Personality-based ministry and the Mega Moses riff
The conversation turns to how congregations build ministry around a dynamic personality instead of around Jesus — citing Saddleback and Rick Warren as the 'come hear this guy' pattern — and how the weight given to leaders by others can crush even faithful pastors. A host recalls a young pastor who took over his father's church and recently took his own life. Moses and Jethro (Exodus 18) and Moses' shining face (Exodus 34) become the 'Mega Moses' comedy riff, with Zipporah told to put the knife away. The chapter closes on the rule: start at ground level, call things what they are, and stop telling lies.
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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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How to tell your voice from God's: the Bible test and leniency
- How can you tell the difference between you speaking and God speaking?
Ella distills the question: how do you tell the difference between you speaking and God speaking? Her first answer: we have a Bible — what God is telling you is probably already in it ('Ben's gonna have a proud papa moment').
From No. 597 · Maybe A Word From God
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Evaluating the event: Elijah, Josiah, the sign of Jonah, the donuts test
- How do we tell whether a church element has become the thing itself rather than pointing to Jesus?
The hosts work through evaluation tools for curated experiences: Elijah didn't ask God to repeat the fire, and Jesus refused to repeat signs for the Pharisees ('you get the sign…
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Dear LFTP: the untidy grandchildren's home
- How can I tell my son's family that visiting their untidy home increases my anxiety without offending them?
Mike reads a letter from a grandmother anxious about her son's untidy home; the hosts diagnose persnickety-vs-oblivious wiring (Ben's sock-on-the-floor example, Martha), advise…
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