Stay in WELS, Enjoy Groeschel's Sermons: At the Popcorn Cathedral of Rock

Craig Groeschel comes from the most left-wing denominations.

"Pastor Craig Groeschel began lifechurch.tv in a two car garage with 40 people. In 2001 MetroChurch merged with lifechurch.tv and lifechurch.tv had its first permanent campus. Since then it has grown to 12 campuses plus a second life campus. Pastor Craig still preaches to all of them by broadcasting through satelites." Squidoo

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"Craig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv and is known for his creative and relevant Bible teaching..." [GJ - So that is why Ski's sermons are relevant.]

"Craig Groeschel (born December 2, 1967) is the founder and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, a church with thirteen locations in six states. He is married with six children and lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma City, where LifeChurch.tv is based.

Groeschel was born in Houston, Texas and grew up in southern Oklahoma. He attended Oklahoma City University, a private university in Oklahoma City affiliated with the United Methodist Church, on an athletic scholarship, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. Shortly thereafter, he met his wife Amy, and the two married in 1991. That same year, Groeschel entered the ministry as an associate pastor in the United Methodist Church. He attended Phillips Theological Seminary, which is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and secured a Master of Divinity degree. He was an associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.

In 1996, Groeschel and a handful of people started Life Covenant Church in a two-car garage. Groeschel’s non-traditional style was successful and attendance of Life Covenant grew rapidly, eventually evolving into what is now the thirteen LifeChurch.tv campuses in six states (including Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, and New York).

Craig was named the 5th most influential pastor in 2006 and LifeChurch.tv was named America’s Most Innovative Church in 2006 and 2007.[who?]

Groeschel has authored several books including Chazown: A Different Way to See Your Life and It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It." Wikipedia

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2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Craig: "Small thinking." [GJ - Parlow says, "Dream big. Copy and paste."]


3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Craig: "My parents and wife made the biggest difference personally. Lyle Schaller has made the biggest difference in my life as a minister."

4. What books have changed your life?
Craig: "The Bible is the book that brought me to Christ. I am inspired by reading biographies of great Christian leaders and stories of martyrs. Business and leadership books that spoke to me were, "Good to Great,""The Purple Cow," "The E-Myth revisited." The Leadership Blog

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@iamdiddy Working on a sermon for Sunday - Painlkiller - The Pain of Loss - & answering emails.
about 3 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to iamdiddy
Ski

Craig Groeschel (an Andy Stanley buddy)

Pain Killer
View this series. Series ID: 19
3 week series

Life can be full of pain sometimes. What do you do when life is really hard? How do you heal from hurt? Don't miss the "Painkiller". Pastor Craig will teach us Biblical ways to overcome the pain of loss and the pain of suffering and the pain of rejection.
Click below to explore this series.

Global Series Elements
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Lower Third Graphic This is an image file to be used as a supplement to video teaching for the series. These lower third graphics contain transparency and can be keyed over video as a background for names, titles, and verses (a live keyer or video editing software is required).

Open Video (NTSC) Series Open that can be used as an introductory video prior to the message, or weeks before.

Open Video (PAL) Series Open that can be used as an introductory video prior to the message, or weeks before.




READY TO DOWNLOAD? VISIT THE 'MY DOWNLOADS' AREA TO ACCESS YOUR ITEMS.


Week 1 The Pain of Loss






Global Series Elements
Name Description Type Preview Download

Lower Third Graphic This is an image file to be used as a supplement to video teaching for the series. These lower third graphics contain transparency and can be keyed over video as a background for names, titles, and verses (a live keyer or video editing software is required). Remove Item

Open Video (NTSC) Series Open that can be used as an introductory video prior to the message, or weeks before. Remove Item

Open Video (PAL) Series Open that can be used as an introductory video prior to the message, or weeks before. Remove Item

READY TO DOWNLOAD? VISIT THE 'MY DOWNLOADS' AREA TO ACCESS YOUR ITEMS.

Week 1 The Pain of Loss
Name Description Type Preview Download

Message (DVD) Message DVD that can be used for teaching. Remove Item

Message Outline Outline of a single message that can be used as talk notes for people to follow during the teaching.

Babtist Andy Stanley posed with Number One Fan Ski at Atlanta.

