Mark H. Stevens, Th.D's Blog (528)

What Does The Bible Say About The Church?

BODY OF CHRIST

EPHESIANS 1:22-23 NKJ

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

1 TIMOTHY 3:15 NKJ

15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The Church is the Body of… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on March 7, 2009 at 6:33am — No Comments

What is the church?

The Christian church can be seen in two ways: the visible and the invisible. The visible church is comprised of all who claim the name of Christian and who gather together for worship and participation of the sacraments: the Lord's Supper and Baptism. The members of the visible church claim the name of Christian (excluding the cults like the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.). The visible church contains both believers and non-believers; that is, there are people in the visible church who… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on March 7, 2009 at 6:31am — No Comments

Essential Doctrines of Christianity

The Bible itself reveals those doctrines that are essential to the Christian faith. They are 1) the Deity of Christ, 2) Salvation by Grace, and 3) Resurrection of Christ, and 4) the gospel. These are the doctrines the Bible says are necessary. Though there are many other important doctrines, these four are the only ones that are declared by Scripture to be essential. A non-regenerate person, or a cultist (i.e., Mormon or Jehovah's Witness), will deny one or more of these essential doctrines.… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on March 2, 2009 at 7:37pm — 2 Comments

What is the Trinity?

The word "trinity" is a term used to denote the Christian doctrine that God exists as a unity of three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of the persons is distinct from the other, yet related in essence. Each is divine in nature, but each is not the totality of the Godhead. Each has a will, loves, and says "I", and "You" when speaking. The Father is not the same person as the Son who is not the same person as the Holy Spirit who is not the same person as the Father. Each is… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on March 2, 2009 at 7:20pm — No Comments

Mentorship

Pastors have to be more accessible and be willing to mentor others towards being a successor. You are called to “pour into” the life of others.

Paul mentored Timothy and Titus like sons in the faith, and they looked to Paul like a father. Elisha learned at the feet of Elijah and went on to be a greater prophet of God. Jonathan was the rightful heir to Israel’s throne but he forsook that to mentor and befriend young David. My first two Pastors were instrumental in helping shape me… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on March 2, 2009 at 4:51am — 2 Comments

Sexual Sin is Killing the Effectiveness of The Church

The children of Israel were lured away from their relationship with the Lord by sexual sin. God constantly warned Israel not to intermarry and fornicate with the heathen nations around them. Sexual intercourse unites the parties involved emotionally; this is called a SOUL TIE. This is why married couples are not truly married until they have sexual intercourse; it is the consummation of the marriage. When sex takes place between unmarried people they are still emotionally tied to one another,… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on March 1, 2009 at 7:37pm — 1 Comment

“Holiness doesn’t mean isolation!”

One problem with man’s denominational teaching is that HOLINESS in many churches and groups means stay away from them sinners! The only way sinners can see Jesus Christ is through the Church (The Body of Christ). The local church is a part of the larger body of blood washed believers. Sinners can only see the light of Jesus Christ through US. Now I am not saying Christians should go to bars and nightclubs…BUT we do have to interact with sinners! Jesus went to places where people congregate. I… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on March 1, 2009 at 7:24pm — 3 Comments

Pastors have to teach something other than GIVING money!

Pastors have to teach soul-winning to the congregations, NOT just to increase numbers, but to also stir up gifts in the assembly of God. Spiritual gifts are activated when we do ministry, in particular soul-winning. The Gifts of the Spirit are not for show, they are for WORK. Every one of the Gifts are primarily given so we can win the lost and help them get filled with the Holy Ghost and make them disciples of Christ. (Acts 1:8) It grieves the Lord when he sees ministers become hirelings with… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on March 1, 2009 at 7:22pm — 1 Comment

Youth on a Mission

Johannesburg & capetown, Africa

Short-Term Missions Trip

This summer the National C.O.G.I.C. Youth On A Mission (Y.O.A.M.), short-term missions team, have a group scheduled to minister in AFRICA. YOAM is an auxiliary of the Department of Missions for the Church Of God In Christ, Inc. under Bishop Carlis Moody. Missionary Stephanie R. Stevens, a YOAM team member since 2002, will travel with them to Johannesburg & Capetown this July.

During the 2 weeks of… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on February 18, 2009 at 11:40pm — No Comments

Sexual Sin

Pornography is over an eighty billion dollar a year industry in America. Why? Sex is one of Satan’s greatest snares. (maybe the greatest) From Noah to Solomon, great men have fallen into the trap of sexual sin. The sin of adultery has contributed to more divorces than any other one. Adultery breaks the marriage covenant! Satan wants fathers out of the home at any cost. Satan knows the chances of children becoming a problem will increase when dad and mom split up. Satan also knows that if he can… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on February 18, 2009 at 6:55pm — 2 Comments

Generation Curses and Demonic Influence

Ex 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

Ex 34:7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

Nu 14:18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger,… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on February 18, 2009 at 6:48pm — No Comments

Intercessory Prayer - What is it?

