Here are some good posts on church membership that I wish every Christian would read:
What Is Church Membership? – Jonathan Leeman (9Marks)
Is Church Membership Really Required – Ricky Jones (TGC)
6 Reasons to Be a Faithful Member of a Local Church – Paul Tautges
Twelve Reasons Why Membership Matters – Jonathan Leeman (9Marks)
Our church had VBS this past week, which means I have been really busy the last two weeks – and so the lack of blogging. But I’m back, and here are some good posts to consider as you prepare to meet together with your local church tomorrow:
Pastors Need Your Care Part 1 – Jason Helopoulos
Pastors Need Your Care Part 2 – Jason Helopoulos
As a pastor, I can affirm that these are some great suggestions.
How Much Time Do Pastors Spend Preparing Sermons? – Thom Rainer
Most church members give little thought to the amount of time it takes a pastor to prepare each sermon. In reality, sermon preparation is a large portion of a pastor’s workweek. Unfortunately, this work is invisible to typical church members. They don’t realize the enormous amount of time it takes just to prepare one sermon.
Why I Pray Publicly for Other Churches – Greg Gilbert
Each week, I choose one or two churches and pray for their services that day. I pray for the church to be attentive to the Word of God. I pray for the pastor to speak boldly and accurately from the Bible. I pray for people to be convicted of their sin, for Christians to be encouraged in the faith, and for non-Christians to be converted. I also thank the Lord that we live in a city where we are not the only church in which the gospel is proclaimed.
8 Ways Satan Keeps You From Worship – Thomas Brooks (via Tim Challies)
Satan wants to keep you from worshipping the One he hates. He wants to keep you from doing the right thing, whether that is spending time alone with the Lord in Scripture and prayer, attending and participating in public worship services, or any other thing that will draw you closer to the Lord. Here, courtesy of Thomas Brooks, are eight ways Satan will keep you from worship.
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!
As you prepare to gather with Christ’s church tomorrow, here are some good posts to consider:
We Weren’t Created For Isolation (Short Video) – Brad House (via Crossway)
We weren’t built for isolation, we were created for community. And community isn’t ultimately about us, it’s about God. The church should be the most compelling expression of community in our culture. It should stand in contrast to the counterfeit community that costs us nothing.
The Difference Between Church as Individual Divers and Church as an Organic Body – Richard Lovelace (via Justin Taylor)
No individual, congregation or denomination of Christians is spiritually independent of the others. . . .
Church as an Oasis of Grace – Trevin Wax
Our churches ought to be filled with people who have gospel-focused conversations, where we bring the gospel to bear on every inch of life, hold one another accountable, rebuke one another in love, and encourage one another in grace.
Can I Grow in Holiness Without the Local Church? (Short Video) – David Powlison (via Desiring God)
The role the local church plays in our sanctification….
May we approach church tomorrow in a more Biblical way as we seek to worship our great God together!
How we treat children says a lot about our humility. Here are some helpful posts for parents and anyone who ministers to children:
How Do You Discern the Conversion of a Child? – Brian Croft
Teach Children the Bible Is Not About Them – Sally Lloyd-Jones
Children in Worship: Let’s Bring It Back – Jason Helopoulos
Children in Worship: Mom Tested Tips – Jason Helopoulos
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshipping the Lord! (And if you are a parent, I hope you have a great Lord’s Day helping your children worship the Lord!)
This weekend’s recommended posts all relate to the church.
First, a helpful reminder of what the church is. It is a Bride, a Building, and a Body.
Our approach to gathering as a church on Sunday will make a big difference. Tullian Tchividjian gives us a prayer of preparation. Meanwhile Joshua Harris encourages us to come eager, expectant, and early. Tim Challies gives us ideas for before the service, during the service, and after the service. And if you must come grumpy (which you shouldn’t!), Chris Brauns reminds you not to spit in everyone else’s Sunday Dinner (of the Word)!
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!
Brian J. Mikul 