5ive Step Discipleship- INCLUDE

5IVE Step Discipleship- Step Four- INCLUDE from Peoples Church of God on Vimeo.

5ive Step Disciple- INVEST

5IVE Step Discipleship- Step Three- INVEST from Peoples Church of God on Vimeo.

5ive Step Discipleship- INVITE

5IVE Step Discipleship- Step Two- INVITE from Peoples Church of God on Vimeo.

5ive Step Discipleship- INFORM

5IVE Step Discipleship- Step One- INFORM from Peoples Church of God on Vimeo.

Grattitude or Attitude

Reactive Attachment Disorder: You need to know that most adoptive parent...

#191 Debate - Dan Barker vs Todd Friel - Does God Exist - 2006

It has been about 4 years since I posted the Barker/Friel "Athiest Debate."  I always enjoy good debate that involves challenging questions that come up on both sides.  Listening to conversations like the "Athiest Debate" helps me think through, "What the heck would I say?" or "How in the world would I answer that question?" Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below and maybe throw down some "What are some of the biggest questions you have had about God or questions you have been asked about God?"



Way of the Pastor,
Joe Drew

The Message of Jesus (Simple-Part 1A)

Is it a sin for a Christian to smoke pot? Episode 1345

Should the world be "MAD" at Christians?

After you watch the (Video) below...think about this. It goes without saying that we see so much of this today, the world mad at Christians, intolerant of Christians, and judging Christians! Well with all of that in mind, I would love to hear your take on Christians and further more...your take on your own life, no matter what you call or don't call yourself. There are some very wise words said in this video. I would love to hear from you if some of those wise words spoke to you. Also would love to have you share your own words of wisdom concerning the world’s anger towards Christianity! Way of the Pastor, Joe Drew

Who is the Church for?

I love this video below. Get's me excited! But it makes me think...who is the Church for? Really. Can we draw this line in the sand? Is Church for the Christian or for the non-Christian? Do we spin our wheels making it so about programs, the latest fads, or transfer church growth and then wrap it up with words like "God is doing amazing things in our church?" Are we to be 100% about seeking and saving the lost or is that just supposed to be part of our programing or purpose statement strategy? 500 giving their lives for the first time in the last five months at Elevation Church...what do you do with that? I love the word Kingdom Multiplication...sounds a lot better than Kingdom Maintenance. Im interested in hearing your thoughts....if the church is not to be about seeking and saving that which is lost...what the heck are we to be about? Chime in Church.

Way of the Pastor,
Joe Drew (Click on Video below)

Q&A: Francis Chan on Rob Bell and Hell | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Q&A: Francis Chan on Rob Bell and Hell | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

"Love Wins" Publisher Responds to Book Reaction

"Love Wins" Publisher Responds to Book Reaction: "The publisher of Rob Bell's highly controversial book Love Wins has written a letter questioning the strong reactions against the book by conservative Christians." So I am interested in your thoughts on this publisher's response to the criticism that Rob Bell's book has received. I have a few issues with this publisher's reaction towards those who oppose Bell's theological views, but I will wait to see what others have to say first!

Way of the Pastor,
Joe Drew

"Go!"

What Should the Church Teach About Alcohol?

First of all, I would have to say "What should the church teach about a good many other things..." Gossip, Lust, Lying, Adultery, Overeating...the list goes on. I am not saying we make this a soap box issue, however, I do see the lines blured when it comes to the teaching of what we do with alcohol as Christians! What do you see the Bible saying about this issue? What scripture do you use to justify or abstain from alcohol? Watch this video below with some heavy hitters giving their take on this topic...then leave a comment and let's discuss this!!!

Teaching Your Children about Alcohol from Harvest Bible Chapel on Vimeo.

Way of the Pastor,
Joe Drew

Are Altar Calls Even Biblical?

Once again I am posting on an article I recently came across and it made me think. It made me think because as a Pastor, I give "altar calls" on occassion. Also becuase I just finsihed up with Vacation Bible School and we opended up the altar for the kids each night and many kids made "first time" decisions for Christ...my daughter being one of them. So as I post this article, I am leaning more towards the side of still using "Altar Calls" but appreciate seeing how this practice can be percieved by many! What a great challenge for Pastors to continue to communicate clearly why we do what we do!! I would love to here what your thoughts and what your experience's have been with the "Altar Call!" Enjoy...

