September 2020 Issue
The pew talks back to the pulpit: Thoughts on the church service
Niels-Erik Andreasen
Before retirement, I generally sat in church near the front or even stood in the pulpit. Now I sit in the middle, surrounded by others who, like me, occupy their seats in the pew. That is as it should be, and my wife and I are blessed to have a welcoming pew in a church…
ENOUGH Do you live with a mindset of scarcity or abundance?
Bonita J. Shields
How much more money would you need in order to have “enough”? According to research, the magical number is $10,000. However, after many of those people who said that $10,000 would be “enough” received raises, they were asked the same question again and said that $10,000…
Stewards of this gift
Skip Bell
It was New Year’s Day, 1970. I was about to give the most important gift of my life to someone whom I loved. How I hoped she would like it! I also hoped that she would say yes to my proposal for marriage. I lifted the top from the case holding the gift, a beautiful…
Building a culture of liberality in the local church
Aniel Barbe
After I had given a stewardship lecture, a pastor once asked me, “What is the one thing that I should do for my congregation to help them become generous?” Unfortunately—or, perhaps, fortunately—there is no single answer. However, one key idea emerges from studies…
Our high calling: Teaching, preaching, and healing in the Gospel of Mark
Kim Papaioannou
How many people have you healed?” The tone of the question suggested a challenge, implying that if I am a true minister of the gospel, then I should be able to offer healing from sickness. Or so the person thought. In my 51 years as a believer, while I have seen the…
Religious news from around the world.
Lest We Forget: New Adventist encyclopedia maps church history, guides church’s future Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Five years. Twenty-five regional editors. Thirty consultant editors. One thousand international authors. One final product: The Encyclopedia…