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A Closer Look At A Popular Tradition by Darryl M. Erkel Historically, pastors during the first-century period were normally not paid on a full-time basis. Although they may have periodically received gifts of food, clothing, and even some monetary assistance at times, there is no historical evidence to suggest that such pastors were given a full-time salary sufficient to meet their financial needs and obligations. This is confirmed by the following considerations: 1.  Most of the congregations were too poor to financially support a full-time pastor, not to mention a  plurality  of pastors which is the New Testament pattern (Acts 14:23; 20:17,28; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5; Hebrews 13:17; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4). In some cases, they were even too poor to support an apostle or assist other churches who were suffering (1 Thessalonians 2:9; Philippians 4:10-15). 2.  Even though Paul, as an apostle, had the ...

I think lists are awesome. How would I get anything done without a list? I’ve tried and I can tell you that although things still get done, it’s a whole lot harder. I forget stuff. I don’t do things in a timely manner. And worst of all, I end up feeling a lot more stressed than I would have if I had just used a darn list. I know when we think of a checklist, we tend to think of our jobs, grocery shopping, back-to-school lists, or just things we need to do in our day-to-day lives, but what about a checklist for our marriage? That’s right; what if there was a checklist to guide us through our union? We could use it to make sure we weren’t forgetting anything important, or to make sure we are on track and tending to the things that matter most. Listen, I know that having a successful marriage requires a lot more than a simple checklist. However, I also know that a solid checklist definitely never caused any harm, so ...

We’re all familiar with statistics that decry the declining UK Church, but many local churches are bucking the trend. Justin Brierley investigates what has made the difference for those whose churches are bursting at the seams.  "IT’S ALL ABOUT ‘OPENING NEW “FRONT DOORS” TO THE CHURCH"   ...Joel Virgo "THE PULPIT IS THE RUDDER OF THE CHURCH"        ...Clement Okusi "WHENEVER THEY NEED US, THEY CAN TURN UP AT THE DOOR AND THEY WILL ALWAYS BE WELCOMED IN WITH A HUG" ...Linda Maslen "THE FIRST KEY WAS A RENEWED EMPHASIS ON PRAYER" ...Tope Koleoso "YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO BE PURPOSEFULLY PLACED INTO VISIBLE LEADERSHIP ROLES" ...Lee Kricher Let’s be clear: there is no miracle formula for growing your church. If the magic ingredients could be bottled and sold, someone somewhere would be very rich by now. Nor is numerical growth the only mark of success. Discipleship, local engagement and longevity of commitment are also...

I’ve learned- that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them. I’ve learned- that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back. I’ve learned- that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it. I’ve learned- that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I’ve learned- that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts. I’ve learned- that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse. I’ve learned- that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something. I’ve learned- that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do. I’ve learned- that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. I’ve learned- that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want...

The biggest decision you'll make outside of choosing to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. I've met with scores of couples for premarital counseling through the years. And one of the first points I try to get across to them is that "desire" does not equal love. Desire may be illustrated by a young person who tells you they can't live without you, that they're miserable, and that life seems colorless and empty when you're not around. That may be a form of love, but it's not the sort of love that will hold a marriage together through the years. While they may feel they "need" you today, it's possible that five months from now you'll no longer meet their "need," and they'll find that they "need" someone else. What I tell these young couples is that love is based on commitment, and that everything you do is to fulfill, satisfy, and serve the one you love. Real love doesn't enter a relationship with an ex...