Edward P. Mason reflects on the article, “Can we domesticate the Holy Spirit?” as a catalyst for some thoughts on (1) youth in our church life and growth, and (2) “Renewal” as a stranger in much of our church life. … Read more
Conductor or Virtuoso?
By David J. Montgomery. The rigid distinction between elders who teach and elders who rule, while valid, has been overplayed and strengthened unjustifiably by making the administration of the sacraments an exclusive function of the office of ministry. … Read more
From Vision to Reality: Leadership is the Key
By Neal Mathers – We don’t often talk about it but he truth is that leadership has often been identified as the key factor in developing a healthy growing church. If the minister, elders and congregational leaders do not take the lead in developing goals and strategies for church growth then the congregation will reflect this non-growth mentality. … Read more
Renewal Event Doubles Attendance
By Gail Reid. Tony Campolo challenged the Renewal Network Conference to preach the cross, surrender to the Holy Spirit, make the Bible part of who we are, and love the world into the kingdom. George Sumner, principal of Wycliffe College, an evangelical Anglican seminary, urged the crowd to minister for the sake of the larger church. … Read more
A Prayer of “Expectancy”
By Edward P. Mason. This is a prayer of preparation for worship, reflecting on both personal witness and the worshipping body. … Read more
Executive Director’s Comment – Contemplative and Meditative Worship Styles
By Calvin Brown. Worship wars are said to be the most common cause of disruption in congregations. When the real cause of unhappiness is examined, the principal offender is not usually the new music but the form of certain types of contemporary worship. … Read more
The Daze of Noah
By Vern Tozer. What would happen if Noah were alive today – living in our Synod, within the bounds of one of our Presbyteries, and a member of one of our churches? … Read more
Generosity: David at the Brook Besor – 1 Samuel 30
By Eugene H. Peterson. Those who are too tired to go on, or consigned to the sidelines because of lack of stamina, or resigned to a marginal status, need to hear the inward assurance of God's affirmation through the generous verdict of David at the Brook Besor. … Read more
The Untapped Power of Sheer Christianity, by Clark Pinnock
Reviewed by Edmund F. Bloedow. Athough this is essentially a personal testimony, it is also a strong call to return to and/or stand fast in the faith by: 1) “Loving the Truth”: 2) “Walking in the Spirit”: and 3) “Obeying the Lord”. … Read more
Learn to Discern, by R.G. De Moss, Jr.
Reviewed by Jim Walton. De Moss’s goal is to teach parents how they may help their children to develop a critical, Christian mind that is able to sift through the mixed messages given by the seductive and influential power of the television, movie, advertising, and music industries. … Read more
Worship Workshop: Children and Worship
By Trudy Schalk. Rather than an educational perspective, the aim of Young Children and Worship is to provide a worship perspective, offering children an environment to enter into the stories and experience God’s revelations through the Holy Spirit. … Read more
Marriage
By Ian Rennie. God has prepared us for marriage by creating us with gender. And He has given us instructions for successful marriage in the Bible. We need to believe God, rather than the experts. Matthew 19:1-9 is very specific about leaving our parents and becoming one with our spouse. … Read more
Church Renewal and Social Reform
By Stanford Reid. The search for the spiritual renewal of the church is something which is constantly taking place, and that is good. For the Church of Jesus Christ is in a very real sense a human body which needs continual renewal and has needed it ever since the days of the Lord Jesus upon earth. … Read more
Sightings in the Valley of the Shadow: Reflections on Dying, by Balfour M. Mount
Reviewed by Bridget Dickens. I would recommend this book to anyone involved with those suffering, or approaching death, and especially for palliative care-givers. … Read more
Renewing the Church: A Place to Begin
Jack Mills reports on Eugene Peterson’s talk at a recent Renewal Day. If God’s Church can become God-centered instead of man-centered, the opportunities in his ever-changing world will be obvious. … Read more
The Uniqueness of Christ in a Pluralist World, by Howard Taylor
Reviewed by John Vaudry. This booklet answers questions about the validity of religions other than Christianity, about the proper approach to mission, and about the vexed question of the final destiny of those who have never heard of Jesus. … Read more
A Creative Way to Intercede for your Children
Esther Mcllveen and her husband wrote out separate lists of their aspirations for their three children in detail. Then they came together to share their findings, compare them, and agree upon those things they wanted to pray for. … Read more