Two Institutions Two Institutions Returning the Two Institutions of the Family and the Church back to a Biblical model. Articles
The Myth Of The Mega - Church Movement
2007-11-08 22:16:00 The formula was simple. If your church was "seeker sensitive" and your programs were based on "felt needs" and you had done your demographics homework then rapid growth was bound to follow; and follow it did. Since its founding in 1975, Willow Creek Community Church has grown to upwards of 20,000 members.Sadly, the formula that propelled Willow Creek to become one of America's first Mega -Churches is not all its cracked up to be. In an article entitled, "A Shocking "Confession" From Willow Creek Community Church", Townhall columnist Bob Burney cites research done by the Willow Creek Association that demonstrates that all the time, effort, and finances spent on working the Willow Creek formula has produced numbers but not disciples. In the article, Burney quotes Willow Creek's Pastor Bill Hybels as saying:We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have t... More About: Myth
I love British people!
2007-11-05 20:27:00 I love British people. I love their humor. I love their accents. I love the class they exude. I love how any American upon hearing a Brit will immediately try to speak like one. You can take the most unintelligent British person and have them read anything and they will sound intelligent.Yesterday at Providence we had the honour of having Dr. Michael Green preaching in our services. Dr. Green is and has been on loan to a local Anglican church here in Raleigh for the last two years. He will be going back to Britain at the first of the year. Dr. Green touched on many things yesterday morning and last night, but the thrust of what he was saying revolved around evangelism. One main theme he hit was that evangelism is overflow. If the Gospel isn't overflowing in you, it will not flow over out of you. Here are a couple of other quick thoughts from his message on Acts 11 and 13 titled The Church God Can Use:Lay people took the initiative.They learned to sacrifice.They were not imprisoned ... More About: People , Love
Weekend Update: Riding The Coat-tails Of Frodo and Harry
2007-11-03 21:39:00 It's that time of year again. The supermarkets are filling their aisles with stands for fruitcake ingredients. Shopping malls are interviewing male retirees with white beards and jolly dispositions, and Hollywood is distributing several silver screen gems to get you to part with your entertainment dollar. Here at Two Institutions, we like to be out front giving you a heads-up on what to expect before you pack-up the family and head to the discount matinee.Due out in December is a film billed as a "narniaesque" children's adventure entitled "The Golden Compass". It is based on a series of children's books written by Phillip Pullman who was described by New Yorker journalist Laura Miller as "one of England's most outspoken atheists." The film has already garnered criticism from our Catholic allies in the culture war. Bill Donahue, president of the watchdog group The Catholic League has produced a video entitled "The Golden Compass Agenda Unmasked" which can be found at their webs... More About: Frodo , Weekend , Update , Weekend Update , Harry
Reformation Day
2007-10-31 17:33:00 I strongly dislike halloween. There, I said it. Now all of you can put rocks in my candy bag. The reason why I dislike it, however, is not solely based on what happens during Halloween but what we have allowed halloween to eclipse. October the 31st should be remembered for a far greater reason.490 years ago to this very day, Martin Luther authored a list of discussion points called the 95 Theses and nailed them to a church door (which was not impolite considering that church doors in those days were the equivalent of our modern day blogs). In a way you could say that Martin Luther was one of the first bloggers of note.These 95 Theses fed a groundswell that had been brewing in Europe for many years. The result was a movement we call the Protestant Reformation. I could take hours to enumerate the many wonderful benefits that came about as a result of the Reformation including the restoration of the gospel as the message of salvation and the translation of the Bible into languages the...
