Our local association newsletter had a section recently that listed six secrets of a turnaround church. Thom Rainer, president of Lifeway Christian Resources, conducted a survey of churches that were in decline and experienced a great turnaround. From that survey these six things were evident in every church that made a turnaround: They became highly…
In my personal Bible reading, I have been reading the book of Exodus. In Exodus 25-28, we see the instructions that God gives to Moses in regards to building the tabernacle. Just a first glance of these chapters can be nonexciting to say the least. However, there are some very valuable real-life lessons that we…
I answered God’s call on my life to vocational ministry when I was 18 years old. I was so certain of what God wanted me to do that I immediately went to Bible college and started serving anywhere a door was open. I went to Bible college to pursue training in Biblical Studies and Youth…
A study of the book of First Timothy takes us now to the final three chapters of the book. In these chapters, we find very practical encouragement and instruction concerning life in the local church. Dangers to be aware of (4:1-5). These verses describe a great apostasy that comes in the later days. We are…
As we continue our walk through the book of First Timothy, we come now to some basic and practical instructions for the local church. Paul shifts his focus from warnings concerning false teachers to the church and its responsibilities and duties. The priority of prayer and evangelism (2:1-8). Prayer must and should be a top…
The book of First Timothy is both fascinating and practical. Paul is the author of the letter and he is writing to Timothy who served as the pastor of the church in Ephesus and Asia Minor. The content of the letter is addressed both to Timothy and to the congregation. For Timothy, the encouragement is…
Questions abound as to why churches across America are in decline. Many have suggested that the church is not relevant enough to today’s society. As a result we do see young people leaving the traditional church and flocking to the emerging church movement. We have mistakenly attributed this to things such worship styles, attire, and…
The ongoing debate in many churches is the position and function of the church deacon. We serve a God who is a God of order. This is seen in the amazing artistic and orderly design of creation to the institutions of the home, human government, and the church. Throughout the Bible we see a principle…
Across America there are pockets where the churches are a plenty and the Gospel is clearly preached and understood. However, there are also pockets where the churches are few and the people are starved for truth. Knox county Maine (where I pastor) is one of those pockets where the churches are few and the people are…
In previous posts I dealt with the subject of the pastor as a shepherd and the pastor as a teacher. Now, we turn our attention to the oversight ministry of the pastor. The pastor is the bishop or ‘overseer’ of the church. He is not the head of the church, for Christ is the head.…
Pastor Chris Noland 