.

The proverbs of the world may seem right, but in the end, they lead to death. The Proverbs from the Word are life.

Special thanks to my good friend JP (Jonathan Pokluda) whose book Outdated served as the foundation for the framing above.

The post 7 Lies About Our Love Lives appeared first on Eric Geiger – Eric Geiger, Author and Senior Pastor, Mariners Church.

The Abuse of Grace Which God Takes VERY seriously

Grace is God's only means of salvation for lost humanity.  And because of that, God takes the abuse of grace very seriously.  How seriously?

First, let it be stated plainly:  grace is the antithesis of works.  Grace is so God-filled and saturated that there is no room for man's works, and it is an insult to God to even hint at including them in salvation.

Why?

1. The abuse of grace condemns the preacher who proclaims it.

If a preacher (or even an angel) preaches a gospel mixed with man's works, Paul says in Galatians 1:6-9 that such a preacher has perverted the gospel and should be accused - sentenced to hell.  Why would Paul give such a major pronouncement to a false preacher?  Because that false preacher is leading other people to hell, and to Paul, it would be better for one person (the preacher) to be eternally separated from God than many persons who might be persuaded by his preaching.

Man's works will not lead him to Heaven, they lead to hell.  And even grace with a mixture of works will do the same because anything added to grace causes grace to no longer be grace.

2. The abuse of grace nullifies faith, which is necessary for salvation.

Paul used Abraham as an example in Romans 4 that he was not justified by his works, but by his faith.  And then Paul says in verse 4, "Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt."  If you work for something, you don't consider payment for that work to be grace, but instead what was owed to you.  

People can try to make deals with God.  Let my sick grandmother live, and I will live for you.  Heal my body and I will live for you.  God does not make deals.  

When a person realizes they are a sinner incapable of producing any good, then when God saves that person totally on the basis of the redemptive work of Jesus, then whatever that person receives in life is received with joy and patience because it is more than they deserve.

And when you make deals with God, it nullifies faith.  Romans 4:16 "Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace..."  If you believe, even the smallest of man's works brings salvation, then your faith is in your works, not fully in the cross of Jesus Christ.

3. The abuse of grace gives glory to man and away from the cross of Jesus Christ.

I hear people say things like:

* I accepted Jesus Christ when I was young.

* I found Jesus 

* I was saved forty years ago.

What is the common denominator of all of those statements?  "I" - 

The story of salvation is not about us but about Jesus Christ.  All glory and praise go to Him and not to us.

Isaiah 42:8 "My glory I will not give to another."

God does not share His glory with man.

Paul said in Galatians 6:14, "But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ..."

In Heaven, the only persons who will be there are those who will give glory to "the Lamb seated on the throne."  No one will be able to declare or boast of their work, position, or profession that earned them the right to be in Heaven.

Blessings;

David

In Honor of My Friend, Dr. Kevin McCreless

I want to honor my friend, Dr. Kevin McCreless. I knew of Kevin for a long time, even going back to Samford days, but when I was "talking" to Rainsville First about coming to Rainsville, I called Kevin. From that day on, we had a very close relationship while pastoring less than a mile from each other. He was always so kind to me and supportive of the ministry of Rainsville First and me personally. We had a wonderful pastor group together for a year or so and got to know him even better. We tried to revive another pastor group last fall and met one time before we couldn't continue. He introduced me and invited me to attend the Pastor's group of Dr. Haddon Robinson's meeting in Wisconsin and during COVID I did get to attend one of the week-long sessions via Zoom in his office while studying Ezekiel. What a man to give 33 years of his life to one church and community.

He was always a learner...talking about a book that had challenged him, a passage of Scripture that he had gotten new insights from, and always eager to listen to ideas of others to do ministry better or differently.

And I want to thank Broadway Baptist Church for the way you honored him in his retirement. I'm so glad you gave "your flowers" while he was living. And I will always be thankful I got to attend the last part of that service in February.

