What's More Relevant Than Fruit?

I'm blessed with the incredible opportunity of being in the local public schools in my area from time to time. I consider it an incredible opportunity because I get to rub shoulders with lots of people who don't serve Christ, never attend church, and in some cases have very little dealings with folks who are believers at all.

When it comes to dealing with unbelievers, I've come to an interesting conclusion: Churches & Christians wanting to be "culturally relevant" need to look no further than Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Show these 9 items above in your life and you will have no problem connecting, talking, meeting and even attracting unbelievers. Who doesn't love being around someone kind? Who doesn't admire someone who exercises self control? Who doesn't appreciate patience in someone else? What could possibly be more culturally relevant than showing the Fruit of the Spirit?

I don't believe churches are struggling today because they lack cultural relevance - I think many churches are irrelevant because they lack the Fruit of the Spirit. If you don't believe me - go work as a waiter at a local restaurant on a Sunday afternoon. I have actually been a waiter in a couple different restaurants in my day - and Sunday's clientele was roundly disliked by most all of the wait staff because of, you guessed it, church people. Pompous, arrogant, demanding only begins to describe the attitude that we got from most church people on Sunday. Some of these folks had the unmitigated gall to act this way, then leave a tract with a lousy tip (usually just change). When this happened I always did my best to swing by the tables of my co-workers and snatch up the tract before they saw it because I knew it would only serve to harden them against the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I realize that many church attenders aren't Biblically saved and therefore are unable to produce fruit. But for the many others who are saved - we must challenge ourselves to reflect Jesus Christ with every breath we take.

As Paul finished saying in Galatians: Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Who Said This?

Below is a prophetically powerful quote from a famous preacher from the past who is very well known - but may be quite surprising to some. Can you name the preacher who said this:

"When people hear about what God used to do, one of the things they say is: 'Oh, that was a very long time ago.' I thought it was God that did it. Has God changed? Is He not an immutable God, the same yesterday, today and forever? Does not that furnish an argument to prove that what God has done at one time he can do at another? Nay, I think I may push it a little further, and say what He has done once, is a prophecy of what He intends to do again...Whatever God has done...is to be looked upon as a precedent....(Let us) with earnestness seek that God would restore to us the faith of the men of old, that we may richly enjoy his grace as in the days of old."

The lines are now open - anyone want to take a guess?

Church Sign-ery

Because church signs can be funny, confusing, and corny all rolled up into one big happy ball - I felt sharing my church sign reading experiences only made sense.

With the help of the church sign generator website - I can keep the church anonymous whose sign is being featured - yet look like a real church sign....you get the idea.

Here's today's offering - maybe you can help me figure this out:

If I'm already finished - then is this a good or bad thing?? So...I don't need to worry about trying to start then???

Cost Of No Power Is High

Just read this article and it reminded me of the sad result of a powerless, miracle-less gospel. We owe this world a better representation of Jesus.


For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 1 Cor. 4:20

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power. 1 Cor. 2:4

Study Shows Explicit Lyrics Do Contribute To Teen Promiscuity

Did we even need a study to verify this? Put garbage in - get garbage out. I do have to disagree with the statement in the article: "It's physically impossible for parents to monitor what their children listen(ed) to or watch(ed) on their MP3".

Oh yeah? I suppose it could be if you view cell phones and Internet use as an entitlement for kids.

Read the story HERE.

Evangelical Churches Growing - Catholic And Mainline Decline

Interesting stats about church attendance in America.