tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post116330734467927906..comments2023-11-05T00:58:55.352-07:00Comments on A Peculiar Prophet: Going Deeper SpirituallyWilliam H. Willimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00002821401928222858noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-32805816659271032922008-04-09T06:42:00.000-07:002008-04-09T06:42:00.000-07:00Gavin, I think that when Bishop Willimon says taht...Gavin, I think that when Bishop Willimon says taht we should set our conference expectations so high that we would fail without going deeper spiritually -- that we can make a line to the church and say the same thing. <BR/><BR/>The Church -- the congregation -- in conjunction with the pastor should set lofty goals for itself that it would fail unless the church members went deeper spiritually and also took their vows of prayers, presence, gifts and service so literally that every member had a minisry.BPUMChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617382054311048395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-25512804759124324772008-04-04T16:02:00.000-07:002008-04-04T16:02:00.000-07:00Dude, you rock. Be encouraged.Dude, you rock. Be encouraged.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-64793924034756013282008-04-03T21:49:00.000-07:002008-04-03T21:49:00.000-07:00Thank you for your post. I appreciate growing deep...Thank you for your post. I appreciate growing deeper spiritually. I have found that many times we have focused too much on numbers and not enough on spiritually deep disciples who are listening to the Spirit's leading and who are paying attention to what God is doing in the world and perhaps participate with him.<BR/><BR/>All too often in my heritage we have been too focused on evangelism and not focused enough on discipleship.<BR/><BR/>I am encouraged to hear others more concerned about growing deeper spiritually.Matt Tibbleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16447363434890374569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-24288052851669649542008-04-03T19:25:00.000-07:002008-04-03T19:25:00.000-07:00"Come to think of it, I’ve never seen a church mov..."Come to think of it, I’ve never seen a church move from maintenance to ministry, from decline to growth, from the chaplain to the church members, to a mission mover to the word where someone in leadership had not explained a new dimension of spiritual depth."<BR/><BR/>Bishop, this is good enough to steal! I'm going to post this on my website, (linked back to your site, of course).<BR/><BR/>Larry McCallisterLarry McCallister, Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09979516773032545126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-74018445080982056952008-04-02T12:57:00.000-07:002008-04-02T12:57:00.000-07:00Gavin,Perhaps it is because of a differnt theologi...Gavin,<BR/><BR/>Perhaps it is because of a differnt theological background, but I tend to hesitate to say, "just go do it" to either pastors or parishoners.<BR/><BR/>If, as was noted, people spend more time in the word, and in individual and corporate fellwoship with God, it will happen.<BR/><BR/>Let me clarify, for a second, what I meant by spending time in the word. Luther was reputed to say that Christ was found on every page of scripture. We look at scripture, to find, as the Bereans did, that HIs promises are true, that He is always faithful, that we are His children.<BR/><BR/>That the gospel is indeed good news, and not just a rumor.<BR/><BR/>THe more we realize the treasure, the more we realize, in awe, what has been given to us, the more we desire that friends, families and coleagues know the peace we have.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Godspeed!d†phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15806483577047857781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-90431658215589834012008-04-02T12:55:00.000-07:002008-04-02T12:55:00.000-07:00The question asked was "What do you do when you wa...The question asked was "What do you do when you want your church to grow but your pastor just won’t lead in evangelism?" <BR/>What is with the link between church growth and evangelism? Do we really evangelize in order to grow our church? That seem to me to be a very problematic, self-centered motivation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-28767805533823898652008-04-02T11:22:00.000-07:002008-04-02T11:22:00.000-07:00that is good, but i would have liked a little clar...that is good, but i would have liked a little clarification point of answering the question to say. 'you run the church lay person, not your pastor, just go do it!'<BR/><BR/>i get miffed when excuses are passed on as the pastors fault for leading. they have a position, but it only as powerful as the people submit to them.gavin richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16089190477657027849noreply@blogger.com