The Case
Board chairperson Tom had served the church for many years, yet he felt as if his spiritual life were in the doldrums. He felt cynical about church in general and apathetic about his role in the church. He felt a little guilty about being a leader. Somebody more spiritual should be giving guidance to the church, he thought.
One morning, while at breakfast with a friend, Tom took the risk ...
Board chairperson Tom had served the church for many years, yet he felt as if his spiritual life were in the doldrums. He felt cynical about church in general and apathetic about his role in the church. He felt a little guilty about being a leader. Somebody more spiritual should be giving guidance to the church, he thought.
One morning, while at breakfast with a friend, Tom took the risk to ...
Spiritual discernment is listening for God's will. It's done through consensus, which simply means that in a church board or committee, an important test of God's leading is spiritual unity, a sense of peace after a prayerful and thorough discussion of a decision.
How to do that while still getting things done?
1. Choose a sensitive guide. In many ways, church meetings governed by spiritual discernment ...
For church kids, learning Bible verses is easy. Almost every children's program stresses its importance. Kids play games, listen to Bible stories, and sing songs—basically having a grand time while learning God's Word.
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But recently I've discovered memorizing Scripture isn't so difficult, even for an adult. Here are five helps to get you started.
Urgent care situations often require an immediate response from church leaders. This overview outlines major steps you should take in addressing spiritual warfare. These action steps are explored in greater depth and detail in the remainder of this packet.
Immediate Concerns
1. Be a calming presence to the person.
2. Reassure the person that, with God's power, the oppression can be lifted.
I had no previous experience with demons or spiritual forces the day my future wife and I went to visit Harry in a small rural hospital near the church where I pastored part time during college. He had suffered a serious heart attack and been in a coma ever since.
After talking to Harry, Julie and I decided to pray for him. Shortly after we began, he moved his lips and said, "Jesus Christ did not come ...
Church leaders have it easy; they deal only with nice people. At least that is the common assumption. But pastors encounter evil-twisted personalities and sorry situationswith regularity. Churches attract troubled people, and leaders are called into dark situations.
So how do you tackle the effects of evil? Leadership talked with four leaders who have experienced spiritual warfare:
DEVOTIONS Is It Really War? Consider these diagnostic insights to help determine rules of engagement. Archibald D. Hart
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No counselor or caregiver can become an expert in every aspect of the human condition. And yet they have to diagnose, if only at a rudimentary level, a troubled person's problem: Does this person need to be pointed toward making a commitment to Christ and thereby experiencing the new life of regeneration? Does this person need some supernatural intervention? Or is this a case for psychotherapy or ...