A Christian worker bemoans the fact that religion professors too often do not instill faith or encourage piety in students, and that the academic study of the Bible in institutions of higher learning sometimes even diminishes faith and stifles spirituality. A religion professor responded, in effect, that scholarship and piety do not mix. * * * Every disciple of Jesus is called to a life focused on God, patterned after Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit. When that life is healthy and unhindered, it manifests itself in a bouquet of beautiful traits, including inner faith, personal piety, … [Read more...]

A Northeastern subscriber writes, "Our pastor has retired after a lengthy tenure and we are seeking a replacement. Can you offer any biblical suggestions to help us in this process?" * * * I honestly know little to suggest from a biblical standpoint concerning the search process itself. The modern institutional church with buildings, budgets and professional staff is an invention more recent than the Bible, so we lack specific scriptural guidance in these matters. However, we can derive a biblical picture of the kind of person we might wish to occupy the pulpit and to provide leadership … [Read more...]

"I want to serve God as the preacher or pastor of a local church," someone asks. "Do you have any suggestions for my personal and professional goals?" * * * Following are ten traits of successful Christian leaders -- not necessarily "success" as the world measures it -- which I have adapted from a "want list" I drafted for our congregation several years ago in a search for a preaching minister. The scripturally "successful" Christian leader is an individual who: 1. Evidences a warm personal commitment to Jesus Christ as living Savior and Lord. 2. Desires to follow the Holy Spirit, by … [Read more...]

While considering Jesus' promise in Matthew 18:20 to be present wherever two or three gather in his name, a gracEmail subscriber thought of two questions. "If a specific gathering lacks the Lord's presence," he asks, "how can we know that he is not present, and what is the cause of his absence?" * * * One might suspect that Jesus is absent from a meeting when nothing is accomplished that requires his presence or participation. This is true regardless of the gathering's stated purpose -- whether for prayer or for praise, to make decisions or to make converts, to study the Bible or to equip … [Read more...]

A gracEmail subscriber in Europe asks about the purpose and practice of church discipline. Is it ever proper to exclude someone from the faith community? If so, when? * * * Because Christian fellowship and hospitality are so meaningful to believers, it is a very significant matter to exclude a professing disciple from the Christian "family circle." But sometimes it must be done. The person who is equipped to carry out church discipline effectively -- and hopefully to restore the wayward brother or sister -- is the one who seeks to build up others and not tear them down (2 Cor. 12:19); who … [Read more...]

A brother involved in a new church ministry writes that his parishioners are "older and nice," although they don't verbally respond much to his teaching. This minister friend has been teaching in Romans, and wonders how much of it is sinking into his congregation's minds. A church elder, who has missed several classes due to illness, keeps reminding him that "we must do our part to stay saved." * * * Let me encourage you not to miss the opportunity (if it comes along) to connect with this older brother and others like him at a heart-level which will enrich both of you forever. Perhaps you … [Read more...]

A gracEmail subscriber in the Bible Belt writes that the church with which he is affiliated is "very traditional and stagnant." He wants to be "free" -- but he is also "concerned about God's authority and abiding in it." He asks, "Can you give me any advice?" * * * "God's authority" states that believers in Jesus are "free" from law, from human tradition and from the condemnation of others. That means that we are "free" to serve Christ, to live in the Spirit, to walk in love, to imitate Christ in selfless faithfulness to the Father. (See 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 5:1, 13; 1 Pet. 2:16). God's truth … [Read more...]