Man of Depravity - Tyler Braun's posts on Church Ministry, Worship, Seminary, and Theology.

Just One Thing

2009 April 06

by Tyler

I’ve noticed something about myself and blogging in general: I tend and it tends to be critical.

Seminary often provides perspective for me. Sitting in seminary classes on Friday, we talked a lot about how Christ died for the church and how the church is the bride of Christ. Yet almost everyone I know remains critical of the church. In my heart I said to myself, “something is wrong here Tyler.”

In reality, I understand the criticism of the church and I’ve jumped on that bandwagon, probably too much.

However, I’d like to do something that I hope will be both edifying and possibly even exhorting for some (like me).

It might be hard to do for you, but I’d love to you to share ONE thing that you see the local church doing well (I mean this as the general feel you get about the local church, not just your church and churches in your city).

Go for it.

Filed under: the rest... Tags: church

http://www.aworshipfulheart.typepad.com janowen

Becoming more authentic with one another. At least this is true in my neck of the woods. I also see a deepening awareness of the fact that the church is bigger than “my church” so I see community being built in that way as well.

Have a great week Tyler. Thanks for the thought provoking questions.
http://tangzine.wordpress.com Matt Ralph

I think it’s a good thing so many churches host AA meetings and other community organizations like the Boy Scouts of America in space that would otherwise sit empty on week days.
Levi

…to echo the first comment a bit, I feel that the Church is doing an increasingly better job at viewing Christians around the world and across denominational divisions as being of One Body.
Alan Wilkerson

Caring for one another. Too many stories to tell, as you probably know. I have been where you are at and have come to appreciate the people who do not know others well who go out of their way to share themselves in significant and life altering ways.

I was the recipient of such an act of love and, to this day, I believe it was instrumental in my coming to know God’s love through Jesus.

Alan
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

Loving these comments so far. Something about being positive forces my attitude to change.
http://unforcedrthymsofgrace.blogspot.com/ becky

the church points people to a journey and connects you with people to travel with
Brad Schlief

Recognizing that we are losing/missing people and actively changing to pursue them and meet them where they are at. Lots of lip service before, now the church is actively seeking the lost…
http://melindalgroth.blogspot.com/ Melinda

* ESL
* Helping Hand
* Habitat For Humanity
* alternative family-involved activities for children
* programming and options showing sensitivity and inclusiveness of persons with special needs
* women’s crisis assistance/listening/counseling
* marriage strengthening opportunities
* top-notch counseling, done in-house, with a Christian perspective
* For Men Only (FMO)
* Iron Men Conferences
* Alpha
* Car Ministry
* senior’s ministry
* prayer ministry
* youth ministry and attracting great lay leaders to be involved in them
* opportunities for people to try-on, find and hone their spiritual gifts
* Food and Toy
* versatile and spirit-led, God focused worship and creative arts ministry
* A swarm of SPCers volunteering in the community, building relationships and opening doors for conversations and life-change in myriad, custom ways

Should I keep going? I am only about a third of my way through the list that is coming to mind…
http://jaymckenney@typepad.com Jay McKenney

providing me a place to consistently go and worship God with others who know Him too.
http://gr8-g8.blospot.com eric lopez

spc is good at worship
http://www.shapingthespace.net David

Echoing a few of the authenticity comments…I see a real desire to get back to the church of Acts, and I love that. I think God does too.
http://ricwild.blogspot.com Ric Wild

Not long ago we had a funeral at the church for a man who committed suicide, leaving behind two little boys. It’s one of the sadder events I have been a part of. But it was astonishing to see how grateful the family was for the church’s comfort in a time of deep loss. The family’s appreciation was expressed in a letter addressed to the pastor. It almost brought me to tears.
Doug B.

Yes Tyler,

I see New Harvest as being an outreach to the Salem-Keizer area. We see new people every Sunday. We started a Mens Breakfast the first Saturday of the month. This past Saturday we watch FireProff after Breakfast and a discusion group after the DVD. Excellent with about 25 men there. Some first timers there and some of us regulars.

After all these years of Church hoping & searching for that Perfect church I now know that the only Perfect Church will be the one in Heaven. Relegion is man-made and will never be want we want it to be.

Happy Easter & He Has Risen,

Doug B.
http://manofdepravity.com/2009/04/08/the-conflict-of-transition/ The Conflict of Transition « man.of.depravity

[...] As a young leader at a church these points hit home so hard. Most of this goes back to some of my thoughts on my post from Monday. [...]