Kevin Stilley

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December 30, 2017 by kevinstilley

Christian Involvement In Politics

church and state

.

The Christian’s goal is not power, but justice. We are to seek to make the institutions of power just, without being corrupted by the process necessary to do this.
~ Charles Colson

The strength of a country is the strength of its religious convictions.
~ Calvin Coolidge

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievance.
~ Constitution of the United States, Amendment I

We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for the preservation of the American Union and the existence of our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those blessings to us and our posterity; do for the more certain security thereof and for the better government of this State, ordain and establish this Constitution.
~ Preamble to the North Carolina State Constitution, 1868

We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being.
~ Justice William O. Douglas, in a Supreme Court decision, March 1952

One of the painful indictments of our savorlessness is that according to voting records, there are enough unregistered Christians to swing any election.
~ Bill Gothard

God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?
~ Thomas Jefferson

Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe. And if a member of Civil Society, who enters into any subordinate association, he must always do it with a reservation of his duty to the General Authority; much more must every man who becomes a member of any particular Civil Society, do it with a saving of his final allegiance to the Universal Sovereign.
~ James Madison, in Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, 1785

We have staked the whole future of American civilization, no upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capability of mankind for self-government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.
~ James Madison

The Bible is the Constitution of Christian civilization.
~ Gordon Palmer, in By Freedom’s Holy Light (NY: Devin-Adair Co., 1964), page 4

Jesus said that we are to render to God the things that are God’s and to Caesar those that are Caesar’s. Our Caesar is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. In order for us to render to Caesar the things that are due him, we should indeed participate in our government. Our Lord would have it so.
~ Adrian Rogers

I do not know whether all Americans have a sincere faith in their religion. But I am certain that they hold it to be indispensible to the maintenance of public institutions.
~ Alexis de Tocqueville

There is no country in the world where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men, than in America.
~ Alexis de Tocqueville, in Democracy in America (NY: Harper & Rowe, 1966. pages 303-304

It is impossible rightly to govern the world without God and the Bible.
~ George Washington

It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits and humbly implore His protection and favor.
~ George Washington, his his Thanksgiving proclamation of October 3, 1789

While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.
~ George Washington

If I could have entertained the slightest apprehension that the Constitution which was framed in our convention, where I had the honor of presiding, might possibly endanger the religious rights of any ecclesiastical society, certainly, I would never have placed my signature upon it.
~ George Washington, inauguration speech

I have often expressed my sentiment, that every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, out to be protected in worshiping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience.
~ George Washington, in a letter to the United Baptist Churches of Virginia, May 10, 1789

Whatever makes a person a good Christian makes him a good citizen.
~ Daniel Webster

If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we or our prosperity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.
~ Daniel Webster

Let us not forget the religious character of our origin.
~ Daniel Webster

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Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Blog, Christianity, church, Jefferson, participation, policy, Politics, polity, public, Quotes, seperation, state, wall

March 15, 2014 by kevinstilley

Infographic: The “One Another” Commands

An infographic with all of the “one another” commands in the New Testament:

Infographic: all the one another commands in the New Testament

Filed Under: Articles, Bibliology, Books, Ecclesiology, Ethics / Praxis Tagged With: church, Community, love

August 5, 2013 by kevinstilley

Church Membership / Church Discipline / Ecclesiology – recommended reading

Does the Bride of Christ have amnesia? Too many churches have lost their sense of identity. Without knowing who they are, they will never know how they are supposed to function. Every local church would benefit from a self-reflective study of ecclesiology.

What are the best books on church membership and church discipline?

9Marks includes the following titles pertaining to CHURCH DISCIPLINE/MEMBERSHIP on their reading list for pastors:

Handbook of Church Discipline, Jay Adams

The Compromised Church, ed., John Armstrong

Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, Mark Dever

Polity: Biblical Arguments on How to Conduct Church Life, ed., Mark Dever

The Reformation of the Church, ed., Iain Murray

Democratic Religion, Greg Wills

Grace Baptist Church of Cape Coral, Florida (pastored by Tom Ascol) shares on its website the following list of recommended books on Church Membership.