Thanks, Paul Murphy and Justin Spurgin, for letting me go with you to visit with him one afternoon. I will never forget our time together.

To Mrs. Terri Boles McCreless, I'm so sorry retirement plans did not turn out like you or him planned, but praying for you in the days ahead as you have the support of your family and church family. Blessings to the children and grandchildren. You have a great legacy that's been given to you by a faithful father.

Well done, my friend. Well done... Rainsville will never be the same without you, but to be with Jesus is better and the true reward. "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Revelation 14:13)

Digital Worship Fatigue by Thom Rainer

When the pandemic arrived, churches around the world had no choice but to pivot to online worship. Sanctuaries were empty, but livestreams and Zoom calls gave congregations a way to stay connected. For a time, the transition felt almost miraculous. Churches that had never considered online ministry suddenly found themselves reaching people far beyond their usual walls.

Some pastors even reported record numbers. Views were counted in the hundreds or thousands. Sermons were being streamed across states and even countries. The excitement was palpable. Many wondered if this was the new normal for the church.

But four years later, the enthusiasm has waned. Online worship remains a tool, but it no longer carries the same momentum. Attendance is down, engagement is weak, and many believers are simply tired of digital church. What began as a lifeline has in many cases become a burden. This growing reality has a name: digital worship fatigue.

Online Worship Is Declining in Popularity

When the pandemic forced churches to close their doors, online worship became the only option. Overnight, pastors scrambled to set up cameras, stream services, and learn new platforms. For a while, it worked. In fact, many churches reported that their digital attendance exceeded their in-person numbers. The thinking was simple: this is the future.

But the data now tells a different story. Pew Research notes that while 92% of regular churchgoers watched services online at least once during the height of the pandemic, fewer than half continued the practice consistently by 2022. Barna’s surveys confirm that the majority of Christians now say they prefer in-person worship and view online church as a secondary option at best.

The novelty has worn off. What felt innovative in 2020 feels thin in 2025. Pastors who once celebrated thousands of views now quietly admit that only a fraction remain. The consumer culture of digital church—easy to start, easy to stop—has proven unsustainable.

The truth is clear: the surge in online participation was not a revolution. It was a survival strategy. And now, people are tired of digital substitutes. What they want most is to gather again.

Screens Cannot Replace Sacred Spaces

Online worship has its place, but a screen can never replicate a sanctuary.

A livestream delivers content—a sermon, a song, a prayer. But worship was never designed to be just information transfer. Worship is embodied. It’s the sound of voices joining together, the atmosphere of prayer, and the physical act of gathering.

A screen strips away much of that. You can watch the music, but you can’t feel the vibrations of voices filling the room. You can hear the sermon, but you don’t sense the collective weight of people leaning into God’s Word together.

Community also suffers. In-person worship allows for chance conversations, hugs in the hallway, and eye contact that reassures someone they are not alone. Online services cannot reproduce those sacred moments.

Even the physical act of showing up matters. Walking into a church building is a declaration: “I’m part of this body. I’m here to meet with God and His people.” Sitting at home in pajamas doesn’t carry the same meaning.

For a season, digital worship was necessary. But over time, the absence of sacred space left many believers spiritually thin. It turns out that screens are a weak substitute for sanctuaries.

The writer of Hebrews captured it perfectly: “Do not neglect to meet together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:25). Screens are helpful. Sacred spaces are essential.

The Distraction Dilemma

One of the great challenges of digital worship is simple: distraction.

In a sanctuary, most distractions are limited. A phone may buzz. A child may fidget. But the environment itself is designed to focus attention on God.

At home, distractions are everywhere. The doorbell rings. The dog barks. The laundry buzzer goes off. A text message pops up during the sermon. Worship competes with a dozen other voices.

Even the screen itself invites divided attention. A livestream is just one browser tab among many. The temptation to check email, scroll social media, or glance at the news is constant. The average online viewer rarely gives full, uninterrupted focus for more than a few minutes.

