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Who are the pillars in the church?

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As a young man, I was told I was a pillar in the church. It made me feel good to hear the pastor say this, and I could hardly disagree. Of course I was a pillar. I was a good boy. I didn’t drink or smoke or do burnouts in the church car park. I arrived early on Sundays to put out chairs and I stayed back to pack up the AV equipment. I served on the worship team and got to share the Word on occasion. I was not only a pillar; I was a rocket going places. Watch me soar! I cringe to write about this now. I cringe to think how the label “pillar” separated me from those Jesus loves. Yet in the church, we divide people like this all the time: • We have the reliable pillars and the nonpillars who show up late and bleary-eyed bearing the unmistakable smell of cigarette smoke • We have those worthy to take communion and those who are not • We have the happily-marrieds and the shamefully divorceds • We have the mums-with-bubs fulfilling God’s call to be fruitful and the childless women who can compensate for their deficiencies [...]

The Media and The Church

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Cross News

President Trump has made his conflict with the media very public, though he has his own version. It is not the first time elected officials have fought with the media.

We are bombarded with the vitriol of the fighting. Many of my friends have stopped listening to any of the news outlets. It seems that anger and frustration are stirred any time we stop long enough to listen to the spin. The media are either blamed or praised for moving society ideologically according to an agenda commonly held by its proponents. It is inevitably biased according to the ideology being promoted.

Objectivity is an ideal, but is not achievable by biased people. What is reported is interpreted by those doing the reporting. Those who agree with the bias are glad, while those who disagree claim "foul." For some time now, the mainstream media has embraced an ideology far different than the one that held sway for centuries. Secularism has been exalted as the religion of the day. Some who are deeply disturbed by that direction are looking for an alternative media. There is one I suggest.

The Good News Media

God gave the church to the world as his media. The followers of Christ were and are commissioned to proclaim news -- good news. It is the news that gives a framework of interpreting all events in history. Understanding the story of creation, fall into sin, and redemption allows us to participate in earth's story in a meaningful way.

The church has been silenced by its own cowardice. Refusing to address the issues that matter in current society, it has been thwarted by the religion of secularism.

The problem we currently face is that the church has dropped the ball in this area. When no alternative voice is heard, the secular voice rules supreme.

The Form Without Power

The church has been silenced by its own cowardice. Refusing to address the issues that matter in current society, while claiming success in numbers and buildings, it has been thwarted by the religion of secularism. To become relevant, it has adopted a message of human compassion without divine power. This form without power is embarrassed by the claim that all are broken and that the resurrection of Jesus Christ can transform anyone. And an increasing number of people are leaving it because of this hollow message.

Reduced to a marginal role in a society that features civil government as the power to respect and fear, the church -- though still tolerated by some -- is mocked by many.

Help us champion truth, freedom, limited government and human dignity. Support The Stream >>

Without competition in announcing news, the secular media are dominating the field. For a long time, movies and TV shows have depicted preachers as weird, judgmental, and irrelevant characters, while villains are heroes. The foibles of some TV preachers have added to the cynicism that makes mocking so easy. It is no wonder that recent surveys reflect a growing trend to disassociate with church-going.

But, beware! The true church is the body of Christ, and it is empowered by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

Jesus put his reputation on the line when he declared that the gates of hell would not prevail against his church. Just as the demonic religion of the Jewish leaders and the tyrannical power of Roman government could not prevent Jesus from rising from the dead, neither can the intimidating forces of secularism keep down the true church, whose head is Jesus Christ the Lord.

God’s News Organization

God emphasizes the household of relationships rather than structures and rituals. He works through his children to bless all people.

God builds his church with his children, not programs and buildings. (Psalm 127) He works through human partners. He always has. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus testify that God has linked his work on earth to humans who relate to him as Father. In his gracious salvation, he offers all a second chance at a healthy childhood. All who receive Jesus as God's only solution to human alienation become children of God. (John 1:12-13)

God emphasizes the household of relationships rather than structures and rituals. He works through his children to bless all people. He gives them access to him and promises to hear their prayers. (John 14:13-14) Finally, everyone has a chance to enjoy a healthy family life where the inevitable wounds of natural family dysfunction are healed.

