Tag: church
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The Pillar and Support of the Truth
Imagine Timothy–the Apostle Paul’s son in the faith, and young pastor of the church in Ephesus–walking through his city on an errand. Maybe he’s paying a tax, or getting supplies to a widow. Wherever he’s going, there’s a sight in Ephesus he couldn’t possibly overlook. Dominating the view of the Ephesus is a massive temple—the Artemision.…
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Saving Group Discussions from Disaster
I have found that group discussions are one of the most difficult kinds of communication to do effectively. The challenge of group discussion lies partially in the fact that the leader has less direct control over how it goes. If you are leading a group discussion, it’s not enough for you to know your material well: you must…
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How Is My Preaching? [Part 2]: Platform Mechanics and the Invitation
“Did you not see that a gentleman came forward at the invitation?” Sitting in a Chinese buffet, my friend David and I were in the middle of a painful sermon evaluation session. The way he asked that question gave me the suspicion that there was no good answer. I broke some clumps of sticky rice…
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How Is My Preaching? [Part 1] Why Preachers Need Feedback
Feedback Can Be Scary! I was nervous. I had asked a friend, David Pinkley, to give me honest feedback about my preaching. On Sunday I preached in our church’s morning service, and the following Thursday David and I were sitting in a greasy Chinese buffet. I couldn’t tell whether my loss of appetite was due to the…
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Digesting “Theological Vision” in Keller’s Book, Center Church
Center Church, Timothy Keller’s recently published book, deals with a topic that is close to my heart. I love the church of Christ, and I am constantly interested in what the church should be and do. Because there is much to digest in Center Church, I have been working through it slowly. Keller’s first chapter…
Jonathan M. Threlfall 