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Question: "What is the church?" Answer: Many people today understand the church as a building. This is not a biblical understanding of the church. The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of “church” is not that of a building, but of people. It is ironic that when you ask people what church they attend, they usually identify a building. Romans 16:5 says “… greet the church that is in their house.” Paul refers to the church in their house—not a church building, but a body of...

Barna Group has released its 2015 study on the state of atheism in America, and has revealed that one in four unchurched adults in the country now identify as atheists or agnostics. The study also found that rejection of the Bible and lack of trust in the church are two main reasons why people are turning away from faith. The study was focused on those who have not attended church within the past six months, and found that the majority of such people identify as non-practicing Christians. One in four, or 25 percent, however, were classed as skeptics, which Barna...

Over the past few years a number of people have asked me about Greater Joy Ministries operated by Michael and Debi Pearl, and as I have traveled on preaching trips I have found that many families in good fundamental Baptist churches are using their materials. The following is a report on my investigation into this ministry. I have read two of Michael’s books as well as issues of No Great Joy magazine, and I have looked carefully through the material available at their web site. There is much to praise in Greater Joy Ministries. The Pearl’s book To Train up...

Bishop frightened of proposed legislation: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClergyNet_VaUMC/message/3907 Text of the Virginia Senate Bill 1305: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+ful+SB1305 (this has italics and strikeouts showing current/new) Read it below: --- From: "vaumccommunications" Date: Fri Jan 28, 2005 4:57 pm Subject: From Bishop Kammerer and Clark Williams To: All Clergy in the Virginia Annual Conference From: Bishop Charlene Kammerer Clark Williams, Conference co-Chancellor Re: Senate Bill #1305 Attempt to Nullify the Trust Clause Dear Colleagues - A new piece of proposed legislation is currently pending in the Virginia State Senate which, if adopted into law, would have serious adverse consequences for many churches in the Commonwealth...