Theology2020-06-29T08:13:21-05:00

Theology

What’s the background on some of these church policies? What are the biblical backbones to these concepts?  Below are some case studies and other articles, giving the theology behind a ministry strategy.

Preventing and Resolving Conflict in the Church

By |August 23rd, 2022|

Let's talk about how Christian leaders can model, practice and teach the principles of relational wisdom. This is a gospel-based form of emotional intelligence, biblical peacemaking and Christian conciliation. You can do this within [...]

A Personal Perspective on Worship Songs

By |August 23rd, 2019|

I recently visited with a pastor of a large church who articulated his concern for the state of music and worship in the church. He described his view of church music as a “cutting [...]

Do Not Harden Your Hearts in Rebellion

By |October 26th, 2018|

Friday, October 26, 2018 Hey Fletch … I need your help with Hebrews 3:12-15. I think God, through the writer of Hebrews, is warning against unbelief and hardness of heart. Is there a better [...]

A Capella to Instruments in Worship

By |June 30th, 2018|

Saturday, June 30, 2018 Hey Fletch … Our church is moving from a cappella singing to including instruments in our worship services. How does this communication statement sound to you? “The shepherds have lifted [...]

Church Planting & Running a Business

By |March 3rd, 2018|

Saturday, March 3, 2018 Hey Doc … Here in India I am pioneering a church planting ministry. We, are doing some income generating projects based on the people and the places. I would like [...]

Sign Gifts Policy

By |December 25th, 2012|

XPastor tries to help churches by providing some of the essentials for running a church---items like job descriptions, employment applications, review forms and policies. Below is the 1995 Sign Gifts Policy at Northwest Bible [...]

Biblical Parallels of the Five Functions

By |December 7th, 2012|

Below are definitions of the Five Functions of an Executive Pastor---Administrator, Catalyst, Mentor, Relational, and Overseer---complete with biblical examples of each one. The Five Functions were originally established through the XP-Indicator which is now called [...]

Book Review: Misquoting Jesus

By |December 6th, 2012|

For most students of the New Testament, a book on textual criticism is a real yawn. The tedious details are not the stuff of a bestseller. All this changed with Bart Ehrman’s recent Misquoting Jesus: The Story [...]

Why Does Your Church Exist?

By |December 6th, 2012|

Church members frequently understand themselves to be the raison d'êtrefor which their congregations exist: “Our church is here to meet our needs.” But, as they move toward a missional stance, many congregational leaders today seek a [...]

Paradigms for Urban Ministry

By |December 5th, 2012|

I like to ask myself what assumptions lie behind the way I think about ministry. In May of 2007, I was asked to write a preliminary, background assessment as Campus Crusade for Christ began rethinking [...]

To XP or Not to XP? That is the Question

By |December 5th, 2012|

When was the last time that the President of the United States attended the dedication of your Youth Education Center? When was the last time that the President quoted your Senior Pastor or called for advice? Dr. [...]

Care & Correction or Shaming—A Case Study

By |December 5th, 2012|

XPastor recommends readers take special note of the resources provided by Watermark about the issue of Care and Correction. These resources are found in Appendix V and Appendix VI at the end of this case study and in [...]

Dallas: The New Capital of Evangelicalism

By |December 5th, 2012|

In Christianity Today, Associate Editor Edward Gilbreath presents a thesis which could serve as a cogent rationale for the selection of case study churches. In the cover story, Gilbreath writes on “The New Capital of [...]