Church Report Announces Annual List of 50 Most Influential Churches

[Resting In Him]

Church Report Announces Annual List of 50 Most Influential Churches

SCOTTSDALE, Az, July 17, /Christian Newswire/ -- Jason T. Christy, CEO of Christy Media, Publishers of The Church Report magazine, The CR Daily and thechurchreport.com are pleased to announce their annual list of The Most Influential Churches in America. The list is a result of a survey of 2,000 pastors from across the country, asking them who they feel are the churches influencing today’s Christianity. Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago was chosen as this year’s most influential. The entire 50 Most Influential Church list can be seen online at http://12.163.122.165/JULY06top50.pdf

Cont'd... (http://www.christiannewswire.com/index.php?module=releases&task=view&releaseID=542)

[joyttw]

I hadn't heard of either church from my state that was on the list.

After finding their websites and catching some of the sermons, I was a little dismayed they were voted to be so influential! One seems as seeker-friendly as you can get, and the other seems frighteningly legalistic :(:

[BHiles]

My church went from honorable mention last year to #24 this year all without national Television exposure. :D:

[joyttw]

Hi Brent,

Were you at the evening service on 6/25/06?
I listened to this sermon, and would be very interested in discussing it with you. The reason I was up at 1:15 this morning to post is because I couldn't sleep thinking about this sermon.

http://www.baptist-city.com/schaap_weekly.htm

[BHiles]

Yes I was. I am the Television Video Director so I am there most every service.

What question do you have?

[joyttw]

My concerns were around minutes 13-14 in the sermon, and 16:53-17:03.

I understand the point about his concern with the modern church (especially considering it's a separatist KJVO church), and he would back up his points with verses such as these:

Jam 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

1Jo 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

"The world" in these verses refers to the philosophies of this world, the fleshly desires of this world, etc. To be sure, many churches HAVE adopted the philosophies of this world.

"The world" in John 3:16, however, refers to people. We are to love PEOPLE. For the pastor to say, they are anti-homosexual, against smokers, gamblers, etc. is different than saying they are against smokING and gamblING. My hairdresser, who is not a Christian but understands the "plan of salvation" has expressed something I think we Christians really need to ponder. She has visited many churches and had many conversations with Christians (who seem more concerned with her politics than her salvation). She said, "Christians say all the time, 'love the sinner, hate the sin.' Oh please. They can say that all they want, but you can tell from their tone and their attitude when they talk about them, they hate the sinner, too."

I'm sure you wouldn't put to much stock in what an unbeliever thinks, but grace and truth need to be expressed simultaneously. I didn't hear grace in the sermon.

Col 4:6 Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jhn 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jhn 8:7-11 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard [it], being convicted by [their own] conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, [even] unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

[billiefan2000]

Bob Russell is No. 6 (he has great articles in Lookout Magazine

David Jeremiah is no. 28

John MacArthur is no.31 (got to see hear him preach in person at a church here in Omaha last year

Greg Laurie is no. 33 (wish Omaha got his radio show by the way)

John Piper is no. 42 (wish Omaha got his radio show by the way)

Max Lucado is no. 46

[BHiles]

My concerns were around minutes 13-14 in the sermon, and 16:53-17:03.

I understand the point about his concern with the modern church (especially considering it's a separatist KJVO church), and he would back up his points with verses such as these:

Jam 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

1Jo 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

"The world" in these verses refers to the philosophies of this world, the fleshly desires of this world, etc. To be sure, many churches HAVE adopted the philosophies of this world.

"The world" in John 3:16, however, refers to people. We are to love PEOPLE. For the pastor to say, they are anti-homosexual, against smokers, gamblers, etc. is different than saying they are against smokING and gamblING. My hairdresser, who is not a Christian but understands the "plan of salvation" has expressed something I think we Christians really need to ponder. She has visited many churches and had many conversations with Christians (who seem more concerned with her politics than her salvation). She said, "Christians say all the time, 'love the sinner, hate the sin.' Oh please. They can say that all they want, but you can tell from their tone and their attitude when they talk about them, they hate the sinner, too."

I'm sure you wouldn't put to much stock in what an unbeliever thinks, but grace and truth need to be expressed simultaneously. I didn't hear grace in the sermon.

Col 4:6 Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jhn 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jhn 8:7-11 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard [it], being convicted by [their own] conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, [even] unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

To be against them is to be against what they do. It is not hatred for them. In many other places and many other sermons He has made it clear. Especially when the major part of the ministry is to bring them in and change their lives. The outreach through Reformer Unanimous alone shows that the love this ministry has for sinners is that in which will not appease their sin but help them lovingly to overcome them through the power of Jesus Christ.

Unashamedly it is old fashioned hard preaching which makes it quite different than most any other church on that list. The seasononing of love and grace does not mean that we should not preach hard against sin and at varied times people are affected in different ways at different times. If you listen to a morning service you will hear more "love of God" sermons. Sunday night services are more for the church family to correct and admonish and ready the believer for living for God for the week to come.

Jude 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

[joyttw]

Hi Brent,

I did listen to another sermon that was fine. I sure picked a deusy for my first choice though, huh?

I don't think the sermon in question worked in any way toward "And others save with fear..." and I don't see how it admonished the church family (except church families that don't go to that church).

He said at the beginning of the sermon he wanted to get something off his chest, but he hoped it was from his heart and we could judge after listening if it was from his chest or his heart. It's clear it was from his heart, and out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

[Harley]

i wonder how they define, or what makes one "influential"?

[Sower]

i wonder how they define, or what makes one "influential"?


yeah i wonder this too~:confused