Legacy
2007-10-29 15:55:00 In my desk is a yellow sheet of paper. It is fitting that this sheet of paper is a golden color, because that is what this paper is worth to me. I have many heroes in life, but my top two are my dad and my granddad, Jack.Jack went to be with the Lord a little over a year ago. He taught me many things. He taught me to fish. He taught me to drive. He taught me to sacrifice and be disciplined, although I hated it at the time. He was oldschool and as my brother said to me at Jack's funeral, they don't make men like Jack anymore. He was from Deep Creek, VA which is in the Chesapeake Bay area. The picture above is of Deep Creek. He was a self made man and was very successful.Jack gave me many gifts throughout my life, but none is more valuable than that yellow sheet of paper. The day I graduated highschool Jack presented me with that sheet of paper. It was in a leather dop kit and I didn't pay it much attention at the time. Now it represents a legacy from grandfather to grandson and f... More About: Legacy
Weekend Update: Huckabee Gaining Ground
2007-10-27 17:55:00 Let me be clear that the authors of this blog are in no way endorsing any candidate for president...yet, but there is one who has been getting our attention lately. Gov. Mike Huckabee has certainly made it clear where he stands on moral issues such as the sanctity of life, and marriage. He is gaining ground despite the lack of commitment he has received from the people who share his values. Here for your consideration is a video and an article from Townhall.com by noted conservative columnist Michael Medved that can be found here. Many are squawking that Huckabee is a long-shot who is underfunded and unelectable. My response: Me thinks thou dost protest too much. More About: Ground , Weekend , Update , Weekend Update , Gaining
My Truth: A Sign Of The Times
2007-10-25 23:20:00 The old phrase that goes, "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" has reached its expiration date. Like the milk in the old carton way back in the refrigerator, truth has been sniffed on and succinctly discarded. I saw this relativistic mentality so poignantly demonstrated in the book display in the picture you see here. No longer, so we are told, should we refer to the truth but should refer to it as "my truth".I have no gripe with Stephen Colbert per se it's just that his attempt at humor represents something that has gone horribly wrong with our values system. What's really scary is that its not just non-Christians who accept this view of truth. The "my truth" philosophy has its claws deeply entrenched in the Church and in the family. It takes a soul that is sensitive and alert to Satan's subtle encroachments to see how the Christian milk carton is also starting to sour.The only means for preventing this spoilage in our families and churches is to be pasteuriz... More About: Truth , Sign , Times , The Times , Sign of the Times
Mea Culpa: Clarity Matters
2007-10-23 15:47:00 There is an old saying that goes, "If you don't like the message, don't shoot the messenger." Well in this case, this messenger deserves to be shot a couple of times. I'm afraid that in my eagerness to follow a lead, I have overstepped my bounds. Having thus confessed, let me make something crystal clear.This blog and its authors do not agree with the particulars of how Dr. Patterson handled the firing of Dr. Sherri Klouda.What we have a real problem with are the un-Christian tactics that many have resorted to because of this action. Further, we affirm the Biblical teaching of proper male leadership in both the home and the church. That's all we are saying. I apologize if I confused anyone in this regard. So I invoke the words of good old Alexander Pope...To err is human; to forgive, divine. More About: Matters , Clarity , Clar
God's Organizational Chart
2007-10-22 23:24:00 I'm always a bit hesitant to broach this subject if for no other reason it can be so easily misconstrued. Whether you like it or not, God has a structure for how families and churches are to be led and that structure rests on males and females fulfilling their given roles. When that order is compromised for the sake of being "politically correct" or "culturally enlightened" then nothing but moral breakdown ensues.This issue has recently come to the fore-front by the decision of Dr. Paige Patterson to release Dr. Sherri Klouda from the faculty at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. According to an interview in the Associated Baptist Press, Dr. Patterson was quoted as saying..."This is not a question of occupation. It is a question of an assignment from God, in this case that a woman not be involved in a teaching or ruling capacity over men."As a result of his statements many liberal individuals and agencies have used hateful and slanderous language as a means to assassinate... More About: Chart , Char , Organ
reThink: It Makes You Go Hmmmmm?
2007-10-18 21:55:00 There is a collective hmmmmmmm that is emanating from the student ministry community. It seems to be caused by a sudden desire of many student ministers to reThink student ministry. I am very pleased to have had a small hand in this endeavor and I highly encourage you if you haven't gotten your copy or if you have no idea about what I am talking about to surf on over to www.inquest.org and see what all the buzz is about.If you have already gotten and read your copy of reThink, be sure to go to the amazon page here and rate the book and leave comments. If you have friends who haven't read the book be sure to pass the word along. I hope that reThink will get in the hands of anyone who is involved in student ministry.If you would like to see what others are saying about this book click here. If you would like to purchase a copy click here.
