Sunday Morning Showtime January 31, 2008
Posted by Gordon in Worship.Tags: Christian entertainment, experiencing God, nervous pastor, Sunday morning worship, Worship service
4 comments
Here’s a secret few people in my congregation know: most Sundays I’m so nervous before the service starts that I have to go to the toilet twice. In fact, I get the same feeling as I do on race mornings when I run marathons. There’s a number of reasons for my Sunday morning ablutions, and not all of them are good. (more…)
Baptists junk the ‘Me’ generation January 30, 2008
Posted by Gordon in Baptist issues.Tags: church growth, peer mentoring, Queensland Baptists, youth ministry, youth pastors
add a comment
Given the facts that we know for sure in Australia about the decline of Baptist churches, the nature of our ageing congregations, the fact that our only discernible church growth occurs in the teens and young adults sector - you would imagine that our Baptist Unions invest very heavily in youth & young adult ministry, and in equipping youth & young adult leaders and pastors?
If you do I suggest you make a late New Year’s resolution not to be so gullible. (more…)
‘Me’ generation junks God January 29, 2008
Posted by Gordon in Missional.Tags: belief, Christian teens, Gen Y, teenagers
add a comment
The only discernible growth in Baptist churches in Australia according to the National Church Life Survey occurs amongst teens and young adults. Latest research shows the magnitude of the challenge ahead to relate the Gospel to Generation Y. If the latest research is to be believed a third of Australian teens have no religious beliefs. (more…)
The Devil Wears Westboro January 28, 2008
Posted by Gordon in Uncategorized.Tags: grace. love, Westboro Baptist Church
add a comment
If you were the devil and you wanted people to revile Christians and revile the name of Christ what would you do? If you wanted to make waves that would travel around the world to convince people that Christianity is a disastrous option guaranteed to turn you into a total nutbar what would you do?
Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the ultimate answer: Westboro Baptist Church. (more…)
Holy Matrimony *Lite * January 28, 2008
Posted by Gordon in Baptist issues.Tags: Christian weddings, Holy matrimony, Wedding ceremony, wedding service
add a comment
Open Source Christianity January 25, 2008
Posted by Gordon in Uncategorized.Tags: free ministry resource, Geoff Pound, open source Christianity
1 comment so far
At a time when Christianity is more of an industry than ever before, and millions upon of dollars are being generated, it’s refreshing to find believers who are motivated not by profit but by the desire to equip and build others up. These Open Source Believers are like the Open Source computing community who have taken on the might of Microsoft and provided us with software that doesn’t cost a dime. (more…)
This Little Church Went to Market January 24, 2008
Posted by Gordon in Books.add a comment
Always being behind in the reading stakes, I found this book which directly addresses the issue of the marketing phenomenon in evanglicalism today. (more…)
The Purpose Driven Phenomenon January 24, 2008
Posted by Gordon in Uncategorized.Tags: Purpose Driven Life, Purpsoe Driven Church, Rick Warren, Saddleback
2 comments
“Marketing done right is almost indistinguishable from ministry, it is identifying people with needs and connecting them with people and services that meet their needs.”
If you own a copy of The Purpose Driven Life you may well have been suckered in by the marketing genius behind this quote. Either that or you have been ‘led’ to buy this book by the Holy Spirit, rendering marketing strategies surplus to requirement. Which way got you hooked? (more…)
Off The Shelf Christianity [Part II] January 24, 2008
Posted by Gordon in Uncategorized.Tags: 40 Days of Purpose, Christian marketing, church consumerism, ministry resources, success
add a comment
What’s the difference between: a young kid who wants the latest LA Galaxy Beckham shirt, a young girl who wants the latest Maria Sharapova tennis outfit, the overweight couch potato who wants that Super-Ab-Crunch Machine he’s just seen on the infomercial, a woman who wants the latest JLO celebrity perfume and a pastor who wants the latest 40 Days of Whatever DVD Deluxe kit? Well not much really. (more…)
Off The Shelf Christianity [Part I] January 22, 2008
Posted by Gordon in Uncategorized.2 comments
Why spend all that money and time on theological college and textbooks? All you need these-days is Internet access and a large Christian book warehouse. Welcome to the era of off-the-shelf or down-loadable Christianity. Don’t stress trying to work out what you are going to preach on, our cherubic ever friendly brother Rick Warren has down all the hard yards for us. (more…)
