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In layman’s terms, Rev. Hyde sketches the historical roots of the Reformed churches, their scriptural and confessional basis, their key beliefs, and the ways in which those beliefs are put into practice. The result is a roadmap for those encountering the Reformed world for the first time and a primer for those who want to know more about their Reformed heritage.

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(1) Introduction
(2) Catholic, Evangelical, and Reformed
(3) Scripture Alone
(4) Faith Alone – part 1
(5) Faith Alone – part 2
(6) Covenant
(7) Total Depravity – part 1
(8) Total Depravity – part 2
(9) Unconditional Election
(10) Limited Atonement
(11) Irresistible Grace
(12) Perseverance of the Saints

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(1) The Importance of Holiness
(2) The Trauma of Holiness
(3) Holiness and Justice
(4) The Insanity of Luther
(5) The Meaning of Holiness
(6) The Holiness of Christ

This series examines the meaning of holiness and why people are both fascinated and terrified by a holy God. This series closely explores God’s character, leading to new insights on sin, justice, and grace. The result is a new awareness of our dependence upon God’s mercy and a discovery of the awesomeness of His majestic holiness. Dr. R.C. Sproul says, “The holiness of God affects every aspect of our lives — economics, politics, athletics, romance — everything with which we are involved.”

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The Importance of Holiness

The Trauma of Holiness

Holiness and Justice

The Insanity of Luther

The Meaning of Holiness

The Holiness of Christ

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Sometimes blunt, crude words are the only things that can shock a person out of a rut and motivate him to improve to the next level. This article is for the church worker who needs such forthright words.

What if you die today? Would you be pleased with your legacy?

If the answer is “no,” then you need to figure out how to change it. Life is short. Some of us need to increase our tempo. Some need to act instead of waiting for tomorrow. Some need training. Some of us are doing everything right, but we need time to achieve it. You need to take care of your body by eating right and working out so that you will have that time. Do not forget that we are called to be doers of the word and not merely hearers.

James 1:22-25 (ESV)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Is there anything distracting you from pursuing your purpose?
Is anything slowing you down?

At the same time, some of us need to be patient, wait for God’s timing, and not ruin things by forcing it on our own. You know the answers to these questions.

This article is an adaption from an article originally posted at ChurchRelevance.com.

Imagine church without sound.

I do not mean removing things that make noise – sound systems, music, people. I mean imagine experiencing your church as it normally is but not being able to hear anything. Would the non-audible elements be enough to minister to you?

If you were to take away sound, would people still be ministered to?

If someone saw a muted video of your church service, what would they think?

Ask Yourself

• Would your environment create a sense of awe for the Creator like the churches of the Renaissance?
• Visually, how does your worship music seem? Authentic? Passionate? Like a rock concert? Worshipful?
• When you take away the words, are the greeters authentic?
• Is the tone and subject of the message evident in the preacher’s body language?
• What about the sermon branding?
• Is the life-changing power of Christ evident on the congregation’s faces?
• Is there a sense joy, hope, and love?
• People can spot a fake smile. People can discern authenticity. If someone who was not a Christian watched your congregation worship, would they want what they have?

Albert Mehrabian’s research shows that communication is influenced only 7% by words, 38% by tone of voice, and 55% by body language. All too often, we focus on the 7% of words and forget to invest in non-audible influencers, such as body language and environment.

Ultimately, the preaching of the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit is what changes lives. However, we must not forget that we are called to be representatives of Jesus in word and in deed in everything we do (Colossians 3:17). Don’t do something just because it is what other churches do. Instead, let everything you do echo back to the gospel and the glory of God.

This article is an adaption of one first published at ChurchRelevance.com.

I received this question from a youth worker in December:

I am speaking at a youth ministry event on Longevity in Ministry. I would love to hear back from you on what your top 10 secrets of longevity in ministry are?

Here’s what I wrote in response (in no particular order):

1. Embrace humility. Ask people to hold you accountable to this.
2. Have intentional conversations with youth workers who have stayed in one church for 10 years or more. Seek their input.
3. Make a list of the reasons why longevity is valuable. Pull it out and read it from time to time.
4. Get over yourself. You are not God’s secret weapon or only option.
5. Ruthlessly develop intimacy with Jesus. Only when you are deeply connected with Jesus will you be able to set aside your ego and weather the temptations to move on.
6. Remind yourself regularly that your calling does not come from people, but from god.
7. Decide how you will measure your success. Bad measures of success = a big program, lots of ego strokes, buzz, impressive numbers. Good measures of success = the faith of former teenagers when they’re in their 20s or 30s (and only longevity allows you to really see that).
8. Consider the cost to your church, the teenagers you serve, your family, and your own soul of constantly looking over the fence for something “better”.
9. Eschew power. Power corrupts your calling and falsely inflates your sense of importance.
10. Value faithfulness over influence.

Oh, and #11: Cultivate a life outside of youth ministry.
How about an even dozen? #12: Be ruthless about establishing and honoring a sustainable rhythm of silence and solitude.

What do you think? What did i miss? And which of these is most difficult for you?

This article was first published at WhyIsMarko.com.
Photo Credit: Paul Prescott – Shutterstock.com