Just being honest...
2007-10-15 20:47:00 As Mike and I set about promoting the newly released book reThink I feel it is necessary to admit a couple of things. First and foremost this book is written by my boss, Steve Wright. Steve is the student pastor at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. This is where I serve as middle school pastor and where Mike leads the discipleship arm of our student ministry. Whenever your boss writes a book and you have any sort of platform to promote it, you ought to do so. That is a secondary reason for honesty here.A primary reason for honesty is that not only is Steve my boss, he is my mentor and one of my greatest friends. I met Steve just over 12 years ago when I was an 18 year old seeking to find my way back to my faith. Steve, Tina and their two kids at that time, had recently come to my "home" church to serve as student pastor. My sister, who was active there, saw the many errors in my life and had a heart to see her big brother loving Jesus again. She went to Steve and he... More About: Honest
Special Weekend Update: reThink release
2007-10-12 19:38:00 TwoInstitutions.Org is excited to announce the official release of reThink. We will be featuring this revolutionary work on student ministry by author Steve Wright over the next few posts. In the meantime if you would like to see what others are saying about this book click here. If you would like to purchase a copy click here. More About: Weekend , Update , Special , Release , Weekend Update
It's The Gospel Truth, Really, I Mean It!
2007-10-11 23:04:00 Your youth calendar is irrelevant. Your facilities, yep, they are irrelevant too. Dare I say it, even your magnificent charm and personality don't matter. The only real thing of value that you have to give your students is the Good News of Jesus sinless life, death, burial, and resurrection on the third day. That my friends is the Gospel Truth ! I came to this realization a while back and it has totally transformed how I approach ministry. Somewhere in our education we pick-up this nasty disconnect that leads us to believe that with the right youth event we can change the world. So we go to conferences, buy books, and network with big time youth ministry players to find the secret recipe to youth ministry success. The sad thing about it is the answer has been right in front of our faces all along. Only the gospel has the power to change a life. Whats even more profound is that this transformation is not limited to salvation. Not by a long-shot. The G o spel is just as crucial to ... More About: Ally
Why Ministry Stinks
2007-10-08 16:33:00 Yesterday our church celebrated its 29th anniversary. Praise God for His faithfulness and his protection. Last night at our celebration service I was reminded once again why being in ministry stinks. There is a young couple that goes to our church and recently they found out they were pregnant. To get quickly to the point, there were some complications that arose. Everything is fine now and mom and baby are in the clear, but I forgot about that for some odd reason last night. Since I forgot that point, my focus and attention was on them last night as we sang "Blessed Be Your Name", especially the part that says "You give and take away." My emotions were getting the better of me and I was wishing more than anything that at that moment I didn't know what that couple was going through. Had I remembered that all was well, I could have been rejoicing for that couple instead of letting my heart hurt for them. The point of all of this is that whether good or bad in my human mind, G... More About: Ministry
Leaving A Legacy
2007-10-04 23:02:00 I am not married and I have no children of my own. I am blessed to have a niece and nephew that I love as if they were my own. It amazes me how much, even as an uncle, I wish I could spend more time with my brothers children. What is even more astounding to me is how some dads can leave their kids in day cares or after school programs so that they can work that job and make more money. I guess its easy for me to ask, but will a dad ever regret losing a promotion or a raise so that he can know and be known intimately by his children? Let me get even more personal; will a student pastor ever regret brushing off his kids so that he can spend more time with other peoples children? Just a question for thought.I would love to get some feedback from you youth pastor or pastor dads on how you balance or balanced your ministry and your family? What are priorities that you have established to maintain your integrity and leave a godly legacy for your children. I think single guys like me could... More About: Legacy , Leaving
A Follow Up
2007-10-01 20:08:00 As a follow up to Mike's post from the weekend, I wanted to comment on intelligence. Many of us out there are probably like the guy with the shovel. Somtimes it takes intelligence hitting us in the face for us to realize that we don't have any. The church is like that as whole sometimes as well, and that shouldn't come as a shock when we see the people that are leading it today. I think many times we need to examine ourselves to make sure we aren't a shovel hit away from hurting ourselves and others for the sake of the Gospel. If you are a subscriber to Group Magazine or if you can just get your hands on one, I would encourage you to go and read their July/August issue. It has an article titled "5 Unforgivable Mistakes". Sometimes all it takes is for us to admit that we lack intelligence to begin gaining it.