As the darkness of deception grows, the children are waking up, suiting up, and showing up. No longer afraid of being mocked, they are standing in the gates of the city, and proclaiming the radical good news that there is a way -- not only to heaven, but to living a life of meaning now. They are finding that their unity is not in race, ritual, or rage, but in sharing the same life with the Father and the Son.

It has happened before in history when most thought the church had gone out of business. It had just gone underground, only to explode into life that honors the one who is the head.

It is our time. The media are ruling now, but the source of news -- good news, is making his voice heard again. Listen, join the news service.

657. When Church Teaching Misses the Gospel Target

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We are not against the church. But it’s unfortunate that much of what has been heard and taught through various denominations and organizations has led people down the wrong path. Sometimes they are taught a mixture of law and grace which will lead to more sinning and more guilt instead of less. We have heard from people around the world through our podcast ministry, and in some cases they needed to seek professional counseling for various kinds of depression and fear which resulted in having medication prescribed to treat their condition… and it was related to their church experiences or Bible teaching that brought them to this place. The gospel is meant to bring a blessed assurance, and God’s unconditional love and grace has been given to us in abundance to bring peace of mind and to equip us for every good work. Our intention at Growing in Grace is to teach and remind people of how God has freely given us all things that are good.



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God is Building His Church. Just Keep the Light On

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Church Lights at Night

When I left my little country church and went off to the university to prepare for my calling as a minister, I felt a little intimidated by those who came from larger churches with more sophisticated ministries. After all, there wasn't much in the way of entertaining church services at my church.

Mr. Jack would lead the congregational singing, but many of the hymns seemed to drag unnecessarily. Mrs. Mildred would play the piano in a kind of staccato style. The same deacons took up the offering every Sunday. The pastor was in training at a Bible school and came to the church field only on weekends. Well, you get the picture. I was tempted to be embarrassed by my church.

But, we must remember that God has not made provision for a plan B. It is his Church, and he is committed to its success.

God is Building His Church

It seems there are many today who embarrassed by the Church. It takes a beating in the media, which is to be expected, but it also is being dismissed by its own. Some are even demanding it catch up with the culture as if the culture were the norm for truth and morality.

It is easy to find things wrong with churches and even the Church at large. After all, it is made up of humans who have confessed to being sinners and needy of God's grace. The Lord we worship is perfect, but all the rest of us are in-process, discovering more of his love and being transformed at different paces.

But, we must remember that God has not made provision for a plan B. It is his Church, and he is committed to its success. He is building it. When all other social structures have fallen, it will still be standing.

Help us champion truth, freedom, limited government and human dignity. Support The Stream >>

Keep the Light On

Here's the rest of the story (as Paul Harvey used to say). It was a Wednesday night prayer meeting at my country church. The usual 15-20 people were there. The same folks were praying similar prayers. A visitor slipped in. Of course, in such a small, tight-knit group, he stood out. You could see whispers during the prayer meeting as members were asking each other who it might be.

Finally, just before the benediction, he stood and asked if he could say something.

You don't know me, but I am a traveling salesman. My route brings me by this church on Wednesdays twice a month, on my way to Atlanta. I have been doing this for most of twenty years. I did not go to church as a boy and have not seen the need for whatever churches do. But, I always noticed that regardless of the weather there was a light on here. I have been by on cold rainy nights when only three cars were parked, but your light was on, and you were here.

I've had some hard times lately, and in the middle of it all, I have come to know Jesus as my Savior and Lord. One of the reasons I could never fully dismiss the reality of God was my memory of this church and the light always being on. Thank you.

Not perfect. Not sophisticated. Not highly trained. Not entertaining. But they kept the light on. So, will the Church of the living God.

The body of Christ working together is a beautiful thing

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Welcome to Forward Church! We don’t do it perfectly but we put God’s love for you first and we encourage others to step out and share what God has placed on their heart. This week in my blog I wanted you to experience one of our recent gatherings. I had a sermon planned but the night before it became clear that God had other plans for Sunday morning. Actually all week long the message didn’t seem to be

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The post The body of Christ working together is a beautiful thing appeared first on Forward Ministries.

