How the Early Church Grew
by Vance Havner 1. The early church grew by addition (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14; 11:21, 24) 2. By subtraction, as in the death of Ananias and Sapphira 3. By multiplication (Acts 6:7; 9:31) 4. By division, for people had to take sides for or against as our Lord had declared (Luke 12:49-53) and the result in the long run was gain,
"Tell me in light of the cross, isn't it a scandal that you and I live today as we do?"
- Alan Redpath"There is no shortcut to holiness; it must be the business of our whole lives."
- Oswald Chambers"It is not great talents or great learning or great preachers that God needs, but men great in holiness."
- E. M. Bounds"Whatever weakens your reason, impairs your tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish for spiritual things then it is sin for you, however innocent it may be in itself."
- Suzanna Wesley"Whatever call a man may pretend to have, if he has not been called to holiness, he certainly has not been called to the ministry."
- Charles H. Spurgeon"Many Christians have what we might call a 'cultural holiness.' They adapt to the character and behavior pattern of Christians around them. As the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, so these Christians are more or less holy. But God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be like Himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God."
- Jerry Bridges"Every man is as holy as he really wants to be."
- A. W. Tozer
Personal Holiness
Is the Pastor a Match?
Average Percent of Attenders Who Strongly Agree That the Pastor Is a Good Match for the Congregation: Methodist 35%Presbyterian Reformed 37%Catholic 37%Lutheran 39%Episcopalian 44%United Church of Christ 46%Baptist 48%Other Mainline/Liberal Protestants 49%Pentecostal 61%Independent Protestant 65%Other Evang/Conservative Protestant 68% (National Pulpit & Pew Clergy Survey) 2ProphetU2ProphetU is an online magazine/website, started by Warren Wiersbe and Michael Catt, to build up the church, seek revival, and encourage pastors.
Formerly Churched
Formerly churched give top 10 specific reasons for no longer attending church: – Simply got too busy– Family/home responsibilities prevented attendance– Church members seemed hypocritical– Moved too far from church– Work situation prevented church attendance– Church was not helping me develop spiritually– Stopped believing in organized religion– Church was run by a clique that discouraged
Do You Know? William E. Biederwolf
William E. Biederwolf1867 – 1939 William Biederwolf was born in 1867, the seventh child of German immigrants. He was raised in Monticello, Indiana. Presbyterians produced some of the most noteworthy evangelists of the late 1800s and early 1900s and notable among them was William E. Biederwolf. William’s parents were Presbyterians. Early in life he vowed to
The Jesus Inquest
– Charles Foster. Monarch Books. Charles Foster, a barrister, presents the issues surrounding the death and possible resurrection of Jesus in a heated, no-holds-barred debate. The result is a compelling historical, archaeological and theological whodunnit — like The Da Vinci Code and The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, but with the real evidence. 2ProphetU2ProphetU is an online magazine/website, started
Recalling the Hope of Glory
Biblical Worship from the Garden to the New Creation – Allen P. Ross, Kregel. “Beginning not with early Israelite worship but with creation itself, seasoned biblical scholar Allen Ross uncovers the glories and beauty of worship as it is progressively revealed from its beginning in the Garden of Eden to its climax in the new
I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar
The National Organization of Women seems to be roaring with great concern. They are concerned about the Opt-Out Moms. This is not group of fascist terrorist women, though I get the impression that NOW would actually defend their participation in terror for the sake of equality. No, when you go to the NOW website you
Augustine’s Process for Receiving New Members
The ancient church had no “membership” like modern denominations have, but it did have a process of taking candidates into the church, and members in the church and catechumens knew who was who. It may be helpful to outline the process for a person to become a fully functioning “member” of the church at Augustine’s
Praying for the Lost
Written by: Manley Beasley Praying for the lost is an area about which much is said but little is known or understood. In order to fully realize the biblical concept we must first have at least a basic knowledge of what real prayer itself involves. First of all, prayer is three-dimensional in its effect. Not
Principles Are the Bottom Line (Part 1)
(As found on Christianity Today) About the only thing I remember from one of my courses at seminary is a bit of doggerel that the weary professor dropped into a boring lecture: Methods are many, Principles are few. Methods always change, Principles never do. As soon as I returned to my dormitory room I looked