Last weekend I had the privilege to help lead Disciple Now back at my home church, LaGrange Baptist Church. The weekend centered around small groups splitting up to different homes. I had the opportunity, along with my roommate Clay, to the lead the 7th and 8th grade guys. The material we walked through during the weekend answered the big questions that many people ask about Christianity: What does the Bible say about sex?, What does the Bible say about suffering?, etc. The weekend proved to be a challenging time for the guys and a refreshing and challenging time for me as well. Here’s a 6-minute fly through our time together at Disciple Now:
In his book, The Reformed Pastor, Richard Baxter gives some very valuable insight on how many people tend to view the reformation of the Church. Although these words were written over 300 years ago, they still speak volumes of truth to our present-day situation:
“Reformation is to many of us, as the Messiah was to the Jews. Before he came, they looked and longed for him, and boasted of him, and rejoiced in hope of him; but when he came they could not abide him, but hated him, and would not believe that he was indeed the person, and therefore persecuted and put him to death, to the curse and confusion of the main body of their nation…
…And the reason was, because it was another manner of Christ that the Jews expected; it was one who would bring them riches and liberty, and to this day they profess that they will never believe in any but such. So it is with too many about reformation. They hoped for a reformation, that would bring them more wealth and honour with the people, and power to force men to do what they would have them: and now they see a reformation, that must put them to more condescension and pains than they were ever at before. They thought of having the opposers of godliness under their feet, but now they see they must go to them with humble entreaties…O how many carnal expectations are here crossed!”
About a month ago on the New Attitude blog, Eric Simmons posted a two-part entry on “Why Your Friends Don’t Go to Church.” He starts off with this fact, “70% of people between the ages of 18-34, who once attended church, no longer do.” He goes on to answer the question of why 70 % of this generation are missing from church. It’s some great insight. To see what Simmons has to say on the issue, here’s Part 1 and Part 2. I hope to post more on the importance of the local church because of how much it is lacking in my generation.
QUICK REMINDER: The New Attitude Conference is a little bit more than a month away. Simmons will be one of the main speakers during this conference, along with Joshua Harris, CJ Mahaney, Al Mohler, Mark Dever, and John Piper. It’s in Louisville, KY during Memorial Day Weekend (May 26th-29th). You can get more information here. Registration closes May 7th.
“Every local church is a collection of individual church members. Therefore, fostering healthy churches depends in some measure on fostering healthy church members who understand the centrality of living and working together as one body for the glory of God.”
Posted by Cameron Potts 
Posted by Cameron Potts 
Posted by Cameron Potts 