The Beginning Of A New Church Year

The Beginning Of A New Church Year
Introduction:
The season of Advent marks the beginning of a new church year. It is a season of preparation.
Advent is a time when we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. And Advent is
also a time for us to be alert so that we remain prepared for our Lord's return at His Second Coming.
During these four weeks of the Advent season, in the midst of all of our preparedness, we are
reminded that God comes to us – into our sin and brokenness – and gives us a new beginning in our
Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
Our text for today is from the first eight verses of Mark's Gospel, which opens with the
announcement that the beginning is at hand: "This is the beginning of the preaching of the Good
News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God." This beginning, we're told, is announced by John the
Baptizer, who "...came on the scene ...baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins."
John's baptizing activity attracted a lot of people. Inhabitants from all over the Judean countryside
and all of Jerusalem went out to the wilderness to be baptized by John and to hear his message about
the coming Savior – the One whose sandal thong he was not worthy enough to untie; the One who
would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John's message was effective and drew great crowds because he
brought people what they needed most: the forgiveness of sins. And he prepared them for something
new that was about to begin – the reign and
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The New Testament Church Act 2 Essay
Act 2, gave us a vivid description of how the new testament church began. After Peter preaches on
the Pentecost day many were touched by what Peter said. Act 2 recorded that many who were
present when Peter spoke had the urgency to receive the gospel so that their sins can be forgiven.
Although many accused the disciples of being drunk the good news is that Peter was able to make it
clear that they were not drunk rather they filled with the holy spirit. Fulfilling the prophecy that was
given to the Jews by the prophets.
Act 2 : 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow
Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 ... Show more
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28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'[e]
29 "Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his
tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that
he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the
resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body
see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses to it. 33 Exalted to the right
hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you
now see and hear.
Witherington believed that many who listened to Peter came from different parts of the word (page
182). It seems that many who accepted peter message heed to it and probably took back the message
to their various home country to evangelize what they have heard.
The new testament church began after the event at the Pentecost day because many went back to
form their own cell groups or church after returning from

Essential Parts That Make A Church Plant Successful
In this paper, we are going to look at some of the vital parts that make a church plant successful. We
will first examine the importance of the location and will look at three reason why this is something
that requires extreme thought and prayer. We will then look at finances of the church. We will
examine the who and the how when it come the stewardship. Finally closing the paper, we will
examine where the main growth will take place small groups. Looking at four areas of small groups
that a church plant must have.
A successful church plant location is a vital part of the churches ministry. Malphurs says
Locating the church campus is the most important decision, because when you locate a strategic
campus for your ministry community, you have made the decision for the location of the facilities
and parking as well. They will be part of the whole package. At this point you need to keep all three
in mind–campus, facilities, and parking area. And you actually begin with the campus–the
geographical site.
This church is going to pick a location that is centrally located in the middle of town. As a church
plant, we know that location is key and believe that being in the middle of town is going to
maximize the ministry of the church. The location of the church is vital to the people who you are
trying to reach. A successful church plant must be located within the community that is being
served. Malphurs states that "For your unsaved, unchurched community, the church's

New Forms And Models Of Church
In thinking about the potential for new forms and models of church, we must first articulate what the
goals are for this church as well as for the community. With respect to the church, one of the main
emphases at this time according to judicatory, is to care for the congregation. The second goal for
the church is to develop a new ministry plan that is more extensive than the previous plan. The third
and final goal is to organize work in the community. These goals will guide the possibilities for new
forms and models of church. Another aspect of this church that forms the discussion of the models
and forms of church is the idea that this is a "Community church."[1] What this means is that this is
a church that is intentional about being ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
While as the case mentions, this will evolve as time goes on, this congregation will begin on this
goal by intentional steps for the many different members to get to know each other more deeply in
order to become a community. This could be as simple as sitting with someone new in worship each
week, or sticking around for a few minutes after the service to talk to someone new. This begs the
question, of how will this intentional focus be initiated? It will be initiated by the pastors that rotate
in the pulpit, by the teaching and preaching on the focus of becoming a community and how this is
important for the congregation. For example, a sermon or sermon series could be on Paul's words in
Corinthians about the body[3] and how that understanding can be the fundamental for understanding
what community means in the congregation. In addition, there is also a form within the model of
community that is important. This form is a congregation that has "Open hearts, open minds, open
doors."[4] What this form will look like is a church that is inviting and welcoming of all peoples
either already in the congregation or if they are new and come into the congregation. The bottom
line is that while of course, the pastors shall care for the congregation, especially in the ways

Homosexuality : New Zealand And The Christian Church Essay
Homosexuality in New Zealand and the Christian Church
Every dilemma we encounter can test our ethics. Ethics are said to be a set of values or group of
moral principles that are right and good as well as a code or principles of behaviour or conduct
governing an individual or group. It is important for us as humans to comprehend the fact that
ethical answers are not black and white as it doesn't always shows the right answer to moral issues,
for example, homosexuality. The homosexuality debate has been ongoing for the past 30 years in
New Zealand, and although legalising sexual intercourse between members of the same sex in 1986,
discrimination still occurs in today's 21st century. Oxford Dictionary defines homosexuality as "a
condition of personal identity in which a person is sexually orientated towards persons of the same
sex." The Christian Bible has never stated the word "homosexuality" nor defined such an act, but
based on modern ideology, the deed of a man having any intimate relations with another man have
been taken to consideration as homosexuality. Within the teachings of the Christian tradition,
homosexuality has two very distinct viewpoints held in the Old Testament and the New Testament,
which are further enforced through those given by Pope Francis I and the New Zealand State
Government who provide insight based on the fact the New Zealand is not a Christian nation;
however, it is the most practised religion in the country.
Homosexuality is clearly condemned

