Sublime

Thus the church is publicly proclaiming the message of salvation to those who do not believe,

We must not be beholden to the lie that all is well in the world and the church. This is not a time for business as usual. Eternal destinies are at stake. The future of the church is at stake.

“The future of this church depends upon bringing life to lost people.”

We proclaim not helpful hints but eternal visions. We can’t do this if we are making the Bible’s words serve our words. Biblical preaching trusts that the Bible can be set loose to work its power. Brothers, isn’t it wonderful that we are set free from the tyranny of our good ideas to the power of the Bible’s good news?

And if the pastor can’t do this, completely shaking off the what in favor of the how, then she is always under the threat of being perceived, ironically, as a blockage to people’s genuine (authentic) spiritual journey (more on this below).

A plurality of elders can be an example to the congregation of unity of mind and heart despite differences. Pastors are not appointed to a church primarily to lead in the instruction of skills and the dissemination of information; they are appointed to a church primarily to lead in Christ-following.

his fundamental conviction has remained constant: the horrors of late twentieth-century life, whether Nazi, communist, racist, nationalist, or utilitarian in expression, are the products of defective concepts of the human person.

We must thank God for our pastors and pray for them every day. Satan always attacks the pastor and his family first within a church because he knows that if he can “strike the shepherd, the sheep of the flock will be scattered”. (Matthew 26v31) Pastors need us to cover them in prayer daily.

Our cities are longing for life. But to reach them, we have to reposition our churches.