The ACTS International web site has an excellent online tract, "Jesus Christ: Is he God or Man?". Of course, I wince a bit when Christians use "Christ" as though it was Jesus' last name. Christ comes from the Greek word pronounced "Christos" and means the same as the Hebrew word for "Messiah".
So if you really want to avoid inappropriately using Christ as a last name, perhaps you could say, "Jesus the Christ".
Friday, May 19, 2006
Toons tickle spiritual funny bone
Cartoons can be fun, funny, or sometimes crude. When it comes to those related to religion, few are crude. But there are some so-so ones. A few I like are Church of the Covered Dish, Church Mice, and Reverend Fun. Our church subscribes to Church of the Covered Dish (there's a small fee involved for this toon series).
Here are some favorite "ReligiToons":
Here are some favorite "ReligiToons":
Where should children worship?
It's the age old debate -- should children remain with parents in the "Adult" worship service or attend a separate "Children's Church" or similar? In fact, many churches today take a sort of middle ground, where the children stay in the sanctuary until a certain point, then attend "Children's Church".
Children's Ministry Magazine got over 2000 responses to a poll about the topic. Slightly less than half favored keeping children in the main worship, while a bit more than half preferred a separate worship experience for children.
Read opposing comments on "Where should Children Worship?" by two children's ministers.
Children's Ministry Magazine got over 2000 responses to a poll about the topic. Slightly less than half favored keeping children in the main worship, while a bit more than half preferred a separate worship experience for children.
Read opposing comments on "Where should Children Worship?" by two children's ministers.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Check your theological worldview
The QuizFarm site has an interesting theology quiz. I scored highest as an Emergent/Postmodern Protestant. Here's the description for that group:
You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this.
| Emergent/Postmodern | 61% |
| Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan | 57% |
| Roman Catholic | 54% |
| Classical Liberal | 46% |
| Neo orthodox | 46% |
| Reformed Evangelical | 43% |
| Modern Liberal | 36% |
| Charismatic/Pentecostal | 29% |
| Fundamentalist | 14 |
What's your theological worldview?
created with QuizFarm.com
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal -- What's the difference?
Jo Carter gives a whimsical reply to a Catholic asking about the differences among these three Protestant denominations . You'll find the reply amusing, as captured at the Locusts And Honey blog.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Immodesty at church
When surveyed, 76% of children's ministers said they're fed up with immodesty at church, but a sizeable 24% said that we need more tolerance of today's fashion trends. Bare midriffs ... display of cleavage ... exposed underwear ... skin-tight blouses ... skirts so short that the girl can hardly navigate stairs ...
Do these really honor God? Read the whole " Indecent Exposure" article.
Do these really honor God? Read the whole " Indecent Exposure" article.
The Gospel of Debbie
OK, there's this young high school girl named Debbie. And she's just met the coolest guy -- Jesus. The New Yorker article by Paul Rudnick is a humorous look at the situation, in diary form. It's way cool (or maybe "it's the bomb" [... that will get Homeland Security to read this blog!] ).
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Heritage Sunday - 50 years of full clergy rights for women
With Heritage Sunday 2006 on May 26th, the United Methodist Church celebrates 50 years of full clergy rights for women. Here are a few related links:
- Heritage Sunday (the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church)
- Worship resources (GBOD)
- The evangelistic impact of Heritage Sunday
- 50th Anniversary resources - worship bulletin inserts (GCSRW)
- Worship planning helps for May 21, 2006
- Interview with Rev. Dr. Maud Keister Jensen, first UM woman to receive full clergy rights
- General Commission of the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW)
- Women Bishops in the United Methodist Church
- Women's Action for New Directions (WAND)
- Women in the Wesleyan tradition: A Bibliography (PDF file)
Friday, May 12, 2006
Sermon library serves all
Gateway (United Methodist) Church archives sermons online. Some pastors shudder at the thought, though. Why is that; are there solutions?
A big reason for shunning online sermons, some Pastors have told me, is that they fear that serving up Sunday sermons on the web just entices some people to skip attending church on a few Sundays when they might otherwise attend. To help lessen that temptation, Gateway waits a few weeks before adding the sermon online. On May 12th, the April 23rd sermon was the latest posted, for example.
Here's another thought -- people who'd skip church if the sermons were online might skip church anyway. In that case, having sermons online might just reach them with a spiritual message they'd otherwise miss. The up-side of adding sermons online is that the pastoral message reaches more people -- affects more lives. That's what the sermons is for, right?
In fact, consider adding a condensed sermon outline just above the text. It helps people mentally prepare to read the text. So don't hesitate -- archive those sermons online. Reach out into the world!
A big reason for shunning online sermons, some Pastors have told me, is that they fear that serving up Sunday sermons on the web just entices some people to skip attending church on a few Sundays when they might otherwise attend. To help lessen that temptation, Gateway waits a few weeks before adding the sermon online. On May 12th, the April 23rd sermon was the latest posted, for example.
Here's another thought -- people who'd skip church if the sermons were online might skip church anyway. In that case, having sermons online might just reach them with a spiritual message they'd otherwise miss. The up-side of adding sermons online is that the pastoral message reaches more people -- affects more lives. That's what the sermons is for, right?
In fact, consider adding a condensed sermon outline just above the text. It helps people mentally prepare to read the text. So don't hesitate -- archive those sermons online. Reach out into the world!
Thursday, May 11, 2006
What is Methodism?
St. Andrew's by the Sea UMC in San Clemente, California, has a good video series. (Windows Media file format) You can find them at their Methodism 101 page:
- History of the Methodist movement (WMV file)
- Our Methodist Heritage (WMV file)
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