Honoring The Elderly 's Ministry
"Honoring the Elderly's Ministry" The definition of "Honoring the Elderly in Ministry," is to include
them in the core ministries of the church. Incorporating the seniors/elderly into the life of the church
requires careful examination of the facets of the church life. Uniquely, this will reveal ways to tap
into the decades of wisdom and experience they offer. Notably, there are numerous benefits to
having a senior/elderly ministry that include folding bulletins, mailing copies, and or just
volunteering where ever needed. However, it is also important to sow into their spiritual life as well
as emotional support (Saucer 26–27). Furthermore, incorporating seniors/elderly into the life of the
church, I would suggest ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As a Christian, we are to do more than pray, we are to represent God to all ages and all people.
Thank God for the elderly in my life, spending time listening to their stories has truly encouraged
me also help me cope with some issues I ordinally would throw in the towel on. I am a better person
because of them (Saucer 20–23). Therefore, in honoring the seniors/elderly, include them in the
functions of the church. Chiefly, I gleaned, considering they are seasoned in years, with some, doubt
and questions about their faith troubles their mind. However, allow them who faithfully serve God
to continue to what God has called them to do. Not to mention, involving them in the functions of
the church keeps their mind stayed on Jesus, a strong mind. Another key point, who better is capable
of leading also teaching others how to pray, the senior/elderly. Furthermore, in my opinion, the
Mother Board is where this should begin. Accordingly, I would suggest to my church to establish a
Mother Board Ministry in honoring the seniors/elderly. A ministry that is not recognized in churches
today. And yet, specifically designed to remind us of the historical honor also respect which their
past has equipped us in the way of opportunities. Notably, is the lack of this ministry in churches
today because the character of young girls and boys have changed greatly (no respect for themselves
also others) and as a result, the adult's

The Church of the New Testament
The Church of the New Testament
There has never been and will never be a single universal religion. From the beginning of time
people have argued over who has the correct teachings, beliefs, and religious practices. However,
the Eastern Orthodox Church believes itself to be the one true religion as practiced in the New
Testament. Prior to 1054 AD, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholicism were branches of the same
religious body. In 1054 AD the first division of Christian faiths occurred. There had long been
conflicts between the two churches that included the nature of the Holy Spirit, iconic worship, the
celebrations of Easter, and cultural differences. Roman Catholicism separated itself from the Eastern
Orthodox and began its own ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They believe that Christ is the Son of God and that he was born of a virgin named Mary. Because
Jesus was born to a human, he himself is fully human and fully divine; the Son of God and the Son
of Man. They believe that Jesus, in his human form, saved the world by teaching the absolute truth
of God. They understand that Jesus forgave the evils of all men and the world; he suffered and died
in innocence, voluntarily and unjustly on the cross in order to be with all who suffer and die.
This belief fits with the teachings from the book of Acts, that Jesus is the universal savior. A
continuation of the gospels of Luke, Acts remains an important book of the Bible in the sense that it
tells about the continuation of the teachings of Jesus passed on by his witnesses; essentially, the
retellings of Jesus' stories. These retellings allowed the Christian religion to spread worldwide. The
New Testament, in my belief, has the same impact as Acts. It retells the story about the life of our
savior Jesus Christ and his teachings according to the word of god. It is important for any member
of society who wants to practice and understand any Christian religion. I have never attended an
Orthodox church prior to this course, but I will be attending a service in the near future. I look
forward to seeing how the mystical nature of their faith fits in with the teachings of Jesus. While I
can see similarities between my faith and the Orthodox faith, I expect to

My Church Context At New Creation Ame Church Essay
During my examination of my church context at New Creation AME Church, I have determined that
I will explore the topic of "Restart Churches". In my current context, the church has been in
existence for twenty years, with no physical church home. Given the history, dwindling membership
and financial issues, I would classify this church as a Restart Church. Restarts are churches that fall
into two categories; those that are either failing, or have failed and those that have assessed that
restarting or starting over is the only way to invigorate their church plant or ministry in a way that
will thrive and become viable. The term restart covers the gamut of churches a majority of which
are small, and in a declining phase of ministry or stuck in the mire of inertia with little or no church
growth. A Restart Church is comparable to rebooting your computer. If you experience a problem
with your personal computer and the screen freezes or locks, you just press Alt, Ctrl Delete and your
computer will soon restart. Restarting a church process is a very arduous, time–consuming process
that involves many varying factors that play a part in how long it will take to get moving and
become active. Dr. Aubrey Malphurs, Senior Professor of Educational Ministries and Leadership
and Pastoral Ministry at Dallas Theological Seminary, estimates that 30 to 40 % of churches will
close their doors after the first few years. An Estimated 55,000 churches will cease operations from
2005 –

The Church Of New France
One of the many things the settlers of New France bought with them from France into North
America was religion. Historians have argued that the church played huge part in the lives of the
people in New France. Despite being far away from the leaders of the church and thus not directly
under their control, the church still played a role in the lives of the people of New France. By the
1600s Jesuit missionaries had entered New France and started their attempts to convert the First
Nations people. As more settlers moved into New France it was more difficult for the church to keep
its status. They attempted with various methods to convert more First Nations and keep the
European settlers in the church. However, post 1663, after the creation of the Royal Colony, the
issues regarding religion and the issues it was causing did not decrease.
The primary source being used is a document by Annie Rollo Stagg titled "The importance of
religion to woman". Secondary sources include "the Role of the Church in New France", "The
People of New France", "Business and Religion in the Age of New France, 1600–1760: Twenty–two
Studies", and "First Establishment of the Faith in New France". I will argue that the church in post
1663 New France played an enormous part of the people residing there, especially women. The
church was not a place for people to worship but politically, socially and economically influenced
the post 1663 life in New France.
The Roman Catholic Church was the exclusive

Monks, Religion, and Heaven: A Fatal Mix
For a society to function properly, hierarchies are established to ensure organization, collaboration,
and different levels of authority. While people in positions of power hold many responsibilities, man
is still fallible. This inevitable conflict is illustrated when Ambrosio, an idolized member of the
church, succumbs to temptation and sins. In Matthew Lewis' The Monk, Ambrosio's downfall as an
esteemed religious figure depicts the contamination and corruption of a man of God, and by
extension, religion as a whole. The dissonance created within Ambrosio in turn jeopardizes a society
and its faith in God.
Ambrosio was highly praised within the monastery and Madrid for his stainless character, and yet
his hypocritical downfall exemplifies the consequences of mixing Heaven and Earth. This results in
both a fall of the credibility of Catholic beliefs and a shift towards more secular viewpoints. Even at
the start of The Monk, the congregation present for Ambrosio's sermon in Madrid is full of people
from "a city where superstition reigns with such despotic sway...to seek for true devotion would be a
fruitless attempt," there is evidence that corruption is already present in this society (7; vol. 1, ch. 1).
But when a religious figure also falls to this level, the atmosphere of a church's role within society
drastically shifts. This shift then jeopardizes the spirituality of the common people because of the
church's influence and its representation of God on Earth. The

