Scripture Archives - theWord Commentaries

Fortner, Don – Discovering Christ in All the Scripture

My Tracts on Church Attendance The first and foremost reason to go to church is because God commands us to do so (Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.).
Coming in behind that direct command of God, we go to church in order to worship God Himself. How? Simple. We hear the Word of God actually read and carefully explained, and then we assimilate those principles y exhortations into our personal lives, and that is worship. Without those elements, there is no worship, and there is no success at "going to church." It is fruitless spiritually, and without spiritual benefit to your life, you will get discouraged and stop going, stop being committed to it, and it will ruin your life because you are a hypocrite.

Tracts on Church Attendance
ch22 Pastorless Flocks
ch17 Why do I Attend Church?
ch15 Congregating because we Love
ch14 Finding a good church
ch09 Our One another Relationship
ch43 Time to leave your church?
Also see my article on Getting People to Faithfully Integrate into the Church.

ChurchPlanting: Warning Signs Bad Pastor revised

Read this article by Pastor Cox on how to identify a bad pastor. This article is a help article for those on church candidate committees (to choose a new pastor for their church), but it is also very helpful for those looking for a new church.
Chapters:
1. Make sure he is really saved.

The problem in countless pastor-church conflict cases are either the leaders in the church or the pastor (or both) are unsaved. There is no substitute for a pastor who is committed and dedicated to following the morality of Christ as seen in Christ's person and explained in the many verses of Scripture. He lives out his salvation if he is saved (what you want). If he is not really saved, you will suffer under his carnality and sinful soul.

2. Make sure he is the Example of Christ.
---Living the example of a "Man of God"
---How do you discern that "morality of Christ" in a minister?
---What particularly are you looking for?
(1) Sarcasism. (2) Lying or bending the truth. (3) Courtesy and formality with each other. (4) Service to others instead of everybody serving him and his purposes. (5) True love. (6) Balanced. Logical and thinking. Sound mind. Consensus. Non-Competitive.
3. The Financial Testimony of a Good Pastor.
---Liberty from Covetousness.
---Vision of celestial outweighs earthly kingdom.
---Mobile shepherd wanderer.
---Wolf Signs
4. Failing to fulfill the Spiritual Requirements for Pastor
5. A Real Dedication and Submission to the Word of God
6. Make sure he can preach
---What good is preaching then?
7. Make sure he has, lives, and knows good doctrine.
8. Make sure he can pray.
---What is a man of prayer?
Read the article here.
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Missionary on Furlough Spiritual Needs is an article by David Cox (veteran missionary) to help pastors and missionaries understand missionary needs.
Excerpt: When a pastor "takes in a missionary on deputation or furlough", he ministers to that missionary.... Pastors also need this encouragement as much as missionaries need it. When they get together to fellowship, they are able to encourage one another. But every pastor ministering to a returning missionary should encourage them along these lines of faithfulness and reward in eternity.
Topics: Introduction | Unfit Missionaries that should not be missionaries at all | Stop the Merry-go-round, I want to get off | Some Tips for Pastors Encouraging Missionaries | 1. Do not undermine their way of leading or doing the ministry | 2. The two essential elements are talk and prayer. | 3. Get more than just the pastor involved in praying for the missionary. | Remind your missionary by asking for an update if it has been a while. | Effectively disseminate prayer requests.
Read the Article: Missionary on Furlough Spiritual Needs.