Bullying in the Church

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As a parent of four, I regularly encounter bullying. No, my kids aren’t getting abused at school. But we often receive messages from educators informing us of the symptoms and types of bullying. Honestly, it must be hard to be a bully these days, either at school or in the workplace, with everyone so well informed. But what about bullying at church? Hardly anyone talks about this – unless it’s sexual abuse, in which case it’ll make the front page. But there are other types of bullying. I’ve heard hundreds of stories from readers and church leaders. You wouldn’t believe the damage done to people in the name of God. Jesus is not a bully and his church ought to be a safe place. But religion turns people into bullies. (By religion I am referring to that pseudo-spiritual system of self-improvement that Jesus condemned.) Bullying is using power to control, harm, or intimidate others, which sounds a lot like what religion does all the time. In essence, religion is a system to control and coerce people through intimidation and manipulation. Which makes religion pretty stinkin’ evil. So why aren’t we talking about this? If we are to stand up for [...]

Have You Forgotten You’re Forgiven? Fruit Comes Because You’re Already Clean

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    My church is a performance-based-religion detox center. Our staff, leaders and volunteers work hard to help people break free from a self-centered, performance based approach to Christianity. And we’re successful! I say this because it relates specifically to my message above titled “Have You Forgotten You’re Forgiven?” In Christianity, fruit is integral, no question about it. However, there are a few mindsets associated with fruit. A proper mindset is simply this, now that you’re saved,

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The post Have You Forgotten You’re Forgiven? Fruit Comes Because You’re Already Clean appeared first on Forward Ministries.

Dignity and Worth: The Life Matrix with Dr. Jim Richards and Pastor Clint Byars

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DIGNITY and WORTH: The Life Matrix SCHEDULE
Friday, May 5th: 7pm to 9pm
Saturday, May 6th: 9am to 4pm (1.5 hour lunch break)
Sunday, May 7th: 10am

THIS IS A FREE EVENT, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

REGISTER NOW

Few things are more important for a believer desiring a fruitful life than having a healthy, biblically based sense of self-worth. Your self-worth controls every aspect of your destiny. But this weekend you will learn to take control of your identity, self-image & self-worth and chart a new course!

Here are some things you need to know:

  • Your life goals will only be fulfilled to the level of your self-worth
  • Your every decision will be made to keep you within your current boundaries of identity, self-image & self-worth
  • You will always attract people that will keep you within your current sense of identity
  • If you have low self-worth you will always change your behavior to be accepted by the people around you
  • Even when you know God is faithful you will limit Him to your current sense of self-confidence
  • You will repel people who want to love you beyond your self-worth
  • You will train the people in your life to treat you in a way that is equal your self-worth

In one weekend you will learn How to Establish Your Heart in Your God-given Identity, Self- Image & Self-worth!

You will leave different than you come!

In this weekend, life-transformation seminar & workshop you will:

  • Identify and change the core beliefs that subconsciously direct your life.
  • Learn exercises to renew your mind and write the truth on your heart
  • Discover the key to overcoming past guilt, shame and condemnation
  • Expand your capacity for health, success, love and relationships
  • Deepen your roots into the love of God in a way you can feel.

All the promises of God, all of your dreams and every relationship in your life will only be as good as your self-worth. Dignity & Worth: The Life Matrix will transform your work, your job, your ministry and your health. Don’t miss it! This is your chance to change everything!

At the root of ALL of our problems, is a faulty sense of identity, self-image and self-worth! People are amazed at how many areas of their life change… effortlessly when they establish their heart in in these three foundational truths!

  • Making the right decisions becomes natural
  • Avoid destructive relationships becomes instinctive
  • Our eyes open to true dangers and opportunities
  • Our attraction to destructive behavior evaporates
  • The ability to give and receive love is the new normal
  • Faith becomes our natural reaction in every situation

This and the dozens of other reasons are why we identify Dignity and Worth as the Matrix of life: the center of our being, the organizing factor of all we believe and the seat of our being!

