Comments for sowhatfaith.com http://sowhatfaith.com Faith Matters. Does Yours? Fri, 18 May 2012 19:01:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 Comment on Review of Inside the Large Congregation by Mega Megachurches http://sowhatfaith.com/2012/05/15/review-of-inside-the-large-congregation/comment-page-1/#comment-11988 Mega Megachurches Fri, 18 May 2012 19:01:41 +0000 http://sowhatfaith.com/?p=7040#comment-11988 [...] insight into the differences in congregations at varying size thresholds — read my review here).  How is the move toward a greater number of large churches and megachurches worldwide impacting [...] [...] insight into the differences in congregations at varying size thresholds — read my review here).  How is the move toward a greater number of large churches and megachurches worldwide impacting [...]

]]> Comment on How Americans Interpret the Bible by One Psalm – Two Radically Different Uses http://sowhatfaith.com/2011/07/14/how-americans-interpret-the-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-11979 One Psalm – Two Radically Different Uses Sun, 13 May 2012 19:05:51 +0000 http://sowhatfaith.com/?p=4457#comment-11979 [...] does your view of the Bible influence your feelings about these two uses of Psalm [...] [...] does your view of the Bible influence your feelings about these two uses of Psalm [...]

]]> Comment on Bread for the Journey by Susan http://sowhatfaith.com/2012/05/10/bread-for-the-journey/comment-page-1/#comment-11977 Susan Fri, 11 May 2012 00:17:35 +0000 http://sowhatfaith.com/?p=7008#comment-11977 I really liked that "bread for the journey..." I really liked that “bread for the journey…”

]]> Comment on Within 24 Hours by Alex http://sowhatfaith.com/2012/01/04/within-24-hours/comment-page-1/#comment-11974 Alex Mon, 07 May 2012 21:34:41 +0000 http://sowhatfaith.com/?p=5949#comment-11974 This is a great post. Thank you and <a href="http://google.com/" rel="nofollow">Google</a> for chance to read it. This is a great post. Thank you and Google for chance to read it.

]]> Comment on Findings from 2011 Baylor Religion Survey by Differing Standards for Eternity? http://sowhatfaith.com/2011/11/04/findings-from-2011-baylor-religion-survey/comment-page-1/#comment-11970 Differing Standards for Eternity? Sun, 06 May 2012 19:05:24 +0000 http://sowhatfaith.com/?p=5474#comment-11970 [...] to recent research Heaven is a more popular notion than Hell. Nearly two-thirds of American adults (62%) absolutely [...] [...] to recent research Heaven is a more popular notion than Hell. Nearly two-thirds of American adults (62%) absolutely [...]

]]> Comment on The Future Church (v.2020) – 10 Shifts by A Way Forward for American Christianity http://sowhatfaith.com/2012/04/23/the-future-church-v-2020-10-shifts/comment-page-1/#comment-11969 A Way Forward for American Christianity Sat, 05 May 2012 19:02:42 +0000 http://sowhatfaith.com/?p=6869#comment-11969 [...] he imagines is very different than the one I believe likely (for more on my vision, read “The Future of the Church: 10 Shifts“).  While his conclusion cannot be dismissed by his tradition, understanding his own [...] [...] he imagines is very different than the one I believe likely (for more on my vision, read “The Future of the Church: 10 Shifts“).  While his conclusion cannot be dismissed by his tradition, understanding his own [...]

]]> Comment on Future Church – More About Deeds by Jerry Franz http://sowhatfaith.com/2012/04/22/future-church-more-about-deeds/comment-page-1/#comment-11956 Jerry Franz Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:25:39 +0000 http://sowhatfaith.com/?p=6748#comment-11956 Thanks for posting these 10 trends, Greg. They do sound accurate at first reading. I know you are just reporting these, not necessarily endorsing these trends. I think Eric Funston's post here makes some very good points on this. "Deeds flow from belief; works flow from faith". I am not a pastor, but have training and gifts in teaching the Scriptures, theology and Church history, so this trend affects me a lot. Our church endeavors to get everyone in small discipleship groups, which are great. The adult Sunday School classes have been replaced by small group training classes (for present and future small group leaders), and a class for people with general questions about Christianity. All of these are good, I think. But there's really not room anymore for a person like me who likes to dig in the Scriptures with a class, and grow from what we find. I recognize that what our church is doing is part of the general trend of the church, not something unique. I've tried to re-make myself into the mold they want of a small group, relational leader, but I just don't fit that very well, though I am learning. For small group leaders, they don't look for any kinds of gifts of teaching. And I am talking with the Church leader in charge of these small groups. The larger point of this for this blog may be: what is the future role of the Bible teacher in the church, if there's not much emphasis upon Bible study (beyond the very basics)? Thanks for posting these 10 trends, Greg. They do sound accurate at first reading. I know you are just reporting these, not necessarily endorsing these trends. I think Eric Funston’s post here makes some very good points on this. “Deeds flow from belief; works flow from faith”. I am not a pastor, but have training and gifts in teaching the Scriptures, theology and Church history, so this trend affects me a lot.