Crystal Cathedral Research Paper
When someone thinks of a scared place, most will think of places that almost transport a person to a
different time. This could be a place built a 1,000 years ago or 300 hundred years ago. Many
wouldn't think of a something built or created thirty or sixty years ago. There are these new
creations that are used for frequent or daily devotions. The Crystal Cathedral was completed by
architect Philip Johnson, who completed the project that was begun by Dr. Robert H. Schuller. The
cathedral is twelve stories tall designed in a wedge shaped contour. The building is composed of
more than 10,000 panes of silver glasses attached by silicone for flexibility during earthquakes,
makes it one of the largest glass structures in the world. Though not technically a cathedral as the
cathedral does not actually ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This religions shrine is located in Hong Kong and was created by a former philosophy teacher Rev.
Yuet Kai Fai Sei. Construction began on the shrine in 1949 and was completed in 1957. Rev. Yuet
Kai Fai Sei renounced all earthly possessions and crossed China on foot before settling in the lush
hills of Sha Tin, a suburb of Hong Kong. The shrine is composed of a monastery and temple
complex that holds around 13,000 images of the Buddha. These images are large and small, and no
two are the same. These modern creations are more accessible for daily devotions compared to such
sites as the Hanging Monastery which is located in China. This site is is home to a group of temples
connect by narrow stairways and walkways on the site of a sheer cliff. The whole infrastructure is
supported by slender stilts. The infrastructure is safer than it might sound as the stilts are more of a
decoration. The pavilions sit farther back into the the cliff. The site is ecumenical with Taoists,
Buddhists, and Confucianists sharing a tiny temple with each group being represent within 40
pavilions and

The Importance Of Cathedrals In David Macaulay's Cathedral
"Stories about architecture are stories about people," said David Macaulay, author of Cathedral (4).
The intention of cathedrals was to draw people, and in turn inspire those who came to pray, learn,
and worship (Macaulay, Cathedral 4). Cathedrals remain inspirational in their enormous scale and
overpowering beauty, and that these places of worship are still standing after many centuries show a
level of determination and integrity in those that built the edifices (Macaulay, Cathedral 4).
Architect Vitruvius wrote, "All the buildings have two components: The building itself and an idea
that its architecture tried to express" (McNamara 6). People build churches because they believed in
something (McNamara 6). In David Macaulay's book, Built to Last, he says the mindset behind
building cathedrals was that of honor and dedication. Macaulay's research noted that, "The new
cathedral would be built to the glory of God, and it mattered little that it might take more than one
hundred years to construct it" (Macaulay, Built to Last 98). However, there is more to cathedrals
than just building something grand and beautiful to honor God. Churches and cathedrals were built
to be packed with meaning (Taylor 1), and were used to illustrate key points of Christian teaching
through the use of imagery (Taylor 5). Cathedrals were a place to immerse individuals in worship.
Religious parents encourage their children to pray, take them to church and to religious events
(Newberg and

Comeback Churches Summary
In their book, Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around and Yours Can Too, writers
Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson report their discoveries concerning 324 churches that made rebounds
from five or more years of level and/or decrease. There is promise for the 70 to 80 percent of North
American houses of worship that are as of now in a condition of upkeep or decay. Comeback
Churches establishes a decent framework for perceiving the issue and will help pioneers in the
Church begin moving in the right heading. Furthermore, it makes an extraordinary showing with
shielding the requirement for Churches to genuinely assess the wellbeing and welfare of their body.
A great guide to any Church pioneers and any individual who should notice that their ... Show more
"[The church] lost sight of its true mission and purpose to simply make more and better followers of
Jesus Christ. [x]" Stetzer and Dodson agree that "churches desiring a comeback will need to make
changes in order to start growing again. [27]" Grounded in scripture, each section intends to
illuminate the actions necessary to facilitate a turnaround, determining the status, preparation, and
change management.
Comprised of fourteen chapters, the authors are explicit in readers comprehending this as a guide
rather than a fix–all in turning around their churches. One chapter or section will not facilitate a
change, rather a sequence of habits and efforts. Comprised of a large volume of statistical data, the
facts remain constant; declining or plateaued churches can rebound. However, it will require change,
change from the pulpit to the pews. Beginning with "0" or foundation, there are six criteria that
should exist in all biblical churches, and are prominently and frequently mentioned in Scripture [2]:
(1) Scriptural authority; (2) Biblical leadership; (3) Preaching and teaching; (4) Ordinances; (5)
Covenant community; and (6) Mission. Additionally, the foundation emphasizes the need of
becoming a

Reflective Essay On Community Service
When I think about service and how I can play a role in it, I think about community service. Since I
have been at Bethany I have been in a couple of different organizations and community service is
always a major focus. Right now, I am the active Pledge Master for the fraternity, Gamma Kappa
Alpha. By being in this leadership position I am obligated to help out the community and try to
make the people in my organization the best that they can be. There are multiple services that we
provide for the community, such as, volunteering for churches, helping out with residents yard care
and going to the retirement home to talk to and comfort the people who are living there. As of right
now, our frat is on probation, because last year we didn't meet the community requirements set by
the school. Since we are on probation and I am now a leader in the organization, I have been a part
of setting up a more activities and services that will help out the community. The other leaders of the
frat and I have worked hard on finding events that will help out the community to the best of our
abilities. Since we are a low budget organization, we had to come up with ideas that we could spend
our time to help out others rather than other options such as money and donations. I think that this
helps our members because not all of them quite understand the importance doing work for minimal
benefits yet. With my term as a leader in this organization, I hope that I can get the point across that
helping

Reflective Essay On The Father Of God
As tears fell from my eyes and onto the light blue carpet, I heard words I never thought I would
hear. One Sunday about three years ago, our assistant pastor preached a message, and after that, he
announced that our pastor was stepping down. Because it was such a close–knit church, we quickly
learned that our pastor had committed adultery with one of my best friends' mother. My family was
extremely upset and the whole church was distraught when we heard the news. I had no idea what to
think. This man, whom I trusted, had baptized me and answered any questions I had. My family
adored our pastor because he was such a great teacher of the Bible. I could not fathom how my
pastor, a man of God, could be capable of a sin like this. After church that day, my family went out
to eat. At the restaurant, my father mentioned that he wanted to try out a different church. This idea
my father posed to my family was so foreign to me. This church family was all I had ever known
since I was four years old. I continuously asked God: after eleven years, why did my family have to
be uprooted. I could not understand how something like this could happen. The Bible says in
Romans 8:28 that "all things work together for the good of those who love God," but I did not
understand how anything "good" could possibly come from my situation. My brother and my father
were excited to visit new churches, but my feelings were the opposite. Despite my feelings, I
decided I was going to be optimistic and give

