Conquest of the Pod People »
Sunday, April 20th, 2008Rev. Brian M. Abshire
They are among us. They look like us, they talk like us, and they act like us. But they are not of us. They are… Pod People…
In a recent essay, entitled “Pod People” I used an admittedly silly analogy from badly made 1950’s Science Fiction movies to illustrate the dangers of the [...]
Invasion of the Pod People »
Sunday, April 20th, 2008Rev. Brian M. Abshire
For the past twenty odd years (and some of them have been very odd), I have been writing and lecturing about the tragedy, futility and sheer insanity of the broad evangelical church in America. My doctoral dissertation, while on the surface a treatise on the sociological effects of Puritan theology on the [...]
Position Paper On Voting Requirements in Presbyterian Churches »
Sunday, April 20th, 2008Rev. Brian M. Abshire
A fundamental problem that afflicts confessional churches concerns the issue of voting membership. Members have to elect officers, ruling elders, and as occasion demands, teaching elders to rule over them. The problem arises because elders are held to a different standard than the average member of the congregation. [...]
How to Start A Bible Study that Works »
Sunday, April 20th, 2008Rev. Brian M. Abshire
We’ve all been to them. And suffered in them. And wondered whether they were really worth the time or trouble to go to them. We’re talking about Bible studies. Over the twenty years of my own professional ministry, I have started, led, organized and participated in hundreds of Bible studies. Furthermore, before [...]
Evangelism in the Early Church »
Sunday, April 20th, 2008Some Necessary ConsequencesRev. Brian M Abshire
The Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 is often summarized as the Lord Jesus’ final marching orders to His church. In one of the last specific commandments given to the Disciples, He recapitulates the Dominion Mandate of Genesis 1:26, demonstrating that the Gospel is the means by [...]
Ecclesiastical Tyrants? »
Sunday, April 20th, 2008Some Thoughts on Authority, Power and Church GovernmentRev. Brian M. Abshire
Recently, a hot topic on one of the Internet discussion groups to which I subscribe, concerned pastoral tyranny. Various allegations of malfeasance were hurled at pastors who “tyrannized” their congregations by requiring all sorts on “non-biblical” practices. Now the point was [...]
The Ministry of Deacons »
Sunday, April 20th, 2008Rev. Brian M. AbshireIn Acts chapter 6, the Apostles had to deal with a practical problem in the infant church. Jews had come from all over the world to the feast at Pentecost. The Lord God then brought more than 3000 people to saving faith in His Son Jesus. But with great [...]
Communion Wine or a Purple Euphemism? »
Sunday, April 20th, 2008Rev. Brian M. AbshireWine, in Scripture, is a promise from God of the blessings of the covenant (Psa 4:7 “Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than when the grain and new wine abound.”). Though sinful men misuse and abuse this gift, yet God Himself uses it as an example of [...]
The Role of the Old Testament in The Church »
Sunday, April 20th, 2008Rev. Brian M. AbshireAs I write this column, I am also celebrating (?) my 44th birthday. Middle age has come with an unexpected vengeance. Emotionally, I still think of myself as fairly young until reality confronts me every morning by the old man staring back at me out of the mirror. My [...]
You are currently browsing the archives for the
The Church category.
Check the