Live in small church community could mean living in a much larger world

“The man who lives in a much smaller community lives in a much larger world… the reason is obvious. In a large community we can choose our companions. In a small community our companions are chosen for us.” G.K. Chesterton Think of how this applies to the church: While we may choose our friends, God chooses our brother…

From Tim Chaddick’s facebook update.

The kingdom of God and the cross

The kingdom to come has been secured in the propitiatory death and triumphant resurrection of the king who came so that the kingdom could be experienced, tasted, and enjoyed in part now as the kingdom has come, is coming, and will come in fullness when Jesus Christ returns.

Alistair Begg on the authority in the church

Alistair Begg on the Authority in the Chruch.

Good Deal on Tim Keller’s New Book (I ordered one)

Timothy Keller The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters “Combining biblical theology with experienced surgery on the soul over the years in modern Manhattan, Pastor Tim Keller performs an M.R.I. of our hearts and graphically exposes its results… Read this volume, but only if you dare submit your heart to the surgical probe of the Gospel… And like any good surgeon, Keller doesn’t leave us merely exposed, but compellingly points us to the cure: the One exposed, ravaged, ruined and resurrected for us.” - David B. Garner, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary Read the rest of Dr. Garner’s review Browse the Introduction

Single Copy: $19.95 $11.97 (40% Off!) » Case of 12: $239.40 $131.67 (45% Off!) » Order Now to arrive on or after the official release date of Tuesday, October 20, 2009. Please Note: Ordering this title may delay your entire order by one or two days.

Child Molester Targets a Child on my Block

This is literally on my block: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=6943180

Celebration Time!

Check this out:

Encouraging Fellowship and deep realtionship (buzzword: community) in your church

As I’m re-reading Total Church by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis, hearing/watching Steve Timmis lecture on it, and remembering what Brian Howard taught about community last week at the Acts29 Boot Camp, I realize that CHBC did practice deep relationships and “community” well for a 700-member church, so I thought to look back in my email archives for a list we compiled a last year.  I found it and list it below.

Here is a list from some of my brothers at Capitol Hill Baptist Church when I interned there:

1. single service, single location – Mark Dever explains this
2. evening service -Mark Dever explains this
3. small group policy – Mark Dever explains this
4. Corporate application during sermons
5. Elders getting to know people (one thing we look for in elder candidates is a track record of getting to know people in all pockets of the congregation)
6. Emphasis on personal discipleship relationships–even at the expense (sometimes) of small groups
7. Encouraging hospitality among (not to exclude outside of) church membership
8. Praying through the membership directory
9. Public Prayer requests at the prayer meeting/family time
10. No age-graded adult Sunday school
11. No singles ministry (or other demographic-focused ministry for adults)
12. Encouragement of West Hall fellowship after church
13. Potluck
14. Few small groups demarkated by demographic (married groups the exception)
15. Publicly holding up service across cultural lines as exemplary (Jeannie + Jesse caring for Annie Brown)
16. Encouraging a culture of spiritually-significant conversations
17. Full congregation vote on new members
18. Weddings always open to the entire congregation
19. Communion only for entire congregation (not in small groups)
20. Focus of Membership Matters class
21. Have all the staff pastors live on the block and sort of like a mini-community and getting people to fellowship with that community on the block.

I’ll be in Chicago this week

Lord-willing I’ll be in Chicago for The Gospel Coalition National Conference this week.  I anticipate the Lord refreshing me for our gospel initiatives here in L.A.  You can view live web casts if you want.

One Trillion Dollars

Wow.  Check out this visual of 1 Trillion Dollars.

(HT:JT)

Mohler on Faith-Based Government funding

Insightful as usual.  God shows his goodness to his church by giving us these insights through Al Mohler on issues like there.  Here’s a piece of what he wrote:

I would never advise a Christian organization to participate in these federal programs or to receive tax monies. The brutal reality is that when government money flows, government regulation inevitably follows. Furthermore, taking government money sets a bad precedent and can easily become a seductive snare. When government policies violate the organization’s convictions, or when regulations would require a compromise of those convictions, government funding is a trap.

Read the whole thing.

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