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Should wine or grape juice be served at Communion?
Church Leadership and Prayer
Do we know how to pray? What petitions of the Lord's Prayer do we include in our congregational/Pastoral prayers?
Concerns About an Elder
I was a member of a congregation that elected a man to become an Elder without knowing his true background. What next steps should I take?
Leading From Behind
What comes first the chicken or the egg? What comes first what we do or what we say we will do?
Are We All Equal?
We are created equal. We are not created equal. Which is it? I would suggest that as individuals we are not all equal.
What is Your Bottom Line?
What is the bottom line? My wife and I just purchased a new car and that was the question that we asked ourselves as well as the dealer who sold us the car. With that question fresh on my mind, I thought about it in a larger context; namely life.
How Do We Know Which Story is True?
How wrong can a School Administrator be or is He right? My concern is based on a conversation I had with a Christian School Administrator. The conversation occurred a few years ago and it made a lasting impression on me.
Do you have any sample formats or guidelines for writing competent minutes of elder meetings?
Are You Prejudiced and the Chick-fil-A Controversy
The “Chick-fil-A controversy” has caused many comments that have accused individuals of being biased/prejudiced. The Christian Church is one of the primary targets. How should we respond?
Whatever Happened to Church Discipline?
My father adhered to the old adage, “Spare the rod; spoil the child”. He did not spoil many of his six children. In fact school faculties were not hesitant to use the same method of discipline.
Check Out the Music
This past week I questioned the content of one of the “praise songs” sung at the church I attended. Perhaps I am wrong but I ask you as reader to give me some advice. Is God "untameable"?
Do Pastors Need Professional Supervision?
One striking difference between pastoring and social work is the function and role of supervision. Professional supervision consists of a candid review and empowering of both the social worker’s practice and personhood in order to practice ethically and therapeutically and “do no harm” to the clients. I believe that pastors need a similar kind of supervision.
How Effective Is Your Church's Ministry?
Church Ministry vs. Church Numbers - Which is more important to measure? As elders how do you assess the effectiveness of your church’s ministry both within the walls of the church as well as in the greater community you service?
How Do You Keep Peace in the Council Room?
So what is "Mutual Censure" really all about? In a Council meeting if someone has an issue the sooner it is placed on the table, discussed and resolved the better future council meeting will be. It prevents council members seeing each other from a bias perspective.
So How Good are the Sermons in the CRC?
At one time preaching was judged in the Christian Reformed Church as to their theological content. The sermon needed to be theologically sound. Theologically sound meant that the sermon reflected a "reformed" world and life view that was consistent with the three confessions of the church.
Is Confession Still Good for the Soul?
Is “confession good for the soul” still true in today’s society or for that matter in the church? Two out of three churches I attended recently did not contain “ a Call to Confession and Words of Assurance” in their order of worship. In fact two out the three churches seldom if ever have it in the order of worship.
Atonement Confusion
This webinar will discuss about atonement and suggest that a more comprehensive view of the atonement can lead to a more comprehensive mission for the church—something we desperately need in our day and age.
Order of Worship: How was It Created?
I think what binds the Christian Reformed Church together as a denomination is not so much what we do as compared to what we believe. Over the years of our existence our confessions have not changed much (if at all). However, how we practice what we believe as changed. One area that has changed significantly is our worship services.
Why Do You Attend a CRC Church?
Why do I attend a CRC church? It is a relevant question for my wife and me. Presently I am a member of a church that is twenty five miles from my home. Within a five area there is a Presbyterian Church (USA) that because of travel distance we attend rather frequently. In fact I was asked to participate...
What Do Your Members Know About the CRC?
To belong to a specific denomination means more education as to the specific church one joins. One is being a member of the body of Christ; the other is being part of a specific denomination of that larger body. I confess that I believe I did have a “handle” of what it meant to profess ones’ faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but besides having ...
Whatever Happened to Family/Household Visits?
Article 65 of the Church Order went through an interesting editing process in recent years. The article addresses the age old custom of “Family Visiting” in the Christian Reformed Church. It formerly read, “The minister of the Word and elders shall conduct annual home visitation”. Presently it reads, “whenever possible..."
Called to Be an Elder? Now What?
Now you are ordained by the church to provide spiritual oversight to the body of Christ. What does that involve? How can I serve in an office that I feel "unqualified" for? Together we will explore the nature of spiritual leadership in the church.
Introducing Your New Elder Guide
The Christian Reformed Church during my ministry has gone through many changes in how it worships, functions, and reaches out to the community. Change is a good thing...
A Grateful Goodbye
Today, I retire from writing this blog. The regular writing and posting has been demanding. And yet the simple exercise of writing a few words has forced me to give attention to passing thoughts and deepen my reflections. For this I am grateful. That some took time to read these thoughts humbles me.