Personal Narrative: My New Fellowship Christian Church
"Beep, Beep, Beep!" That stupid phone just wouldn't stop nagging me! I rubbed my eyes as I rolled
over to turn off the alarm. "Whoa, okay. This is it, my thoughts carried on; I told Marissa I would go
to church today. Hmm, do I really want to? I could just lie here in bed and go back to bed. But then
what would I do with my day? What excuse would I have for my friend for bailing out of going to
church with her, yet again? Yawning, I pulled myself up as I gathered my clean clothes and grabbed
a clean towel to go take a shower. A little while later, I felt the warmth of the sunshine on my arms
as I walked the four–block walk over to this new, unfamiliar place, full of people who called
themselves New Fellowship Christian Church. As I looked towards the front, I thought, ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
I thought that he was reading my mind and directly speaking to me. At the end of the message, I
responded that I wanted to be saved. I cried as Shane spoke words for me to repeat after him, "Lord
Jesus, I know I've sinned against You, please forgive me. I believe that You love me and have a plan
for me. Amen," I prayed. From the moment of this experience almost nine years ago, I have striven
to live my life for Jesus. He has shown me so much grace and mercy. He loved me when I felt
unlovable. The love that I feel from Him enables me to want to grow and be a better person every
day. I believe that my salvation experience will move me to study for His glory. I believe that He
has given me a special calling to study psychology and one day become a counselor, so that I can
show love and healing to other broken people. Over the years my life has taken many turns,
including an international move with my husband to Dominica, and becoming a mother to two
beautiful children. Should this door open for me at Colorado Christian University I intend to fully
commit to finish my bachelor's degree in psychology, for His

Descriptive Essay On The Abu Bbakr Temple
The temple that we visited was the Abu Bakr Mosque, a Sunni temple, and the largest Islamic
Mosque in the state of Colorado. The temple can accommodate up to 3,000 people at its maximum.
Abu Bakr is a part of the Colorado Muslim Society and is the first masjid in Colorado after the
building was purchased in 1974 and relocated to its current location. My first impression of the
masjid was that it did not seem like a religious building at first sight. Because of the simple masonry
of the exterior, I would have assumed that it was a school or office building. I originally expected
more windows and more of a radial pattern of the site. Everyone that I encountered outside of the
temple was friendly and wanted to interact and teach me more about about Islam. One man in the
multicultural room of the temple said that he couldn't distinguish if I was muslim or not because I
had the traditional head scarf on as well as being covered to my wrists and ankles. He said that I was
very respectful by dressing conservatively. The people seemed more conservative with the
separation of the sexes and with the timeliness of the prayer, but we were told that we were
completely separated to eliminate distraction for both men and women, and the exact timing of the
prayer helped because it was a Saturday, and it was easier for the attendants to be more on time.
They are also very understanding of schedules because the masjid is open all day to accommodate
everyone. The community was very

Te Pouhere: The Constitution of the Anglican Church in...
"Te Pouhere (1991) is a just response to the Treaty of Waitangi and the Gospel in Aotearoa, New
Zealand and Polynesia". To answer this question is to examine the very foundations of the Anglican
Church in these lands, to explore the history of people and events that brought us to the moment of
Te Pouhere's ratification and to elicit a sense of the forces that drive us as a church, both then and
now. With a view to the vast reality that is entwined with answering, and with humility in
recognizing that we can only scratch the surface of thought in the framework of this assignment, it is
the aim of this essay to discuss and attempt to respond to the question posed. We will achieve this
initially through a discussion of the role Church ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This transformation of Māori from a previously solely spoken language into a written form had two
major effects. The first was the ability, and so necessity to write the treaty in a Māori form, and
secondly that, in order to communicate the concepts laid out in English, familiar conceptual ideas
would have to be used in Māori, many of which had, through Luke, taken on a greater level of
spiritual significance in regard to Christian thought. This can be seen in Māori conception of te Tiriti
as a form of covenant . This notion of the treaty as covenant was an idea further enforced by the
work of missionaries who were deeply involved in Māori life and politics, and one which, it is
argued, helped to sway many Māori chiefs to sign . With recognition of the Anglican Church as the
sending institution of the CMS missionaries who translated and endorsed the treaty to Māori chiefs
and the realization of the role that Christian belief and conceptions played in Māori understanding
of the treaty, it is without doubt that, as a church, we must take responsibility for te Tiriti and ensure
that it is upheld. As such, its prominence and role within the structural framework laid out in Te
Pouhere is a necessary and valid attempt by the Anglican Church in Aotearoa/New Zealand

New Teachings About The Church
The church was born Multicultural.
I have read this passage of Acts for many years and now I find new teachings about the church in
this modern era. The first community was a multicultural one. That is the reason what the Bible is
amazing for, when we read it seeking with confidence the answer for our questions, we find it and
this come still from the same passage. Do not mind the language, the culture, do not mind any else,
you get the answer.
Acts 2.1–12, 6:1–7
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost (Slides 2–4) 1When the day of Pentecost came; they were all
together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house
where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect
the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.
We will turn this responsibility over to them
4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy
Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to
Judaism.
6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large
number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Slide Five
According to the Bible, once on the oldest times the humanity was only one. The pretension of
reaching God finished with that unity. That is the history of the Babel Tower. The teaching is, when
human being wants to reach God by itself, they wrong the way. To

The Church Is A New Covenant
In society today, thousands of churches are gathering at different days and times, believing in
different rituals and gods. These are called universal churches . In the gospels, we read about Jesus
Christ establishing how a church should operate. The goal of this paper is to discuss what the church
is along with what the mission of the church is. I will use definitions to help explain, Scriptural
references, theological insights, and class notes.
In our notes, Dr. Galdamez defined the church as, "the assembly of God's new covenant people who
have been graciously redeemed from sin, death, and the devil and have been united to Christ
through faith in his salvific work on the cross and through his resurrection." Some key points in this
definition that should be noted are that the church is a new covenant people and we are united in
faith through Christ's work on the cross. When we look at the old covenant, people were under the
law. They followed mans' way of living. In the old covenant, they did not know about the gathering
of saints because it was not revealed to them. The only thing they knew were the laws established
my Moses which was called the Mosaic Law (Ex. 19, 20:19; Lev. 1–7, 23, 26:46; Rom. 9:4). Since
the Gospels, we are now under the new covenant which is grace. In the new covenant, a sinful
nation was redeemed by Jesus Christ's blood which was shed on the cross (Eph. 1:7; Acts 17:11,
Matt. 27:51). Another definition of the church according to Grudem was, "the

