Joel Osteen, Lakewood Church, and Hurricane Harvey
- Should Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church have opened its doors to Hurricane Harvey flood victims?
- Is the world's expectation that churches respond to disasters a reasonable one?
The hosts react to news of flooding in Houston during Hurricane Harvey and the public criticism of Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church for not opening its building to flood victims. They read from a Christian Post article about church staff rescues, debate whether the criticism is fair, recall their own disaster-relief trips (Oklahoma tornadoes, Louisiana flooding), and read a paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 6:3-7 about ministry endurance. Their conclusion: churches should meet the expectation that they help in disasters, and large 'beacon' churches must communicate what they are doing.
More on Church
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Church, emotions, and the self-focus of affluence
- How do you help people in an affluent, self-focused culture see that they need Jesus?
Ben revives a question from two or three shows back: are church services and worship tunes postured toward certain personality types — predominantly emotions and dealing with emotions?
From No. 603 · Found Out
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Leadership training for church leaders: get a business manager
- Do people who lead churches need leadership training?
Mike's real question: to what extent do people need leadership training to lead churches? Ben gives two distinct answers.
From No. 602 · Relationship Counseling
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The New Testament case for human shaping
- What does the New Testament actually say about spiritual authority and submission?
Ben walks the New Testament texts: Hebrews 13:17 ('obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls') presumes a soul-watching laborer, not a rule-maker;…
From No. 600 · Rage The Elephant
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Confetti and lasers: what should God's people be known for?
- Do we want to be known as the confetti and lasers people?
- What should God's people be known for?
Ben redirects to the docket's denomination question: when someone hears Silas's church described as 'the confetti and lasers people,' should that sting?
From No. 598 · Emphasis | Accountability, Worship and Praying with Strangers