Joshua Benton
I love good Rock ‘n Roll, the Chicago Bears, any and all things geeky and most of all, Jesus Christ. I'm a bit kooky, ADD, and trying to be a passionate follower of Jesus.
Connect to The Network and add your own question, blog, resource, or job.
Add Your Post
Posted in: Is It Just Me, or ...
There is a lot of struggle with this as well in the rural churches in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. For many, there is the feeling of being ignored and their views not even being heard. When I receive items from the denomination, I take it as information, pass on to my elders these items and let them decide.
Posted in: What's the best way to do a Membership class for both new and transfer members and what resources do you use?
I've been using the four step process of looking at what it means to be Christian, what it means to be Reformed, what it means to be the Church and then the importance of Spiritual Growth (CRCs). This fomat has bee helpful but I'm still tweaking it a bit. So far, it's been used with two guys who are from a Catholic background and a Missionary Baptist background. I've also been using the catechism as the basis of the lessons. Like I said, I'm still tweaking it a bit though. Hope this helps.
Posted in: What's the best way to do a Membership class for both new and transfer members and what resources do you use?
Richard...
I'm kind of making this up as I go along. I was given the idea by a seasoned CRC pastor who gave me a basic framework to go by. Then another seasoned pastor suggested I bring in Spiritual Growth. I've been using the HC to help with the discussion and class. Right now it's with two men 20's-30's. It seems to be working well. I've even brought in Star Wars and Transformers too :)
Posted in: Begging, Borrowing—But Not Stealing
Henry...
Just a reply to your comment from back in April. I'm starting a series on Habakkuk which I am borrowing from Lifechurch.tv. It's a good solid series and from watching the podcasts of the messages, he has done his homework. But I'm still going back to the Hebrew in this. And I'm glad I did. I've found a few differences in interpretation and even translation and understanding that he had.
This is a springboard to launch off of. I will be giving props where props are due. I am westling with the text this week. I wouldn't expect less of myself if I didn't wrestle with the text and bring to light what is in it. It is also helpful to receive input from others, but in the end, it is the work done by struggling with the text and bringing it before the congregation and allowing the Holy Spirit to use it.
Posted in: Begging, Borrowing—But Not Stealing
Kelib...
Borrowing from someone elses sermon does further the reach of the words. I myself am borrowing from Lifechurch.tv for a series right now, but props need to be given where they are due. Just like in research papers, you need to cite your material. Borrow the words but let them help you with the wrestling with the text rather than a crutch. Let them be part of the work you do not the only work. Allow them to reach but make sure people know where you got it from.
Posted in: Begging, Borrowing—But Not Stealing
I think there is a lot of truth to this. But my question comes what about those resources such as Purpose Driven Church/Life, Willowcreek and LifeChurch.tv who supply sermon series information, outlines, videos, etc. all aimed at helping churches. Is there a balance between the two. I've used resources like these in the past using the resources as a starting point. Is that good or bad?
Posted in: Begging, Borrowing—But Not Stealing
I'm all for nipping! I do it from time to time. My father-in-law is a pastor in the Chicago area and he and I are always "borrowing" each other's ideas. Pastor friends and I also pass back and forth ideas. Sometimes I even quote them. In a preaching class of mine at Fuller, we talked about verbal footnotes. Use what other people say as long as you acknowledge.
Coming back to my original thought, though, I guess with the sermon series put out by Saddleback, Willowcreek, LifeChurch.tv and others, they all state that it is a sermon series based upon this particular book, church, person, etc. Before you begin preaching people know where you are getting it from. But we can't just repeat what was written in the series given. For me personally, I feel like that is cheating. When I've done series based off of programs provided, I've still struggled with the message, wrestled with the text and presented what the Holy Spirit had moved in my heart to say using the program as a stepping board to helping us hear God's word for us. We hear God's Word first and then everything else is gravy in helping us interpret and apply it to our lives.
I know that in many CRCs in the past, people had become upset about pastors using material like this, mainly because they are being paid to write original sermons, not someone else's and use original ideas not already pre-packaged ones. Out of curiosity, what is the denomination's stance on this?
Posted in: What are best practices for doing the monthly Pastors' reports to the Elders?
I like your suggestion on reporting on my prayer life and spiritual development. So far I've been reporting my time on sermons, books read, and visitations and meetings. I reported my prayer time and spiritual development at my last council meeting and they appreciated that. one of the reasons why I like the Network and it's forums.
Posted in: Once an elder, always an elder?
Just had this conversation recently on Twitter. It is good to know the answer to this, but I am baffled on why there is push back about it. I ran into this problem a few years back when pastoring both an RCA and CRC at the same time. In the RCA it is once an elder always an elder. I had a hard time explaining to my elders and deacons at the CRC church that it was different with the CRC. Many didn't believe me. Thanks Dr. DeMoor for your insight and assitance int his issue. My question is, how can we better educate elders and deacons about this idea of ordination and installation?
Posted in: Are elders needed for worship services?
Thank you. We had a PM worship service recently where only 1 deacon was in attendance (running sound) and no elders. A member who had been an elder a number of times before but was not on consitory at present was deemed an honorary elder for the duration of the service by me (the pastor).
Posted in: What's the best practice for getting church visitors to fill out welcome cards?
Kudos on the manga messiah. I have that one and think it's a great tool. It's also done by an actual mangaka (officialy liscened and trained manga artist in Japan). I like the welcome packet. Out of curiosity, how much return do you see on the welcome packet? Do people come back afterwards as a repeat visitor or do they not return?
Posted in: What's the best practice for getting church visitors to fill out welcome cards?
Posting twice for some reason...
When I did evangelism in more urban areas, I noticed that many didn't always fill out the welcome cards. At one place, we doubled them as a prayer request card and had them place them in the offering plate. We had our congregational praye after the offering and prayed for those who gave permission to pray. This raised the number of those submitting but they were more members than visitors.
Another place had the cards to be filled out but had no one really set aside to follow up on them. I too noticed that people were more apt at filling out the card when asked personally by me.
One other item of note, being an experinced church shopper (while in college and seminary I tried finding a church to regularly attend) I hated filling out the forms because I'd sometimes be bombarded with mail, phone calls, and people visiting me after one or two visits. And when I didn't come then next time, they would call or visit and want to know why I didnt show up on Sunday. It drove me away more than it made me want to come. After a while, I stopped filling out anything.