As a pastor I am not only the primary worship leader of our congregation, but I am also the lead worshiper. Sure, I set the spiritual direction for our services, plan the details, and preach the sermon. But I also engage in worship during the service just like every one else. I sing, I listen,…
Criticism. How to Give It
Criticism is the act of evaluating & passing judgment on the merits of someone’s attitude or actions. In today’s culture the very idea of criticism carries a negative connotation. It is not uncommon to hear one say, “Who are you to criticize me?” The idea behind this kind of spirit is that one person does…
Do I Have to Keep the LAW?
A couple of Thursday nights ago at Redeemer Church we studied Romans 7:1-6. In that examination of the text we addressed the different attitudes believers have toward God’s law. What we said is that people generally fall into three different categories: legalism, antinomianism, and Christian freedom. Legalism is the commitment to obey God’s laws in order…
Stick With It
This week we have been enjoying the teaching of Pastor Kim Kira from Lighthouse Community Church in Torrance, California. Kim is not only a church-planter & pastor, but he is also a skilled biblical counselor. The conference he is leading is called “God-Centered Counseling: Where the Eternal Gospel Meets Everyday Life.” On Tuesday morning he…
Help a Brother Out!
This summer Jamie and I mapped out a plan to run in a 10-mile adventure race in Georgia on Saturday, October 13th. Our friend Elizabeth B joined in, as well. So for the last few months we have been training for the challenge. Race-day finally arrived this weekend and we traveled over to Cumming, Georgia…
What Kind of Church Do You Attend? (part 3)
Alright, in this series we have looked at the Biblically-Deprived church and the Biblically-Influenced church. Today we will seek to understand what a Biblically-Driven church is. Putting all my cards on the table I must tell you that I want Redeemer Church to squarely fit into this third category. I want us to be driven…
What Kind of Church Do You Attend? (part 2)
If you didn’t read yesterday’s post, I encourage you to do so before you read this one. It will make this post make more sense. The first kind of church we examined was the Biblically-Deprived church. Today we will survey the Biblically-Influenced church. From personal experience and years of observation, it seems to me that…
What Kind of Church Do You Attend? (part 1)
What role should the Bible have in the life of a local church? How prominent should the Scriptures be in services, classes, small groups, and various ministries the church leads throughout the week? My friend Bradley Pinkerton (pastoral intern at Anniston Bible Church) and I had a discussion about this not too long ago. As…
Crossroads
A small group of young adults at Redeemer Church is seeking to intensify our Gospel ministry. These believers range in age from 16 to 30. Though they are in different stages of their educational and professional life (pre-college, college, post-college), they have the same purpose for their spiritual life: “to pursue the glory of God…
Tell the Truth
Recently I have had a few interchanges at the coffee shop with a man of a different religion. We’ve had one very long conversation and one or two short ones. Our communication has been interesting, intense, and very respectful. I praise God for that! This man understands that I want him to believe in Christ…