Life in the Body of Christ: Privileges and Responsibilities in the Local Church by Curtis C. Thomas.

Life in the Father’s House: A Member’s Guide to the Local Church by Wayne A. Mack and Dave Swavely.

Stop Dating the Church: Fall in Love with the Family of God by Joshua Harris.

What Is a Healthy Church? by Mark Dever.

Spiritual Disciplines within the Church: Participating Fully in the Body of Christ by Donald Whitney.

Membership Matters: Insights from Effective Churches on New Member Classes and Assimilation by Chuck Lawless.

The Church Member’s Guide by John Angell James

Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, has recommended the following books on Ecclesiology.

Brand, Chad and Stan Norman, eds. Perspectives on Church Government: Five Views of Church Polity. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2004.

Bakke, Ray. The Urban Christian. Downers Grove: IVP, 1987.

Clowney, Edmund P. The Church. Contours of Christian Theology. Downers Grove: IVP, 1995.

Colson, Charles. The Body. Dallas: Word, 1992.

Cowen, Gerald P. Who Rules the Church?: Examining Congregatinal Leadership and Church Government. Nashville: Broadman, 2003.

Dever, Mark. Nine Marks of a Healthy Church. exp. ed. Wheaton: Crossway, 2004.

__________. A Display of God’s Glory: Basics of Church Structure. Washington, D.C.: Center for Church Reform, 2001.

Getz, Gene A. Elders and Leaders. Chicago: Moody, 2003.

Hammett, John. Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches: A Contemporary Ecclesiology. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2005.

Kostenberger, Andreas J., and Thomas R. Schreiner, and H. Scott Baldwin. Women in the Church: A Fresh Analysis of I Timothy 2:9-15 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005.

Malone, Fred. A Defense of Believer’s Baptism. Founders Press, 2003.

Norman, Stan, ed. The Mission of Today’s Church: Baptist Leaders Look at Modern Faith. Nashville: Broadman, 2007.

Saucy, Robert L. The Church in God’s Program. Chicago: Moody, 1972.

Schreiner, Thomas R. and Shawn Wright, eds. Believer’s Baptism: The Covenant Sign of the New Age in Christ. Nashville: Broadman, 2007.

Strauch, Alexander. The New Testament Deacon: The Church’s Minister of Mercy. Littleton, CO: Lewis & Roth, 1993.

________________. Biblical Eldership: Restoring Eldership to Rightful Place in Church. Littleton, CO: Lewis & Roth, 1995.

Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.

Webb, Henry. Deacons: Servant Models in the Church. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 2001.

Webber, Robert. The Church in the World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986.

Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church. Chicago: Moody, 1996.

What books would you add to these lists?
____________

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Filed Under: Blog, Church Leadership, Ecclesiology, Reading Lists Tagged With: church, Church Discipline, Church Membership, Ecclesiology

November 12, 2012 by kevinstilley

A Healthy Church

I recently read an article called “Seven Indicators of Church Health.”  Here are the indicators the author points to:

VIBRANT SPIRITUALITY
ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE
TRUSTED LEADERSHIP
EXPRESSION OF COMPASSION
GENEROSITY IN FINANCES
GENUINE COMMUNITY
SALVATION ANTICIPATED

I can’t help but wonder why the strange absence of the Bible or Sound Doctrine from this list?  If you were making a list of indicators, what would appear on your list?

Filed Under: Blog, Ecclesiology, What Do You Think? Tagged With: church, Ecclesiology

October 17, 2012 by kevinstilley

D.L. Moody – select quotes

A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.

A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough today to last him for the next 6 months, nor can he inhale sufficient air into his lungs with one breath to sustain life for a week to come. We are permitted to draw upon God’s store of grace from day to day as we need it.

