As the modern ‘home church’ movement continues to gain momentum and to threaten the peace and unity of congregations from every denomination, it behooves all who love Christ’s Church to speak the truth in love to ‘home church’ advocates.
Therefore, and in the interests of understanding and of outreach, I offer this pastoral advice: (more…)
Directions for the people of God as they prepare for, attend to, participate in, and improve upon the Public Worship of God.
Preparing for the Lord’s Day
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves” (Hebrews 13:17)
God has given us His inscripturated word, unchanging, written in the Bible; He commissions the preacher to expound and apply that word to the situation facing us, driving it home in our lives as the carpenter drives the nail. The preacher speaks for God, because God has spoken in the Bible; His voice resounds with the familiar “Thus saith the Lord.” The church has the responsibility to listen, and to evaluate everything heard in light of God’s revealed truth (more…)
Though the principle of Free Enterprise is waning in our society due to Caesar’s increased controls over the marketplace, it still guides most consumer actions. There are brand names and products to suit most tastes and budgets. We shop around to get the best deal on the product we want. Buyers are not compelled to purchase a certain product; the committed Corn Flakes eater is free to give up his loyalty to Kelloggs and buy the generic cereal if he wishes. Late-night television viewers may choose between Letterman, Leno, and Limbaugh. (more…)
Before attempting to answer this question I must make an important distinction:
1. If ‘home churching’ simply means meeting in a house rather than some fancy building, then it is a perfectly acceptable practice (more…)