Monthly Archives: August 2012

BLOG 8.28.12: QUESTION: HOW MANY DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A CHURCH? How many of Christ’s people does it take to be a church? Dumb question? Jesus told his disciples that he would build his church (Matthew 16:18)—using the Greek … Continue reading →

8.23.12 BLOG: QUESTION: CAN A ‘CHURCH’ BE ONLY A ‘MYTH’? A generation ago, Bolivian Methodist bishop Mortimer Arias, speaking in this country, related to an ecumenical assembly that, as a Latin American, he found North America to be a particularly … Continue reading →

BLOG 8/20/12: “KINGDOM PEOPLE IN AN ELECTION YEAR” In a previous presidential campaign, and in a large mid-western congregation, a sizeable number of members pushed the pastor to allow them to pass out leaflets advocating their candidate, and to call … Continue reading →

8/16/12 BLOG. WHAT MAKES THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE COMPELLING? What with all of the proliferation of confusing church expressions, and (sometimes weird) folk claiming to speak for the Christian faith, … what might catch the attention of those unfamiliar with it … Continue reading →

BLOG 8.14.12. QUESTIONS: WHY IS THE CHURCH? WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE? If you were to ask the questions: “Why is the church?” or “What is its purpose?” or “What does it have to do with the gospel?” … chances are … Continue reading →

8.9.12 BLOG: “DESCRIBE A CONGREGATION GETTING IT RIGHT.” One of my wonderfully provocative friends sent along this comment to my last blog: “I’m eager to hear you describe a congregation getting it right.” Bingo! This comment nails, quite precisely, the … Continue reading →

8/6/12. (CONTINUED): “WHO EFFECTIVELY INTERPRETS THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE TO THE WORLD AROUND US?” I would not be surprised but what there were a few raised eyebrows, or unconvinced snorts, at my last Blog about a church without clergy. Understandable. But … Continue reading →

8/2/12 BLOG: “A CHURCH WITHOUT CLERGY?” … NOW THERE’S A THOUGHT” Imagine a church without “clergy,” or church professionals, or those personable institution-keepers who preach sermons (and who tend to be formed by, and captive to, the clergy-seminary sub-culture). What … Continue reading →