Weekend Update: Intelligence
2007-09-29 17:55:00 Here is a funny video that demonstrates clearly that some among us are not the sharpest tools in the shed. This is not a church video so beware of some mild language. More About: Intelligence , Weekend , Update , Weekend Update
Servant Leadership
2007-09-27 23:54:00 There are many styles of leadership, but none speak volumes like the servant leadership exhibited by Jesus. He was the very Son of God and yet he thought it not beneath him to wash the disciples feet. I am truly humbled when I pause to think of the implications of this simple but profound act.I am currently reading, "The Book On Leader ship " by John MacArthur. This book is a great treatise on the life of the Apostle Paul and how his experience with opposition in Corinth set him apart as a role model for all leaders. Paul demonstrated servant leadership in three distinct ways:1. He put the needs of his flock before himself.2. He worked with his hands so as not to be a burden to his flock3. He genuinely cared about his flock not just for what he could get from themI am amazed at the attitudes of some pastors I encounter from time to time. Entitlement oozes from their pores and it doesn't take you very long to see where their heart lies. I hope and pray that by God's grace that if you...
A Fresh Approach
2007-09-24 15:55:00 Last week I was in Destin, FL at youth ministry conference. I was there with 30 other student ministers specializing in high school, middle school, student discipleship and girls ministry. I have gone to this conference every fall for the last 3 years. One thing that has always been missing is a focus on strengthening ourselves as ministers. In our society today we hear all the time how we need to worry about ourselves first and others second. While that is obviously a faulty way of thinking I think we in the church, especially those in ministry, have become so consumed with other things going on in life, that we do not take enough daily spiritual care of ourselves. How can you effectively do the work of the ministry if you have not been ministered to and are not ministering to yourself daily with time in the Word and prayer? Simple answer, you can't. Most of us are running on fumes and are dangerously close to burning out. The answer isn't to get busier, it is to get quie... More About: Fresh
Weekend Update: Chastity Making A Comeback
2007-09-23 01:37:00 "Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet"- Augustine of HippoThese word were uttered by Augustine before he laid aside his sinful lifestyle to become one of the greatest theologians in church history. Now over 1600 years after his honest confession, Chastity is making a comeback in theory and in practice. This can be largely credited to a witty, agnostic turned Christian author Ms. Dawn Eden. Her eye catching missive is entitled, "The Thrill Of The Chaste" and is sparking all kinds of conversation on college campuses and coffee houses all across the country. I found out about her when she made an appearance on Dr. Al Mohler's radio show which can be found by clicking on this link: Recovering Our Vocabulary: The Language of Chastity. I haven't read her book yet but it is in my queue. I will give a full review when I finish (which will probably be a couple of weeks). In the mean-time, I will keep you posted on her success. More About: Weekend , Update , Weekend Update , Comeback , Makin
Starbucks: Serving Up Coffee, Pastries, and Worldviews?
