Pastoral Resources Archives - Page 7 of 9 - The Artios Center for Vibrant Leadership

What Christians Need to Understand About Shame

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:24:48-06:00

By Caitlin Meadows Shame on you! is something we say to someone who behaves poorly. It’s our response to a person caught red handed and unapologetic. In effect, we’re telling them: “What you’ve done is wrong and you should feel guilt, regret, and humiliation.” In these types of situations, we want the offender to claim guilt so that he or she can take responsibility for whatever offense was committed. We want justice, which in many cases is an honest apology. However, the response is rarely acceptance and apology. Rather, the response is often to hide, lie, or justify whatever offense he or she committed. [...]

What Christians Need to Understand About ShameBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:24:48-06:00

Are We a Supportive Community

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:12:49-06:00

By Brian Franks We’re meant for community. In the beginning, the perfect, self-existent, self-sufficient, all-powerful, living God chose to create. In this creation He laid the groundwork, and literally the ground itself, for His vision. He made the stars, flora, and fauna of every kind. Indeed, everything we see sprang to life at His command or hand. Then, He continued with two more creation acts: “let us make humanity in our image” (Genesis 1:26) and God set apart the Sabbath day and blessed it (Genesis 2:3). Both of these are deeply intentional acts of community. The Sabbath is not a day of sleep. [...]

Are We a Supportive CommunityBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:12:49-06:00

Christ-Centered Rest on Sabbath is For Pastors, Too

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:09:26-06:00

By Amber Riggs Exhausted from a long, demanding day, Joseph feels his body begin to release stress and his mind struggle to let go of its seemingly endless list of responsibilities. It’s almost Sunday, he tells himself. Maybe I’ll finally get a chance to rest. The sad irony is that this is a relatable situation for many pastors, ministry leaders, and members of congregations who meet on Saturday with good intentions of celebrating Sabbath. Unfortunately, the day on which a congregation worships is often the most physically and emotionally taxing day of the week for many pastors and church leaders. It can become a [...]

Christ-Centered Rest on Sabbath is For Pastors, TooBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:09:26-06:00

Why You May Not Be Getting Enough Rest

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:06:12-06:00

By Amber Riggs For years, there has been this accusing voice in the back of my head telling me that no matter how much I’m doing, it’s not enough. Like all lies, there’s truth in this. No matter how much I do, five seconds on my newsfeed is enough to jar me with words and images that confirm that this world is still very much a broken place. There’s a reason that the Christian stadium events I went to as a teen and young adult bombarded us with heartfelt pleas to be radical world changers. There’s a reason why so many [...]

Why You May Not Be Getting Enough RestBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:06:12-06:00

John: High Christology of the Gospels-Part 3

Brian Franks2022-07-12T12:58:14-06:00

By Israel Steinmetz BACKGROUND AND SCOPE The purpose of this series is to explore a supposed rift in how Jesus is depicted in the Gospels. As many scholars have noted, John’s Gospel proclaims a majestically high Christology. Indeed some have seen in John a Christology that finds no parallel in the other Gospels. 1 To put it simply, “If Jesus was as He is depicted in Matthew and Mark and Luke, He cannot have been as He is depicted in John. The two are incompatible.” 2 Previously we examined the opening scenes in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke and found that each presents not only an [...]

John: High Christology of the Gospels-Part 3Brian Franks2022-07-12T12:58:14-06:00

Luke: High Christology of the Gospels-Part 3

Brian Franks2022-07-12T12:56:49-06:00

By Israel Steinmetz BACKGROUND AND SCOPE This is part of a series exploring how Jesus is depicted in the Gospels. Many scholars have noted that John’s Gospel proclaims a majestically high Christology. Indeed some have seen in John a Christology that finds no parallel in the other Gospels. 1 To put it simply, “If Jesus was as He is depicted in Matthew and Mark and Luke, He cannot have been as He is depicted in John. The two are incompatible.” 2 But is this contrast between John and the Synoptics accurate? Does it give a fair reading to the Christological titles and roles assigned [...]

Luke: High Christology of the Gospels-Part 3Brian Franks2022-07-12T12:56:49-06:00

Matthew: High Christology of the Gospels-Part 2

Brian Franks2022-07-12T12:55:23-06:00

By Israel Steinmetz BACKGROUND AND SCOPE This is part of a series exploring how Jesus is depicted in the Gospels. Many scholars have noted that John’s Gospel proclaims a majestically high Christology. Indeed some have seen in John a Christology that finds no parallel in the other Gospels. 1 To put it simply, “If Jesus was as He is depicted in Matthew and Mark and Luke, He cannot have been as He is depicted in John. The two are incompatible.” 2 But is this contrast between John and the Synoptics accurate? Does it give a fair reading to the Christological titles and roles assigned [...]

Matthew: High Christology of the Gospels-Part 2Brian Franks2022-07-12T12:55:23-06:00

Becoming a Better Christian Leader: My Experience as an Artios Student

Brian Franks2022-07-11T09:19:33-06:00

By Steven Zuraff Do you feel called and want to be a leader and serve your local church and community? Artios Christian College will help you succeed! Hi, my name is Steven, and I’d like to tell you about my experience as a student of Artios Christian College. I started my training by driving with my wife in 2006 to attend a summer session in Denver, CO when it was called Ministerial Training System (MTS). Quite a large number of brothers traveled to Denver for training that summer. My wife served with other ladies in the kitchen of the Denver church preparing [...]

Becoming a Better Christian Leader: My Experience as an Artios StudentBrian Franks2022-07-11T09:19:33-06:00

Building Beautiful Churches for Jesus

Brian Franks2022-06-30T13:08:09-06:00

By Whaid Rose Building Beautiful Churches for Jesus: Why the post-COVID church must redefine itself and its mission. Once upon a time a local church decided to build larger facilities to accommodate its rapid growth. It was a wealthy church, so it spent lavishly in making sure the new campus was the finest in town. Building program complete, an auspicious dedication event was convened. The keynote speaker was a former senior pastor who had national name recognition, which drew community and media attention. But as he arose to deliver his message, the appearance of a giant hand high above the stage—as [...]

Building Beautiful Churches for JesusBrian Franks2022-06-30T13:08:09-06:00

Answering God’s Call: Living for a Greater Cause

Brian Franks2022-06-30T13:09:46-06:00

By Whaid Rose LIVING IN A FALLEN WORLD The sobering reality of life in a fallen world confronts us early in Scripture. In Genesis 4 we find a homicide, and by chapter 6 we read this sad commentary: Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (verses 5-6). At that point it would have been justifiable for God to wipe the slate clean [...]

Answering God’s Call: Living for a Greater CauseBrian Franks2022-06-30T13:09:46-06:00

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