Ministry Matters - Sanctimony or sanctification? | The gift of small ministry

What biblical and theological wisdom might followers of Jesus draw on in order to navigate this season in a way that tends toward holiness? Sanctimony or sanctification? John Wesley's voting advice for today by Drew McIntyre   To say that things are tense in the United States at the moment is a comic understatement. While the 24 hour news cycle treats the presidential contest as something like a sport, with betting lines changing daily with the latest polls, the cultural anxiety is palpable. From what I observe with friends, on social media, and in news coverage, people on both ends of the political spectrum and from practically every walk of life believe they are genuinely under threat. Tempting though it may be to blame political ads for catastrophizing, they would not be effective if they had no purchase on our darkest fears. Read here

If churches are not called to be constantly growing, to what task have they been called? The gift of small ministry by Allen Stanton   Our American culture carries a persistent myth that growth is always good. In election cycles, we talk about the growing national GDP and growth in the stock market. We talk about career growth, the need to have a higher income or a better job title. In the workplace, our laity are pushed to produce more: more profit, more customers, more market share. An adage in the business world is that “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.” Read here

Finding the force of love in your preaching this Sunday

Making connections in prayer and praise for worship this Sunday