2007-09-18 21:57:00 Let me begin this post by admitting it is a rare day that finds me inside a Starbucks . I have nothing against them per se its just I can't drink coffee and even if I could I wouldn't be paying $4.50 for it. Having said that, I love being greeted by the smell of their brewing concoctions, and icing coated pastries. Its a business model that has worked because it has raised the consumption of legally addictive substances to an art form. In that respect I applaud them in their success.No too long ago, however, Starbucks began serving customers something that they didn't expect: world views. Apparently some think-tank in a board room in Seattle came up with the clever idea to market coffee by putting various worldview statements on their cups in statements beginning with the phrase, "The Way I See it." I say various because the messages that appeared on the cups were quite contradictory. Consider the following two statements that were printed on the java giants signature cups:"Why in... More About: Coffee , Pastries , Trie
First and Goal: To Spread The Gospel
2007-09-17 23:40:00 I love this time of year. The leaves are changing colors; the air is beginning to cool, and best of all: its time for football. I begin counting down the days, months before. I endure every hot, sweaty day eagerly awaiting those cool Friday and Saturday evenings when I don my game face and sweatshirt and head for the gridiron. Praise the Lord it?s finally here. Now I?m sure that there are many of you guys and gals out there who can readily identify. I bet as you began to read this introduction your heart began to pound just like mine did as I was writing it. There is just something about that white-lined green field that excites and energizes people. It?s hard to explain it any other way than to say that Football is the last great American sport. It is a very powerful and integral part of our culture. I am also reminded of a passage of scripture from the Apostle Paul that states: ?Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time,... More About: Gospel , Goal , Spread , The Go , The G
Is Student Ministry Biblical? (Part Two)
2007-09-13 23:13:00 How often does something have to be mentioned in the Bible to be considered Biblical ? Any informed person knows that the answer is one. The question that follows is, "How many times is student ministry mentioned, alluded to, hinted at, etc. in the Bible? Well, the answer is none.In His book entitled, The Myth of Adolescence, Dr. David Allan Black writes...What, then, do the Scriptures say about adolescence? The answer is: Absolutely nothing! In the Bible, people went directly from childhood to adulthood. Moses, for example, is never referred to as an adolescent. In Exodus 2 he is called a ?child? in verse 10, and by verse 11 he had ?grown up.? Here we might have expected to find a reference to a period between childhood and adulthood, but no such reference is to be found.Dr. Black expounds further on this subject in a blog article entitled, Want To Reform Your Youth Ministry ? Reject Adolescence!,One thing is clear. According to the Bible, ... More About: Student , Part
Football and Faith
2007-09-10 19:57:00 In the latest edition of Christianity Today, there is an article that piqued my interest quite a bit. The article is all about our culture's fascination with football and specifically pro football in this piece.I will admit that this article convicted the mess out of me. As I have written here and elsewhere, I have an extreme love for football, specifically as it relates to my beloved Crimson Tide. Anyone who knows me well would be well within their right to say that it borders on idolatry at best, but in actuality travels way past full blown levels. I appreciate the writer of this article because he too is an over zealous fan. He can relate so readily to the one addiction I will probably never conquer and that made his words all that more difficult to take. Read the article and you'll understand what I am saying. This article wasn't bashing having a love for things like football, it was just a necessary reminder to keep things in perspective. I'd love to hear your thoughts on i... More About: Faith , Football , Foot
Is Student Ministry Biblical? (Part One)
2007-09-07 15:40:00 Just yesterday this blog was reviewed by an independent third party. One of the criticisms we received was that our format is too much like a lecture instead of a dialog. To a certain extent, I agree with the reviewer and so we are going to make a concerted effort to be more Socratic in our writing. Therefore, I start with a simple question: "Is Student Ministry Biblical ?"If the stats that we hear are true and 75% of our students are graduating from student ministry and are leaving the church, then obviously something is not right. So what is the problem? Is it youth pastors? Is it the curriculum we use? Maybe we don't have enough activities or big enough bands coming to play for us? If you asked 100 different youth pastors you would probably get 100 different answers. Still, I'm very curious as to what those answers might be. What is going on in student ministry? Is it Biblical? Is it effective? I want to know what you think. Don't be shy. Here is your chance to anonymously vent... More About: Part
Bad Girls Come From Bad Dad's
2007-09-04 23:01:00 I have always struggled with why some young ladies (and women in general) act the way they do. Why is it that some young ladies have confidence, are polite, well-spoken, chaste, and virtuous while others live lives that could pass for a Jerry Springer episode? The older I get, the more I believe that bad girls come from bad fathers.A stable fatherly presence in the home is not just crucial for young men, it is crucial for young ladies too. Fathers are the classroom where a young girl learns how to relate to other men. If a young lady has had a loving, supportive, and affectionate dad, she is more likely to be confident, loving, nurturing, and supportive. I have even come to the point where I can tell in about 10 to 15 minutes if the lady I am speaking to had a good relationship with her father. It's very telling.There are other societal indicators that demonstrate the importance of a father to the well-being of a daughter. One study commissioned by the National PTA found...Girls wh... More About: Bad Girls
Weekend Update: It's Football Time Again!