Intercessory prayer is prayer for others. An intercessor is one who takes the place of another or pleads another's case. One study Bible defines intercession as "holy, believing, persevering prayer whereby someone pleads with God on behalf of another or others who desperately need God's intervention."

Intercessory Prayer - The Biblical Foundation

The Biblical basis for the New Testament believer's ministry of intercessory prayer is our calling as priests unto God. The Word of God… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on February 18, 2009 at 6:40pm — No Comments

Thank You Martin Luther

Thank you Martin Luther for having to courage to stand up for righteousness and truth, we need men and women like this TODAY! I am tired of seeing the abuse of the saints in the church and over the airwaves. Many of us have been fervently praying that God would turn the church upside down and vigorously shake it (Heb 12:25-29). When this happens, those who love money and have lost their grip on the truth will be the first to fall. This is why every few years you see a “SUPER MINISTER” falls by… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on February 17, 2009 at 9:14pm — No Comments

A Christian Look at Jewish Feast

Pesach or Passover: [Exodus 12:1-14 & Leviticus 23:4,5] On the 10th day of the first month, Nisan, [roughly equivalent to April on our calendar], every family of Israel was to take a lamb, without blemish, and separate it from the flock. On the evening of the 14th the Passover lamb was killed, cooked, and eaten during the night. The blood was applied on the door posts and lintel. This feast celebrates the Exodus from Egypt. But, like all of the feasts, it also has a prophetic meaning. It… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on February 16, 2009 at 11:11pm — 1 Comment

How the Early Church was Financed

It should come as no surprise that the early congregations of Christianity were financed the same way the early Israelite society was financed—through a free-will offering, which according to Moses, was more than ample to provide that which was needed.

"Men and women, as many as were willing hearted, brought bracelets, and earrings, rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold ...the children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord ... They brought yet unto him (Moses) free offerings… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on February 16, 2009 at 8:09pm — 4 Comments

Pastors Take Precautions!

Proactive/protective steps to avoid sin:

1. Do you have an accountability partner or group and do you meet with them regularly and honestly? (This is critically important for pastors who do any serious counseling at all.)

2. Do you leave the office door open or the window in it uncovered?

3. Do you keep your desk between you and your counselee? Physical distance between you and the counselee is very important for her security and comfort, and for enabling you to resist any… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on February 16, 2009 at 8:52am — No Comments

Pastor/Teacher

Pastors and teachers have to take the church from MILK to MEAT, I would be horrified to see an adult wearing a diaper in church, but spiritually many saints are wearing diapers in the house of God. The reason we treat our pastors like gods is that we are babies and we are letting them carry us like babies! They should be taking us from milk to MEAT! We have to grow up so we can assist in the ministry and stop being a burden to the church. So many pastors quit because of burnout, but most of the… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on February 15, 2009 at 6:46pm — No Comments

The Office of Evangelist

Evangelists are the warriors, the foot soldiers who take the gospel to the remote areas of the world. They advance the gospel and in so doing they battle directly with the hindrances of the gospel as well. There are many more warriors in an army than there are generals and so there must be many, many evangelists in the church. Evangelists wear the Shoes of Peace because they bring news of Peace to a world that suffers in strife and turmoil. Every one of the other 5-Fold Ministers MUST do the… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on February 15, 2009 at 6:40pm — No Comments

The Office of Teacher

Teachers build the foundations of the church. They minister in the Word of God and remind us of the priorities and foundations that will keep us stable in our lives. They teach the church how to be wise in the ways of God. Both teachers and prophets have a special gift for worship because the prophet can worship in "spirit" and the teacher can worship in "truth" and those two characteristics are necessary for true worship. Teachers carry the Belt of Truth, which means they have intimate… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on February 15, 2009 at 6:36pm — No Comments

Why Sexual Sin is so devastating

3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? (2 Sam.chapter 11)

David’s sin with Bathsheba lead to him also killing her husband as well. David spoke his own punishment when the prophet Nathan confronted him concerning his sin. Nathan used a story about a wealthy man that stole a poor man’s lamb, while he had many sheep of his own. David said this man should suffer fourfold. David lost 4 sons!… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on February 11, 2009 at 9:31pm — No Comments