All posts tagged: Christianity

Spiritual Warfare 101


Part 7 Dealing with Demonic Affliction Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts portray Jesus and the apostles as using the command-control mode to address sickness, the weather, paying taxes, speaking with personal authority, and so forth. The rest of the New Testament, following the main approach in the Old Testament, exemplifies and commands a different mode. Is there a similar switch for dealing with demons associated with ailments and afflictions? We certainly will not be surprised to find a mode shift. Scripture is ‘silent’ on the issue in the same way it is silent on paying taxes, performing resurrections, or stilling storms by words of command. The silence thunders. The mode of addressing demonically induced sufferings reverts to the classic mode: Live the Christian life of receptive faith and active obedience in the midst of life’s hardships…. The modern demon-deliverance ministries are predicated on two fundamental errors. First, they misread the biblical record and fail to distinguish between moral and situational evil. They cast out ‘demons’ of moral evil, something neither taught nor illustrated anywhere in Scripture. Second, they …

Spiritual Warfare 101


Part 1 Reblogged from Between Two Worlds Several years ago I read David Powlison’s book, Power Encounters: Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare. (Sadly, no longer in print—though I believe a second edition may be forthcoming.) I found it extremely helpful and persuasive. I took notes, and thought it might be worth posting them here. Reclaiming: Spiritual Warfare “A great deal of fiction, superstition, fantasy, nonsense, nuttiness, and downright heresy flourishes in the church under the guise of ‘spiritual warfare’ in our time…. But the warfare we need to wage engages and implicates our humanity, rather than bypassing it for a superspiritual, demonic realm.” Reasons for the Urgency We live in a society where the modern agenda has largely failed. We live in a society that has become increasingly pagan. Missions, anthropology, and modern communications make us aware of the practices and beliefs of animistic cultures. We live in a society of high-profile bondage to “addictions.” Bizarre or troubled behavior, often related to experiences of extreme abuse, seems to be appearing more frequently. Many people have sometimes experienced an …

The CHARGE


Part 2 There are some important things in life, more important than making a buck or being popular or having the latest fashionable things. There is a God in heaven who cares about everything we do, and wants to point us to the most important things, the things that really matter. Here are some of those things Paul the mentor outlines for his son in the Lord. Things he wants Timothy to persist in: 6. Endure Suffering persist in it when life becomes hard and difficult… When persecution begins to happen because of the word, when personal problems like sickness, and loss and disappointments begin to happen… There are plenty of wonderful “highs” in serving God, but there are also afflictions to be endured.  See verse 5 7. Share your faith Persist in it even when people try to shut you out… Not everyone is called to be a pastor or a preacher, but everyone is called to share their faith…be bold, step out, tell your story as for you do the work of the evangelist… Verse 5 …

Hookin-Up! Part 3


Pastor Herbert Cooper can be very creative in his sermons. Here is yet another very funny video he used to introduce one of his messages in a series He calls Hookin-Up! A sermon Sermon Series on how to find God’s best in relationship. I’m sure it will make you laugh. Enjoy! Hookin Up Week 3 from People's Church on Vimeo.

Hookin-Up! Part 1


Pastor Herbert Cooper can be very creative in his sermons. Here is a very funny video he used to introduce one of his messages in a series He calls Hookin-Up! A sermon Sermon Series on how to find God’s best in relationship. I’m sure it will make you laugh. Enjoy! Hookin Up Week 1 from People's Church on Vimeo.

Hookin-Up! Part 2


Pastor Herbert Cooper can be very creative in his sermons. Here is a very funny video he used to introduce one of his messages in a series He calls Hookin-Up! A sermon Sermon Series on how to find God’s best in relationship. I’m sure it will make you laugh. Enjoy! Hookin Up Week 2 from People's Church on Vimeo.

2012’s Top Churches to Watch/ part 5


  TOP 10 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from about CHURCH SIZE These are the top churches to learn from about running a large church. Lakewood Church (Houston, TX) :: Joel Osteen Made 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 44,333 Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL) :: Bill Hybels Made 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 23,213 Second Baptist Church (Houston, TX) :: Ed Young, Sr. Made 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 22,325 North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, GA) :: Andy Stanley Made 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 22,015 LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, OK) :: Craig Groeschel **Made 4/4 size lists with an average attendance of 20,894 **(did not report numbers in 2010 & 2011 despite mid-30K+ attendance) Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) :: Rick Warren Made 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 20,489 Southeast Christian Church (Louisville, KY) :: Dave Stone Made 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 18,348 Phoenix First Assembly (Phoenix, AZ) :: Tommy Barnett **Made 4/4 size lists with an average attendance of 17,023 **(did not report numbers in …

2012’s top Churches to Watch/ Part 4


TOP 10 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from about CHURCH PLANTING These are the top churches to learn from about planting multiple churches. Redeemer Presbyterian Church (New York, NY) :: Tim Keller Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #1 Mars Hill Church (Seattle, WA) :: Mark Driscoll Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #2 Northwood Church (Keller, TX) :: Bob Roberts Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #3 Perimeter Church (Duluth, GA) :: Randy Pope Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #4 Spanish River Church (Boca Raton, FL) :: David Nicholas Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #5 East 91st Street Christian Center (Indianapolis, IN) :: Derek Duncan Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #6 Community Christian Church (Naperville, IL) :: Dave Ferguson Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #7 Fellowship Bible Church (Little Rock, AR) :: Bill Wellons Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #8 Kensington Community Church (Troy, MI) :: Steve Andrews Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of …