I’m sometimes asked by people why we don’t do “altar calls” at our services. Like the people who ask the question, the churches in my personal background pretty much all practiced “altar calls” at the conclusion of a sermon or service. I’ve seen them done in very poor fashion, and I’ve seen some pastors be really clear about the gospel, repentance, faith, and the fact that “coming forward” does not save. I date my own conversion to the preaching of Exodus 32, which concluded with an altar call.

So, why don’t we practice “altar calls”? I don’t think the pastor who practices an “invitation” at the end of a sermon is in sin, but he may not be acting wisely either. This list of reasons, compiled by Pastor Ryan Kelly of Desert Springs Church, is a pretty good summation of some of my thinking (HT: Z).

1. The altar call is simply and completely absent from the pages of the N.T.

2. The altar call is historically absent until the 19th century, and its use at that time (via Charles Finney) was directly based upon bad theology and a man-centered, manipulative methodology.

3. The altar call very easily confuses the physical act of “coming forward” with the spiritual act of “coming to Christ.” These two can happen simultaneously, but too often people believe that coming to Christ is going forward (and vice-versa).

4. The altar call can easily deceive people about the reality of their spiritual state and the biblical basis for assurance. The Bible never offers us assurance on the ground that we “went forward.”

5. The altar call partially replaces baptism as the means of public profession of faith.

6. The altar call can mislead us to think that salvation (or any official response to God’s Word) happens primarily on Sundays, only at the end of the service, and only “up front.”

7. The altar call can confuse people regarding “sacred” things and “sacred” places, as the name “altar call” suggests.

8. The altar call is not sensitive to our cautious and relational age where most people come to faith over a period of time and often with the interaction of a good friend.

9. The altar call is often seen as “the most important part of the service”, and this de-emphasizes the truly more important parts of corporate worship which God has prescribed (preaching, prayer, fellowship, singing).

10. God is glorified to powerfully bless the things He has prescribed (preaching, prayer, fellowship, singing), not the things we have invented. We should always be leery of adding to God’s prescriptions for His corporate worship.

Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 of Ryan’s list are the most compelling reasons in my opinion. These would seem very serious objections for anyone who takes seriously the idea that our Christian lives and gatherings should conform to what the NT commands, models, and prohibits. Perhaps I would add an 11th: The “altar call” teaches the congregation to evaluate the “success” or “effectiveness” of the ministry on outward, visible actions and results.

Further, the need to be pastorally careful and sensitive with the souls of men needing to repent and believe couldn’t be more urgent. So, anything that obscures the reality of God the Holy Spirit’s work in conversion and the necessity of repentance and faith must be regarded–at best–a practice with potential to undermine the very work we’re giving our lives to.

Do people “respond” to the word of God at our services? They do. And we give them a number of ways they may follow up on what they’ve heard, from talking to an elder or Christian friend after the service, to scheduling an appointment during the week, to letting us know they would like us to visit with them, and so on. One thing I appreciate about our approach is that it allows us to meet, listen, question, encourage, teach and pray in a much more thorough way. By God’s grace we’re seeing people converted and profess their faith in baptism as the Spirit opens their hearts. We’re not perfect by any means. But I do hope we’re being faithful to the scripture’s commands, examples, and restrictions.

What do you think about Kelly’s list? Are you “for” or “against” and why? Would you add anything to or challenge anything on the list?
.......
Way of the Pastor,
Joe Drew

Does Sunday School Have A Future?

(I found this article on the blod Red Letter Christians)
Sunday school. It was one of the main reasons I enjoyed church as a child. As a young adult, it sometimes still is. But there’s a conversation brewing: Does Sunday school have a future? I think so, though it may not involve Sunday or school.

Sunday school has and will continue to look different for churches across the country. Since its creation in 18th-century England, some congregations have followed Sunday school’s traditional form — to teach children the Bible, protecting them from becoming casualties of social sins.

Today a wide range of Sunday school practices exist for all ages, including Bible studies, small groups and social gatherings. No matter what Sunday school looks like, it most broadly includes applying Scripture to our lives. For it is through imaginatively considering and applying God’s Word that we begin to love each other, our neighbors and God — which is at the heart of spiritual formation.

So while some call this Sunday school, others call it “Christian education.” No matter the name, it’s spiritual formation. Since modernity’s original creation of Sunday school was premised on a cultural need — to provide school for children — it seems we must likewise reinterpret it in our postmodern, post-Christendom context.

