The Slippery Slope of Using Numerical Growth as an Evaluation Tool

Posted on by markwchristy
No doubt, there are many false teachers who could give accounts of how their ministries swelled and filled auditoriums with leaders who would like to replicate such ‘success’. As a young minister, I struggled greatly with this. I have come to realize several things. First, too many churches worship success (that they can count) and end up perverting God’s church in the process. Second, church size may rise and fall, but a true church remains faithful in all circumstances. Third, too many church...
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How to be an Example to Others Inside and Outside of the Church

Posted on by markwchristy
Inside the church Encouraging fellow believers in the Word. One of my brothers here in China struggled with loneliness. His stance for Christ left him abandoned by his family and his social circle. Instead of just giving him a quick encouraging word, I made time to go eat with him on a weekly basis. Besides having many discussions at the table over the teachings of our Lord, we would also spend some time studying God’s word back at my home.Confronting those who are not living in accordance w...
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6 Commitments for Christian Ministers (i.e. All Christians)

Posted on by markwchristy
Besides remaining faithful in prayer and regular study of God’s Word, Christian ministers (like every other Christian) should always keep Christ first, examine themselves, walk in the light of truth, practice obedience, rely on God’s grace, and maintain fellowship with God’s church. Each of these commitments is discussed in the following paragraphs. The first commitment, keeping Christ first, involves the greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with al...
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Discipleship and the Local Church: 8 Commitments Necessary to Accomplish the Gospel Mission (with Additional Comments)

Posted on by markwchristy
In the Great Commission, Christ points out two separate categories of people: disciples and non-believers. By examining this passage in Greek, we learn that making disciples involves going, baptizing, and teaching God’s Word. God’s people must, therefore, engage in mission by carrying God’s Word to unbelievers, testifying to them concerning its gospel message, and baptizing those who make the good confession. This commission was given by our Lord to all believers, so all believers should be eng...
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Qualifications for Church Membership

Posted on by markwchristy
Upon salvation, 1 Corinthians 12:13 declares that the believer becomes a member of the body of Christ. Anyone who has been united with Christ is qualified to join a local expression of His body. To join, the believer must commit themselves to the biblical purposes for which the local church has gathered. These include the receiving of instruction from God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2), serving and edifying one another through the proper use of spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; 1 ...
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The Holy Spirit and the Christian Witness

Posted on by markwchristy
Throughout the Bible, the Gospel message of faith and repentance comes to the world through the special revelation revealed through the writings of God’s messengers who were empowered by God’s Spirit. Jesus Himself revealed God’s soteriological message in Scripture to the masses through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 17:6; 2 Tim 1:10). In order that the Gentile world might hear the Gospel, the Lord commissions and sends Paul to bear witness to them, once again, by the power of the Holy Spir...
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The Role of the Holy Spirit in Teaching

Posted on by markwchristy
Paul and Peter both declare that the Holy Spirit is the one who inspired every word written in Scripture (Eph 3:4-5; 2 Pet 1:20-21). God’s Spirit inspired the Scriptures to aid the believers in their spiritual understanding and growth (2 Tim 3:16-17). In John 16:13, Christ tells the disciples that the Holy Spirit, when he comes, will guide them into all truth (Rom 8:5, 14; Gal 5: 16-26). After Pentecost, one notices that Peter immediately understands Christ’s message and ministry and becomes em...
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The Role of the Holy Spirit in Sanctification

Posted on by markwchristy
The sanctification process, which follows the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is also the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:11; 2 Th 2:13; Titus 3:5; 1 Pet 1:2). In 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, Paul is contrasting the difference between the believer’s old life with all of its sinfulness with his or her new life whereby the body of the believer becomes “a temple of the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5 demonstrates an unqualified exclusion of human effort in the sanctification process (cf. Rom 9:12; Eph 2:9).
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The Role of the Holy Spirit in Conversion

Posted on by markwchristy
Conviction of Sin. To understand the conversion work of the Holy Spirit, one may wish to separate His activities into three categories: pre-conversion, conversion, and post-conversion. In His pre-conversion work, the Holy Spirit goes before the Christian witness to prepare the hearts of non-believers so that they will turn to Christ when the gospel is delivered. In John 16:8, Jesus says that the Holy Spirit “convict[s] the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” The Hol...
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Can Salvation Be Lost?

Posted on by markwchristy
In Romans 8:28-30, Paul declares, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Verse 28 makes it clear that Christians are “called” (saved) “according to...
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