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Little Papers
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Written by Joe Randeen
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 I found the following article lurking in my email in-box. Normally
this type of thing finds my delete key rather fast, but something drew
me to it. Although, not earth shattering, it does provide some food
for thought. I hope you enjoy it.
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic
Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move
through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels
we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess
having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the
world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our
car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and
even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
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Written by Rich Nathan
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 It is quite clear to any observer that Christianity and Judaism moved
in two very different directions after Jesus and his early Jewish
followers. In my opinion, many of the most serious problems that the
church has experienced over the last 2000 years could have been avoided
if the church did not repeatedly cut itself off from its Jewish roots.
In bringing correction to the church, many people have tried to remind
church leaders that Christianity is Jewish.
In saying Christianity is Jewish, I must immediately communicate what I am not saying: |
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Reach Out: Evangelism in Your Home Church |
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Written by Joe Randeen
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 Matt. 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (NIV)
For the vast majority of us Christians (not ALL), when we first come to
the faith we want to tell everyone about Jesus: how wonderful He is and
how He can save YOU, too! Then something happens…we’re not sure what
exactly what…maybe it’s the numerous rejections resulting from the fact
that people just won’t fall down and worship Jesus at our very words of
hope.
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The Bible and Premarital Sex |
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Written by Don Williams
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 The Bible and Premarital Sex
By Don Williams
Christ comes to restore and heal this fallen creation. Look at what
Paul says: “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor
idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers
will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But
you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” I Corinthians
6:9-11
You were this: Sexually immoral, adulterers, etc.
You are this: Washed, sanctified [set apart for God], justified [not
guilty before God, our judge] by the authority of Jesus and the power
of the Spirit. |
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Written by Nigel Morris
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 We really want to hear about and share with our readers, the wonderful things that God is doing in the lives of his beloved. Here is one such story.
My wife and I recently came back from an overseas visit to see family
and friends. I had also been asked to speak at both Sunday services the
day before we returned to the US, at a church pastored by some dear
friends of ours. We arrived on Tuesday and retired early. In the early
hours of Wednesday morning I found myself wide awake, but because we
were in a single room in a remote country Bed and Breakfast, there was
nowhere for me to go at one in the morning, I didn't want to wake my
wife so I lay there. |
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Learning To Be Stewards In 2007 |
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Written by Rich Nathan
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 Everything that we have is a gift from God – our salvation, our
intelligence, our families, our income, our friends, even the breath in
our lungs – all gifts from God! Even if we have worked for certain
things in our lives, the ability to do the work has come from God.
There is a word that has pretty much disappeared from common usage,
regarding the way God wants us to think about the gifts he has given
us. This neglected English word is the word “stewardship.” These days
about the only time you encounter the word “steward” is with respect to
the wine steward in a restaurant, or a ship’s steward on a cruise
line. Sometimes churches will have “stewardship campaigns” that are
largely confined to the issue of tithing. Stewardship simply means
management. A steward is a person who understands that they are not
owners, but are rather called to manage their gifts and opportunities
on behalf of another. |
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Survey Explores Who Qualifies As an Evangelical |
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Written by Joe Randeen
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 The media and social commentators frequently refer to surveys that
describe the opinions and behavior of "evangelicals." However, those
analyses are based on surveys that ask adults whether or not they
consider themselves to be an evangelical. For two decades, The Barna
Group has been measuring the social, political, religious and
behavioral characteristics of evangelicals as well - but using a
substantially different set of criteria. The Barna Group’s nine
questions pertaining to the spiritual beliefs of people have reported
on a very different - and much smaller - group of people. To
distinguish them from the self-described evangelicals, Barna has named
the segment based on its answers to nine theological factors the
"9-point evangelicals." |
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Why Vineyard: A Theological Reflection |
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Written by Don Williams
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 There are several answers to the question, “Why Vineyard?”
Historically, Vineyard is the fruit of revival. It goes back to the
"Jesus Movement,” starting in the United States in the late 1960’s.
Through it over three million converts came into the church, and
Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California exploded, eventually giving
birth to the Vineyard. Vineyard is also the consequence of John
Wimber’s charismatic leadership, bringing alive not only the message of
the kingdom, but also the ministry of the kingdom in “signs and
wonders.” Vineyard continues to grow by practicing Biblical values,
offering “culturally current” worship, preaching the gospel, building
community, praying for the sick, reaching to the poor, opposing
injustice and planting churches internationally. It still fosters
personal and corporate renewal, seeking, in John Wimber’s phrase, “to
love the whole church.” Where Vineyard prospers it is also because of
its clear, central kingdom theology.
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House Churches Are More Satisfying to Attenders Than Are Conventional Churches |
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Written by George Barna
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 With the growth of house churches across the country, a
new study by The Barna Group sheds light on how these independent,
non-denominational churches operate.
Levels of Satisfaction
Perhaps the most compelling insight from the national study was an
evaluation of the levels of satisfaction of those who attend a house
church compared with the views of adults who attend a conventional
local church. Four aspects of people's church experience were gauged.
Overall, people attending a house church were significantly more likely
to be "completely satisfied" with their experience in each of the four
dimensions examined. |
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For Better or Worse: Church Planting Affects Marriage |
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Written by Janice Tarleton
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 Maybe marriage vows for Christians – or at least Vineyardites – should
include “in church planting.” Not that it would really prepare you for
possible perils ahead, but at least you could say you were warned.
Hands down, church planting has been the biggest challenge of our
nearly 25-year marriage. When we left Vineyard Christian Fellowship of
North Phoenix in May 2001 to start a church a few miles north in Del
Webb’s idyllic master-planned family community of Anthem, it was
bittersweet. We felt like Abraham, leaving behind our beloved homeland,
yet looking forward to the promises of a new land, exponential
expansion of the Kingdom and, of course, converts as countless as the
stars. |
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Women in Ministry: Theological Foundations |
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Written by Editor
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 How does the fall of mankind
and our redemption through Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
tie in directly to offer an excellently grounded view
on this long suffering debate within the Church?
What can we learn from the first book of the Old Testament
and what conclusion can we draw upon?
It’s definitely more food for thought from Don
Williams.
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Reflections on Pastor and Pastored |
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Written by Editor
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…the calling and role of pastor is unique to the
Christian faith. All the world religions have their teachers.
Many have prophets, sages and wise men. The disciple/discipled
relationship is not unique to Christianity, but the pastor
is. How can we understand this?
Presented here is a concise look at both the calling of
the Pastor and the role of the church congregation in
relationship.
Don Williams
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Written by Editor
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…Historically, Vineyard is the fruit of revival. It goes
back to the "Jesus Movement," starting in the United States
in the late 1960's. Through it over three million converts
came into the church, and Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa,
California exploded, eventually giving birth to the Vineyard.
Here we are taken from the Vineyards origins, through
it's theological structure and it's statement of faith
to conclude in drawing upon the word of God as to why
Vineyard?
Don Williams
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Who is the God We Worship? |
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Written by Editor
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...God is greater than our minds or any formula we construct about him.
We cannot package him. He exists in unapproachable light. He is
scary and fascinating at the same time. He is magnificently vast,
eternal and mysterious.
Yet he allures us in his love. Whatever we know
of him comes by his will, his purpose, and his design. He is Francis
Thompson's Hound of Heaven, chasing us down the corridors of our lives.
He is Jesus' “Running Father,” bringing the Prodigal Son home.
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Little Papers
