WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORSHIP SONG:
CURRENTLY?
OF ALL TIME?

Here’s mine:

Current - Jon Foreman “Your Love Is Strong”

All time - Robert Robinson & John Wyeth “Come Thou Fount”

Here’s the question that I have for us to discuss:

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT HAS TO OR HAS NOT TO BE DONE FOR A GATHERING TO BE CONSIDERED “CHURCH”?

This comes from a conversation I had with some friends over coffee. One said, “Why does this feel more like church to me than when I go on Sunday morning?”
Yes, it’s true that where two or more are gathered…but is that all it takes?

What about:
Preaching
Scripture
Music
Baptism
Communion
Prayer
Fill in the blank_____________________ 

I’m starting this post up again.
LET’S KEEP TALKING 

i would like to have a conversation with you all about the structure of leadership in the Church.
i guess i have been thinking about this a lot lately as it has been coming up at work, in conversations i have with others, and in many books i am reading.

what is the proper leadership structure for the Church?
is there a specific Biblical structure laid out for us to follow?
if not, where did these structures come from?
should it matter whether it is a local church of 100, a mega church of 10,000, a parish of 250, or a house church of 20?
should all churches be structured the same?
what about titles (pastor, preacher, shepherd, evangelist, missionary, bishop, priest, minister, presbyter, elder, deacon, pope, director, laity, staff, church board)?
is a structure simply a social construct?

i would like to know your thoughts on this. i know that many different denominations have many different view points on this subject, but i am interested in all of them.as you comment i will comment back as i have some of my own thoughts and want to dialogue about them.
word.

I keep coming back to this post, but I think it’s a good thing to know about.

WHAT HAVE YOU/ARE YOU READING?

I am always looking for something new and life-changing.

Here’s my list:

1) Vintage Jesus - Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears

I like Driscoll, I also like Jesus, so I liked this book.

2) They Like Jesus but Not the Church - Dan Kimball
 
Despite my rantings, I read this book. It was exactly what I expected. I enjoyed it.

3) Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster
 
This is still my favorite book I have ever read concerning the spiritual disciplines.

4) The Maxwell Leadership Bible (NKJV)

My mom bought this for me a few Christmas’ ago. I mocked it because I don’t like reading Bibles with any individual’s name on the cover. This has some god insights for leaders inside. I’m studying Jeremiah.

5) The Unseen Queen - Troy Denning

What’d I tell you? I’m a dork.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…
WHAT ARE YOU READING? 

On July 20th I’ll be preaching on the spiritual discipline of fasting.

I’d love to have any resource you might know of to help me study and prepare.

I’ll also be fasting one day every week until then.

LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS, EXPERIENCES, AND RESOURCES.