Comments on: Ambassadors of Glory for a Beaten-Down Church http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/06/ambassadors-of-glory-for-a-beaten-down-church/ Sat, 18 May 2013 07:21:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: September…around the web » Habits for a Happy Home http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/06/ambassadors-of-glory-for-a-beaten-down-church/#comment-38889 September…around the web » Habits for a Happy Home Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:02:21 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=23384#comment-38889 [...] Ambassadors of Glory for a Beaten-Down Church Related posts:Planning to be spontaneous - the write stuffResurrection RollsThe Habit of Moral Living V - A Modern Day Lamech?Welcome! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for more inspirational habits. And be sure to join Habits for a Happy Home on Facebook  Posted by littlesanctuary at 6:00 am  Tagged with: around the web, written by littlesanctuary [...] [...] Ambassadors of Glory for a Beaten-Down Church Related posts:Planning to be spontaneous - the write stuffResurrection RollsThe Habit of Moral Living V - A Modern Day Lamech?Welcome! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for more inspirational habits. And be sure to join Habits for a Happy Home on Facebook  Posted by littlesanctuary at 6:00 am  Tagged with: around the web, written by littlesanctuary [...]

]]> By: Weekly Commentary (August 17, 2012) | A Modern Exile http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/06/ambassadors-of-glory-for-a-beaten-down-church/#comment-36782 Weekly Commentary (August 17, 2012) | A Modern Exile Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:23:56 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=23384#comment-36782 [...] Ambassadors of Glory for a Beaten-Down Church – The Gospel Coalition Blog: [...] [...] Ambassadors of Glory for a Beaten-Down Church – The Gospel Coalition Blog: [...]

]]> By: Joe Rutherford http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/06/ambassadors-of-glory-for-a-beaten-down-church/#comment-36218 Joe Rutherford Mon, 13 Aug 2012 03:19:34 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=23384#comment-36218 What most people do not understand is that the least in the kingdom of God is greater than all the prophets up to and includeing John the Baptist. Modern Church involves traditions of men which were never given by God in the beginning of the Church, or at any time since. Even though the commandments for the Churches have been written and are clearly in the text of the New Testament, few understand what needs to be done. A case in point would be Pauls 1st letter to the Church at Corinth. What ever happened with that Church? They were told how to conduct Church meetings. All things were to be done for the building up of the Church. They were to practice and pursue the spiritual gifts in such a way which would build up the Church unto love. How many Churches today even allow the practice of those spiritual gifts? How many Churches, which do allow those gifts, do so for the pursuit of love? How many Churches require women to be silent at Church meetings? Hey preach a sermon like that next Sunday and then wait for the board members to call you to the carpet. You'll be despised and rejected. However, we must work for the building up of the Church, right? OK then we should do what the Bible tells us to do. Pursue prophecy, let 2 or 3 prophets speak/prophecie, well it is all written in the Bible, so let's do it. Or Churches can keep doing like they are doing and keep having troubles like you have described in your article. Actually the Churches today need understanding even in the foundational princibles of Christ. First things first. Start at the beginning, get it right, and keep growing. Ask God for revelation. What most people do not understand is that the least in the kingdom of God is greater than all the prophets up to and includeing John the Baptist. Modern Church involves traditions of men which were never given by God in the beginning of the Church, or at any time since. Even though the commandments for the Churches have been written and are clearly in the text of the New Testament, few understand what needs to be done. A case in point would be Pauls 1st letter to the Church at Corinth. What ever happened with that Church? They were told how to conduct Church meetings. All things were to be done for the building up of the Church. They were to practice and pursue the spiritual gifts in such a way which would build up the Church unto love. How many Churches today even allow the practice of those spiritual gifts? How many Churches, which do allow those gifts, do so for the pursuit of love? How many Churches require women to be silent at Church meetings? Hey preach a sermon like that next Sunday and then wait for the board members to call you to the carpet. You'll be despised and rejected. However, we must work for the building up of the Church, right? OK then we should do what the Bible tells us to do. Pursue prophecy, let 2 or 3 prophets speak/prophecie, well it is all written in the Bible, so let's do it. Or Churches can keep doing like they are doing and keep having troubles like you have described in your article. Actually the Churches today need understanding even in the foundational princibles of Christ. First things first. Start at the beginning, get it right, and keep growing. Ask God for revelation.