Children in the home add another layer. Parents attempting to watch often juggle breakfast, playtime, or squabbles. What might feel like a calm experience in a pew becomes chaos on the couch.

The result? Worship becomes background noise rather than a sacred encounter. Instead of being immersed in Scripture, prayer, and song, people drift in and out. Some “attend” a full service without truly engaging a single moment.

Pastors know this struggle. Many have received messages like, “I loved the part about forgiveness,” only to realize the person tuned in for five minutes and missed the rest. Online numbers may look strong, but the depth of engagement is weak.

Distraction is not a minor issue—it undercuts the very purpose of worship. Without focus, the heart is rarely transformed.

Convenience Breeds Complacency

Online worship is undeniably convenient. With a few clicks, you can join a service from your living room, your car, or even a beach chair. For those who are sick, traveling, or homebound, this accessibility is a blessing.

But convenience comes with a cost. What begins as a short-term solution can become a long-term substitute. Healthy members often start choosing the easiest path—watching online instead of gathering in person.

When worship is reduced to convenience, commitment weakens. Church becomes optional, something to fit in around errands, sports, or weekend plans. It shifts from a central rhythm of life to a side activity when time allows.

This decline affects more than attendance. Giving drops. Volunteering decreases. Fewer people step into leadership roles. Online worshipers rarely serve on committees, teach classes, or greet at the door. Their engagement is passive rather than active.

Over time, convenience breeds complacency. A casual click replaces the discipline of showing up. A sermon on screen replaces fellowship with others. The church shifts from a community of belonging to a product to consume.

Convenience is not always the enemy. But when it becomes the norm, it erodes the very heart of commitment. The easy option eventually costs the church dearly.

Digital Worship Should Supplement, Not Replace

The digital church is not going away. It still has a role to play in ministry. The key is learning how to use it wisely.

Online services provide access for people who cannot attend in person—shut-ins, the chronically ill, or those traveling. For seekers who are hesitant to step into a building, a livestream can be a gentle first step toward faith. For members who relocate, digital worship can help them stay connected during transition.

The danger comes when churches view digital worship as a permanent replacement. No screen can sustain the long-term spiritual health of a believer. Christianity is designed to be lived in community, not isolation.

The better approach is a both/and strategy. Use digital tools as a supplement, not a substitute. Encourage members to take advantage of online services when necessary, but call them back consistently to embodied community.

Digital platforms can also enhance ministry beyond Sunday morning. They can distribute midweek devotionals, small group resources, and discipleship content. In that sense, the internet becomes a tool for depth rather than just convenience.

But the priority must remain clear: the gathered church is essential. Digital ministry extends the church’s reach, but it cannot replace the church’s core.

The goal should never be to build a digital-only congregation. The goal is to leverage every tool available to bring people together in person, where worship is richest and discipleship is strongest.

Screens are useful servants. But the sanctuary remains home.

The Fatigue Is Real

Digital worship fatigue is real. The decline in online participation is not a sign of failure, but a reminder of how God designed His people. Worship is not just content; it is community. It is not only heard; it is felt.

The church must not abandon digital tools, but it must place them in their proper place—useful, but never ultimate. The greater call is to bring people back into the house of God, where presence matters more than pixels.

The psalmist declared, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1). That joy cannot be livestreamed. It must be lived.

The Church Divided over Pastors Should Remember Christ is the Only Head

The pastor is a vital and essential office in the local church.  In fact, only pastors (elders, bishop, shepherd, overseer, pastor - all the same office) and deacons are the only two Biblical offices in the local church.

The pastor is a gift from God (Ephesians 4: 7-11) and, like all the gifts from God, should be received as a treasure and with thanksgiving.  You can't show your pastor enough appreciation for the gift he is from God to your church.

But we can sometimes put the pastor on such a pedestal that everything and everyone relates only to the pastor.  Such was the case in Corinth when Paul received reports that the church was divided on who "they liked best as pastor."  In First Corinthians 1: 10-17 there are four camps mentioned, and I can only imagine how the arguments went in regard to why they liked this particular pastor or didn't like him.