New Hope Community Church Summary
On April. 11, New Hope Community Church(P) held a graceful Sunday service with abundant grace
poured down from out father in heaven Th full day of activities consisted of Sunday school, and the
meeting for Adults. Antwaun, Curtis, and Bubble held bible study on the book of Romans, and
prepared the service with a prayer meeting beforehand. Angela lead Sunday school with 4 children
attending. She taught about the story of Jesus with some kid friendly educational materials. The kids
are growing every week with the nourishing word of God.
During the adult service, Pastor Sophia delivered a message titled, "The early church," taken from
the book of Acts 2:42–27. "The early church was the church that devoted themselves to God and for
making His

The Church As The Good News Of Salvation Essay
Persecution was a continuous problem for the early church as the good news of salvation through
Jesus Christ began to spread. One of the most zealous persecutors of the early church determined to
stop the proliferation of this message was a Pharisee named Saul of Tarsus. Therefore, to
demonstrate that salvation and redemption are for everyone, Jesus called Saul to help spread the
Gospel. This calling was so important that Luke described it three times in Acts. First, in Acts 9:1–
30, then again as Paul speaks before a Jewish crowd in Acts 22:3–21, and finally before Jewish
King Agrippa as a defense given by Paul in Acts 26:2–23. Luke wanted his readers to understand
that while Saul of Tarsus was a zealous persecutor of Christians, his calling/conversion to
Christianity causes an enormous growth in the Christian church.
Saul was born in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia (in modern–day Turkey). His parents were Jewish who
possessed Roman citizenship. According to Harrer, "his father, or some more distant male
ascendant, must have been made Roman either by the grant of freedom, if he were a slave, or by
naturalization, if he were a free provincial or foreigner" This coveted privilege would also extend to
Saul. In addition to being a Roman citizen, Saul's father was a Pharisee which Saul would also
eventually become.
It is believed that Saul and his family moved to Jerusalem at some point during Saul's childhood. In
Acts 22:3, Saul comments about Jerusalem being his boyhood home.

New Outreach Programs In A Local Church Can Be Difficult.
New outreach programs in a local church can be difficult. By definition an outreach ministry is to
reach out to the surrounding community. The congregation at Peace United Methodist Church in
Virginia, MN began an outreach program on Wednesday evenings in mid–September in an effort to
invite others in the community to experience their church in new ways. Many of the small group
offerings are secular in orientation with a few traditional discipleship options as well. From the
program's inception, the heavily elderly based congregation (mean age of 70–80 years) understood
the new program to be open to the general public. This led to a rise in anxiety when the
congregation realized people who were less than desirable would be likely to ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
This forced relocation surely put Judah's people into an emotional tale–spin, potentially affecting
those in both Judah and Babylon for generations. Families that could not find healthy ways of
handling their predicament may have given rise to children who continued with unhealthy habits
and actions, doomed to repeat their parent's mistakes. Ezekiel's main concern is the negative actions
which were against God, i.e. God's laws and the priestly traditions Ezekiel was called to uphold.
Being a priestly prophet, Ezekiel begins his refutation with what sounds to be a temple rite in verses
5–9. He presents a long list of both intimate and public transgressions, equating the list to what
some scholars believe was an entrance rite or liturgy for the temple in ancient Israel. However, there
is no biblical evidence to support such a rite. There is evidence of similar lists found on the
doorposts and lentels of ancient Egyptian temples. Even if the list is not from a Jewish temple rite,
Ezekiel is most likely using a temple rite of sorts, secular perhaps, but a rite recognizable to his
audience. The first person associated with this list is said to have avoided these transgressions and is
granted life by God. The prophet goes on to provide a counter–example, the first person's son, with
a slightly different list of transgressions committed against God for which the penalty is death (v.
10–13). Why did Ezekiel change the list instead of simply repeating the

New England Church Case Study
Dear Elders of the Highland church of Christ,
I hope you are all well and thriving continuously in the Lord. As you may know, my wife and I are
planning to move to London, England this winter, Lord willing before the summer to work with the
Stratford church of Christ. We are excited and are grateful for all the encouragement and prayers
that have been lifted in His Name for this work and our success in fulfilling the Great Commission.
We also thank God for the Highland congregation in your example of servitude and love for Christ
and lost souls.
The Stratford church of Christ was first founded in October 2002 after years of the East end of
London being without a congregation. These passionate, faithful saints grew in number and today
stand ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
We desire this so that we may together model ourselves after Jesus and His Kingdom.
Secondly, we want to help grow and nurture Stratford to be an encouragement and blessing to not
just congregations in London but also to congregations throughout England, the United Kingdom,
and abroad.
Thirdly, we plan to engage in the outreach of this populated and diverse section of London through
one–on–one and group discussions and studies of Christ and His Word, developing a strong
presence, relationship, and service in the community, and by showing the city of London the beacon
of light the Stratford congregation is and can continue to be.
The Stratford congregation is a congregation of passionate Christians who have a desire to fulfill the
work of the kingdom, and they desire for us to labor with them in a full–time capacity. A work of
this magnitude in a city ranked in the top 30 most populated cities in the World would require for
someone to help them on a full–time basis. In order for my wife and I to move to London and begin
this work full–time, we need to raise living expenses for this commitment of about $1800 US
dollars per month. The Stratford congregation is going to be able to support us with £500 a week,
which is roughly $633 USD. Their generous help will allow us to pay rent, utilities, and
transportation. The eventual goal of the congregation financially is to be completely self supporting
in the future. Until that time, we will need stateside help financially with living

I Am A New Church Home And Form A Foundation For My Family
I was raised in a church environment and baptized at a young age. I know this was the right thing to
do to be "saved." If I was to leave this earth, I knew if Jesus was the head of my life and savior that I
would spend eternity in heaven with Him and other deceased loved ones. It was not until I started
Union University did I take it more seriously about finding a new church home and form a
foundation for my family. I knew that times would be hard and my faith would be tested while
attending school full time, raising a family, and working full time. It was at that moment, I knew I
needed strength from the Lord to keep me pushing. Because Union University kept everything
based on a Christian foundation, I have a deeper understanding of everything being based on God
and Godly ways.
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I
sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations," comes from Jeremiah 1:5. Augustine
reflects back to his infancy stage and realizes that God supplied milk through the mother's breast, a
necessary supplement to survive at such a young age. "You that they gave so willingly that milk
which by Your gift flowed in the breasts," he declared to God. He makes it a point to thank and
acknowledge Him for the basic instinct of health and survival. While reading Augustine's
Confessions, it made me think back on past experiences and pains that I have encountered.
Everything that I go

