Mortification of Spin

Money can be a pretty sensitive topic for pastors to address, so there’s often a temptation to avoid the subject altogether. However, the needs of a church must be clearly communicated to its congregants.So, what principles should be followed? How much should members give—a tithe? What if someone is unemployed, or going through financial difficulty? Can the financial offering be replaced with service to the church?The team may not have all the answers, but today’s discussion offers some general guiding principles with a good dose of sanctified wisdom!We’re giving away copies of Randy Alcorn’s book, Money, Possessions, and Eternity.  Register now and you might be one of the winners. This book is a generous gift of Tyndale House Publishers.

The team sits down for coffee with Tim and Jonelle Frost. Tim is an associate pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, VA, which Carl refers to as “Todd’s megachurch!”Tim and wife Jonelle talk openly about the initial shock and all-consuming journey of raising a child with Down’s Syndrome. The couple recounts their struggle with Declan’s health issues, their physical and emotional exhaustion, and how—through it all—the family gives glory to God, and rejoices in their little one. Grab a mug, pull up a chair, and be encouraged by this dear brother and sister as they share precious advice, and relate the love and care provided by their church family.We would love to give you a copy of a great resource by P&R Publishers: Same Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability. Sign up for the opportunity to win one!

It’s group therapy in the bunker. The crew is feeling blue, and the only cure at this moment is to get together and discuss their gloominess.Depression and anxiety are real issues. But is depression a sin? Saints from Biblical times to today have experienced discouragement and depression. What can we learn from them?Join the meeting and find out how to minister to those who are struggling with this issue, as we discover what measures of comfort the Word of God offers to those who are in Christ. Show NotesLectures to My Students - The Minister’s Fainting Fits chapterMartin Luther’s AnfechtungenMan of Sorrows, What a Name!Sign up for the opportunity to win a free copy of David Murray’s book Christians Get Depressed Too which are a gift from Reformation Heritage Books.

What does the Supreme Court ruling on the Masterpiece Cakeshop signify for religious freedom from the conservative perspective? Should the decision be celebrated or not quite yet?The crew welcomes Dr. Matthew Franck to shed some insight on this case and to answer a few other questions. He’s Director of the William E. and Carol G. Simon Center on Religion and the Constitution and author of a vast number of publications.As a scholar of constitutional law, Matt attaches himself to the text and its original meaning and reminds us that the free exercise of religion is in the first amendment and, therefore, superior to other societal notions of “freedom”. He also offers helpful advice to Christian individuals and small institutions. Grab a piece of cake and join us!Show NotesAbout Matt FranckAlliance Defending FreedomThe Anscombe SocietyPrinceton Pro-LifeThe Public DiscourseMasterpiece Cakeshop X Colorado Civil Rights Commission Book What is Marriage?: Man and Woman: A DefenseBook Truth Overruled: The Future of Marriage and Religious FreedomBook When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender MomentEssay The Power of the PowerlessWe are grateful to our guest Matt Franck and to the Witherspoon Institute for giving us copies of Religious Freedom: Why Now? Defending an Embattled Human Rightto be given away. You just need to sign up for the opportunity to win one.

The light of the sun can be blinding, but there is a light that is even brighter, and it knocked Paul off his feet on the road to Damascus.  This week on No Falling Word,  we're continuing our study of Acts Chapter 26, as Paul is brought before King Agrippa, and that bright shining light will be a topic of their conversation.

The crew is stoked that Daniel Hyde has agreed to take them on dawn patrol to teach them some rad surf moves. After multiple failed attempts to simply keep the bennys on deck, they take a break to talk about Danny’s favorite hair gel and his book, In Living Color: Images of Christ and the Means of Grace, a timeless take on the Second Commandment.How has the Second Commandment been applied historically and in what ways can it be violated? Why does it all matter? Pastor Danny uses the Heidelberg Catechism to address the heart issue, but--above all--he emphasizes the positive aspect of the visible elements that Christ has given us. So, grab your board and join our party wave.Show NotesMeet pastor Danny and Oceanside United Reformed ChurchSurfing terms and slangsHeidelberg Catechism Q. 98Belgic Confession Article 33We’re pleased to be giving away few copies of In Living Color. Please sign up for the opportunity to win one!The books are a generous gift from our friends at Reformed Fellowship.

The Apostle Paul was a man with a plan.  He had a goal and everything he did was aimed at that purpose.  But what happens when your best-laid plans run amuck?  Today on No Falling Word, Liam Goligher will be looking at Acts Chapters 26.   Paul’s plans are sidelined by prison as he waits on the Roman government to decide his fate.  Join us as we discover that even down time has its purpose.

Our topic du jour is considered from both the housewife and the pastors’ perspectives.The trend of dividing congregations by age groups and removing children from corporate worship started a few decades ago, and it has shaped the practice of many churches to this day. But is this trend a biblical model? What are the benefits of having our children present in the corporate worship?The crew tell us what their churches are doing to engage little ones during the service, and offer some tips for helping kids get the most out of family worship.Show NotesLinda Finlayson’s books for childrenGod’s Timeline: The Big Book of Church HistorySign up for the opportunity to win a copy of The Nursery of the Holy Spirit by Daniel Hyde which is a generous gift from Wipf and Stock Publishers.

Reports of sexual abuse are now commonplace in the media and those claims originate in diverse places, from Hollywood to the sacred confines of the neighborhood church.Our compassionate crew welcomes Thomas Crumplar. He’s a soft-spoken OPC elder who turns tenacious attorney when defending victims of sexual abuse. Tom has prosecuted and won cases against powerful individuals and institutions, including the Roman Catholic diocese of Wilmington, DE.Crumplar covers the ground of what constitutes sexual abuse and the first steps leaders must take when they receive a report of sexual abuse. He describes the common victim stereotype, feelings of guilt, the legal process, and much more. There is hope to be found amid the suffering and loss.Show NotesThe profession of Thomas CrumplarHistory of Sexual Abuse LitigationDu Pont CaseBy Tom’s recommendation, we are giving away copies of On the Threshold of Hope by Diane Langberg a gift of Tyndale House Publisher. Sign up and you might win one!

The three amigos gather for Carl’s send-off, as he’s about to move west. Before Carl departs, Aimee offers some helpful tips on how to make new friends. In fact, she has recently written Why Can’t We Be Friends? Aimee’s latest opus addresses friendship between the sexes from a biblical worldview.The intrepid trio discusses the Pence Rule, biblical anthropology, sibling relationships in light of eternity, the exercise of discernment, and more. It’s the When Harry Met Sally dilemma: Can men and women really be friends?Show NotesHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieYou can find Aimee’s book on sale at Reformed Resources. But if you want the opportunity to win a free copy, sign up and you might just get one! The free copies are a courtesy of P&R Publishing.