Don’t Give up on the Evening Service – Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung has written a post about not giving up on the evening service. This is an area that I have thought a ton about over the past several years. The past couple churches I've served as pastor of have a significantly smaller crowd on Sunday evening. I also see the benefit of small group settings where believers can pray for one another, encourage one another, exhort one another, and seek to apply the other 'one another' passages of the NT. Of course, this doesn't have to happen through a small group ministry, but I can see how it could.

With that being said, I have recently started thinking that a recovery rather than an abandonment of the evening service might be better for CLBC. We have one. We have about 25% come back. It appears we are in a similar situation (though smaller) as Kevin DeYoung's church. As I have reflected more and more on the Lord's Day I have come to the place where I think it's best for our church to continue what we have, but to make it better (by intentionally focusing on what needs to be focused on).

I like a lot of what DeYoung says in this post, but I must admit I wish he elaborated more on his points at the end. You can click on the link below to read his post. In a world and time when so many other things are going on around us, I think it may be helpful to truly set aside the whole day to gather with God's people, rest in Christ, and sit under God's Word.

**Others also pointed out that they wished DeYoung elaborated on his concluding points. He has now added to those. What are your thoughts? 

Don’t Give up on the Evening Service – Kevin DeYoung:

'via Blog this'

A Passion for Beards

Via: OnlineSchools.org

Thank you Joe Thorn

Sunday Sermons

AM - Humility - Luke 14:1-11

PM - The Open Door - Luke 14:12-24

9 Keys to Reaching College Students

Our church is seeking and praying through how we might more effectively engage the students on Edison State College's campus. We are only a couple blocks away from the campus, the student body is growing, they are now putting in dorms, and we want to minister to these men and women. I found this article helpful as we think and pray through this opportunity.

The Nine Keys are:

1. Whatever you do, don't shy away from depth

2. Preach the gospel

3. Love on display is often the most effective apologetic

4. Remember that we live in the Bono generation

5. Lift their eyes to the nations

6. Aggressively develop summer projects and overseas opportunities

7. One-on-one meetings and small groups are often more effective for evangelism than large gatherings

8. Providing multigenerational connections within the church is essential to discipleship

9. Cultural adaptation is important, though not essential

You can read the whole article here:

9 Keys to Reaching College Students

Sunday Sermons

Yesterday I continued through the gospel of Luke with CLBC. The morning sermon received a lot of feedback from our congregation. By God's grace, it appears it has ministered to several people. If you listen to it, I hope and pray it serves you well and points you to Christ.

AM - Strive to Enter through the Narrow Door - Luke 13:22-30

PM - O Jerusalem, Jerusalem - Luke 13:31-35

Large or Small Gathering?

I would greatly appreciate your feedback. I know many churches who used to have Sunday night and/or Wednesday night services that made the switch to small groups (and thus canceled one or both evening meetings). I recognize the importance of gathering in smaller groups as well as the importance of gathering with the whole body and experiencing the several means of grace in a corporate setting.

If you had to choose between small or large gatherings, which would you choose and why?

My church presently has Sunday AM and PM corporate gatherings, plus a Wednesday night prayer meeting and Bible study. There are many reasons for me to rejoice in this. I also see the benefit of gathering together in small groups for prayer, accountability, application of the Scriptures, and encouragement. I do not see the benefit of adding another night to the busy schedule of people's lives.

So if you had to choose between small or large gatherings, which would you choose and why?

Is Jesus Anti-Religion?

I'm not one who likes to argue or get things started. However, I do feel the need to caution people with terminology, especially as it relates to this video and several other preachers, articles, and videos with similar sayings.



There is much in this video that I applaud, and the heart certainly seems to be sincere. I am grateful for this brother's salvation and his desire to use his gift (which, by the way, I do not possess but wouldn't mind if I did!) to spread the good news of hope in Christ.

However, I am concerned about what is said in this video. Words matter. Words matter a lot. What you say affects others. I learn this often when I say something while preaching, but later realize I hadn't said it the right way or said it in a way that misled. Is God still able to use my preaching, or this video? Yes. And praise be to God that He can.

Just to be clear about one more thing, this video is simply the latest that is making the rounds. I've heard preachers, read posts, heard comments, had conversations, and more where the same kind of thinking is portrayed. And to be clear, often times these are from people whom I love and respect in thousands of ways. With that being said, Jesus doesn't hate religion. Jesus isn't anti-religion. Jesus is certainly against self-righteousness and man-made religion, but that isn't all religion. We know this because in James 1:27 we learn of the 'religion' that pleases God the Father.

I do applaud this video (and the other things I've pointed out) for the stance against what is often seen in the church today as religion. There are certainly hypocrites everywhere in the church. There are certainly legalist throughout the church. And there are certainly those who make it quite easy to hate what is perceived as religion. Nevertheless, religion isn't against Jesus, nor is Jesus against religion.

The Bible clearly shows us that there is a set of expectations and practices that Christians are to be about. For instance, we know the early church was committed to the apostle's teaching (Acts 2:42). Paul told Timothy to devote himself to the reading and explaining of God's Word (First Timothy 4:13). Even Jesus said if you love Him you will keep His commandments (John 14:15). This, though very brief, shows us that there is a set of rules or expectations that the Bible has for believers. Again, Jesus isn't against religion, but against self-righteousness that makes up many religious people today.

Bottom line is this, Jesus possesses all righteousness and freely gives this to all who repent of their sins (even and especially self-righteousness) and trusts in His perfect obedience alone for his or her salvation. Would you repent and trust in Christ? Would you then join a local church and help redeem the word religion by seeking to obey Christ with other brothers and sisters?

Sunday Sermons

Here are my two sermons from yesterday:

AM - Rooted and Built up in Christ: Part 2 - Colossians 2:6-7

PM - What is the Kingdom of God Like? - Luke 13:18-21

10 Ways to Facilitate Spiritual Growth in Christ

This morning I preached "Rooted and Built Up in Christ: Part 2" for Cypress Lake Baptist Church. I listed the following 10 ways to facilitate spiritual growth in Christ at the conclusion of my sermon:

1. Join a Sunday School Class (our small group)
2. Be Faithful in your Attendance (to all areas of the gathering of the church)
3. Find Accountability and Prayer from Others
4. Read your Bibles Often
5. Pray Regularly
6. Memorize God's Word
7. Meditate on God's Word
8. Find Ways to Serve Others
9. Read Good Books
10. Proclaim the Goodness of Christ to Others

I listed each of these and tried to offer a brief explanation for each one. You can listen to the sermon here.

What should you pray for at prayer meeting? - Reformation21 Blog

What should you pray for at prayer meeting? - Reformation21 Blog