July - 2017

Measures of a Strong Church

From the world’s point of view, a strong church is measured by the size of its building, location, technology, the number of classes it offers and what kind of classes they are. Basically, “What does that church offer me?” In the New Testament, there were many good, strong congregations. But there were some that were not what they should have been (Revelation 2-3). Congregations come in all shapes and sizes; each one is different. However, there are several elements that stro

Social Media and the Christian

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” —Proverbs 4:23 According to recent studies, the average person has seven to 10 social media accounts. You may be asking yourself, “What is social media?” Social media is a website or app that connects people who share personal or professional interests, education, place of origin, etc. Examples are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Pinterest. It’s the way the world communicates in the 21st

The Power of Prayer

Prayers are powerful, but do we believe that? Outwardly, we may say “Yes,” but do we genuinely believe that? Do you believe your prayers are powerful? I’m confident that we all have said prayers in the past that have made a difference in our lives and in the lives of others. But how powerful are your prayers? We all live fairly comfortable lives. We have food on the table, a roof over our head, clothes on our back and transportation to get us where we need to go. But everythi

The Work of Deacons

"To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons" -- Philippians 1:1 In appointing deacons, it's not about just looking for men who make good decisions. It's not a talent competition. It's not about who's the most popular. It is: "Has this man exemplified service, and done so with love?" Jesus said in Matt. 20:28: "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Biblical leadership is

Qualifications of a Deacon

"To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons" -- Philippians 1:1 A deacon is an important role in the Lord's church. It's more than just an office, a title or someone who's a figurehead. There's something special about the service rendered by deacons. The definition of a deacon is simply a servant. While all Christians are to be servants, deacons are men appointed to a particular role of service within a local congregation. Paul lists t