Groeschel, far left, spoke with Andy Stanley, middle - at the Catalyst conference. Ski attended, so no one should be surprised that he features Groeschel sermon series, themes, and titles. Church and Chicaneries are united in trusting the marketing methods of the Enthusiasts.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Stay in WELS, Enjoy Groeschel's Sermons: At the Po...":

"Pride goeth before a fall" applies to WELS, too. WELS is just too full of itself as evidenced by C&C, arrogant leaders, assumed humility, etc. They do no wrong. They have it all just right.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Stay in WELS, Enjoy Groeschel's Sermons: At the Po...":

I remember years ago when you could go to any WELS church and other than a few cosmetic differences, every church preached the same message. Sadly that's just not true anymore. To change an old line...WELS is like a box of chocolates...You never know what you're going to get. Blame that on the leadership. They should have put a stop to the shenanigans many years ago. The genie is out of the bottle.

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GJ - If a turtle is sitting on a fencepost, someone put him there. The leadership of WELS, starting around 1977 (Ron Roth and TELL) began promoting Church Growth's name and theology. After 10 years of cancerous growth, the leadership was fully prepared to thwart, via Sisera counseling, any attempt to criticize the Church Growth Movement. For the first decade, pastors and laity passively allowed the initial growth. In the 1980s, pastors and laity were eager to shun anyone who doubted the direction of Holy Mother WELS. The Little Sect on the Prairie, when it was not praising itself for being confessional, was goose-stepping along the same path and shouting "Amen!" to all Church Growth proposals.

Mid-week Lenten Service

I Am the True Vine, by Norma Boeckler.

Mid-Week Lenten Vespers


Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 6 PM Phoenix Time – Thursdays after tonight.

The Hymn #657 Schoenster Herr Jesu 4.24
The Order of Vespers p. 41
The Psalmody Psalm 4 p. 123
The Lection Passion Harmony, TLH

The Sermon Hymn #434 St. Savior 4.20

The Sermon – The True Vine

The Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
The Collect for Grace p. 45

The Hymn #555 St. Anatolius 4.2

KJV John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Allowed? Or Promoted - False Doctrine Has Run The Love Shack Since 1977, And Still Controls the Seminary

Like all Church Growth experts, Ron Roth extracts a big fee for his services as a stewardship educator. Lesson learned?
Let the buyer beware.

Someone stated, rather innocently, that Church Growth Deformed doctrine was allowed to expand in the Wisconsin sect for the last few decades.

Allowed is not the right word to use.

WELS made a deliberate, concerted effort--in conjunction with the LCMS, ELCA, and the Little Sect on the Prairie--to install the doctrines of Fuller, Willow Creek, and Trinity Deerfield. This began in WELS in 1977, with Ron Roth as editor of TELL. The purpose of that sad little rag was to promote the Church Growth Movement. The Love Shack made that clear in the first issue. The Popes Speak (aka Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly) confirmed the purpose of TELL - to promote Church Growth.

Millions of dollars have been siphoned from the offerings of faithful members to promote an anti-Lutheran agenda. Even more millions have been spent from St. Marvin of Schwan and Thrivent Insurance. Offering money was skimmed to start Church and Change, a deliberate and open effort to network all the Church Shrinkers and provide conferences featuring false teachers like Leonard Sweet and Brother Ed Stetzer.

If members and pastors are too stolid to attend the Church and Chicanery love-fests, the Doctrinal Pussycats like Englebrecht have provided clones in the name of district evangelism. The Rev. Soda Jerk spoke at the last two in Fox Valley, and the DP supports him.

WELS/ELS members who send their kids to Martin Luther College, expecting a Lutheran education, will find that the annual mission festival features all the leaders of Church and Chicanery, including Paul Kelm as the keynote speaker. When Kelm speaks, the fix is in. Count on it.

The Doctrinal Pussycats have not been lax. No, they have been giving the Sisera treatment to anyone doubting the value of Church Shrinkage. They have done their jobs, so bless their flinty little hearts.

SP Schroeder is the only national leader to express doubt or curtail the cancer of the Church Growth Movement. Therefore, the unelected thugs of Church and Change are gathering their forces to toss out the elected president. Their stunts in the last year remind me of the divorced and dysfunctional pastors of Columbus, who enjoyed the support of Mueller and Kuske, the silence of their fellow-pastors:

1. Featuring Latte Lutheran Church in FIC.
   
2. Hiring Paul Kelm as a consultant.
   
3. Making Kelm the keynote speaker at Martin Luther college this year.
   
4. Hiring former SP Gurgel as Kudu Don Patterson's part-time vicar.
   
5. Hiring Babtist Ed Stetzer as the November conference speaker, hiding the fact on the C and C website, and denying the truth to any and all who take these liars seriously.

Allowed is simply too weak of a word to use with Church Growth in the various Lutheran sects. Even the Church of the Lutheran Confession (sic) has followed after, wagging its little puppy-dog tail.