Paul - the first camp was "I am of Paul." Can't you just hear those who loved Paul saying, "Oh, he was such a deep preacher.  When he preached, he really challenged us with his knowledge of God and the Bible.  You got 'meat' when he preached."  

Those who didn't like him most likely responded, "Paul was difficult to follow.  He preached over my head.  I just think when you preach, if you will put the goods on the bottom shelf so the young ones can get it, then even the giraffe can bend his head to reach it.  Plus, I just couldn't get over how Paul looked when I heard him preach.  That eye was constantly ousing out and it was so distracting.  I'm glad he's not here anymore."

Apollos - the second camp was "I am of Apollos."  Acts 18:25 tells us Apollos was "fervent in spirit," meaning he was passionate and "on fire."  I can just hear them saying, "Man, when Apollos preaches, he gets all fired up.  He even runs up and down the aisle.  I love to see his passion for God instead of this milk-toast type of preacher."  

Those who didn't like him most likely responded, "Apollos was just too wild.  You never knew what he was going to do.  He even scared me.  Plus, you don't have to get all that excited.  We are just not that type of church.  Plus, he never really said anything that was that moving or worthy of remembering. I just like my pastor to be more of a teacher....calm, never raising his voice."

Cephas (Peter) - the third camp was "I am of Cephas."  This is Peter.  Now we know Peter was the leader of the apostles.  I can hear those who liked him saying, "Now Peter, man, he was a leader.  He was a take-charge kind of guy.  We always had something going on when Peter was here.  And I loved it...you never knew what he was going to say or who he was going to offend.  He would sure step on your toes every once in a while, but you know, if the preacher never steps on your toes, then he's not really preaching.  Now, Peter had to come back and apologize sometime, but I liked Peter's preaching."

Those who were not in his camp likely responded, "Peter always had to be in control.  No one else ever had an opinion that he would consider. It was his way or the highway.  That's just not like who Christ is.  I want my preacher to hear everyone and consider their opinions.  I mean, Peter taught us we are all priests, but we never had much input in the way the church was run.  Plus, oh my goodness, he even cussed once or twice.  Holy smoke...can you believe a pastor doing that?  Now, I will give it to him...he could get things done, but it was just not in the right spirit."

Christ - the fourth camp was "I am of Christ."  All I will say here is that these were the ultimate spiritual people.  They just followed Christ and were proud of it.

Oh my goodness...I do believe those camps are still in EVERY church.  

So what did Paul have to say about this situation?  First Corinthians 3: 1-7

1.  All the camps were believers who were carnal and not mature. (verses 1-4)

2.  All the pastors (Paul, Apollos) are just ministers, servants, and are really not anything.  They just have some special grace to give, but no one has everything. (verses 5, 7)

3. The only thing that matters is "God giving the increase." (verse 6)

Churches built around the personality of the pastor will not be built on a solid, lasting foundation.  But when God is the one adding, then the results will last.

And don't ever forget, Christ is the head of the church, not the pastor (including me). 

Blessings;

David

The Impact of Jesus' Resurrection by Tony Merida

 

Genesis ends with Joseph’s death. Deuteronomy ends with Moses’s death. Joshua ends with Joshua’s death. The Gospels end with Jesus’s resurrection. And that changes everything.

—Tony Merida

Be the church by Shane Pruitt

Don't just attend church.

Love the church. Serve the church. Give through the church. Invite people to church. Worship Jesus with the church. Encourage the church. Participate in the church. Pray for the church. Be the church.

Why I Chose the Church with Worn-Out Bathrooms by Jen Oshman

I’ll never forget one Sunday morning after our family had just moved back to the U.S. from living overseas. We had to find a place to worship. “Church shopping,” as it’s sometimes called, was tough for many reasons. But on that particular Sunday morning, I observed something that made me downright giddy: curled-up linoleum in the women’s bathroom.

