Proclaim & Defend
Around the Web–6/1/12
A few items of interest this week: Quebec: Canada’s Prodigal Province. Independent Baptists will not agree with many of the statements made in this article by some of the interviewees, but the article highlights the challenges of ministering to the secular culture. A crying need of the day is to reach the unchurched secularist who…
Read MoreThe Training Wheels of Evangelism – Part 3
by Jim Oesterwind This is part 3 of a series, here is Part 1, Part 2. There is no denying the fact that a dramatically changed life testifies to the power of God’s grace in converting the vilest among us. Hardened criminals, brutal terrorists, and party-animal entertainers have all been converted to Christ. Consider Mao…
Read MoreThe Training Wheels of Evangelism – Part 2
by Jim Oesterwind This is the second of a series. Part 1 is here. The opal is a beautiful stone because of the “play of color” on its surface. When you alter your line of sight or move the stone, the colors chase one another over the surface of the gem in broad splashes. Opals…
Read MoreHe did not leave people “in sin”
by Doug Wright Andy Stanley’s ministry at North Point Community Church and its many satellite campuses has recently come back onto many people’s radar. Stanley’s April 15, 2012 message, titled “When Gracie Met Truthy” caused quite a stir. The sermon was part five of a series called “Christian.” I have heard and read many critiques…
Read MoreArchaeology and Biblical Evidences
by Don Johnson Today is a travel day for your correspondent, so we will have no ‘Around the Web’ feature this week. Instead, I’d like to offer you two highlights from my recent trip to London, England. At the moment this article posts (1 AM Eastern Time) I should be heading for Heathrow on my…
Read MoreThe Training Wheels of Evangelism
by Jim Oesterwind This is part 1 of a multi-part article. Part 2 is here. See also Pastor Oesterwind’s address at the Northern California FBF Fellowship meeting. Do you remember learning how to ride a bike? Many of us gained confidence riding our bikes through the use of training wheels. They are designed to give…
Read MoreAround the Web – May 11, 2012
This week, we found an interesting chart on why pastors and churches are heading toward conflict that often results in pastoral dismissal: “Pastor’s Fight and Flight”. Top two reasons: ‘recent church fights and shrinking congregations’… the next six: Short Sermons (seriously!) Almost no men in attendance Women pastors Young pastors Old congregants A slight majority…
Read MoreTHE SOUND OF THE MUSIC
(DISTINGUISHING GOOD AND BAD MUSIC) by John Mincy It would be an understatement to say that music is dividing all kinds of churches in this first part of the 21stcentury. It is important for all Christians and church leaders to be informed about the fundamental issues involved. We should first ask ourselves, “What makes something…
Read MoreAround the Web–May 4, 2012
These items caught our interest this week: Nikki Haley on Faith – the governor of South Carolina was raised Sikh, claims now to be a Christian. Are her answers spiritual or political? Yesterday, Christianity Today published an astonishing article, The Passion of George Harrison – but we don’t merely wish to shake our heads at…
Read MoreGender Neutrality, Inclusivity and the 2011 TNIV
by Jim Oesterwind Inclusive language is all the rage, these days. In everything from your local newspaper to your grammar checker in your word processor, you are encouraged to use inclusive language, appeasing the sensibilities of the modern mind. Inclusive language is an issue for Christians as even Bible translations are affected by this new…
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