Brian Franks, Author at The Artios Center for Vibrant Leadership

Church of God (Seventh Day) & The Calvinist’s TULIP – Part 3

Brian Franks2022-08-03T16:05:45-06:00

By Israel Steinmetz Here we come to the end of our three-part discussion of the Calvinist TULIP. Since Artios Christian College and Lead Up are ministries of the Church of God (Seventh Day), it is worthwhile to examine our denomination’s Statement of Faith. Looking back on the first three letters of TULIP, we see that total depravity was easy to affirm. The Bible is explicit in describing humankind’s inability to merit salvation through works. Conversely, unconditional election was easy to denounce, as receiving the benefit of election in Scripture is always conditioned on faith. And, contrary to Calvinist claims, saving faith is not something predestined by God [...]

Church of God (Seventh Day) & The Calvinist’s TULIP – Part 3Brian Franks2022-08-03T16:05:45-06:00

Church of God (Seventh Day) & The Calvinist’s TULIP – Part 2

Brian Franks2022-08-03T16:04:23-06:00

By Israel Steinmetz Since Artios Christian College and Lead Up are ministries of the Church of God (Seventh Day), it is worthwhile to examine our denomination’s Statement of Faith. WHAT ELSE CAN WE LEARN ABOUT GOD, HUMANITY, AND GRACE FROM TULIP? As we progress on a journey exploring our Statement of Faith, we continue to look at the five letters of the Calvinist TULIP. Previously, we discovered that our Statement of Faith and Scripture support Total depravity. But we observed that Unconditional election is not a teaching clearly found in either. What about the L in TULIP? LIMITED ATONEMENT Also known as particular redemption, limited atonement is the teaching that Jesus’ death was only intended to [...]

Church of God (Seventh Day) & The Calvinist’s TULIP – Part 2Brian Franks2022-08-03T16:04:23-06:00

Church of God (Seventh Day) & The Calvinist’s TULIP – Part 1

Brian Franks2022-08-03T16:02:54-06:00

By Israel Steinmetz Since Artios Christian College and Lead Up are ministries of the Church of God (Seventh Day), it is worthwhile to examine our denomination’s Statement of Faith. In doing so, we consider profound questions related to the relationship between God and humanity. Central to such discussions is the Calvinist vs. Arminian debate, which raises questions regarding God’s will, human freedom, and grace. To engage this debate, we consider the five points of Calvinism, summarized in the acronym TULIP. TULIP: Total Depravity – the human inability to desire or do good to merit salvation without God’s intervening grace. Unconditional Election – the election of some humans [...]

Church of God (Seventh Day) & The Calvinist’s TULIP – Part 1Brian Franks2022-08-03T16:02:54-06:00

Restored and Re-Storied: An Interview with Mary DeMuth

Brian Franks2022-08-03T15:59:30-06:00

By Caitlin Meadows Recently, I discovered a woman named Mary DeMuth. She is an author (of 31 books, so far), a public speaker, and the host of a podcast. Her message is simple but profound: Jesus Christ has taken her broken past and restored her to Himself. In doing so, He has also re-storied her, showcasing His beauty and might through her former heartache and suffering. God has restored and re-storied her and He is eager to do the same for the rest of us. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new [...]

Restored and Re-Storied: An Interview with Mary DeMuthBrian Franks2022-08-03T15:59:30-06:00

Why be a Leader in the Church?

Brian Franks2022-08-03T15:57:34-06:00

By Daniel Aleman When you answer the call to be a leader in your church denomination, you will find your place among others who serve Christ. This article is focused on the denomination of the General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day) or COG7, but the points of the article that focus on serving in your church and the challenges Christian churches face today may be applied to all Christian denominations. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,”[1] are words many Christians have heard throughout their years attending worship services. Most could even recite the words of Jesus [...]

Why be a Leader in the Church?Brian Franks2022-08-03T15:57:34-06:00

How Can Our Church Serve Our Community at this Time?

Brian Franks2022-08-03T15:54:51-06:00

By Janna Wiley EIGHTY-SEVEN. OCHENTA Y SIETE. OCTOGINTA SEPTEM. KANAWALUKUMAMĀHIKU. That number is meaningful in my Family. That number keeps growing. It represents the number of days my family has been sheltering in place, selectively going outside, and starting the social distancing of what is the “new normal” in our country. But, there is another number that I want to talk about today. How can our church serve our community at this time? TWENTY-SEVEN No, it’s not my age, it’s not a birthday, nor a code. This number is the total number, so far, that my local church has delivered care [...]

How Can Our Church Serve Our Community at this Time?Brian Franks2022-08-03T15:54:51-06:00

It’s Not Okay for Kids to be Bored in Church

Brian Franks2022-08-03T15:52:44-06:00

By Israel Steinmetz I baptized my three oldest kids in 2015. It’s incredible to watch them worship together with the local body of Christ they’ve become a part of. I love worshipping with my kids. Whether at home or with our church, there’s something awesome about joining them in song to our Creator and Redeemer. Last week in service I held my four year old’s hand as we sang together. I looked across the aisle at three of my other children as they praised alongside their friends. My middle school daughter stays through the entire service, taking copious sermon notes and [...]

It’s Not Okay for Kids to be Bored in ChurchBrian Franks2022-08-03T15:52:44-06:00

Acts of Service Aren’t Enough, Thankfully

Brian Franks2022-08-03T15:51:08-06:00

By Caitlin Meadows Growing up, my elementary school implemented a merit system. Every staff member carried around little yellow pieces of paper called “bobcat awards” that motivated students to voluntarily complete acts of service. When a student had collected enough, he or she earned a lunch period spent in the “bobcat room” (the band room) complete with a special dessert treat and rated G music playing from a boombox. The best part about earning this reward? The status. Since the bobcat room was right off of the cafeteria, these well-behaved, honored students got to walk right on past all of their [...]

Acts of Service Aren’t Enough, ThankfullyBrian Franks2022-08-03T15:51:08-06:00

Is Salvation Free?

Brian Franks2022-08-03T15:47:17-06:00

By Daniel Aleman Is salvation free? This was completely unimaginable to the first century AD world. It is in this backdrop that the apostle Paul wrote his letters. He preaches the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the fruit of salvation and a new life for believers. Salvation and the new life in Christ can be confusing when people try to reason this free gift from God as something requiring an exchange of goods. Unlike buying groceries in a supermarket, salvation and a new life in Christ cannot be purchased. Instead, these are freely given to those who believe that Jesus [...]

Is Salvation Free?Brian Franks2022-08-03T15:47:17-06:00

What Redemption Means for Followers of Christ

Brian Franks2022-08-03T15:45:20-06:00

By Jason Overman We say it as often as we can: Jesus-followers have been re-created by Christ to lead on His behalf in our everyday lives and circles. But why? Because of His redemption. With an accurate understanding of this common Christian word, we come to a greater personal appreciation of the gospel. And with that greater appreciation comes a deeper desire to live surrendered to His leading which enables us to influence others for Him. Redeemed — how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed thro’ His infinite mercy, His child, and forever, I am.” Perhaps [...]

What Redemption Means for Followers of ChristBrian Franks2022-08-03T15:45:20-06:00

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