Christianity in the 3rd Millennium
Posted in Christian, Christian Growth, Current Events in Christianity, Discipleship, House Church, Ministry, Personal Ramblings, Religion, spirituality on Sep 2nd, 2010
We should also ask that question concerning our churches. Do they make a real difference? For all our worship and teaching and events, are we really changing anyone? Are people getting saved? Are disciples being made? Are ministries being raised up?
Posted in Christian, Christian Growth, House Church, Ministry, Personal Ramblings, Reformation, Religion on Jun 24th, 2010
I am not even sure where I am going with this article or if anyone will read it, I just feel I have to write it, to get it off my chest - perhaps as closure for the brother who died. Perhaps because it so unfortunetly and viividly illustrates the things I see wrong in the Church today. I just know that the more I look at “church as usual” the more convinced I am that it is the very structure of modern church that hinders the Kindgom of God. The suicide of a pastor is an exclamation point in the commentary.
Posted in Christian, Christian Growth, Current Events in Christianity, Discipleship, House Church, Ministry, Reformation, Religion, spirituality on Dec 9th, 2009
May you wrestle with God over these issues as Jacob wrestled with God and walked away changed: limping, but blessed, with a new name and a new destiny in God’s kingdom purposes.
Posted in Christian, Christian Growth, Discipleship, House Church, Ministry, Religion, spirituality on Mar 29th, 2009
Contrary to popular belief, God does not want you to be religious. Actually, His desire is for you to be SPIRITUAL! There is a major difference.
Religion is man’s attempt to relate to God based on his own ideas and efforts. It may be a noble goal, but it is entirely futile according to God. Spirituality [...]
Posted in Christian, House Church, Ministry, Religion on Dec 22nd, 2008
There’s an old saying about killing two birds with one stone. It has been said by someone more cleaver than me that Jesus killed two stones with one bird. The two stones of course being the two tables the 10 commandments were written on and the Bird being representative of the Holy Spirit.
”For the law of the [...]
Posted in Christian, Current Events in Christianity, House Church, Ministry, Religion on Nov 27th, 2008
In the last article (part 4 of ther series) we looked at the current concepts of “ministry.” The popular idea is that of position, power, authority and at least a little bit of being catered to. These are foreign notions to to New testament ministers and writers.
As we saw earlier, the word Ministry was the [...]
Posted in Christian, Current Events in Christianity, House Church, Ministry, Personal Ramblings, Religion on Sep 27th, 2008
Ministry NEVER refered to a positon; it always indicated the doing of the work. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word for “ministry” (in realtion to the function of the priests toward the congregation) was ‘Shawrath” and it meant to “attend as menial or as a worshipper.” In the New Testament the word “minister” is “diakoneo,” the word from which we get “deacon.” It simply means “to be an attendant, or to wait tables.” Not very ego boosting, is it? The word “ministry” is similar, with only a slight change: diakonIA.
Posted in Christian, Current Events in Christianity, House Church, Ministry, Personal Ramblings, Religion on Sep 21st, 2008
There are two ways to approach ministry, one is the religious route and one is the spiritual route. There is a big difference between religiousness and spirituality. God does not want us to be religious; He wants us to be spiritual. Religion is maintaining the status quo, repeating what has been handed down by the group you are with in terms of doctrine, faith and practice. Spirituality on the other had has to do with following the Holy Spirit, which often conflicts with men’s traditions. Paul said, “They are the sons of God who are lead by the Spirit of God.” Romans 8 (around verse 14).
Posted in Christian, Current Events in Christianity, House Church, Personal Ramblings, Religion on Sep 20th, 2008
I am not against education (I have a doctorate in pastoral theology), but I am against the idea that my degree somehow makes me more qualified to be a pastor; it doesn’t. Hopefully it helps me to be a better pastor. It is a calling and anoinitng that makes a person a pastor, not a degree or ordination certificate.
Posted in Christian, House Church, Ministry, Personal Ramblings, Religion on Sep 13th, 2008
The present day Pastor is as much a part of church life as Jesus Himself. That’s not to say I think the pastor is anywhere near on par with Jesus, I don’t. However the mentality of many churches and their congregations is that they could function quite well without Jesus but not without a pastor or two. (That noise you just heard was the speed at which I was ducking the stones being hurled at me.)
Dr. Steve Highlander
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