Posts by Paul Downey
Training New Leadership
Paul Downey The Bible doesn’t provide a lot of biographical information about the man known as Barnabas in the Book of Acts, but it does present a man worthy of our admiration and emulation. His selflessness and generosity are seen in accounts of his activities as well as in the sometimes surprising silence of the…
Read MoreConsumers or Committed Christians?
Paul Downey These days one can find on the shelves of any Christian bookstore all manner of volumes offering to explain how to build larger churches. Depending on the author, churches are urged to employ various techniques to entice believers and unbelievers (often referred to as “seekers”) to fill their pews. Marketing the church has…
Read MoreThe Authority of the Scriptures
Paul W. Downey Many churches today base their ministries on one fad or another. In attempts to attract a larger crowd or larger offerings, many pastors “package” their churches as places where people can be entertained, fulfilled, or taught to cope with the difficulties of life. Our churches ought rather to be places where people…
Read MoreExamine Your Profession of Faith
Paul Downey One of the longest recorded sermons preached by the Lord Jesus is found in the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of Matthew. The immediate audience to whom Jesus spoke included the scribes and Pharisees—the scrupulously religious experts of the Law who assumed they were perfect in righteousness. Also present were many ordinary Jews…
Read MoreWhy Cling to a Conservative Music Standard?
by Paul Downey Ministries need a Biblical and philosophical basis for rejecting popular music in favor of conservative, traditional music. The music used in our churches and schools should provide a high-quality, meaningful alternative to the high-pressure worldly influence of popular music. While the text is important, it is by no means the only criterion…
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