Hippocrates, the Greek physician from whom we get the Hippocratic Oath, said that there are seven stages of life, and the next to last starts at age 56. He called that person, Old one. And that stage, he said, is marked by perfection of judgment and reason. Hey, all of us over 55 could tell … Continue reading Needed: Spiritually vibrant elders
Category: 2015 Column
Paul gives strong encouragement for pastors in Titus 2 that all would be wise to heed, whether you are a leader in a local church or not. First, he is to teach what accords with sound doctrine. In short, he teaches the Bible. That is the first and most important responsibility of a minister of … Continue reading Be someone worth imitating
Last Sunday night, 30 couples gathered in our church fellowship hall for a Valentine’s Banquet. It is an annual tradition at Antioch, and every year we laugh, eat, dance and hear encouragement from a few of the couples about love and marriage. The theme this year was “Lasting Love,” and we celebrated the longest marriage … Continue reading Let marriage be held in honor
A highly paid consultant in a management seminar was listing the qualifications that should be found in a leader. One listener turned to Paul’s description of church leaders in the scriptures and pointed out to the consultant that they were paying an awful lot of money to hear from him what they could have gotten … Continue reading This is Leadership 101
It was Sunday morning, and the ushers passed the offering plates through the congregation. My great-grandmother, Jessie Hauser, reached for the pocketbook beside her to get her offering envelope. She couldn’t find it. Looking up and seeing the men with the plates getting closer to her pew, Grandma began to get “flustrated,” as she would … Continue reading She gave more than all the rest
In the first handful of verses in his letter to Titus, Paul lists the qualifications that church leaders must have in order to effectively lead a local church. As you read through the list, and indeed the entire letter, you may be struck with this idea: the importance of instruction in sound doctrine that must … Continue reading Hold firm to the trustworthy Word
J. Mark Fox 