Posts by Ken Brown
Are You Teachable?
One of the many admirable traits of President Abraham Lincoln was his willingness to hear opposing sides of an argument. In words that are the title of a book about Lincoln’s leadership, he intentionally gathered a “Team of Rivals” (see here) around him in the White House. “Lincoln chose to surround himself with the strongest…
Read MoreChurch Health, then Church Growth
As one surveys the New Testament, he finds that it is filled with directives regarding the functions we are to perform, but it is short on specifics regarding the forms necessary to carry them out.1 For instance, the Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25 that we are “not to give up meeting together … but…
Read MoreThat’s Just Your Interpretation, Part 2
In our previous article on this topic, we saw that the mistaken impression that the Bible’s meaning is beyond our grasp arises in part because we fail to apply the same rules of interpretation to Scripture that we do to every other communication. The result is an array of interpretive approaches with few objective parameters…
Read MoreImposing Morality on Others
As expected, today the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that designated abortion as a constitutional right. For those of us active in the antiabortion movement over the years, it is the culmination of many prolife campaigns, protests, and prayers. I admit that I had at times given up hope that this…
Read MoreThat’s Just Your Interpretation, Part I
Many mistakenly believe the Bible to be a hopelessly obscure book, the meaning of which can never be understood due to its antiquity. However, the primary reason varying interpretations of the Bible’s message exist is that all do not play by the same rules. The consistent application of the principles of normal interpretation will yield…
Read MoreThe Correctives of Intentional Discipleship, Part III
The most well-known statement of the Great Commission is the one given in Matthew’s Gospel: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you…
Read MoreThe Correctives of Intentional Discipleship (2)
Too often the discipleship that takes place in our churches comes only by osmosis – if one hangs around long enough she will catch on to the Bible’s story, important doctrines of the faith, and tenets of Christian living. This series has advocated that our discipleship be intentional (see here) and has suggested that a…
Read MoreThe Correctives of Intentional Discipleship
Previously, I described the process of intentional discipleship as opposed to the haphazard approach so many churches take (see here). A successful discipleship program must be focused, universal, and church-based, thereby addressing several issues with which churches often struggle. Because it focuses the ministries of the church on one overall objective, making disciples, it forces…
Read MoreHaphazard Discipleship
After over twenty years in pastoral ministry, it is my observation that most people in our churches have not been intentionally discipled. Rather, all too often the approach taken in our assemblies is one of osmosis. The unspoken but very real rule is, “If you hang around long enough you will catch on to how…
Read MoreThe Church Needs Wise Guys
Christians are people of truth, because we believe in a God Who IS truth. Because God cannot lie, and we are to imitate His character, we must not lie either. Yet Christian people all too often communicate what is untrue, or at least unproven. Having grown up in the church, and now approaching thirty years…
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