Category: Encouragement

Who gets to write the church-growth books? (image courtesy of pixabay.com).

Who Should Write the Church-Growth Books? Understanding the Role of Seasons in God’s Work & in the ministry of Billy Graham

Posted on by Billy Reinhardt

The guys and gals who write the books on church growth and “ministry success” need not congratulate themselves too much, as good as their work can be. Certainly, there is much to learn from anyone and we should all be open and willing to learn from even the most unlikely sources. With that being said, Read more about Who Should Write the Church-Growth Books? Understanding the Role of Seasons in God’s Work & in the ministry of Billy Graham[…]

Does Christianity offer hope and comfort in the midst of life's most difficult circumstances? (image courtesy of pixabay.com).

Making Sense of the Texas Church Massacre: What You Believe Matters-Part 2

Posted on by Billy Reinhardt

In my previous post, I attempted to show that what you believe matters, and that when it comes to making sense of the Texas Church Massacre, atheism fails to supply adequate resources when responding to the problem of evil. I also brought up the fact that atheism offers very little comfort or satisfying responses to Read more about Making Sense of the Texas Church Massacre: What You Believe Matters-Part 2[…]

If your pastor is doing all the work, then you're not following God's guidelines for a healthy church (image courtesy of pixabay.com)

The Devil Wants Your Pastor(s) to Do All the Work in Church: Burying Gifts and Ignoring God-Given Tasks

Posted on by Billy Reinhardt

There is a common belief within many churches today, and it is this: “The pastor (or pastors) must do all or most of the work, otherwise, what are we paying him (them) for?” This notion, however, is not from the Bible, but is from the devil and will, if continually upheld, keep many of our Read more about The Devil Wants Your Pastor(s) to Do All the Work in Church: Burying Gifts and Ignoring God-Given Tasks[…]

Let's take the long-view perspective of our lives and of our trials by seeing them through biographies of others who have traveled our path (image courtesy of pixabay.com)

The Value of Biographies for Perspective in our Lives and our Trials

Posted on by Billy Reinhardt

Whenever we are going through difficult seasons in life, God may use a variety of means by which to bring us comfort. God often brings comfort directly through His Word, and He will also often use people in our lives to console and to speak wisdom into our lives as well. One way that God Read more about The Value of Biographies for Perspective in our Lives and our Trials[…]

Sorrowful yet always rejoicing... (image courtesy of pixabay.com)

Joy, Sorrow, the Cross, and Victory

Posted on by Billy Reinhardt

I’ve said often that “The Valley of Vision,” besides the Bible, is by far the most influential book in my life thus up to this point in my life. Its devotional content is phenomenal, sound, and biblical at its core. It is a book based on some of the best prayers and devotions of some Read more about Joy, Sorrow, the Cross, and Victory[…]

The Holy Spirit blows wherever and whenever He wills, therefore, the results of ministry are out of our hands (image courtesy of pixabay.com)

Part 2-New Birth: Yet Another Forgotten Verse of the Church Growth Movement-John 3:3-8

Posted on by Billy Reinhardt

You can see Part 1 of this post here  as well as a link here to my other posts on the Church Growth Movement The Church Growth Movement (CGM from here on) has forgotten many verses in the Bible, and one of them is John 3:3-8: 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless Read more about Part 2-New Birth: Yet Another Forgotten Verse of the Church Growth Movement-John 3:3-8[…]

What are your thoughts about the summer camp "spiritual high"? (images courtesy of pixabay.com)

Summer Camp, the “Spiritual High,” and the Ordinary Means of Grace

Posted on by Billy Reinhardt

Over the past 9+ years since being in student ministry, I estimate that I’ve been involved with around 50 camps/student conferences/Dnows/mission trips, etc., and one common factor we see at the end of any weekend or week of these types is “the crash,” when returning home, from the dreaded “camp High.”  Typically, for both students Read more about Summer Camp, the “Spiritual High,” and the Ordinary Means of Grace[…]

After Certain Hardships and Death Do We Part (Image Courtesy of pixabay.com)

Adoniram Judson’s astonishing letter to his father-in-law asking for his daughter’s hand in marriage

Posted on by Billy Reinhardt

We named our son, Judson, after the missionary Adoniram Judson, and I am proud of that fact given what I am currently learning about Judson’s life. Judson lived from 1788-1850 and was a missionary to Burma for almost 40 years. His commitment to the cause of Christ was (is!) phenomenal, humbling, and inspiring.  Before he Read more about Adoniram Judson’s astonishing letter to his father-in-law asking for his daughter’s hand in marriage[…]