Our church endeavors to get everyone in small discipleship groups, which are great. The adult Sunday School classes have been replaced by small group training classes (for present and future small group leaders), and a class for people with general questions about Christianity. All of these are good, I think. But there’s really not room anymore for a person like me who likes to dig in the Scriptures with a class, and grow from what we find.

I recognize that what our church is doing is part of the general trend of the church, not something unique. I’ve tried to re-make myself into the mold they want of a small group, relational leader, but I just don’t fit that very well, though I am learning. For small group leaders, they don’t look for any kinds of gifts of teaching. And I am talking with the Church leader in charge of these small groups.

The larger point of this for this blog may be: what is the future role of the Bible teacher in the church, if there’s not much emphasis upon Bible study (beyond the very basics)?

]]> Comment on Do Church Members View Your Website? by Is Your Church’s Website Visitor Friendly? http://sowhatfaith.com/2011/10/06/do-church-members-view-your-website/comment-page-1/#comment-11955 Is Your Church’s Website Visitor Friendly? Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:02:39 +0000 http://sowhatfaith.com/?p=5224#comment-11955 [...] Do Church Members View Your Website? [...] [...] Do Church Members View Your Website? [...]

]]> Comment on Future Church – More About Deeds by C Eric Funston http://sowhatfaith.com/2012/04/22/future-church-more-about-deeds/comment-page-1/#comment-11931 C Eric Funston Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:13:47 +0000 http://sowhatfaith.com/?p=6748#comment-11931 Deeds and the historic creeds (Nicene and Apostle's) are not a dichotomy in my mind. I understand the need for a catchily phrased bullet point, but this one misses the mark. Deeds flow from belief; works flow from faith. The historic creeds succinctly state the Christian faith on which our deeds are based. Now, having said that, I think the point is valid in respect to longer statements of theology or ecclesiology. Insistence on such things as the Lutherans' Augsburg Confession, the Presbyterians' Westminster Confession, the Anglicans' 39 Articles of Religion, and on canons, books of order, books of discipline, etc. is perhaps what is meant here by "creeds" over against which an active "deed-oriented" faith is proposed. -- Personally, I dislike the song you reference. It extolls the believer over the Lord, some mushy sentimental notion of "love" for one another over an active faith of service to neighbor and stranger; what the song is about is not the love taught or lived by Jesus. I hope my congregation (which has an active social justice and service ministry) is and will be known by the latter, not by the sentimentality in that song. Deeds and the historic creeds (Nicene and Apostle’s) are not a dichotomy in my mind. I understand the need for a catchily phrased bullet point, but this one misses the mark. Deeds flow from belief; works flow from faith. The historic creeds succinctly state the Christian faith on which our deeds are based. Now, having said that, I think the point is valid in respect to longer statements of theology or ecclesiology. Insistence on such things as the Lutherans’ Augsburg Confession, the Presbyterians’ Westminster Confession, the Anglicans’ 39 Articles of Religion, and on canons, books of order, books of discipline, etc. is perhaps what is meant here by “creeds” over against which an active “deed-oriented” faith is proposed. — Personally, I dislike the song you reference. It extolls the believer over the Lord, some mushy sentimental notion of “love” for one another over an active faith of service to neighbor and stranger; what the song is about is not the love taught or lived by Jesus. I hope my congregation (which has an active social justice and service ministry) is and will be known by the latter, not by the sentimentality in that song.

]]> Comment on Future Church – More Connected by The Future Church (v.2020) – 10 Shifts http://sowhatfaith.com/2012/04/19/future-church-more-connected/comment-page-1/#comment-11929 The Future Church (v.2020) – 10 Shifts Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:02:39 +0000 http://sowhatfaith.com/?p=6735#comment-11929 [...] 4.  More Connected – Less Geographically Dependent [...] [...] 4.  More Connected – Less Geographically Dependent [...]

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