THIS IS A FREE EVENT, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

REGISTER NOW

Schedule:

Friday, May 5th

  • 7PM-9PM: Session 1 & 2

Saturday, May 6th

  • 9AM-12PM: Session 3, 4 & 5
  • 12PM-1:30PM – Lunch Break (off property on your own)
  • 1:30PM – 4PM – Session 6 & 7

Sunday, May 7th

  • 10AM-12PM: Sunday Morning Gathering – Teaching by Dr. Jim Richards
  • 2PM-4PM: Session 8 & 9

Other Info:

  • Coffee and light refreshments will be served but no meals will be provided.
  • There are several restaurants very close to Forward Church.
  • Childcare will be provided Friday & Saturday for a donation of $5 per child.
  • Each attendee needs a workbook for this seminar.
  • You will receive a PDF version of the workbook at no cost by email a few days before the event.
  • Printed Workbooks are available for $25 each and will be given to you when you arrive at the event.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

REGISTER NOW

Dr. Jim Richards

Dr. James B. Richards is a bestselling author, teacher, theologian, and businessman. His success in these arenas has placed him in demand as a speaker and personal advisor to business, clergy, and political leaders. His personal process of emerging from years of pain, dysfunction, and deep bitterness has given him proven tools for success in life, ministry and business.

While he holds degrees in theology, human behavior, and medicine, Jim’s teaching is simple, well rounded, understandable, and easy to apply. The results have been proven in 30 years of personal, professional, and clinical application. The end-result of applying his teachings and methods? A peaceful, productive life of loving, meaningful relationships.

Jim is the president and founder of Internal Life Resources, an organization committed to developing people to fulfill their potential. As a pioneer in the field of personal transformation and through many years of groundbreaking research and clinical application, Dr. Richards has discovered the keys to unlock painless, permanent, positive transformation! Through a revolutionary program called Heart Physics he has combined spiritual insight with scientific and medical knowledge to develop a life transformation program that addresses the needs of the whole man.

He has doctorates in Theology, Oriental Medicine and Human Behavior with many certifications including as a substance abuse counselor, a detox specialist and a handwriting analyst.

Pastor Clint Byars

Clint Byars is founding and lead pastor of Forward Church. Forward is a thriving community of encouragement in grace and hope. Clint has a practical teaching style that will deepen your understanding of the finished work of Christ in you while expanding your expectation of experiencing God’s Kingdom in this life. His books, eCourses and teaching sets are simple yet profound tools, designed to help you dig the roots of your heart deep into God’s power within. Visit www.forwardministries.org for his blog and free messages.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

REGISTER NOW

The post Dignity and Worth: The Life Matrix with Dr. Jim Richards and Pastor Clint Byars appeared first on Forward Ministries.

What Makes a Church a Family?

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The gospel of grace has exploded over the past few years. Ten years ago you probably hadn’t heard of Joseph Prince, Andrew Wommack, or Escape to Reality. But today many people are preaching grace, writing about grace, singing about grace, and walking in grace. There are countless sermons, books, and videos on grace, and gazillions of testimonies – stories about how lives have been radically changed by the healing power of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. Given this exciting and global revolution, why is it still so hard to find a church preaching pure grace? Why do many churches still preach a mixed-up message of grace-plus-works? It seems the grace revolution has touched every corner of the world, except the main street church. Why is that? Why is the church slow to get grace? The reason some churches are slow to embrace grace is because they are not families. They may say they are a family, but what they say differs from what they do. God sets the solitary in families. (Ps 68:6) Family is where we do life and encounter Jesus. You need love, grace and healing? You’ll find it in God’s family. Churches that function like families get grace; churches that [...]

The Church Can Stop Governmental Intrusion

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Church and State

In recent decades, the Federal government has accelerated its reach into the personal and social lives of Americans. People feel isolated; business are over regulated; and the church has been intimidated. The sense of being overwhelmed by the massive intrusion into marriage, family, bathroom choice, and personal privacy was at the center of the frustration in many who rose up in this last election to say, "Stop! It's enough!"

Can the growth and intrusion of government be stopped? After all, somebody thought the laws and regulations were necessary for the welfare of the country. Human behavior must have some guidelines and boundaries or we will have mob-rule.