Argumentative Essay: It's Time To Get AAA
Recently, my husband and I moved from a small town in Vermont to a much larger city in Idaho.
Our trip across the country took six days, mainly due to the fact that we were traveling with our
four–week old infant. While I wouldn't normally recommend taking so long to travel (hotel costs,
gas prices and eating so much fast food), it ended up being a great experience and we were able to
see many things we hadn't before, while saving money! My first recommendation to anyone driving
across the country is always – get AAA! I thought AAA was help for just car trouble, but they offer
so many more discounts on hotels, dining and attractions as well! Each hotel we stopped at gave us
at least $20 off their already reasonable rate just for showing our ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Some of that history can be experienced today by the casual traveler. First Church of Boston One of
the very first things the founding puritans of Boston, England did when they arrived in 1630 on the
shores of what would become Boston, Massachusetts was to gather a church, the First Church. By
the 19th Century, however, Boston had changed dramatically, and like many of its counterparts, the
First Church relocated to the new Back Bay area of Boston. And there, they constructed a lovely, if
traditional, English inspired Gothic–Revival church. That church largely burned to the ground,
however, in 1968. Left without adequate funds to rebuild, the First Church built a new church on the
charred site. Designed by Paul Rudolph, the new First Church was a bit of a departure, to say the
least. Built behind the "screen" of the old Victorian east wall and corner tower, the new church is
thoroughly "modern," sculptural in shape and clad in textured concrete. Note the pleasant dialogue
the modern tower has with its Victorian counterpart. There's no jealousy whatsoever. Inside, natural
light is allowed to dance off the ever so slightly undulating concrete walls. And unlike many
churches, acoustically, the First Church of Boston is a delight. It's a wonderful place to hear music.
The First Church of Boston is located at

The New Heresies: Criticism Of The Catholic Church
The new heresies during the Renaissance involved criticism of the Catholic Church. John Wycliff
attacked many Christian beliefs and practices. He maintained that the popes should give up their
power and that only the Bible should be a Christian's authority. John Hus criticised the clergy's
corruption and worldliness and called for reforms within the Catholic Church. Old heresies had to
do with not following Christian doctrine, while the new heresies involve attacking the Church's
power. They were both punished harshly by the Church. The Church used the Inquisition to stamp
out both types of heresies, but it had attempted to reform in response to the new heresies.
The diet of the Renaissance man in question included wine, sweets, meat, cheese

Relational Model Of Church Planting
If writing about churches starting churches were a chemistry experiment, "relational models" of
church planting would be the catalyst that causes the experiment to boil over.
Relational models focus on sending Christians into their communities to gather and disciple people
who are not involved in churches. If enough people are gathered, new congregations may form.
While the general idea may sound intriguing, the specific models inspire frustration and fear for
numerous leaders of established churches.
Pastors who are frustrated their churches, where the Gospel is preached and fellowship shared each
week, are somehow not considered "missional communities."
Church leaders who see "house churches" as gatherings of disenchanted church members ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
While Baby Boomers trusted institutions less than the previous generation, Boomers still were
raised in a culture of institutions. Get Hers were not.
Get X senior pastors are not very interested in church planting strategy. They are very interested in
organic groups and networks of relationships. So relational models are often as close as they will get
to intentionally starting new churches.
$100,000 Question
For years I've asked church planters variations of the same question: If you were starting a new
church today, would you rather have a $100,000 donation or 10 committed leaders? The answer is
overwhelmingly the leaders.
So the challenge for churches is how to pull together seven to 10 leaders with a shared passion for
connecting people to Jesus in the same community. Once again the relational models for starting
new churches meet the need.
Do the Math
Research shows new churches are much more likely to survive if they are self–supporting within
three years of forming. One key to self–sustainability is regularly gathering 150 in

The Special Years ( 1907 And 1908 )
The Special Years (1907 and 1908)
Between having won a financially lucrative lawsuit against the owners of the Mineral Springs Hotel
and Bathhouse, plus getting paid for still working there, and now collecting a monthly pension,
Charles is able to purchase a lot and a half for $150 ($4,000 in 2017). He is undeniably enthusiastic
as he hires men to build the first house that he and Elizabeth have ever owned. And what a location.
Near the end of a dead–end street, it is only a one block walk to church and a three block walk to
work. As August of 1907 arrives, the Okawville newspaper announces that "Charles Lorne's new
residence was nearing completion." In September he and his family move into his new residence at
804–06 North Nashville ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
What a feeling of relief and of satisfaction when he receives word on December 5 that he has won
again. His pension is to be increased to $8.00 ($210 in 2017) a month. Earning a pension that brings
in $96 ($2,500) a year is a significant increase in the income of Charles when the average worker
only makes $.22 an hour. (L141)
Charles and Elizabeth now have two more members in their family. Their first grandchild, Charlie
Koehler, is born in East St. Louis back in 1903 and their second and third grandchildren, Grace and
Irene Hall, are born in 1906 and 1907. Now, in 1908, they add two more grandchildren with the
births of Orval Koehler and Charlie Hall. Unfortunately, they all live in East St. Louis and therefore
Charles and Elizabeth are unable to see them on a regular basis. They are helped by the recent
addition of a $1.25 ($34 in 2017) round trip train ticket that can be purchased on Sundays.
Charles is a member of the Okawville Post 582 in the Grand Army of the Republic. This is a
fraternal organization of veterans who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. This entails
sometimes wearing military–style uniforms at various functions. In 1908, he is proud to learn that
he is being promoted to the rank of Aide–de–Camp to the Commander of the Post. The certificate
that he is presented with comes from the organization's headquarters in Chicago. He has it

Technology And Technology
Technology in The Church
Colton L King
Grace Bible College
Abstract
This purpose of this paper is to explore the benefits and relevance of technology in the church.
There are a lot of different opinions and thoughts on this matter. What we are looking into is to see
if there is any real importance or need for combining the two and what the result would be. We will
be digging into what attributes help to further the kingdom of God. In such areas as worship, the
different tools and resources that technology has provided, and in a different way of evangelizing
with the help of technology.
With a new generation rising and an old generation still around there are many views that church
and technology are not supposed to coincide. Although with a view from some, many believe that
the benefits are indisputable. There are many different benefits that come from using the advances
in technology to benefit the Kingdom of God here on earth. I will be going over the different
benefits that associate with technology in the church. With this, I will be providing examples and
references from some different scholars, researchers, and professionals. I hope after reading this it
will provide you with a better understanding so that you can come to a conclusion on your own.
Redman (2012) stated in his interview It used to be that you had to live near a library to get access
to the kind of materials necessary to do quality research. Now, with so many