A worn-out restroom wouldn’t normally give me joy, but the somewhat neglected flooring told me something important about that church. Combined with a crowd bustling in the sanctuary, the lively conversations that ensued as soon as the worship service ended, and the gospel-packed sermon we’d just listened to, it was obvious this church had a healthy outward focus.

As first-time visitors, we were greeted by the pastor, other church staff, and everyone sitting near us in the sanctuary. Volunteers met my kids at the Sunday school room door with huge smiles, and our pew-mates offered me tissues when I shed some tears during the service.

These people cared more about welcoming newcomers than they did about the bathroom floors. Their hearts and their budget were set more on people than on their facility. I’m not suggesting curled linoleum is a litmus test for faithful churches. But we’d visited at least a few churches with beautiful bathrooms but no obvious enthusiasm for newcomers or the grace and gospel of Jesus. Seeing those vibrant people and their service, alongside an imperfect building, gave me hope that this congregation would be a place of refuge in our transition—a people who would make space for us.

Externally Focused

And they were. After a couple of Sundays, a handful of conversations with church members, and even invitations to hang out with them during the week, we learned this church’s culture was very outwardly focused. They worked hard to welcome outsiders, serve their community, and make their church building a warm and welcoming home for anyonewho wanted to come in.

Their hearts and their budget were set more on people than on their facility.

Such a radical outward focus and commitment to welcoming others can feel risky and counterintuitive for both church leaders and members. Shouldn’t we focus on ourselves? we wonder. Will the people in here be OK if we keep extending a welcome to the people out there?

But here’s the crazy, countercultural, faith-requiring answer to those questions: To the extent we try to save or preserve or protect our churches for their own sakes, we will lose them. Jesus says to you and me and to every church family, “Lose your life for me and for the gospel and that’s where you will find true life” (see Matt. 10:39). The more we as individuals and our churches as a whole seek to lay ourselves down for others, the more joy, satisfaction, and true life we’ll find.

Rethinking Priorities

This upside-down spiritual truth is what my family observed at the church with the curled-up linoleum. Their priorities were evident: fixing up their church building came second to serving their community and inviting others in. One might think they needed to keep their facilities pristine so more people would visit and come back. It would certainly be a bonus for the church members who use that bathroom week in and week out. And please hear me, I’m not making a prescription for all churches to neglect their buildings for the sake of the gospel.

But this church’s example is provoking and worth considering. As church leaders and members, we’re wise to keep an eye out for signs our churches are too self-focused. Here are some questions worth asking:

• Does your congregation see the culture outside your church as an enemy to be kept away or as people to be welcomed in with the love and mercy of Jesus?
• Which are your church attendees more likely to ask: “What can I receive?” or “What can I give?”
• When presented with a plan to plant a new church or to provide a missional outreach activity, is your congregation excited or resistant?
• Does your congregation tend to idolize the past and the “good ol’ days,” or is there a fresh excitement about what God is doing today?
• Looking at your church budget and calendar, do you see evidence of spending time and money on outward-facing ministry?
• As a pastor or church leader, do you feel tempted to view people in the pews as dollars in the bank, thereby making yourself susceptible to catering to the people “in here” at the expense of the souls “out there”?

Laying Ourselves Down

If we’re honest, I think every Christian can detect in himself or herself an element of self-focus. Thankfully, our God is endless in mercy, and he’ll help us take up our crosses and follow him.

The more we seek to lay ourselves down for others, the more joy, satisfaction, and true life we’ll find.

The goal for you and me isn’t curled-up linoleum in our church bathrooms. The goal is to honor and proclaim Christ crucified, risen, and coming again. The goal is to lay ourselves and our churches down, again and again, for others, as our Savior did for us. As Jesus welcomed us in, may we too welcome others. Our Lord sacrificed his own comfort—his own life—that he might welcome us. By his indwelling power, may we go to great and sacrificial lengths to do the same.

This article first appeared here at The Gospel Coalition.