Today’s Buzz: Criticisms About You Church; Youth Pastors Fess Up; and Preaching on Hell
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, July 31, 2007
- Viewed 44
- (5) comments so far
Church Addresses Its Top Ten Criticisms...
Church Growth writes: “We, the deacons of your church, have listed the top ten criticisms we have received and have decided upon the following solutions for these complaints: 1. “I want more depth in the sermons”: For all sermons we will read the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, therefore everyone in the congregation will be required to take Hebrew and Greek classes.” Since these languages require constant study and usage, each member will be required to take these classes until they die. (There are 10 more if you’re interested here)
Youth Pastors: To Fess Up or Not to Fess Up
It’s the question preachers, teachers and parents dread, especially if they were shaped by the cultural earthquakes of the 1960s. But no one fears it more than youth ministers, who hear the private questions young people fear to ask their elders. Youth pastors work in the no man’s land between the home and the church. This is the question: “Well, didn’t you do any of this stuff when you were a kid?” The young person might be asking about sex, drinking, drugs, cheating or, perhaps, lying to parents about any of the above. If youth ministers stop and think about it, they will realize they usually say something like the following while trying to answer these questions, said the Rev. David “Duffy” Robbins, a United Methodist who teaches youth ministry at Eastern University near Philadelphia. “If I answer that it’s none of your business and the answer is between me and God, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll hear that as a ‘yes,’ “ said Robbins, writing in Good News magazine. “If I answer ‘yes’ to your question, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll take that as permission to make the same mistakes that I’ve made. If, on the other hand, I say ‘no,’ there’s a good possibility that you might reason that then I couldn’t possibly understand what you’re facing or what you’re going through right now. “So, what that question amounts to is a lose-lose proposition for both of us, and I’m not willing to put us in that position, so I’m not going to answer that question.” More here. So… what’s your answer?
United Methodist Publishing House Eliminates 50 Positions
30 through layoffs and 20 through not filling currently vacant positions. “We have deep compassion and concern for the well-being of the affected staff persons, and the layoffs come only after many other cost-saving measures have been instituted,” he said. “All eligible staff receives multiple weeks of severance pay based on guidelines that take into account years of service and age, plus extended free health care coverage, and outplacement counseling and support,” according to Neil Alexander. The culprit: increasing costs and decreasing sales. More here.
Say It Ain’t So… Perry is Preaching on Hell?
On what? I didn’t think churches preached on Hell anymore, especially churches like Perry’s. What is this world coming to? More here at Tony’s blog.
Hell… Here’s More!
Tim Keller also preaches on Hell; as advocated on emerging church pastor Mark Driscoll’s Resurgence website. (Now if we could just get these guys to talk about sin!)
Crooked Pastors in Uganda Prompts Government Action
Several people have alleged that pastors take their vehicles and land titles with promises that they will cure them of HIV/AIDS, among other miracles. Police have opened a general inquiry file on fake pastors countrywide. Announcing the move, Police spokesman Asan Kasingye on Friday called on people to use the opportunity to report dubious pastors. More here.
That’s it for today… have a great day!
In today's buzz... we'll look at a sarcastic way to look at criticism in your church; what should a youth pastor say when a kid asks him, "Did you ever do that?"; The United Methodist Publishing House is cutting back; and preaching on hell.
Comments
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jim on Tue, July 31, 2007
I preached on hell and judgment recently in two sermons as a part of a sermon series on the apostles creed, and got the best response I’ve ever gotten to any sermon I’ve done in the past. My guess though is that my sermons came to a different conclusion than either of these two folks who are mentioned.
Danny B. Daniels II on Tue, July 31, 2007
Hey Jim:
Why did you say the following…
‘My guess though is that my sermons came to a different conclusion than either of these two folks who are mentioned.’
Please elaborate.
jim on Wed, August 01, 2007
well, if you read my sermon, I think you’ll see I essentially come to a universalist position. the link to it is here. :
P.o.C. on Wed, August 01, 2007
Some of those deacon responses are pretty funny. Others lapse into bitterness (esp. #10, IMO). Still, it’s pretty spot-on to the most common complaints heard by pastors and church boards.
Michael on Sun, August 05, 2007
“(Now if we could just get these guys to talk about sin!)”
I’m not sure about Pastor Keller, as I’ve not heard many of his sermons, just some conference talks. But I listen to Pastor Driscoll regularly (online; I’m not a member of his church) and he talks about sin very regularly. He teaches very clearly that we are sinners, that sin separates us from God, and the only way to deal with sin is through Jesus.
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