Category Archives: Institutional Church

Does growth by persecution prove anything?

Posted on November 10, 2009 by PaulVK

I posted this on a comment from a blog post by Richard Mouw. Christians sometimes express pride regarding times when persecution actually induces numerical growth and loyalty. We are sometimes a bit selective about that observation when forced to recognize … Continue reading →

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The Care and Feeding of a Congregation

Posted on October 26, 2009 by PaulVK

I wrote this on CRC-Voices in a thread where someone was telling about why they left their CRC church for an OPC church which unlike their former CRC preached serially through books in the Bible. There are levels to this … Continue reading →

Posted in CRC, Institutional Church, Pastoral Identity | 1 Comment

Keller specs out transition from church to movement

Posted on October 19, 2009 by PaulVK

Redeemer Presbyterian (PCA) is doing another vision renewal campaign. The sermons are available for free (they’re usually $2.50 a download) on the website and there is a very interesting and important video basically for Keller’s vision and plan really for … Continue reading →

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Initial ponderings on "Instant Cool"

Posted on September 11, 2009 by PaulVK

Interesting blog post on a blog pointed out to me via Twitter: http://praxishabitus.blogspot.com/2009/09/instant-cool-explaining-diffusion-of.html His point about what this says about network and presentation is correct, but I think about it in terms of shaping our view of the gospel itself … Continue reading →

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Bounded-set, center-set, Jesus and organized religion

Posted on August 11, 2009 by PaulVK

Organized Religion Recently a friend approached me looking for a donation for a friend of his who was robbed of some needed work tools. I suggested he approach the deacons of my church and ask for help. He did and … Continue reading →

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The "emergent" promise isn't different from the "seeker" promise for those who wannabee "successful" at doing church

Posted on July 31, 2009 by PaulVK

Don Heatley (or Heat Donly as we used to call him sometimes) went to high school with me and we did the drama club together. A bit ago we found each other via Facebook and I discovered he was a … Continue reading →

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Two little tools called "policy" and "exception"

Posted on July 27, 2009 by PaulVK

I wrote this for CRC-Voices in a discussion on whether churches should accept designated gifts. We invented this thing called “policy” in order to make future decisions easier and more understandable. “Policy” shapes culture. “Policy” is an excellent tool. We … Continue reading →

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Liberal churches die, conservative churches lie, where individualism takes us all

Posted on July 20, 2009 by PaulVK

This grew out of a CRC-Voices discussion on the rupturing of the American Anglican church. Ginger wrote: I’ll read this, of course. It’s difficult when a denomination or congregation loses its conservatives, because conservatives often do more work and give … Continue reading →

Posted in CRC, Culture commentary, Institutional Church | 1 Comment

"Why can't the church be more like AA?"

Posted on July 14, 2009 by PaulVK

I read this piece from the Christianity Today website on Mercy Street Church and immediately thought of a lot of conversations I’ve had where people have asked me “why can’t the church be more like AA?” In my congregation a … Continue reading →

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The necessity of institutional culture and expression of church

Posted on July 3, 2009 by PaulVK

Kevin De Young and Ted Kluck wrote a guest piece for the Washington Post calling out a whole generation for their “issues” setting Jesus against “organized religion”. It’s a piece worth reading. I wrote this as part of a discussion … Continue reading →

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