In 21st-century America, we’re in great need of a deeper, broader understanding of the Gospel, an understanding that is countercultural and runs against societal hegemony. At its core, it seems we need a call to conversation — honest dialogue on the world’s biggest spiritual and moral issues. Let’s face it, these conversations might happen more often than just on Sundays or in scholastic settings. In fact, they already are.

**I would love to hear your thoughts on Sunday School...how has it played a role in your life? Is it outdated or underestimated?

Way of the Pastor,
Joe Drew

The Death of Osama Bin Laden

With so much coverage of this topic in the news these days, I wanted to post a wonderful response I recently read reagarding Osama's death and also give a chance to hear what you have to say...so below I have posted an article by Matt Slick, which brings up some great scripture references as we process these current events.

The death of Osama Bin Laden
by Matt Slick

On May 1st, 2011 U.S. forces killed Osama Bin Laden in a 40 minute attack upon a compound in Pakstan. This ends a ten year hunt for the world's worst terrorist who masterminded the attack on U.S. soil where the Twin Towers in New York were destroyed and 3000 people were killed. But, what should the Christian's attitude be about his death?

The Christian response should be two-fold. First, we should be sad that he has died and entered into his eternal condemnation. This judgment is indeed horrible, and as Christians we should be saddened for any unbeliever who has denied the true God as Bin Laden did in his Islamic beliefs. Second, we should rejoice that justice has been carried out.

On the one had God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

•"For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord God. "Therefore, repent and live," (Ezekiel 18:32).
•"Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked . . ." (Ezekiel 33:11).
We clearly see that God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. That is, it is not his desire that even the wicked die. Yet, on the other hand we find...

•"And it shall come about that as the Lord delighted over you to prosper you, and multiply you, so the Lord will delight over you to make you perish and destroy you. . ." (Deut. 28:63).

◦The word "delight" here is the word "soos" in Hebrew and it means to exult, rejoice, display joy.
•"If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the Lord desired to put them to death," (1 Sam. 2:25).

◦The word "desired" here is the same Hebrew word, "chaphets," used in Ezekiel 18:32 and 33:11 ("pleasure") above. It means "to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with."
◦ Likewise, the word "chaphets" occurs in Isaiah 53:10 where it says, "But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief."
In the above verses you can see that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, yet he delighted in destroying wicked people. Is this a contradiction? No. Because God can be saddened by the death of the wicked but also delight in executing his righteous judgment upon them because it is in accordance with the holy Law (do not murder, etc.) which he himself has given us.

If God executes his righteous judgment upon the wicked, then we have an obligation to follow his lead, to carry out righteousness, to deal with the wicked, and to guard the safety of others. We need to do this carefully, with caution, and only after proper laws have been followed.

Way of the Pastor,
Joe Drew

Pastor Fired for agreeing with Rob Bell

With our recent focus on Rob Bell here at this blog...I thought it would be interesting to post a current event peeking in at how a Pastor and a church have recently been impacted with the views advertised in Rob Bell's latest book on bookshelves now, entitled "Love Wins!" So as I was digging around some websites I frequent, I found this article and video clip
at www.churchleaders.com and thought it was worth looking at in light of all the Rob Bell controversy:
FOXNews reported that a United Methodist Church pastor in North Carolina was recently removed from his position because he posted to Facebook that he supported the view of hell described in Rob Bell's new controversial book, Love Wins. Pastor Chad Holtz said he was "shocked" by the decision to fire him, because the post was intended to engage his congregation in discussion, but it ended up angering them. Holtz said congregants complained he wasn't representing their views. Bell's book describes the traditional view of hell as a place of eternal torment "misguided and toxic," and Holtz's Facebook post detailed his personal journey toward "losing the idea of hell." Holtz called the congregation "good decent people ... who are simply feeling a little threatened by a pastor who is asking questions they don't want to ask right now." He admitted that he'd posted other notes on subjects such as gay marriage that had troubled the congregation before, but this recent one seemed to be "the last straw."

I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on this one!

Way of the Pastor,
Joe Drew

Atheist Debate Wednesday...

Get ready for the fourth part of the "Atheist Debate!" With Dan Barker and Todd Friel! The debate is getting good! It is good to see guys like Todd Friel who is "always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect..." 1 Peter 3:15 Whether you agree with Todd or not (speaking to believers in Christ) he has a defense...do you? I hope you are living your life in such a way that others would ask you about your Christian hope...but when they do, what will you say? Good time to develop that now instead of off the top of your head later!


Way of the Pastor,
Joe Drew