Is There a Role for a “Minister” in the Church who doesn’t hold the office of deacon or elder?

Just wanting some feedback. Here is a brief excerpt from a Pentecostal Systematic Theology:
I. Ministers.
The word “MINISTER” comes from the same Greek word that is translated “deacon.” But there are a number of passages where the word diakonos cannot refer to the office of the deacon. For instance, Paul, writing to the Corinthians, said: “Who [...]

Kevin DeYoung on Church Membership

Kevin DeYoung has a good post on the importance of church membership.  It’s worth reading.  Here are his main points:
1. In joining a church you make visible your commitment to Christ and his people.
2. Making a commitment makes a powerful statement in a low-commitment culture.
3. We can be overly independent.
4. Church membership keeps us accountable.
5. [...]

Christian orthodoxy and republican ideas: the American puzzle

Noll’s fifth fourth chapter in America’s God describes the unusual agreement between traditional Christians and republican political ideas in late 18-century America.  First, we have to define republican ideology.  Here’s how Noll does it:
American republican language returned constantly to two main themes: fear of abuses from illegitimate power and a nearly messianic belief in the [...]

Jonathan Edwards and the Decline of the Puritan Covenant

In Chapter 3 of America’s God, Noll writes that while Jonathan Edwards ably defended the doctrines of Calvinism in a way that understood the Enlightenment, his conception of the church represented a break with the Puritan ideal.
The Puritan covenant bound society and church under a covenant with God, using biblical Israel as the model.  In [...]

Countdown to Pentecost Sunday:”Teaching a Calvinist to Dance” by James K.A. Smith

Professor at Calvin College, James K.A. Smith, offers some thoughts on how Reformed theology and Pentecostal practice complement each other. BTW, the picture on the left is that of a dancing Abraham Kuyper (Dutch Calvinistic Giant). Link at Christianity Today here.
You will find this less academic, more biographical, and perhaps a bit challenging devotionally. Also, [...]

Catholic Inclusion ~ Catholic Exclusion

The logic of the Roman Catholic Church is that you are better off not ever hearing the gospel or knowing about the Church than you are in knowingly refusing to enter her. In other words, pagans who have not heard are better off than those who hear and do not join the Church. Current Catholic [...]

Hanging With the Elders

I am about to head out to an Elder retreat for my Church, Sovereign Grace Fellowship. We will be spedning some quality time together and pray for God’s leading and guidance upon His body. I love the Body of Christ and am most excited when praying and planning according to His will. Jesus is the [...]

Planting Churches in Urban Soil

At the AMiA Winter Conference, a workshop was held on “Planting Churches in Urban Soil.” It was presented by the Reverends Tommy Hinson, Mark Booker, Dan Claire and Bishop Thad Barnum.
Dan Claire started the Church of the Resurrection about six years ago on Capitol Hill. In January of 08, Resurrection launched Church of [...]

Thoughts on W. Hildebrandt’s “An Old Testament Theology of the Spirit of God”…and thoughts on the Ramifications of the “Prophethood” of all Believers to New Testament Ecclesiology

Hildebrandt, W. (1995). An Old Testament Theology of the Spirit of God. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.

Yahweh’s action in pouring out the Spirit has extensive effects. “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, [...]

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Remedy for Declining Membership = Gay, Fornicating, Adulterous Clergy

The PCUSA church has suffered recent decline in membership (http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-06-25-presbyterian-decline_N.htm). So what do they do in response to this decline?
The denomination’s General Assembly, meeting in San Jose, Calif., voted 54% to 46% Friday to drop the requirement that would-be ministers, deacons and elders live in “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between and a man [...]

What’s a Pulpit Worth???

John Piper encourages pastors and hearers to protect the pulpit from trivialities and instead delight in God through the ministry of preaching in the Church.

Love the Cross…Not Soothing Images

Many newer churches are now being built without crosses and are instead highlighting new innovative logos…many of which have no identifying connection with the Gospel or Church in general. While I am not necessarily opposed to the creation of such logos, I am opposed to those who are intentionally avoiding the cross and attempting to [...]