]]> By: This Week on Trans·formed (8/11) http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/06/ambassadors-of-glory-for-a-beaten-down-church/#comment-36180 This Week on Trans·formed (8/11) Sat, 11 Aug 2012 10:05:23 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=23384#comment-36180 [...] Ambassadors of Glory for a Beaten Down Church. I wondered how many pastors were in the same place and had developed the same ministry habits. I wondered how many of them were throwing something together at the last minute; how many sermons were not given the time necessary for them to communicate what needed to be communicated. I wondered how many congregations around the world are plainly and simply being poorly fed by unprepared pastors. I wondered how many sermons end up being boring restatements of favorite commentaries or little more than impersonal, poorly delivered theological lectures. Share:SharePrintEmailDigg About Marc CortezTheology Prof and Dean at Western Seminary, husband, father, & blogger, who loves theology, church history, ministry, pop culture, books, and life in general. [...] [...] Ambassadors of Glory for a Beaten Down Church. I wondered how many pastors were in the same place and had developed the same ministry habits. I wondered how many of them were throwing something together at the last minute; how many sermons were not given the time necessary for them to communicate what needed to be communicated. I wondered how many congregations around the world are plainly and simply being poorly fed by unprepared pastors. I wondered how many sermons end up being boring restatements of favorite commentaries or little more than impersonal, poorly delivered theological lectures. Share:SharePrintEmailDigg About Marc CortezTheology Prof and Dean at Western Seminary, husband, father, & blogger, who loves theology, church history, ministry, pop culture, books, and life in general. [...]

]]> By: Andy http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/06/ambassadors-of-glory-for-a-beaten-down-church/#comment-36049 Andy Wed, 08 Aug 2012 21:00:14 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=23384#comment-36049 Sometimes pastors are ill-prepared because of the anxiety accompanied with preparing and preaching a sermon. It could be a matter of anxious avoidance. While the Bible certainly presents a majestic, awesome view of the preaching task it was also quite ordinary. The Apostles preached all the time in season and out of season. I sense that if pastors had a more ordinary view of preaching they would probably approach their task with more preparedness and with strong conviction that God can use them to teach his Word effectively. Just a thought. Sometimes pastors are ill-prepared because of the anxiety accompanied with preparing and preaching a sermon. It could be a matter of anxious avoidance. While the Bible certainly presents a majestic, awesome view of the preaching task it was also quite ordinary. The Apostles preached all the time in season and out of season. I sense that if pastors had a more ordinary view of preaching they would probably approach their task with more preparedness and with strong conviction that God can use them to teach his Word effectively. Just a thought.

]]> By: The Pastor and the Glory War « Sententia http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/06/ambassadors-of-glory-for-a-beaten-down-church/#comment-36035 The Pastor and the Glory War « Sententia Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:18:47 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=23384#comment-36035 [...] a moment to read the entire article, “Ambassadors of Glory for a Beaten-Down Church,” at the Gospel Coalition.  It will be several minutes well-spent. Share [...] [...] a moment to read the entire article, “Ambassadors of Glory for a Beaten-Down Church,” at the Gospel Coalition.  It will be several minutes well-spent. Share [...]

]]> By: paul cummings http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/06/ambassadors-of-glory-for-a-beaten-down-church/#comment-36034 paul cummings Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:32:52 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=23384#comment-36034 I'm blessed to be on staff at a church with multiple pastors, so I can take time to study, pray and ponder the scripture, and then "get after it" in earnest on Sunday...but my heart goes out to the pastor who is THE pastor with little to no help on staff. The counseling, visitation, administration and planning would be quite a load to handle. ...and I know...I know...you are supposed to train and equip people to do those things too...but in my 20 years in the ministry most church goers feel like they're getting 2nd fiddle if someone other than the pastor calls, mails or visits. I'm blessed to be on staff at a church with multiple pastors, so I can take time to study, pray and ponder the scripture, and then "get after it" in earnest on Sunday...but my heart goes out to the pastor who is THE pastor with little to no help on staff. The counseling, visitation, administration and planning would be quite a load to handle.
...and I know...I know...you are supposed to train and equip people to do those things too...but in my 20 years in the ministry most church goers feel like they're getting 2nd fiddle if someone other than the pastor calls, mails or visits.

