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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...

  By Craig Thompson I have lost count of how many times I have been warned, “Do not sacrifice your family on the altar of ministry.” I plan to write on that later, but for now, I want to encourage you not to sacrifice your ministry on the altar of your family. I do not deny that many pastors have lost their families because the church became their mistress, but I’ve also seen many pastors lose their ministry because they made their families an idol or simply because they created an unnatural divide between their family life and their ministry life. As a Christian minister you must resist the temptation to separate your family life from your ministry life. You must also resist the temptation to idolize your family. It is true that if you lose your family you will lose your ministry, but what leads you to believe that it is essential for you to spend every waking hour with your wife and kids? The idea of a forty-hour workweek is not necessarily bad, but it is not ...

Can a Divorced Man Pastor a Church? ...by Pastor Philip Ayers Can a divorced man pastor a church? This is a greatly debated issue among conservative believers. Those of you who know me realize I am very conservative in my doctrine and Biblical interpretation. However, I do interpret the Bible differently from other Conservatives when considering the allowing of divorced men to pastor. Most believe that a divorced man cannot serve as a pastor or in a leadership role within the local church. First Timothy 3 lists the qualifications for bishops (pastors, elders). The controversial second verse says, "The husband of one wife." Many believe this means literally one wife or never have been divorced. Others suggest it refers to bigamy or one wife at a time. Some teach it means a man must be married in order to serve, thus removing single men from any opportunity of leadership service.  These interpretations lead to many other problems. What about a man who pr...

Are you a Christian guy who has often found yourself wondering,  “What in the world do Christian girls want from me?” If that’s you, keep reading!  Here's what I (and lots of other) Christian girls are looking for in a guy… 1. Personal Relationship with Christ First and foremost, Christian girls are looking for guys who have made a commitment to living completely for Jesus Christ. Jesus needs to be the center of a guy’s life before he can take on the blessings and responsibilities of a Christian relationship or, one day, a marriage. This is of the utmost importance, gentlemen.  2. Purity Purity is extremely important. Our society devalues the importance of purity and has set up a double standard. This double standard asserts that it is okay for guys to have as many sexual conquests as they want. On the other hand, for girls, society looks down upon girls who behave in this way, particularly if they end up pregnant. Regardless of what our so...

1. "Why should I save sex until marriage?" Here's a few good reasons for Christians to wait until they're married before having sex: Two-thirds of teens who have had sex wish they had waited. Those who save sex for marriage are far more likely to experience lasting sexual satisfaction with their spouses. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are at epidemic levels in this country. Most STDs occur in teens and young adults. Sexually active teens are more likely to be depressed. Sex typically speeds up the breakup of a relationship. Having sex can impact your reputation. You are special and worth waiting for! God designed sex in marriage to be between two people committed to each other for life (Genesis 2:24). 2. Is everybody really having sex? Despite appearances to the contrary most teens are not having sex. Recent studies in the US show that over 50 percent of all high schoolers are virgins. Repeated surveys show that teens  think  more of their...