love
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Repost: How exactly is the 2nd greatest command like the 1st?
Aren’t the two greatest commandments opposed to each other? Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. And the… Continue reading
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Repost: Loving the many vs loving the few
When you invest your life into someone; as a pastor, mentor, friend, helper, brother – you’re loving one person — just one — in many ways. Many many ways. Time, meals, prayer, hugs, bible-reading together, the works. But by doing… Continue reading
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Love is not Agreement
This should be obvious, but it’s good to keep in your head when people just want you to agree with them. Love does not mean agreement. You can love someone and disagree with them. You can disagree with them about very… Continue reading
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Joke around, but don’t veil complaints in humour
One of our Staff Team Values is that we love joking around. We love laughing, jokes, sarcasm and generally hanging out together. That hasn’t happened by chance… it’s something we’ve worked hard to protect. But there’s a type of joking… Continue reading
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Reblog – Quality in ministry for good and bad reasons
Striving for doing things well (quality) is neither good or bad, but it can be done for good or bad reasons. It’s not good to make things quality for quality’s sake. Neither to make you look impressive, or to make… Continue reading
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Welcome people well by telling them…
Welcome people well by telling them what their next step “in” would look like. You know your church. Your regulars know your church. But the new person doesn’t. So, you can’t just assume they’re going to find their way in… Continue reading
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Debunking the small-church-is-better myths (part 3)
There seems a common argument that small churches are – not just a valid alternative, but – a better alternative to big churches. Some of the arguments go… Myth: “Small-churches are more needy… Big churches have heaps of people!” Really?… Continue reading
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The difference between being in ‘sales’ and being in ‘ministry’ is…
The difference between being in ‘sales’ and being in ‘ministry’ is heartbreak. See, if I’m trying to sell you something, it’s because I get a commission, or it’s my job – get paid to help you want something (usually want… Continue reading
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The proximity element of Christian love (or “love the one you’re with”)
The parable of the Good Samaritan might better be titled the parable of the unloving Jews. For that’s what is highlighted as three wannabe “righteous” Jews come into proximity with a man who needs help, and they avoid him. But… Continue reading
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Disagreement does not mean devaluing
It’s really important that we separate disagreeing from devaluing. Being disagreed with does not mean that we’re being devalued. Just because my boss doesn’t agree with me, that doesn’t mean he devalues me. Just because a husband decides against his wife’s… Continue reading
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Loving people leads to good design
A very cool website was recently launched: http://divineinspiration.com.au/ I’m not a designer. I somehow ended up as a student with FEVA – a great bunch of Christians trying to evangelise students in visual arts and design degrees. I married a… Continue reading
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Quality should be motivated by love
Some Christians just want quality for quality’s sake, or they think we need to match the world around us. Some Christians are wary of quality because they think its about manipulating feelings and that its all smoke a mirrors. But… Continue reading
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Challenge people about specific sins, not vague ones
Asking people about sin in their life is hard. Its awkward, beat-around-the-bush, so-how-you-going-in-that-area, vague conversation. But that’s very rarely helpful or loving for people. Because Jesus didn’t die for vague “areas” of sin. Jesus died for each and every specific… Continue reading
MINISTRY PRINCIPLES & PRAGMATICS 