0 Comments
We are currently living in a day where denominations are thought of as things of the past. The number of independent churches rises daily. Yet no one questions whether or not this is biblical or sound.
When we closely examine the New Testament we find that the church did not consist of independent and autonomous churches. Rather they were interdependent and connectional in nature. This can be seen in looking at the following: There were many individual churches in any given area. This is testified to by… 1. The sheer number of believers Large cities were typically had large numbers of believers. Some believe that the number of believers in Jerusalem alone could easily have been up to (or exceeding) 10,000 souls (Acts 2:21; 2:47; 5:14; 6:7; 12:24). It should be obvious that the multitudes that were coming to faith would require more than just 12 apostles to apply pastoral care. 2. The number of house churches within one given city These large numbers could not meet in one given place for worship. They did not have facilities for such crowds. Instead, they met in smaller groups within various people’s houses through the city. For instance, some of the brethren met in the home of Mary/John Mark in Jerusalem. No doubt all of them would not fit into this one house! Evidence supports the fact that there were many house churches in the city of Collose. Paul wrote to the Collosians (Christians in the whole city), but he also wrote to one particular congregation in Colosse: (Philemon “and to the church in [his] house.”). The same can be said of Corinth: Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, but as he did so he indicated that particular greetings were to be given to one specific congregation (1 Cor. 16:9). Some people call it a role reversal. I call it a revolution! And it is just another indication that the home is being turned completely upside-down. Traditionally it was dad who kissed his bride and then grabbed his lunch pail as he headed out the door for work. His loving wife would wave good bye as she prepared for another day of tending to the household affairs.
We’re finding that stay at home dads are becoming one of the most significant trends in America today. Last March NPR reported that there are aproximately 160,000 stay at home dads today. This is significant in that this number is up by almost 55,000 from a mere 4 years ago.
The trend has become so big that there are websites devoted to help dads obtain resources for being a stay at home dad. There are support groups that you can access. There is even an annual At Home Dad’s conference you can attend, with seminars on raising children with dissabilities, nutrition, and discipline strategies. Almighty God,
We give you thanks for every good and perfect gift that comes down from heaven and for the liberality with which you bestow it. By the food that is to be spread before us we recognize the gracious kindness that you demonstrate with poor sinners such as us. Yet we give you special praise for the gift for which we gather here today. In your wise providence you granted us and this institution the special grace of a diligent servant, faithful supporter, and exceptional mind. You’ve given to this school more than a professor, academician, or administrator. You have granted it a father, a watchman, and a spiritual fortress. We thank you for the wisdom that you have set down through him, and for the legacy of Truth that has been established by him. We pray that these great things will be of much more enduring power than the bricks and mortar that do make up this campus. And Father, we beseech you for your blessing upon this evening’s celebrations. May the food be a sweetness to our pallets and strength to our bones. And may the fellowship and memories that are shared be a nourishment to our souls. When you don't have a fixed standard for defining gender, all kinds of questions will arise. The sports world is now to the point where they have to figure out who can play on what teams. Can a guy who has undergone a sex change play on a girls team? Will there be an unfair advantage? Join us for this episode of The Town Crier Show. The energy of the movie drives the flick while the plot makes you thirsty for answers. The storyline’s overarching narrative juices your curiosity throughout because it never becomes altogether clear. Most shows would fail for this complete ambiguity. However, the directors score because the otherwise frustrating obscurity develops with Einsteinian genius, thus providing a refreshing new take on the crusty old hero tale.
This stimulatingly murky plot compliments the flick’s postmodern overtones. Questions regarding morality and reality leave you wondering what is true and seeking resolution…a perfect cliffhanger for a sequel, but you can’t shake the feeling that these ultimate answers will never come. The drama nevertheless is intense as battle scenes emit suspense and awe. Emotional allure is just as penetrating as the adrenaline hyping cinematography. No doubt the story writers score high by evoking emotive tragedy of Shakespearian levels. They should remember though that it is never good to kill off all your main characters when you are planning on making a sequel that must explain the first installment. Shakespeare could do it, but he never planned for a series. Divorce Insurance? Really? Is that how far we've come?
That's right. Divorce is the rage that's sweeping the nation. This scourge is of such pandemic proportions that companies are now offering insurance for that likely possibility you untie the knot. This episode of the Town Crier Show analyzes the culture of divorce that is so prevalent in our culture today. Listen Now! I just got done putting together a gospel tract for our church's use. I'm posting it here just in case anyone would like to use it. [Better yet, you might like to read it and figure out just how good you are!] Are you a good person? By all means, change the contact information and church name. Customize it for your own use as you wish (save changing the gospel of course!). May the Lord bless this word for the conversion of many souls! |
Kindled Fire is dedicated
to the preaching and teaching ministry of Matt Timmons. Matt is blessed to be a husband, father, and pastor in Ashland, Ohio. Got Problems?
Get Biblical Counsel Social Media
Join the conversation! Check Out
Matt's Original Hymns This is Matt's book. You should buy it.
Categories
All
Archives
November 2020
|