New Hope Baptist Church Essay
I can't recall not being a part of New Hope Baptist Church because when I was growing up my
parents attended everything and they "had us in tow". I remember being brought to church in the
winter and my parents lining us up on the seats next to the potbellied stove. We were required to
take care of our "personal business" before entering because we were not allowed to walk while the
services were in progress. I really have a hard time understanding why some young people today
cannot sit through an entire service right now today. As children the church conferences often
baffled us. While watching and listening, sometimes things got into a disagreeable mode. As
children, we thought those deacons were at odds with each other, but when they ... Show more
Milton Reid was New Hope Baptist Church's first full time pastor. Before Rev. Reid came to New
Hope's the pastor only served on the second and fourth Sunday. Our communion was held on the
second Sunday. Rev. Reid changed the communion to the first Sunday and rearranged the choir. He
gave the Senior Choir the first and third Sunday and the Junior Choir the second and fourth Sunday.
My mother made robes for the choir and even embroidered names in them to prevent any mix–ups.
She also ordered sheet music for us from the Theodore Presser Company in Chicago, Illinois. At the
time there were no available places in the area to purchase sheet music. These things were done by
the "Grace of God" and at no expense to the church. We had rehearsal every Monday night. The
memories are pleasant even though for many years during the winter months there was no automatic
heat. I would go to the church ahead of time to make a fire. Most of the time my father would help
me, and sometime I was on my own. I would make sure the fire would burn before going back home
then return later for rehearsal if it was not warm when the choir members came in they would gather
around the potbellied stove and I was up front on the piano with my coat on. By the time the church
really got good and warm, it was time to

Personal Narrative: The Way To The Cathedral In St. Paul
As I walk through a place that's completely foreign to me, I notice the place is overly adorned. On
my way to the cathedral in St.Paul, I made my regular stop at the salvation army's homeless shelter.
This may have affected the way I viewed the cathedral at the moment. After coming from a place
with people that are less fortunate, and walking into a place of worship in which is a multimillion
dollar facility. I felt like it wasn't right to have such an adorned cathedral worth so much next to a
place where people are struggling to make ends meet. As I was walking by the many statues, I seen
a sign in which they were asking for donations to keep the church in tact. One of the donation was a
two–million–dollar donation to fix scratches on the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They each represented great European nations, although most people don't seem to take notice in
this. The people roaming in and out of the cathedral from all different races, and I wonder if they
ever question why they weren't represented in these scriptures. Why were all the prophetic images,
and the saints of the Christian faith always white? Was Jesus really this white man that's widely
accepted by Christians today? Or is it what society wants him to look like, since the lighter color or
even the color white is linked to purity and clean? Is the scripture really the word of God, since it
was edited by the people into the new–testament. I think before it was tampered with, there may
have been representations of a more diverse people as opposed to what we see today. When I think
of the words a holy book being edited, I no longer think of it as a true representation of Gods words,
but what the people think God should've said. This isn't a means to criticize or make the religion
seem less than, since after–all it is the religion with the most followers today. Its just an eye opener
for things I've come to notice, and question about the

The New York Buddhist Church
Bianca Rodriguez
PHR 121–098WB
Dr. Allison Moore
26 October 2015
Shin Buddhists : "Zen is not the answer"
On October 24, 2015 the New York Buddhist Church was holding an Autumn Festival Service.
Amanda and I attended the event from 12–4 pm. This Buddhist Church in particular is Jodoshinshu
Buddhism which originated in Japan. This type of Buddhism is also called Shin Buddhism for short,
within the school of True Pure Land Buddhism, which is based on Mahayana Buddhism. The main
temple is in Kyoto, Japan and was founded by Shinran Shonin. This type of Buddhism is practiced
widely in Japan. The New York City location in particular was established in 1938 by Reverend
Hozen Seki and his wife, Satomi.(NYBC)
The outside of the church is very humble in appearance. It doesn't look like a place of worship at all
from the outside, but the statue of Shinran Shonin in the front makes the building seem particularly
important as you pass by. As we ascended the stairs, there was a small garden of flowers
surrounding the Shinran Statue, which survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. There was a
hand painted sign that said "Autumn Festival" hanging from the front fence. The foundation of the
church is slightly elevated as well.
On the inside, there is a lobby with stairs going up and down, and an entrance to another room. Here
it was lined with tables of food and merchants and a silent auction of traditional Japanese items and
souvenirs. The majority of the people filling the room were

The Development Of Byzantine Architecture
Byzantine architecture is directly related to imperial traditions, to the Christian life and culture of
the Romans. A typical feature of Byzantium is the diverse ethnic composition that includes Greeks,
Thracians, Armenians, Syrians, Copts, Jews, Avars, Slavs and many others. This diversity of peoples
and cultures influences the overall development of Byzantine architecture. Christianity is an
important element shaping the overall appearance of the Byzantine culture.
The light enters through the windows under the dome and illuminates the central ship and the bridal
space.
Procopius explains the impact of the architectural space on the light: "The spherical dome, thanks to
the light, does not seem to stand on solid foundations, but seems to hang on a gold chain from the
sky."
In this way one can best describe the beauty and grace of Byzantine architecture.
Byzantine architecture has undergone three stages in its development:
In 313, Christianity was officially recognized. By 326 this was the official religion of the Roman
Empire. The boundaries of the Empire were from Milan and Cologne on the west to Syria on the
east and to Greece and Egypt on the south. The new religion requires all ceremonies to take place
inside the temple, which necessitates the increase of space within the temple. This created the need
for a new architecture. This function took the basilica.
The basilica is a rectangular building divided by rows of columns of sodium, five or more
longitudinal ships,

The Role of the Catholic Church In The New World Essay
The Role of the Catholic Church In The New World
The Catholic Church during the Middle Ages played an all encompassing role over the lives of the
people and the government. As the Dark Ages came to a close the ideas of the Renaissance started to
take hold, and the church's power gradually began to wain. The monarchies of Europe also began to
grow, replacing the church's power. Monarchies, at the close of the Middle Ages and the dawn of the
Renaissance, did not so much seek the guidance of the church as much as it sought their approval.
However, the Church during the Age of Discovery was still a major influence. The discovery of the
New World and its previously unknown inhabitants presented new problems in the Catholic Church
in the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Catholic Church arrived in the New World immediately after Christopher Columbus laid claim
to it for Spain. After Columbus's discovery of the new lands he wrote a series of treatise as to what
the European purpose there was. Columbus, in his writings, said that the purpose of the New World
was two fold. He said that the gospel message of the church should be spread globally beginning
with his discoveries in the New World. Second, he stated that the riches discovered in the New
World should be dedicated to the recapture of Jerusalem from the Moslems. Columbus saw the
discovery of the New World as a prophesy coming true. He saw the Indians that lived there as a
labor source that should be christianized and used for the greater good of the church.
Two papal bulls were issued in the year of 1493 that established the Spanish position in the New
World. They also established the role that the church was going to play in the New World. The first
bull was issued on May 3 and it was called Inter Caetera. It said that the lands discovered by
Spanish envoys not previously under a christian owner could be claimed by Spain. The bull also
gave the Spanish monarch the power to send men to convert the natives to the Catholic faith and
instruct them in Catholic morals. The second papal bull issued that year expanded on the meaning of
the first. The bull fixed a boundary for Spanish and Portuguese spheres of influence in the New
World.