The apostate leaders have promoted the Church Growth Movement with all their might and all your funds. No wonder it dominates, and Confessionalism is told "to whisper low in Jerusalem lest she be heard on the streets of Gath." (Theodore E. Schmauk)

On Sunday Ski said or rather shouted (if you were there you know I’m serious) “Churches want to put out their hand to help people out of the mud, but that’s not what our Savior does. Our Savior climbs in the mud with you and pulls you up and helps you out. That’s what we’re about.” We are about that because we recognize that Christ has pulled us from the mud countless times and he calls us to reflect that love for His glory.

That means sometimes we’re going to be uncomfortable. We’re going to do things we never wanted to or thought we’d do. But there are people who are hurting. People who need Jesus. And the way in which we bring them the good news of the Gospel is by climbing into the mud and getting dirty. We can’t picky about who or when or where, we just have to do it.

When was the last time you jumped in the mud to help someone else out? Who in your life right now is in the mud and needs your help?
Katie's Blog at The Lutheran CORE Church.

The Quotable Finkelstein

Freddy Finkelstein at Bailing Water said...
Anon @ 03/23/2009-09:01AM,

My apologies for confusing/offending you – be assured that my intention is certainly not to drive you away from WELS. Obviously, writing on a WELS blog, to WELS Lutherans, one feels justified in making many assumptions regarding general understanding of Church Fellowship. I have debated Church Fellowship issues a number of times with laymen in our Synod, so perhaps I should have known better. Making assumptions does not seem to be possible any longer. Rather than turn this into an essay contest (after all, I don't want to gain the reputation for writing long blog posts...), I'll direct you to John Brug's Church Fellowship: Working Together for the Truth. It is a gentle introduction to the Scriptural teaching of Church Fellowship. Anon @ 03/22/2009-05:27PM recommended this work as well (although he did so in a way that make me wonder if I may have missed a point of application that Brug emphasizes – if so, I would ask him to point out which sections of Brug he has in mind...). I have read Brug's book, although I must admit it has been several years ago now, and I appreciate it for what it is – I keep several copies on my shelf to give away to friends, family, and new members of our congregation, as the topic comes up.

However, for discussion of Fellowship among Confessional Lutherans, I reach first for Seth Erlandsson's Church Fellowship: What does the Bible say? (also published by NPH). Although it is much shorter than Brug's book, it is also much more pointed, and has much more information that is interesting to a Confessional Lutheran. Indeed, I think that it has been mis-titled. It should have been, Church Fellowship: What does the Bible say, What do the Confessions say, and What is the testimony of the orthodox Lutheran teachers of the past? As a description of style, Rev. Erlandsson, who was writing to the Swedish Lutheran church, has been referred to by my pastor as, “A warrior in the heat of battle” – and this comes across rather directly.

In addition, I frequently refer to the NPH title, Essays on Church Fellowship. One particular essay in this collection, Egbert Schaller's "Concerning Christian Brotherhood and Christian Fellowship," which distinguishes the “Brotherhood,” which is invisible, from the visible recognition of Christian Brothers, is particularly enlightening. Here are a few quotes:

“It should not require extensive demonstration to establish active fellowship as an essential fruit of the Christian brotherhood. Fellowship is the confessional act of belonging together which Christians own one another” (pg. 159).

“The critical question is: What must be the basis of Christan fellowship? ...Let us begin by stating that, while the basis of the Christian brotherhood is regeneration and true faith, the basis for recognition and the practical exercise of Christian fellowship is not regeneration and faith. The reason obviously is that recognition must precede fellowshipping, and recognition must have as its object something that can be seen. Faith cannot be seen. Hence, it is impossible to recognize a brother by his faith, and equally impossible to fellowship with him on that basis... Personal faith cannot be the basis of Christian fellowship. Instead, Christian fellowship can be based only on profession of faith, by word and deed, which is something else again... This passage [referring to 1 John 4:1-3], in urging discrimination and recognition of the spirit that is in men, sets up the confession of a man as basis of recognition... We must now amplify the statement that confession is the basis for fellowship by saying that the deciding factor in establishing Christian fellowship is that of a common and correct confession” (pp. 160-161).

“Out of the confusion of those who have been unwilling or unable to analyze the scriptural doctrine of the communion of saints and the fellowship of believers, there has come a welter of confused attitudes, theories, principles, and practice in matters of fellowship. Symptomatic and not actually new is the proposal of selective fellowship..., a practical recognition of individual Christians or congregations, by word or deed, which ignores synodical affiliation. It argues for the right to call a man a brother and treat him as a brother when he is formally separated by synodical lines. ...Membership in a church body is confessionally decisive for conclusive action regarding fellowship. ...We are not concerned with whether or not [one] is a Christian. Christianity in others is a matter of faith with us, not of determination. But practical fellowship is purely a matter of outward confession” (pp. 162-163).

