Category Archives: Ecclesiology

Worship God: Comparing Worship Then and Now

Posted on by
Worshipping God is fundamental to God’s people. God wants the redeemed of all ages to honor and serve Him with reverence and joy. Unfortunately, worship is one of the most controversial subjects in churches today. Instead of uniting the church, “worship wars” have scarred denominations and fragmented the church. These types of disputes are nothing new. The fault lines of worship controversies have marred nearly every turning point in church history. In this article I would like to compare the worship between Israel and the church.

Preach the Word

Posted on by
“Preach the word.” Paul’s pastoral command rings with clarity in the heart and mind of everyone who aspires to fulfill the biblical duties of the pastor (2 Tim. 4:2). The world today rejects the authority of God’s Word as well as its proclamation. The world and even many evangelicals see the Bible as outdated and inadequate as a guide for life. If we believe that the Scriptures are indeed inspired and the product of the breath of God, we must proclaim the Bible as the word of truth, the destiny-changing message, and the life-changing gospel that transforms a sinner into a child of God.

Speaking for God A Definition and Implications of Preaching that Glorifies God

Posted on by
1 Peter 4:10-11 God has chosen to use human messengers to deliver divine truth. The activity whereby He does this today is called preaching. Those who preach can and must derive their content from God’s Word, the Bible. Peter emphasized the importance of this in 1 Peter 4:10–11. The stated outcome of following his instruction is that God will be glorified. A close look at this text will lead us to a definition and some implications of preaching that glorifies God.

The Reformed Tradition and the Problem of Infant Communion

Posted on by
INTRODUCTION The title of this article may seem like I am suggesting that churches who hold to Reformed1 theology should not be practicing infant communion. The fact is, they do not. One might wonder, “Does any denomination allow infants to partake of the Lord’s Supper?” The answer is yes. In Eastern Orthodox churches and a few other denominations, it is not only allowed, but it is a standard practice. Why do these churches accept this practice, and why is it a problem for churches who adhere to Reformed theology?

Teaching and Teachers Two Essential Components in a New Testament Church

Posted on by
A troubling trend is developing in churches today. This trend is not something we see in the “other” kinds of churches (i.e., the mainline, liberal churches) but in what we usually call “our” kind of churches—solid, Bible-preaching churches. The trend is a diminishing emphasis on Bible teachers and Bible teaching. This trend shows up in children’s and youth ministries, but nowhere is it more prevalent than in adult ministries, especially adult Sunday School classes.1 In this article we examine the New Testament emphasis on teachers and teaching and then suggest some action steps churches can take to reestablish their adult Sunday School classes.

Implementing the New Testament Emphasis in Adult Teaching Ministries

Posted on by
The first article demonstrated that teachers and teaching are two essential components of a New Testament church at any age level. This second article focuses specifically on the Bible teaching ministries for adults. ADULT TEACHING MINISTRIES TODAY Churches today utilize three main Bible teaching ministries for adults: • Adult Sunday School classes (sometimes called adult Bible fellowships), • Specialized Bible studies (such as men’s and women’s Bible studies), and • Small groups (small groups of adults who meet at various times; sometimes called cell groups or life groups).

Do the Work of an Evangelist

Posted on by
Every Christian understands the importance of evangelism, but sadly it is on the decline in many churches. And the scarcity of evangelism has led to the decline and closure of many churches. In this issue of the Faith Pulpit Dr. Daniel Brown, faculty member of Faith Baptist Theological Seminary, challenges pastors to follow the Biblical command to “do the work of an evangelist.” If pastors will carry out their responsibility, more people will have the opportunity to hear the gospel and our churches will thrive again.

Contextualization in Missions Today

Posted on by
The very mention of the word “contextualization” in evangelical circles has engendered a variety of reactions. For some, contextualization is absolutely indispensable in cross-cultural ministry. For others, it is a word fraught with compromise that diminishes the purity and clarity of the gospel message. What accounts for these two opposite reactions? In this edition of the Faith Pulpit, Professor Mark Lounsbrough, chair of the Missions and Evangelism Department at Faith Baptist Bible College, examines the issue and gives clarity in this important debate.

Improving Adult Sunday School Classes

Posted on by
My purpose in the first article was to call churches back to the priority of adult Sunday School classes because I believe they can do everything small groups can do and more and can provide the best format for discipleship. In short, adult Sunday School has the greater potential for benefit to a church. In this second article I offer some suggestions for how we adult teachers can improve our adult classes so they reach their full potential. 1. Commit to using printed curriculum that covers the Bible systematically.

In Defense of the Adult Sunday School Class

Posted on by
Adult ministries are shifting in churches today. The emphasis seems to be moving away from adult Sunday School classes to small groups. In the first article Don Anderson, professor of Christian Education at Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary and a veteran adult Sunday School teacher, calls churches back to the priority of adult Sunday School classes. He believes adult Sunday School classes can do everything small groups can do and more. In the second article he offers some suggestions for how to improve our adult classes so they reach their full potential.