My Visit At A New Church
For this assignment, I decided to write about my visit to a "portable church."
As a matter of fact, this assignment had come at a perfect time in my life. For quite some time, I had
been looking for an excuse to visit a new church. I did not feel like I was getting enough substance,
or the "meat and potatoes" and I was hungry for more. I had always thought about visiting other but
I could never get myself to walk through the doors. In the eyes of the philosopher Plato, I was
sitting complacently in "the cave."
But that was when my mom suggested visiting a portable church, inside a local movie theater to be
specific. The church I had grown up in was large and extremely conservative. I had grown
accustomed to the rows of wooden pews that creaked every time a person shifted their position, and
the beautiful stain windows that sparkled when the light hit them at the right angle. The thought of
stepping inside a worldly building that smelled like buttered popcorn and had sticky floors to
worship was not only an uncomfortable thought but also it felt disgraceful.
Our church had always taught us to wear our finest clothes out of respect for entering God's home
and all I could picture in my head of the people I had never met from the portable church included
images of t–shirts, shorts, flip flops and jumbo tubs of popcorn and extra large Diet Colas. When I
was walking towards the entrance of the theater, I felt extremely uncomfortable and anxious. I was
not entirely sure what

A Community Support Group Meeting At New Horizon Church Of...
On Friday, June 5th, Megan Crews and I attended a community support group meeting at New
Horizon Church of Christ. This meeting was a for teens and young adults that were experiencing
issues of emotional abuse, substance abuse, sexual abuse, depression, co–dependency, and anything
else that was causing them struggles. The Landing (what this group is called), is a daughter program
of Celebrate Recovery, which has been helping people in different communities for 20 years. This
collection of groups is faith based and helps the whole family, not just the individual experiencing
the problem. It is set up as a fifty–two week program, based on principles that Jesus shared in the
Sermon on the Mount. They use a 12–step program model using Jesus Christ as their focus and not
psychological theory. There are over 20,000 programs in churches around the world. The programs
have also had great success being used in the prison system. Since the beginning of these programs,
many people have found peace and healing from their issues, hurts, and habits. The meeting began
with group leader (who works at NEFSH, and with DCF), had all the members join him in the circle
of chairs in the fellowship hall. Parents and grandparents were allowed to sit in on this part of the
meeting as well. He also introduced us to the group since we were new faces to the church. He
explained why we were there and that no names or personal information would be shared in our
paper, and that we were just observing,

Postmodern Religion
Problem Statements:
1) The local church must learn to focus its energy/efforts in the community where is resides. How
can we learn to serve and love our neighbors when we do not even know our literal neighbors next
door? As Nehemiah told the people in Jerusalem who were rebuilding the walls of the city, you must
begin where you are at–where you live.
2) We live in a time of great ecological and environmental crisis in which the local church must
provide a theological and tangible response. Global warming is not only a threat to animals and
land, but to humans as well (all creation). Additionally, this is not only an environmental issue, but
also an issue of social justice (race, poverty, etc.).
3) The local church must proclaim a robust understanding ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Of course, this is impossible. The good news that God is reconciling all creation through Christ
presses upon every aspect of our lives (past, present, future). If we are to be true to the gospel
message, we can no longer simply relegate it to "a way to get to heaven when we die" (or avoid hell)
or simply substitute it for a liberal, progressive agenda. In our postmodern era people are wondering
whether the gospel message is true, and to discern whether it is true, they look to the Christians to
see whether or not the truth of the gospel has any tangible effects on the way we live in and see the
world. Unfortunately, far too often, we have failed to incarnate the gospel message and re–present
the body of Christ to the world. My hope, however, is to offer one tangible way in which we live out
the gospel. Not only are we creating a space to share the good news of God's love for all creation
(and God's redemptive work in the world), but we are actively engaging with God in the work of
new creation by living out our faith. Our message to our neighbors is simple: We believe God loves
you–and not only you, but all creation. And we do too. We want to join with God in celebrating,
cherishing and transforming the world. Green Evangelism is a way of spreading the good news and
telling our neighbors that they are loved and cherished by God and their local church. It's a way of
serving them and telling them that the church cares about the earth too. Even if they are not
interested in saving the earth or "going green," the gift of the LED lightbulbs is a way of helping
them save money ($150/year savings would be a huge help to our low–middle class neighborhood)–
which is a whole lot better than a pen or a mug with "Piney Mountain UMC" on it. Our hope is to
embody our faith to our neighbors and

What New Trends Are Affecting Church Administration? Essay
Isidore E. Sharpe
Professor George Henderson
ADM – 101
3 September 2015
What new trends are affecting church administration? We are in a generation that is vastly growing,
and things are ever so changing. The 21st Century Church and church administration is affected by
today's trends. Today's society as a whole have a lack of trust, rather it is brand trust, organizational
trust, and institutional trust. The believers of the church desire prosperity, but they have been
affected in large by failure. These failures have become costly in the public sector, as well as, the
private sector. The government shutdown and bank bell outs are two of the biggest failures. The best
way to combat a general lack of organizational trust is to build a specific reputation as a trustworthy
church. People may not trust churches organizationally as a whole, but a specific reputation as a
trustworthy church spreads rapidly through word–of–mouth.
The accountability in leadership is the single most neglected behavior. Society is searching for the
church to be a light in a dark world. People desire for accountability in leadership from the church,
because it's the most neglected leadership behavior from a global perspective. It should not be a
surprise that people recognize the pervasive culture of unaccountability and desire leaders who not
only hold others accountable, but are also willing to be held accountable. The lack of leadership
accountability precipitates almost in every church scandal.

The Beginning Of A New Church Year

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The Beginning Of A New Church Year