Monthly Archives: November 2011

You’ve got mail: Opening the letters to the churches

Posted on November 23, 2011 by

There’s one mistake that even long-time Christians sometimes make when reading the Bible. We often assume that we just open the Bible and—no matter where in the Bible we’re reading—we read it exactly the same way. We read Psalms the … Continue reading →

Posted in church life, Taking Root | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Review: “The Biblical Role of Elders for Today’s Church” by Larry Kreider, Ron Myer, Steve Prokopchak, and Brian Sauder

Posted on November 22, 2011 by

This book was written by leaders of a specific church movement: Dove Christian Fellowship International. They write from a somewhat Pentecostal/Charismatic viewpoint (expecting elders to have experienced a distinct baptism of the Holy Spirit subsequent to salvation, etc.), although this … Continue reading →

Posted in church leadership, reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Where are we?: Getting a feel for the bigger story

Posted on November 16, 2011 by

I have a friend who’s seen the movie Raising Arizona at least twenty times. If he walks into a room and someone’s watching this film, he can not only pick out the exact point of the movie they’re watching, he … Continue reading →

Posted in church life, Taking Root, theology | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

The NIV Controversy, Part 1

Posted on November 16, 2011 by

It’s not unusual for the release of a prominent, new translation of Scripture to cause controversy. At the beginning of the 5th century, a scholar named Jerome produced a new translation in common, everyday Latin. This translation was called the … Continue reading →

Posted in church life, church ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Mini-Review: “Meetings that Work: A Guide to Effective Elders’ Meetings” by Alexander Strauch

Posted on November 15, 2011 by

This isn’t the must read that the author’s Biblical Eldership is, but it’s helpful in its own right. The concise nature of this book will be welcome to many busy elders. The reader may not find much that is brand … Continue reading →

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Review: “Christ in Church Leadership: A Handbook for Elders and Pastors” by Dorman Followwill and Paul Winslow

Posted on November 10, 2011 by

This work is a valuable addition to the growing list of books on eldership. The authors explain the basic scriptural teaching regarding churches being led by a team of elders, but the book doesn’t provide an in-depth examination of the … Continue reading →

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Why do we have to “study” the Bible?

Posted on November 10, 2011 by

Sometimes I’m asked, “Why do I have to study the Bible? Why can’t I just open it, read it and do it what it says?” This is a good question. To help us see the need for studying the Bible, … Continue reading →

Posted in church life, Taking Root | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

The first three rules of Bible study

Posted on November 2, 2011 by

You may have heard the story about the guy who wanted to hear from God. So he opened his Bible at random, put his finger down on the page and looked to see what it said. He was surprised to … Continue reading →

Posted in church life, Taking Root | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments