Huddle Up
Pastor Stuart
If churches were football teams, the congregation would be the players, and the huddle would be regular in-church activities like weekly Sunday worship. (I guess that makes Jesus the coach, God the general manager, and the Holy Spirit the quarterback? Or something like that.) I was reminded how important that Sunday huddle is this week since… we couldn’t have worship because of snow and ice! No worship, no huddle. So I’ve been figuring out how to be my best self all week on the fly. Football teams can speed up their play if the clock’s ticking by skipping the huddle, but you only do that if necessary. You play better when you huddle and prepare.
Actions vs. Words: which speak louder?
Pastor Stuart
We are very blessed to live in a free country, where we are free to worship without fear for our lives. But what if we didn’t? What if we lived in a country where religious minorities suffered abuse and persecution? Most people would just worry about surviving. But is there any way to have an active, effective witness for the love of Christ amidst such hostility? (Hint: YES!)
What the church can learn from AA
Pastor Stuart
Alcoholics Anonymous and other recovery programs help turn people’s lives around and keep them pointed in the right direction. They try to help people to keep getting better, take responsibility for themselves, and work to help others change their lives too. That sounds a lot like what the church should be doing too.
Faith like a child (or “Do Babies Dream of Imagined Sheep?”)
Pastor Stuart
Jesus said, “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:17). We often paraphrase that into a reminder to have “faith like a child.” So what might that involve? Well kids are wonderfully imaginative, so should we have a more imaginative faith?
The times are a-changing, but it’s not so bad
Pastor Stuart
One of the more popular laments these days is that the country/culture/society/people just aren’t as good as they used to be. There’s usually a line like, “People these days just don’t ________ like they used to.” One example among Christians is, “People don’t go to church like they used to.” Whether you think the way society has changed is good or bad, what isn’t debatable is that church attendance in America has indeed been declining drastically since the ’90s. Should that bother us? And if so, how?
God’s will: you’re doing it wrong? (Because it’s easier than you think.)
Pastor Stuart
If you’re like me, you spend time and maybe even worry trying to figure out what God’s will is. What is God’s will for my life, my family, my church, etc.? Anybody who wants to make their life better–whether in general or in the midst of bad consequences–has probably wrestled with that question. Just what is God’s will?? Well, we shouldn’t really have to ask what it is, because it’s easy to find out. We should just ask how to do it better.
“You ain’t from around here”: What the Bible says about immigrants
Pastor Stuart
What does the Bible say about immigrants? A lot, actually. So it begs the question: Since there are people who have settled in our community/country, do we treat them like the Bible says to treat them? And if so, what is that like?
A church of ordinary people
Pastor Stuart
In the last chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul says hello to a lot of people in the Roman church by name (Romans 16:3-16). And if you’re like me, then you don’t recognize any of those names and don’t even know how to pronounce them. But that’s okay. Nobody really knows who they are, because they were just good, normal, ordinary people. Well we are too, so what can learn about doing church from these fine folks in Rome? How does ordinary turn into great?
How to Succeed in Business by Going to Church
Pastor Stuart
A majority of workers in the US are burned out. Only 36% of employees feel like their work is meaningful, while only 25% “connect” to their company’s mission. Businesses can improve their stats by meeting four “core needs” of their employees: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Spiritual? Yes! An employee’s spirituality is a significant factor in increasing both their health and commitment to their job. And that’s where churches can help people find more meaning in life and satisfaction in their jobs.
Poverty in North Carolina: Should it bother us?
Pastor Stuart
Do we, as a church, care about people who are struggling financially, either in our community or around our state? Do we care about families who can’t afford to properly feed and clothe their kids? If not, then we can just move on. But if we do care about them, then here are important things we […]
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