Ordained into Pastoral Ministry through the Laying on of Hands

Well, I was prayed over by the elders and formally received into the fellowship as Elder/Pastor on May 11. I appreciate the prayerful support of all and appreciate the specific prayers of my fellow elders.
Just in case some of you are wondering what the whole laying on of hands thing is about…it is found in [...]

“Changed by Holy Community” – Last Article Submitted for Marion Second Reformed Church’s Newsletter

 
As I write this last Windows article before our departure to Nampa (ID), I look out the window and see a mostly blue sky with scattered clouds. I see the Youth/Education building, quietly sitting, resting before it is filled with life on Sunday afternoon. I have many memories of that building: sleepovers, times of prayer, [...]

The cry for fathers

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.
—God via Malachi the Prophet, (Mal. [...]

“I want a real chaplain who believes in a real God and a real hell!”

No Jesus is mentioned. Only Jesus’ work on the cross can secure salvation and the sweet assurance that proceeds from such.
When I visited my dying grandpa, I was in the role of a chaplain of sorts. It was incredibly awkward…this is the grandpa who modeled for me stability, love, and strength. [...]

Book Review of John Murray’s “Divorce”

This was not a fun read. Reading about divorce is quite depressing to tell the truth. It is always a tragedy and God hates it. My heart breaks over it. It isn’t something we celebrate, but grieve over. Divorce is usually the result of many tears, sleepless nights, betrayal, abuse, and such. It is not [...]

What Does Millions of Dollars, Professional Clergy, and a Large Building Buy You? Starving Babies

 
The verdict is out on the ministry of Willow Creek, pastored by Bill Hybels. In the book, “Reveal: Where Are You”, it was concluded that Willow Creek is filling up the building, but failing at growing disciples. Success isn’t determined by the size of the crowd, but rather by the transformation of people’s lives. I [...]

Filmology (Film Review) of “We Are Marshall” and its Connections to Church Planting

Okay, I know that there seems to be an annual football movie and it may be getting kind of old, but this movie is worth watching for no other reason than that it is based on a true story. An entire football team perishes in a plane crash, which obviously rocks the country, and in [...]

Bill Hybels Banned this Video of Mark Driscoll…wanted more femininity, less machismo

For the full story, click: http://theresurgence.com/md_blog_2007-04-28_banned_church_planting_video
I’m cool with the video and find it more helpful than the leadership conferences Hybels hosts with the likes of Jimmy Carter, Colin Powell, and other “leaders”.  With all due respect to such leaders, should I as a pastor turn to them for pastoral insight? Perhaps [...]

Book Review of Mark Driscoll’s, “Confessions of a Reformission Rev. : Hard Lessons from an Emerging Missional Church”

Having already read Driscoll’s, “The Radical Reformission”, I decided that reading the sequel would be helpful. The sequel is really how the principles of a “radical reformission” work in real church life. Driscoll makes it clear that it was far from easy at first and is frank and transparent about the struggles on him and [...]

Book Review of “The Radical Reformission” by Mark Driscoll

 
Well, I must say that it is refreshing to read a Pastor who holds nothing back in his candor and blunt style of conveying his opinion. In the midst of political correctness and wuss pastors who are constantly afraid of offending someone, Mark Driscoll is a prophet of sorts.
As for the contents of the book, [...]

Federal Vision, “ELECT”, etc.

I am pasting below a published article and my response is in italics below the article.NEWS FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
MEMPHIS, TENN
JUNE 14, 200735th PCA GA Approves Recommendations of Federal Vision Study Report
MEMPHIS, TENN – The 35TH General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America, meeting in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday, [...]

“Shepherding Movement, John Piper, Church Membership” All Discussed in this Response

I am posting below a response I made to a very thoughtful critique of my original post on “Church Membership: What’s the Point?” from a blogger, John Bailey, who is an elder in a PCA church in Torrance, CA. His response is copied in first, and then my response.
Hi Rick,
I am a ruling elder at [...]

Church Membership – What’s the Point?

This has been my first reading of John R. Sittema, a pastor in the PCA, serving a congregation in North Carolina. I only read a single chapter, “Church Membership: Committed to Follow a Recognized Voice”. It was offered up to me by an elder in my church after we had some discussions about the idea [...]