One of my hopes for The Payneful Truth is that it will be an opportunity for the very thing I discussed in last week’s edition: for us to speak the truth in love with one another, for mutual instruction and encouragement. So far so good! Thanks for the many emails and comments that have done just this. And in the coming weeks, I’ll be touching on some of the specific questions you’ve asked, including these two:
Hi Tony. Just catching up on reading and listening to your podcast. What you had to say here was so helpful - thank you! In my current role I'm working to try and encourage church leaders to build teams of people who will build up and encourage others to grow and persevere in Christ, so what you had to say was spot on! But also, in this current environment I'd really be interested to hear your thoughts on what practical steps church leaders could take to encourage those they are working with to grow and maintain our evangelistic focus - sharing the good news of Jesus with people when they can't physically meet face to face .
I’m an introvert and your article prompts to wonder about the degree to which Satan works on my heart to convince me that conversation really is to much hard work, it would be better just to issue an email or maybe stay silent and distant - is there are a saintly prayer in the book of pray for introverts - to be lead in the strength of the Spirit rather then teased along by a reluctant heart?
Thank you for this timely reminder to be flexible in the way we continue to carry out the various ministries in our churches at a time of increasing difficulty. I am a Growth Group leader in my church and my group is comprised of 11 mainly older women in the most 'at risk' age group. Several have already been advised by their health advisers to self isolate given their health status. The five of us who met this week have agreed to keep in close contact via email and 'phone calls with our sisters-in-Christ who are in this position, and to be encouraging them through the Word. I also have a number of already prepared, short, devotions that we distributed to a number of ladies in the church via the church email over the last 5 years. There are probably enough for the next 6 months. I plan to attach them to the emails I send weekly (unless requested not to) for their up-building in the Word. One lady has no email so hers will be delivered to her letter box weekly. Lenore
Thanks Tony. I have wondered if our automatic “we have to broadcast” reaction has indicated our over-reliance on centralised / professional ministry, instead of a preparedness for 1-1 ministry.
Hi Tony. Just catching up on reading and listening to your podcast. What you had to say here was so helpful - thank you! In my current role I'm working to try and encourage church leaders to build teams of people who will build up and encourage others to grow and persevere in Christ, so what you had to say was spot on! But also, in this current environment I'd really be interested to hear your thoughts on what practical steps church leaders could take to encourage those they are working with to grow and maintain our evangelistic focus - sharing the good news of Jesus with people when they can't physically meet face to face .
off topic - but I also have a personal mission with the use of the title 'single'
I don't think anyone in the church of Christ is actually single
but there are lots of people in the church of Christ that are unmarried
I’m an introvert and your article prompts to wonder about the degree to which Satan works on my heart to convince me that conversation really is to much hard work, it would be better just to issue an email or maybe stay silent and distant - is there are a saintly prayer in the book of pray for introverts - to be lead in the strength of the Spirit rather then teased along by a reluctant heart?
Thank you for this timely reminder to be flexible in the way we continue to carry out the various ministries in our churches at a time of increasing difficulty. I am a Growth Group leader in my church and my group is comprised of 11 mainly older women in the most 'at risk' age group. Several have already been advised by their health advisers to self isolate given their health status. The five of us who met this week have agreed to keep in close contact via email and 'phone calls with our sisters-in-Christ who are in this position, and to be encouraging them through the Word. I also have a number of already prepared, short, devotions that we distributed to a number of ladies in the church via the church email over the last 5 years. There are probably enough for the next 6 months. I plan to attach them to the emails I send weekly (unless requested not to) for their up-building in the Word. One lady has no email so hers will be delivered to her letter box weekly. Lenore
Thanks Tony. I have wondered if our automatic “we have to broadcast” reaction has indicated our over-reliance on centralised / professional ministry, instead of a preparedness for 1-1 ministry.
Very timely! How will we all function? I sincerely hope there is tech help for our pastors out there and good communication for all of us!
This is really thought provoking - thank you!!