On April 14th-15th, 2008, Leadership Network sponsored the Multi-Site Exposed | Seattle conference. The aim of the conference was to bring together a group of churches that are operating at multiple locations and to give smaller and younger churches the opportunity to learn from those that are further down the "multi-site" road.
In this third main session from the conference, watch as Dave Browning of Christ the King Church talks about growing organic, relational congregations with authentic community that can grow and adapt to their specific sub-culture and yet remain connected to the greater body.
All the main sessions from the conference are available, and can be found here.
On April 14th-15th, 2008, Leadership Network sponsored the Multi-Site Exposed | Seattle conference. The aim of the conference was to bring together a group of churches that are operating at multiple locations and to give smaller and younger churches the opportunity to learn from those that are further down the "multi-site" road.
In this third main session from the conference, listen as Dave Browning of Christ the King Church talks about growing organic, relational congregations with authentic community that can grow and adapt to their specific sub-culture and yet remain connected to the greater body.
As they become available, all main sessions from the conference can be found here.
On April 14th-15th, 2008, Leadership Network sponsored the Multi-Site Exposed | Seattle conference. The aim of the conference was to bring together a group of churches that are operating at multiple locations and to give smaller and younger churches the opportunity to learn from those that are further down the "multi-site" road.
In this second main session from the conference, listen as John Bishop of Living Hope Church talks about revitalizing your ministry, staying focused on Jesus, and recovering from burnout.
As they become available, all main sessions from the conference can be found here.
On April 14th-15th, 2008, Leadership Network sponsored the Multi-Site Exposed | Seattle conference. The aim of the conference was to bring together a group of churches that are operating at multiple locations and to give smaller and younger churches the opportunity to learn from those that are further down the "multi-site" road.
In this first main session from the conference, listen to the round-table discussion between multi-site pastors Mark Driscoll (of Mars Hill Church), John Bishop (of Living Hope Church), and Dave Browning (of Christ the King Church).
As they become available, all main sessions from the conference can be found here.
On April 14th-15th, 2008, Leadership Network sponsored the Multi-Site Exposed | Seattle conference. The aim of the conference was to bring together a group of churches that are operating at multiple locations and to give smaller and younger churches the opportunity to learn from those that are further down the "multi-site" road.
In this first main session from the conference, watch the round-table discussion between multi-site pastors Mark Driscoll (of Mars Hill Church), John Bishop (of Living Hope Church), and Dave Browning (of Christ the King Church).
As they become available, all main sessions from the conference can be found here.
A Humble Attempt to Promote the Agreement and Union of God's People Throughout the World in Extraordinary Prayer For a Revival Of Religion And The Advancement Of God's Kingdom On Earth, According To Scriptural Promises And Prophecies Of The Last Time.
The Future Glorious State of Christ's Church
'This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, 'Let us go at once to entreat the LORD and seek the LORD Almighty. I myself am going.' And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty and to entreat him'. Zech. 8:20-22
In this chapter Zechariah prophecies of the future, glorious advancement of the Church. It is evident there is more intended than was ever fulfilled in the Jewish nation during Old Testament times.
"Primary: earliest, original, of the first rank, of first importance, chief." So reads the entry in the Concise Oxford Dictionary (1976).
What, I ask you, is the church's primary task? Not what are the many good things the church should be doing, since there are a number of good answers to this question. But rather, what is really of first importance in the life of the church? How should leaders in your church think about doing the primary thing, that which is truly of first importance?
Spiritual Amnesia
It seems to me history reveals that the church of Jesus Christ is always in danger of spiritual amnesia. This danger seems even more evident to me now than it has been in many, many years. Today we argue about all kinds of church-related issues and needs. We even occasionally speak about revival and renewal. And we promote numerous causes-social, spiritual and political-but rarely do we address the need to restore the primary thing-the proclamation and place of Jesus Christ as Lord.
Mark Dever, pastor at Capital Hill Baptist Church and 9Marks Ministry, interviews with Resurgence about his latest book What is a Healthy Church. This short and biblically concise book is a must read for the Church today, especially its leaders. In fact humbly Pastor Mark refers first to Joshua Harris’ book Stop Dating the Church as a nice prequel to this work. But if anyone knows the work of Mark Dever they will know that through biblical faithfulness we are presented with great essentials of a growing vibrant church community imparted in this book. He also briefly comments on his upcoming book, The Gospel and Personal Evangelism which should be a great book in practical wisdom for fulfilling the call of the Great Commission.
Question 54 - What do you believe concerning the holy catholic Christian church?
Answer - I believe that the Son of God,1 out of the whole human race,2 from the beginning of the world to its end,3 gathers, defends, and preserves for Himself, 4 by His Spirit and Word,5 in the unity of the true faith,6 a church chosen to everlasting life.7 And I believe that I am8 and forever shall remain a living member of it.9
While attending a sacred music concert, I received an insightful lesson in ecclesiology. As I walked into the main foyer of the church where the concert was being held, I immediately noticed the photographs and names of the senior pastor and his staff arranged in a pyramid within a glass encasement. The senior pastor's photograph was at the top, his three associate pastor's photographs were below, and the rest of the church staff's photographs completed the base of the pyramid. As I walked further into the building and down a side hall, I saw another glass encasement that contained the photographs and names of the church elders. I immediately thought, What a superb illustration of how the church elders have been pushed aside to a scarcely visible position in the church! This is quite different from the New Testament model of eldership.
My first encounter with church elders occurred when I was a young teenager preparing for confirmation. During confirmation classes, I told the minister about my conversion to Christ, which had taken place the previous summer at a Bible camp. He was so intrigued by my youthful, exuberant testimony of Christ that he asked me to share my story with the church elders. So I met with the elders and told them about my new relationship with Jesus Christ. They sat speechless, looking totally puzzled. I was saddened by their response because I realized that they didn't understand what I was saying. That experience left me with little confidence in the elders or the church.
My next encounter with church elders, however, was altogether different. While attending college away from home, I was invited to a church that taught and practiced authentic biblical eldership. The elders of this church took seriously the New Testament commands for elders to be biblically qualified and to actively pastor the flock of God. They provided strong leadership, loving pastoral care and discipline, sound Bible teaching, and humble, sacrificial examples of Christian living. As a result, they were highly esteemed by the church. The inspiring example of these men first awakened in me a positive interest in the subject of church eldership.
Mark Dever, pastor at