I prayed for faith, and thought that some day faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not seem to come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, “Now faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” I had closed my Bible, and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible, and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since.

The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.

Filed Under: Blog, Quotes, Theology Tagged With: Bible, church, Evangelism, God, Moody

May 24, 2011 by kevinstilley

What Do You Think?

What are some good ways you have you seen church members get together outside of the church building?

Share you thoughts in the comment section below.

Examples:

  • Monday Night Football
  • Bible studies
  • IHOP coffee Late Night
  • Mystery dinner Party
  • Early morning coffee
  • Retreats
  • Service projects
  • Dining
  • Children’s play dates

Filed Under: Blog, Ecclesiology, What Do You Think? Tagged With: church, Ecclesiology, fellowship, relationships, Small Groups

May 17, 2011 by kevinstilley

What Do You Think?

How are you building a loving, caring, trusting relationship with the people in your church?

(Share your thoughts in the comment section below.)

Examples:

  • Follow Up! Even if no response, keep reaching out.
  • Keep prayer logs
  • Engage the whole family.
  • Ask “How can I pray for you?” God uses prayer time to build love for them.
  • Email, Text, Phone, Notes, Visits, Social Media
  • Weekly meetings, monthly get together
  • Sporting Events
  • Don’t take it personally when group members don’t respond
  • Cards, Meals, Hospital Visits, Road Trips
  • Be available
  • Be authentic!
  • Prayer & Encouragement
  • Be vulnerable
  • Admit when you are wrong

Filed Under: Blog, Church Leadership, Pastoral Care, What Do You Think? Tagged With: church, relationships, Small Groups

April 27, 2011 by kevinstilley

Scary Pastor Statistics

80 percent believe that pastoral ministry affects their families negatively.

30 percent say that being in ministry is an outright hazard to their family.

75 percent report they’ve had a significant stress-related crisis once in their ministry.

50 percent feel unable to meet the needs of the job.

90 percent feel they’re inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands.

25 percent of pastor’s wives see their husband’s work schedule as a source of conflict.

Those in ministry are equally likely to have their marriage end in divorce as general church members.

The clergy has the second highest divorce rate among all professions.

80 percent of pastors say they have insufficient time with their spouse.

45 percent of pastors’ wives say the greatest danger to them and their family is physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual burnout.

56 percent of pastors’ wives say that they have no close friends.

52 percent of pastors say they and their spouses believe that being in pastoral ministry is hazardous to their family’s well-being and health.

45.5 percent of pastors say that they’ve experienced depression or burnout to the extent that they needed to take a leave of absence from ministry.

70 percent do not have someone they consider a close friend

(Source: Pastors at Greater Risk, by H. B. London and Neil Wiseman, quoted in Leading on Empty, by Wayne Cordeiro)

Filed Under: Blog, Pastoral Care, Preaching / Teaching Tagged With: church, Family, Pastors, Preachers, Stress

February 8, 2011 by kevinstilley

New Testament Survey – resources

Timeline of the Apostle Paul’s Life

Filed Under: Blog, History Tagged With: Apostles, church, Jesus, Paul

December 7, 2009 by kevinstilley

I’ll take what’s behind curtain #3

100dollarbill

Last week my wife and I went to a Christmas party held in the home of one of my colleagues. Our host met us at the door and said, “Thank you for coming”, to which I responded, “We didn’t want to miss it because we heard that you were giving away $100 bills as door prizes.” We all chuckled at my lame joke and went on to have a great evening. But, …

It seems that The Lighthouse Church of All Nations in Alsip, Illinois is doing exactly what I joked about. During a sermon series on personal finances they have been giving out $1000 as door-prizes each Sunday. During this sermon series / promotion church attendance has increased by more than 10 percent. I can’t imagine why… or can I?

Thoughts?

__________

Filed Under: Blog, Church Leadership, Front Page Tagged With: church, Church Finances, Church Growth, Door Prize

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