“Can anyone who does not recognize heterodox affiliations be said to practice in accordance with God's Word? Is not that a contradiction in terms? If a man, or a congregation, does these two things simultaneously: (a) Make a verbal confession that is correct; and (b) Make and uphold a second confession by affiliation with a heterodox church body – then those two confessions form one whole. And together they form one false confession. ...Fellowship practiced under such circumstances constitutes recognition of a confession which is thoroughly in conflict with divine truth” (pg. 164).

“We do not, in other words, feel bound to declare anyone a Christian, by word or act of fellowship, simply because we believe or hope he may be one. ...Only if we refrain from trying to see the invisible and content ourselves with careful weighing of the visible, audible evidence, can we truly establish fellowship with brethren and successfully avoid syncretistic affiliations” (pg. 166).

When I begin conversations regarding Church Fellowship with my Evangelical friends, I usually begin with these three references:

Mark and Avoid
"Now I beseach you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:17-18)

Anyone, Anything
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8-9)

Full Agreement
"Now I beseach you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10)

Generally, this is enough for someone with respect for the authority of Scripture to become very thoughtful (and in my experience, we have great opportunity on this basis to correct Evangelicals and guide them to purity in doctrine – they have an ingrained respect for God's Word and its authority). If necessary, I usually follow up with 2 John 9-11, Philippians 1:27-2:11 (which emphasizes not only unity, but that which perpetuates it, humility), and Ephesians 4:2-16 (which describes how Christians function as a unit).

Hope this helps,

Freddy Finkelstein

March 23, 2009 2:48 PM
Freddy Finkelstein said...
Anon @ 03/23/2009-11:32AM,

You state: “One also sees a politicking increasing in the synod over the years. The very nature of politicking implies a division in direction and possibly some doctrines.”

I agree. Of course, in any organization there is a political reality. In WELS, we pride ourselves on our humility, unity, and brotherliness, and rely on these attributes as we come together in Convention to make decisions and move forward together. We find politicking to be utterly distasteful, because, as you rightly point out, it is evidence of disunity. And this is as it should be, when disunity is not the reality.

But what is the reality, today? I suggest that disunity is manifest, and growing, and that as much as we hate to admit it, so is the politics. But what is the alternative? How will we be returned to a state of unity in doctrine and practice if solid pastors are not positioned for leadership?

Many good conservative pastors, in a spirit of peace and conciliation, and wishing to avoid confrontation, may play their own form of politics by “rushing toward the center,” while more liberal pastors, perhaps on the Church Growth end of the spectrum, remain immovable. And what is the result? Anyone who has studied Mathematics knows what the Gaussian or Normal distribution looks like – you know, the Bell Curve. Further, anyone who has studied Mathematics knows what happens when the data sampling from the right side of the Mean moves left toward the center – the Mean moves left with the data. Likewise, a machinist does not need to be a rocket scientist to know what happens when the metal on the right-hand side of a piece of bar stock is shaved off – the center of mass of the whole moves left. Church Growthers, who have their noses stuck in statistics tables every day, know this reality quite well. Thirty years ago, they began their efforts – perhaps with the best of evangelical intentions – while our good-hearted conservative pastors indulged them. And this has continued, as Church Growth supporters have continued to hold their ground, become more outspoken, and gained a strong following among the clergy and laity, and as our good-hearted conservative pastors have continued to indulge them for the sake of peace. Today, Church Growth perspectives have grown to such prominence and power in our Synod as to be virtually normative among the laity and clergy of this generation. Will our good-hearted conservative pastors continue to chase the Mean, as it continues to move left?

Of course, this raises a different question. What would a Confessional pastor do? Would he continue to indulge in order to maintain a peaceful political unity, or would he stand his ground regardless of the commotion it creates? If there are any Confessional pastors left in our Synod, I would expect that, very soon, the public discussion regarding many of these issues will become quite noticeable and rather animate.

If not, however, I have another political reality of which we must be cognizant. For as much as we layman may spout in public forum, or even privately among the brothers in our congregations, what we say ultimately has very little organizational impact. We are not members of Synod, proper. I was reminded of this as I read Manthey's paper, 15 Years Under the MOV over on Ichabod. The fact is, only pastors, male teachers, and congregations as corporate entities are members of synod. The only voice that laymen have is as representatives of their congregations during Convention. I'm not saying this is good or bad, it is just the reality. Therefore, we must choose our delegates very carefully, and educate them fully. Even so, not much will happen without Confessional leadership among the clergy.

Freddy Finkelstein

March 23, 2009 4:02 PM