Personal Growth Archives - Page 8 of 9 - The Artios Center for Vibrant Leadership

Our Distinctive Lens

lisaauthor2025-02-14T16:18:49+00:00

By Brian Franks It has happened many times in my life and ministry within the Church of God (Seventh Day). On a random Sabbath morning someone I don’t know walks in the church building. I greet them and introduce myself and they respond in kind. Then they get down to business: what does Seventh Day in the name of this church mean? I tell them about our belief in the Sabbath and why it still matters today (that it especially matters today in this culture). They ask about a few other things, and I share the stances the church has on [...]

Our Distinctive Lenslisaauthor2025-02-14T16:18:49+00:00

Soaking Up the Meaning of Worship in the Scriptures Part 1

lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:12:10+00:00

By Brian Franks WORSHIP? Worship is a challenging word. We might use it in our normal lives, when we say someone worships a sports team or an entertainment star or even a loved one. “She worships the ground they walk on.” Or we might say something like “Let’s go to worship” or “It’s time for worship.” We are probably familiar with or are part of the Worship Team in church. Yet, worship is a far bigger and more important issue than we tend to make it. In fact, worship could be said to be THE issue of faith and the universe. That may sound dramatic, but let’s review some [...]

Soaking Up the Meaning of Worship in the Scriptures Part 1lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:12:10+00:00

The Power of Prayer

lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:12:46+00:00

By Brian Franks There’s a powerful ministry available to the church! It’s one that can easily be practiced by a small child, someone nearing 100 years old, and anyone between. It’s a ministry that any Christians can do together at any time. It can be intricately planned or done on the fly. Yet, often this ministry is seen as an afterthought. Many times, it is not seen as a solution to issues. Sometimes it’s not thought of at all. This ministry is prayer and in prayer there is much power. It is not powerful because we tell God what to do and command the Lord to [...]

The Power of Prayerlisaauthor2025-08-18T21:12:46+00:00

Why Get Off the Couch and Go To Church?

lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:14:46+00:00

By Loren Gjesdal As a pastor who found it necessary to call a congregation back to church in person after doing church online, I realized that it wasn’t enough to simply say “We’re open, you can come back now.” I realized it was going to be essential to answer the question, “Why?” “Why should I get off my comfortable couch, dress up, drive over, and do the same thing in a pew instead?” The Biblical answer is simple and clear: because you’re needed here! God’s plan is for every member to be a minister. The Reformers called God’s plan the “Priesthood of All [...]

Why Get Off the Couch and Go To Church?lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:14:46+00:00

How Can I Be More Consistent in Reading the Bible Everyday?

lisaauthor2025-02-14T16:19:07+00:00

By Andrew Fernandez BIBLE READING – THE STRUGGLE IS REAL It is easy to neglect our spiritual needs when we feel that all the physical work to be done each day is crying out to us before we even wake up. Let alone all the shows, movies, video games, and tasty social media “chit-chat” to catch up on. We will often choose to sit and think about random facts before we will pick up a Bible and read it. We are a busy people, and when we are not busy, we prefer to be distracted with a million simple pleasures 1. So, [...]

How Can I Be More Consistent in Reading the Bible Everyday?lisaauthor2025-02-14T16:19:07+00:00

What is Your Picture of an Ideal Family?

lisaauthor2025-02-14T16:19:07+00:00

By Loren Gjesdal What is your picture of an ideal family? A “Leave it to Beaver” household of two parents, two kids and a happy resolution to every problem in 30 minutes? Or even more simply, “No muss, no fuss, no drama today, please?” Just what would constitute an ideal family anyway? Is the ideal even possible, and if so, what would we have to do to pursue it? If we could imagine the first family in a world where Adam and Eve never ate from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil… If they were never evicted from [...]

What is Your Picture of an Ideal Family?lisaauthor2025-02-14T16:19:07+00:00

Answering God’s Call: Living for a Greater Cause

lisaauthor2025-02-14T16:19:07+00:00

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 Causelisaauthor2025-02-14T16:19:07+00:00

7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Leave Your Church

lisaauthor2025-02-14T16:19:07+00:00

By Lisa Harp Hinds Thinking seriously about leaving your church? Maybe you’re tired of other members’ attitudes or you don’t connect with the pastor. Perhaps you feel neglected, like you simply don’t belong. As someone who left my church because of my own issues but later returned, I suggest asking yourself these 7 questions before deciding to leave your church: 1. DOES MY CHURCH FOLLOW BIBLICAL STRUCTURE? Each member of the church has an important role to play. Acts 6 gives us an example of members of the church having different functions. I Corinthians 12 addresses the spiritual gifts, specifically recognizing that each member’s separate gift plays a role in [...]

7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Leave Your Churchlisaauthor2025-02-14T16:19:07+00:00

5 Reasons I Came Back to the Church

lisaauthor2025-02-14T16:19:46+00:00

By Lisa Harp Hinds If you read “5 Reasons I Left the Church”, you know that, yes, I was one of “those” who had left the church for a combination of reasons. But I came back! Wondering why? Wondering if some of the people who have left your church might return? Wondering what you could do to help them? NUMBER 5 REASON I CAME BACK TO THE CHURCH: SOMEONE WAS PRAYING FOR ME. This is huge, people! I John 5:14-16 tells us, not only can we have confidence in approaching God to ask for anything within His will, but we should pray for our brothers and [...]

5 Reasons I Came Back to the Churchlisaauthor2025-02-14T16:19:46+00:00

Do You Turn Away From God When You Are Hurting?

lisaauthor2025-02-14T16:19:46+00:00

By Lisa Harp Hinds Have you noticed that it seems so many Christians are turning away from God and the church lately? What makes us do that? Why do we separate from the One and the ones who care about us? First, let’s think of what the church really is. I Corinthians 12: 27-28 tells us that we “are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church…..” Verse 28 goes on to list gifts such as apostles, prophets, teachers, administrators, etc. In other words, each of us has a gift and a place to serve. Plus, we need each other [...]

Do You Turn Away From God When You Are Hurting?lisaauthor2025-02-14T16:19:46+00:00

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