2007-09-01 16:48:00 I hope that I don't alienate any of our readership by dedicating this post to the last, real, only American sport: College Football . Think about it. Baseball, Soccer, Basketball, Golf and a myriad of other sports are played professionally and privately around the globe. Even football is played professionally in Europe. College football, however, remains the last great American sport.Now if you know anything about college football, you know that top to bottom the SEC is the dominant football conference. If USC or Ohio State had to play the schedules that most SEC teams have to play they would be lucky in some years to even see the post-season. My team however is not a member of the SEC. I am an NC State fan which is in the ACC. Granted we have a long way to go to match the level of competition in the SEC but we are making great strides. I am optimistic with improved play by teams like Virginia Tech, Miami, and Florida State that the luster that wore-off last season might come back j... More About: Time , Weekend , Update , Weekend Update
Parents Standing In The Gap
2007-08-30 22:55:00 Many of you who frequent this blog know that Blake and I are active youth ministry leaders. Blake is a middle-school pastor and I am a Discipleship Coordinator for both middle and high school. We have shared our philosophy of youth ministry in many of our blog posts since we started. In a nutshell, the Bible teaches that parents are the primary disciplers of their children and youth pastors should equip parents to play this role instead of usurping parental authority.Last night Blake, Steve (our head youth pastor), Joel (our high school director), and myself put our money where our mouth is. We had a discipleship kick-off reception and invited parents and students to come. Our intent was to initiate a Bible study/reading plan and to inform parents of what we expected of them. Going into last night we were short leaders for some of our discipleship groups. So we informed our parents that it was primarily their job and not ours to see that their kids get discipled. We told our parent... More About: Parents , Standing , Stand , Parent , The G
Random Musings...
2007-08-27 20:28:00 There is so much going on in life right now. So, so much. As I was in the shower this morning I got to thinking about a lot of things. For one, college football begins this weekend. Man, am I thrilled that it is here. I have been consumed by thinking about that, but specifically this morning I was thinking about it because my two oldest sons were decked out in their Alabama hats rehearsing for what will be a great day on Saturday. If you have read this blog for long now, you know my family is my passion and that brought a smile to my face. But I digress to less important matters. I was also thinking about the church. I do that a lot as well, and quite often what I think about does not bring a smile to my face. Quite often what I think about makes me sad and well, sad covers it. In my heart I long for the day when the church gets back to being about what the church should be about. I must confess my lack of faith to believe that this will ever happen. I was thinking this morning abou... More About: Random , Musings , Sings
The Path To Sexual "Tolerance".
More articles from this author:2007-08-23 23:03:00 What precedes sexual tolerance? How does a church, or a family for that matter, go from healthy sexual expression of its members to tolerance of whatever sexual practice society embraces? This question was dealt with poignantly in the latest missive on Dr. Al Mohler's blog. Ever the vigilant religious watchdog, Dr. Mohler gets right to the heart of the problem..."This process does not start with issues of sexuality, of course. Long before these churches faced controversies over sexuality, they had already allowed the doctrinal foundations of their churches to be eroded and compromised.In other words, a "don't ask, don't tell" policy on doctrine preceded a "don't ask, don't tell" policy on matters of sexuality."Now lets take his statements to their logical conclusion. If doctrinal compromise precedes sexual tolerance then logically to avoid sexual tolerance a church or a family should teach its members sound doctrine. So, how good of a job are evangelical families and churches d... More About: Tolerance , Sexual , Path 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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