Not sensationalism! Not gimmicks! Not more committees, mere programs or a “fun and games” emphasis! These things may be “right-on” for civic clubs, social clubs and country clubs, but not for the Lord’s church! What does it take to build a strong church? I believe with all my heart that the following things are essential!  It is my conviction that these ingredients will build a strong church! I pray fervently that all eight points will become a reality in every congregation more than ever before!

Just a very few years ago, it was a rather popular thing among some to say, “Let’s just preach Christ, but not the church.” Thankfully, that inane “tell-tale” slogan of liberal philosophy is not heard very much anymore. Hopefully, it won’t be heard again. The whole premise was fallacious. Christ and His church are in­separable. One can’t be preached, completely, without the other being preached. They go together. Notice Acts 8:12, which reads, “But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God (i.e., the church) and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Later on in Acts, Luke recorded that Paul resided for two years in his own hired dwelling in Rome, receiving all those who came to see him, “preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness…” (28:31). Philip and Paul (both men enabled by the Holy Spirit to do great signs, and undoubtedly guided by Him in the message they proclaimed, Acts 6:5-10; 8:5-7, 13; Galatians 1:11-12; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 13) each preached Christ and the kingdom of God. Even a casual reading of the New Testament would convince any­one that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer! (See Acts 2:36; 4:10-12; 13:23, 38; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Timothy 1:15.) It is equally plain that the saved are added to the church, “translated” into the kingdom, which has been purchased by Christ’s blood (Colossians 1:13-14). To be in Christ is to be in

The insights shared with the reader in this article are not to be construed as criticism of anybody, but hopefully received as kind suggestions to all brothers in Christ everywhere who are called on to serve at the Lord’s Table. [Editor’s Note: At the risk of hurting someone’s feelings, it is more important to amend where needed this aspect of Christian worship. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor] Throughout the brotherhood, I sincerely believe there is a great need for more thoughtful and meaningful expressions of thanks as assemblies of worship are being led in prayer before partaking of the emblems representing the body and blood of Jesus. It is spiritually deflating if such prayers are not scriptural and meaningful, and if they do not convey depth of understanding as to the significance of the great sacrifice Jesus made for us. To illustrate, a brother once prayed: “Thank you, God, for this bread and bless it to the nourishment of our bodies.” Obviously, either he was nervous and did not even realize what he was saying, or else he knew nothing of what the Lord’s Supper is all about. Either way, it detracted a great deal from the spiritual mood of the moment. Prayers are frequently offered that never thank God for that for which we should be thankful as we partake of the Lord’s Supper. Some brothers, in their prayers at the Lord’s Table, thank God for most everything imaginable while never even making reference to the sacrifice of Christ. This is

For quite some time now brethren have been discussing the question, “Is the entirety of a Christian’s life worship to God?” Some in the brotherhood have taken the position that it does. A few have gone so far as to make outrageous assertions to “drive home the point” of what they consider the all-encompassing nature of worship. For example, a statement from a writer appeared in print in which he said: “All of life is worship to God…even changing diapers.” Such an affirmation is void of truth and is nothing less than absurd. It borders on sacrilege, if in fact it’s not. To say that “changing diapers” is worship to God reflects a gross misunderstanding of what worship is all about. According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Vol. 5, 3110), worship is defined as, “Honor, reverence, homage, in thought, feeling, or act, [whether] paid to men, angels, spiritual beings, or to Deity.” (Obviously, a person could be deceived into worshiping some inanimate object, or some other human being, but for this article, we are using the word worship as a conscious homage, reverence and praise offered to the true and living God.) In the Old Testament the principal Hebrew word used for worship, “shahah,” carries the connotation of “bowing down to.” According to the ISBE article, from a composite of all Old Testament teaching on the subject, the idea for worship is “the reverential attitude of mind and body, combined with the…notions of religious adoration, obedience, and service.” In the New Testament, the