[Terriergal]

What? Five tools and not one of them is Scripture? These are 'five tactics.'

You can't 'maneuver' someone into maturity.

Feed a baby pablum, he'll be malnourished. Feed him good food and he'll grow. You don't have to use 'tools' or 'techniques.'

Hebrews 5:8-14 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,

being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Commitment card!

(credits to Chris Rosebrough at www.alittleleaven.com)

[secessionist]

“They have consistently produced mature believers who walk the walk, talk the talk, live the life…”

As always, it’s the little things that are so telling…How many Walk the Talk?

[DragoonEnNoir]

While I’m not a big Rick Warren cheerleader, I think it’s a bit unfair to say that none of his ‘tools’ is scripture.

If you look at what he has posted, you’ll see that within classes and small groups there is probably a lot of emphasis on scripture. I say probably because it’s not certain, but there is no need to criticize and condemn a Brother in Christ merely because the Spirit has led him in ways that are different than ours.

The others may be rooted in scripture, in essence being scripture applied.

I think Warren’s emphasis on progression in faith (in his classes) is also sound, though I would question the order and specific content of them. Is ministry only for the ‘hyper mature’, or is it the life blood at the centre of a follower of Christ?

[GOPPachyderm]

howling with laughter! but it is so sad, isn’t it?

[HairOfTheDog]

Rick Warren could read the bible aloud verbatim and some would still complain that they just don’t like his voice.

It’s a little bizarre.

[Wheee The People]

671 new believers came to Christ and were baptized

How many came to Christ and were baptized at your church? It isn't about the numbers, but this opining from afar on the "quality" of these new Christians seems to lacking much of a foundation IMHO.

[BlueNgold]

Excuse me while I ignore the Right Reverend Warren...

[Quix]

I rebuke such diatribes in the Name of Jesus.

As was clear in the article . . . he’s way ahead of a lot of churches on focusing in practical terms on moving people toward becoming more Christ-like.

Evidently that’s hard to find in some naysayer’s Bibles.