Pastor and author Erik Reed sits down to discuss his book and some other topics with Pastor Steve. Erik's book, Hold the Line, goes over the importance of standing strong with our Christian convictions in the midst of the cultural confusion around us.
- Begin Show Notes -
Why’d you write Hold the Line? Address what problem?How’s reception been? (Endorsements - Joe Rigney, Megan Basham).
General - diagnosis. what’s sick, ill, weak in our day in churches?
Pg. 4 - onslaught of cultural pressure to conform to beliefs and practices that others deem acceptable. What cultural pressures?How great is the pressure?Where’s the pressure coming from? Outside church, or inside? Inside? How?
Pg. 10 - The last several decades reveal a decline in christian convictions on what were once broadly-held orthodox beliefs. What? What convictions?
(Gender roles in home and church. LGBTQ+. Gender. Abortion; Scripture.)
Pg. 22 - talking about Jesus, John 6 (I’m preaching through). Talk to us about Jesus and the seeker church thing. Was Jesus a church growth guru? Did Jesus develop and work a methodology for attracting & keeping a large crowd?
Pg. 24 - allegiance to Jesus produces conflict w/i families, marriages, and societies (SH - and churches).” Talk about. What? Why?
Then you write about the cost of being a disciple. Talk about it. What is the cost of being a disciple?
Chapter 3 - “Low Bar Christianity”, and the seeker movement. Talk to us about it. What is it? What’s wrong with it?
(Not interested in biblical preaching. Marriages, finances, parenting. They’re the customer, we tailor it all to them. Do not say or do anything they'll find offensive or confrontational.
“Moralistic therapeutic deism.” Who said that? How large is this movement?
Evaluate preaching in USA. I visited your site - love your preaching. And that’s kinda rare.
Pg. 33 - our culture has shifted rapidly, dramatically. (Slow, then fast. We’ve just witnessed fast - tipping point).
Pg. 41 - woke. What is? Showing up in churches? How? (CT, Frankfurt, Columbia U in NYC.)
oppressed/oppressor. How affect churches? (misogynist).
*One branch is feminism. How is fem showing up in churches?
Pg. 47 - “progressive lite.” what is?Talk about… Chapter 5 - contend for the faith. Pg. 58 - Churchill’s famous speech - we shall fight on the beaches. (I read “the last lion” all 3 vols, and have a pic of on my wall. Debbie and I visited London, wanted to go down to Chartwell, didn’t get to.
Why mention? Why’s that get a place in your book? What do you want Christians to learn from this?
Pg. 65 - Contending for the faith is an “all skate” activity.
Pg. 77 - many who affirm these truths in word don’t practice them in deed. Many say the Bible is God’s word, but do not live with the Bible as their ultimate authority. Talk about that.
Chapter 7 - boldness. P91 - “lost people need christian men and women, boys and girls, to speak the truth in a world of lies.”
Pg. 93 - Live not by lies.
Bonus Question: Recent tweet - meeting with businessmen/entrepreneurs in your church, who are actively seeking ways to increase their revenues and launch new businesses for the sake of funding ministry and vision in your church.
- End of Show Notes -
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(the Grounded Team)