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Mike Livingstone

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Church

Teaching from the Overflow

June 14, 2018November 11, 2018 Mike Livingstone

Effective Bible teaching is artesian in nature. The word artesian describes a well through which water rises naturally to the surface as a result of internal pressure. Charles Spurgeon used this metaphor with reference to preaching: “True preaching is artesian; … Continue reading Teaching from the Overflow

Church

3 Ways to Lead a Deeper Bible Study

December 11, 2017June 12, 2021 Mike Livingstone

I’ve never met a Bible study leader who said, “I want to lead a shallow Bible study.” Neither have I met anyone who attended a weekly Bible study with the hopes of being bored by pointless superficialities. Regardless of our … Continue reading 3 Ways to Lead a Deeper Bible Study

Church, Faith1 Comment

5 reasons the church must teach the Bible

March 17, 2016July 2, 2022 Mike Livingstone

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching …” (Acts 2:42). This tells me two things about the early church: (1) members were hungry for teaching; and (2) leaders taught. We have a pretty good idea about what they taught. … Continue reading 5 reasons the church must teach the Bible

Church1 Comment

Whatever happened to prayer meetings?

September 2, 2015May 30, 2022 Mike Livingstone

The condition of a church can be accurately determined by its prayer meetings. Charles Spurgeon called the prayer meeting a “grace-ometer” from which “we may judge of the amount of divine working among a people.” More recently, Vance Havner said that “the thermometer of a church … Continue reading Whatever happened to prayer meetings?

Church, Faith

Beyond the coffee and doughnuts

May 29, 2015June 14, 2017 Mike Livingstone

What sometimes passes for Christian fellowship is about as nourishing as the doughnut you ate in Sunday School last week. Though enjoyable, it brings little spiritual benefit. To fellowship is to share. That’s the basic meaning of koinonia—sharing. But it’s a sharing … Continue reading Beyond the coffee and doughnuts

Church1 Comment

5 ways to destroy church unity

April 27, 2015July 22, 2022 Mike Livingstone

“I have never yet known the Spirit of God to work where the Lord’s people were divided.” Like D.L. Moody, neither have I. Instead, most of us probably have seen too often how disunity hinders the Spirit’s work in the church and damages the … Continue reading 5 ways to destroy church unity

Church2 Comments

the [un]welcoming church

April 19, 2015April 23, 2015 Mike Livingstone

If the kinds of people with whom Jesus associated came to your church, would they be welcomed? Consider carefully before you answer (1) the kinds of people with whom Jesus associated and (2) the meaning of welcomed. The People Who … Continue reading the [un]welcoming church

Church2 Comments

5 keys to handling negative criticism

March 23, 2015April 29, 2015 Mike Livingstone

“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” — Winston Churchill It’s an unpleasant but inevitable fact of life that if you attempt to do anything of significance, you will be criticized. J. Oswald Sanders … Continue reading 5 keys to handling negative criticism

Church2 Comments

Small groups do big things

February 16, 2015May 30, 2022 Mike Livingstone

“Thought should be given to a more extensive use of the Word of God among us.” With that declaration, Philip Jacob Spener launched into a list of proposals he believed would reform the church. The book, Pia Desideria (“Pious Desires”), was published … Continue reading Small groups do big things

Church10 Comments

The heresy of worshiptainment

December 17, 2014March 26, 2021 Mike Livingstone

The great heresy of the church today is that we think we’re in the entertainment business. A.W. Tozer believed this to be true back in the 1950s and 60s. Church members “want to be entertained while they are edified.” He … Continue reading The heresy of worshiptainment

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