The Only Antidote to Government Overreach

There is a way. Only self-government can make government overreach unnecessary. As long as individuals and groups are controlled by their own desires for pleasure, demanding their own personal rights, and ruled by their basest passions, there will need to be a forceful external authority to assess penalties to curb hatred, greed, and perversion. But if people had a moral code that ruled over such human vices, the need for excessive regulations would not exist.

If people had a moral code that ruled over such human vices, the need for excessive regulations would not exist.

This introduces the role of the church as designed by God. The apostle Paul designated it "the ground and pillar of truth." (I Timothy 3:15) Its role in society is to offer freedom from enslavement to sinfulness and to equip people to live productively with God and each other. When its voice is silenced or ignored, the need for civil government involvement increases. When its voice is heard, the whole society reaps the benefits. Truth brings freedom.

The hope for a civil government that is effective in protecting its citizens, and ceases to intrude into their personal lives, all the while remaining small enough to stay within a reasonable budget, lies in the rise of the true church. Only the offer of forgiveness and the grace to love others more than ourselves can change people from "takers" to "givers." Only the security of being loved by the One who knows all and sees all can free us from the shame which destroys both our own lives and our societies.

It’s Time for the Church to Act

Only the offer of forgiveness and the grace to love others more than ourselves can change people from "takers" to "givers."

It is time for the people of God to take our assignment seriously. We have the message of truth. When believed, it liberates all people without distinction. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to live as Jesus modeled on earth.

We also have the commission from our Lord who promised to be with us into all the world. The masses await our appearance. Many will hear and believe. Those believers can be equipped to influence every sphere of society with the transcendent truth of divine order. Schools can teach truth again. Businesses can not only make a profit, but bless their workers and the communities in which they thrive. Other nations can look to a productive model -- all because the true church arose to teach people how to be self-governed by submitting to the God of truth.

Rise up O Church!

Healing Division Through Love for One Another

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Now that the election is over, the church needs to repent (change our minds) and unite in the knowledge of the son of God unto maturity. The only strategy we have to effectively reach the world with the Gospel is our love for one another and our unity in love toward the unbelieving.

God’s strategy is unity in his body.

The enemy’s strategy is division in the body.

Which one “won” during the recent US Presidential election cycle?

The main tactic of the enemy against the church is division. The division we see on the church is by design, the design of the enemy. We must recognize that we’re splitting in the name of truth but we’re overlooking what unites us, we have the same Father, we have the same Jesus, we are brothers and sisters in a family that transcends doctrinal differences. All believers in Christ our Lord are united in one spirit. Naturally the devil wants to make us think we’re disconnected and get us separating in this world to sow dischord in God’s plan to reach the unbelieving world.

As an example, I want to expose how one man and his ideas can play into the strategy of the enemy and create dischord in the body of Christ. Saul Alinsky has had a major influence on modern politics. As we just saw, political views created much division in the body of Christ. Alinsky wrote “Rules for Radicals” which is a Marxist inspired mandate to break down a God centered society and make people dependent on the state. He uses divisive tactics like ridicule, race bating, cultural war bating around the illusion of fairness. Alinsky dedicated his book to Lucifer, describing him as “the very first radical who won his own kingdom. This confused man is cited by many modern liberal politicians as a great influence in their lives.

If we are engaging in divisive tactics we are falling for the plan of the “original radical.”

I’m not interested in rebuking the church, I want to pull us together so we can unite in the knowledge of the son of God rather than divide over theological differences, race, denominational differences and political agendas.

Even in differing opinions, we all bleed red and those who have said yes to Jesus are in the same family. Those who are not believers are still our brothers and sisters in the human race. My prayer is for respect, decency, maturity and love to filter our relationships and communication. We’re all in this together.

We all have influence over each other. Each and every one of us are highly suggestible. Let’s try an experiment and treat other people how we want to be treated and speak over them things we’d want in our own lives and see how it goes. We reap what we sow, even from each other.

The post Healing Division Through Love for One Another appeared first on Forward Ministries.

Please Don’t Give Me That Old Time Religion!

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Often in Facebook dialogues, I see someone say something to the effect of, “Our church preaches the old time Gospel, and we sing the old time songs.  We all need to get back to the old time religion.” When I hear things like that I cringe. What they mean is that they want us to

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