]]> By: Mike http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/06/ambassadors-of-glory-for-a-beaten-down-church/#comment-36020 Mike Wed, 08 Aug 2012 08:37:38 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=23384#comment-36020 Some of the casual prep for Sunday meetings is a reaction against the tradition which says, 'Only the best is good enough for God', where 'best' means 17th Century English, Bach played by superb musicians, clergy who like dressing up etc. In this tradition anything modern, straightforward or spontaneous is considered trite, uncultured and therefore 'unworthy of God.' Add to that the claim in some quarters that to be 'led by the Spirit' necessarily means to be unprepared, and you've a got what some would consider to be a rationale for unpreparedness. In small churches there may also be a reaction against the kind of nonsense I heard from one megachurch megaspeaker who said, 'These days every church must have professional musicians.' For the vast majority of churches this is unhelpful, unrealistic nonsense, but it can lead to pastors saying to themselves, 'What's the point in trying?' Some of the casual prep for Sunday meetings is a reaction against the tradition which says, 'Only the best is good enough for God', where 'best' means 17th Century English, Bach played by superb musicians, clergy who like dressing up etc. In this tradition anything modern, straightforward or spontaneous is considered trite, uncultured and therefore 'unworthy of God.'
Add to that the claim in some quarters that to be 'led by the Spirit' necessarily means to be unprepared, and you've a got what some would consider to be a rationale for unpreparedness.
In small churches there may also be a reaction against the kind of nonsense I heard from one megachurch megaspeaker who said, 'These days every church must have professional musicians.' For the vast majority of churches this is unhelpful, unrealistic nonsense, but it can lead to pastors saying to themselves, 'What's the point in trying?'

]]> By: Mark Shaeffer http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/06/ambassadors-of-glory-for-a-beaten-down-church/#comment-36016 Mark Shaeffer Wed, 08 Aug 2012 03:04:21 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=23384#comment-36016 Patrick, I really resonate with your godly passion for the church and His glory. I'll be praying that the Lord strengthens you to do all that He commands you to. And that, in 90 hour weeks and this is-a-piece-of-cake weeks, you would know the secret of being content knowing how to abound with plenty and how to be content with little. "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Philippians 4:19-20 ESV) Patrick,
I really resonate with your godly passion for the church and His glory. I'll be praying that the Lord strengthens you to do all that He commands you to. And that, in 90 hour weeks and this is-a-piece-of-cake weeks, you would know the secret of being content knowing how to abound with plenty and how to be content with little. "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Philippians 4:19-20 ESV)

]]> By: Doug http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/06/ambassadors-of-glory-for-a-beaten-down-church/#comment-36011 Doug Wed, 08 Aug 2012 02:08:32 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=23384#comment-36011 As a pastor for 35 years here are my observations: 1) There is NO excuse for not spending at least 10 hours on a message. 2) Pastors, you have way more time than you think. The amount of time a pastor wastes doing stuff that has little kingdom purpose is unbelievable. Ask yourself this before you do something,"How does this fulfill the great commission? Is this really the best use of my time?" 3) Disengage from all the committee work. There is NO reason for you to be in on every decision. It will get done, and if it doesn't it wasn't that important anyway. 4) And this is a word to churches: Value solid preaching. The reason why we have Saturday night specials is because churches let it happen. If your pastor isn't spending time studying and preparing find out why. Are you asking him to do things that the congregation should be doing? As a pastor for 35 years here are my observations:

1) There is NO excuse for not spending at least 10 hours on a message.

2) Pastors, you have way more time than you think. The amount of time a pastor wastes doing stuff that has little kingdom purpose is unbelievable. Ask yourself this before you do something,"How does this fulfill the great commission? Is this really the best use of my time?"

3) Disengage from all the committee work. There is NO reason for you to be in on every decision. It will get done, and if it doesn't it wasn't that important anyway.

4) And this is a word to churches: Value solid preaching. The reason why we have Saturday night specials is because churches let it happen. If your pastor isn't spending time studying and preparing find out why. Are you asking him to do things that the congregation should be doing?

]]>