Article

Pastor, Church, & Law Volume 2

And more helpful tools from Christianity Today

Dig deeper with Richard Hammar in this volume as he establishes the legal definition of the church, and the relationship between the law and the church. Church leaders will find practical help on many important issues including:

  • Tax legislation
  • Zoning laws
  • Incorporation
  • Church records
  • Reporting requirements
  • Selection, authority, and personal liability of directors and officers
  • Membership
  • Church property issues
  • Embezzlement

Meaningful Membership

From Building Church Leaders

Church membership is so much more than just a piece of paper or a name on a list. It clearly defines a community and offers people a clear choice to accept the blessings and responsibilities that go along with it. But even more significantly, church membership is a way for individual Christians to draw closer to God by drawing closer to his church and his people. An effective membership process should be a time of spiritual growth for the member-to-be, and yet so many churches neglect this crucial step into church life. This 18-page resource will help you create a membership process that draws people deeper into their commitment not just to the church but to Christ.

Grow Up!

From Preaching Today

How do Christians grow up? Ralph West from Church Without Walls in Houston, Texas argues that it doesn’t happen in isolation. In his sermon based on Ephesians 4:13-16—”Grow Up!”—West argues that Christians need the body of Christ to grow into maturity. As he says in the sermon, “You are not designed to grow by the internet. You are not designed to grow by television. You use them in your extra time, but that’s not your priority. Your growth takes place in the living, breathing, vital community called the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This sermon provides a clear, biblical, exegetical basis for church membership.

Copyright © 2014 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal.Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.

Posted July 29, 2014

Also in this issue

How to keep it all rolling

Doing Community Behind Bars

Prison ministry demands really practical theology.

High Anxiety

Leaders have lots of reasons to worry … and one overriding reason not to.

Finding Time for Study

7 tips to make the most of your time

Facing Fears

Serving Immigrants Saved Our Church

How welcoming in the stranger revived a declining congregation.

For the Love of Fierce Variety

Host a Red Carpet Event For Special Needs People

Give them the “Best Night Ever.”

Hold a "Gas Buy Down"

Give the gift of cheaper gas.

Split The Tithe

Give half to the church and half to missions.

Host "Midnight Basketball"

Give kids a safe place to play.

Fix Cars For Single Moms

Serve your community through basic car maintanence

Shoot a Two-Minute Message

An easy way to connect with your audience

What to Do When Your Church is Declining

Merging with another church may be your only option, but handle with care.

Make Room for Me

New research reveals what Millennials like—and don’t like—about churches, and what we can do to reach them.

Chasing Rabbits

Squirrelly Motives

First Pastor on the Moon

Getting to 'Aha'

Kyle Idleman discusses three phases of transformation.

My Calling

From restaurant manager to pastor

When Smaller Is Better

Effective small church ministry starts with a clearer view of success.

Within One, Many Many Many ...

One church, one journal, innumerable parts.

Reaching Churchless America

Examining the unchurched

It Takes a Church

Adopting five foster children is impossible unless you have the right support.

Leading in Prayer

Max Lucado talks about how good prayers shake the heavens and shape community.

Leadership Shorts

Summaries of books you need to know.

Disaster Training

Sunday Morning Football

Pastoral Oversight

One Hamburger, Hold the Depression, Please

And other items of interest from ministry and culture.

'Nones' Are Your Business

A review of ‘The Rise of the Nones’ by James Emery White

Men and Women Working Together

And more helpful tools from Christianity Today

The Mars and Venus Church Staff

A field guide to navigating gender sensitivities.

Missed the Memo

Male Bonding

Be Yourself?

PK Confidential

A review of ‘The Pastor’s Kid’ by Barnabas Piper

A More Beautiful Bible

And other items of interest from ministry and culture.

View issue


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