What's Ahead for the Church in 2022? | Episode 35
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- Опубликовано: 26 дек 2021
- The past two years have been unpredictable and chaotic. From the ongoing global pandemic to rising inflation to political and cultural unrest, the challenges facing the world are numerous. In addition, Western culture continues to drift further from biblical values with each passing day. Considering all of this, what does the future hold for the church?
In this episode, Dr. David K. Bernard addresses these challenges and the corresponding opportunities they represent. He looks ahead to the coming year and shares his thoughts on what is needed to minister effectively in these turbulent times.
For more information on this topic, see Dr. Bernard's book "Spiritual Leadership in the Twenty-First Century," available at pentecostalpublishing.com/pro..., and "The Apostolic Church in the Twenty-First Century," available at pentecostalpublishing.com/pro....
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I will take advantage of the comment section here by sharing my opinion.
As an older Gen Z but still within the brackets of the age group, that qualifies me. I agree with David Bernard here with the “ team approach “ to leadership because biblical, financial, and secular knowledge of sorts is widespread. moving together in a system of sorts to some extent is the best decision; I also agree with his statement that a church today needs to preach the whole gospel but also, at the same time, allow the church to follow doctrine with the Spiritual signs and wonders. We must approach my generation and the ones with the more straightforward truths followed by the miraculous. However, I do think that the failure to mention dress and attire is something that has been a hindering aspect of the UPCI for decades now needs to be addressed moving forward. As a man from the UPCI in the OK region and one who has grown up in this wonderful denomination I can speak when I say I’ve seen and witnessed and had fellow saints receive scrutiny with legalism. I believe that separation from the world must be paramount but, doing so by being fanatical about wearing a dress and going further by telling women they are going to hell and are not being Holy if they don’t abide by guidelines and teaching no emphasis on relationship with their Heavenly Father remains a fatal mistake and a cancer almost within the body. It causes women to think that if I’m not in a dress God hates me. There is no way around that and women then attach their faith to their attire and still live outrageously bougie, with all this expensive stuff. It needs to be rooted out. Lead with dignity honor and grace abiding and upholding the standards when in leadership but do it with the proper heart proper explanation and by example. This dogmatic “ you are going to hell for wearing ladies pants.” Is wrong. There needs to be clarity behind why to the public and this behind-the-scenes “ works “ for appeasement from our heavenly father news to go. We all agree with separation but to preach certain values as if the Bible says so is contradictory and old fashioned and goes against even the traditions of the church in the wrong way. Same with men not being allowed to have facial hair. More regulation and appearance based works taught from the pulpit has been many congratulations downfall. This world for my generation and those under me is hard enough without adding to it rules that should honestly only be held to those in ministry to an extent. Pants worn in a feminine way and covering one’s body is not a sin anymore than a man with a beard embracing masculinity from a pulpit secular and defiant. Perhaps it was in the 60’s when that was voted in but the church needs to update this stuff badly. The gospel is without compromise but be like water.
*Daniel 11:32* *”…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”*
I plan to be one of those people, through the *Spirit* by *Word* through *Fasting* and *Prayer* and *Fellowship* with the Saints🇨🇦
Thank you Pastor Bernard for what you said about changing to reach our culture but not changing our Doctrine our standard of Holiness thank you for that...
Thank you for casting the vision that the greater the challenges, the greater the opportunities and to be sensitive to the WIND of the Spirit. We are praying for Apostolic Revival worldwide, especially Europe!
What an awesome man of God!
So much goes into what you do and Im very appreciative of your hard work and dedication! Your inspiring!
well stated
Thank you Bishop Bernard for that refreshing outlook. We do need to adjust if we’re going to be effective at reaching the world. We can’t compromise, but we need to be willing to meet people where they are. Great podcast!
This is the mindset established missions should have. Seeing the challenges that arises in contemporary times when for instances the founder of a mission passes.
We are well equip to reach people of every background..Amen
That's very good bro Bernard! Thank you for your spiritual vision and intention towards the people of God
Amen!
I used to think the church culture was reflective of their theology and the church but now I realize more that culture even in churches is probably more reflective of the existing culture of the people... and perhaps that's why the Roman Catholic churches have this very Medieval feeling? They seem to spread their original Medieval Roman culture along with the theology and practices throughout all the world's Catholic Churches. At least in America it feels like that to me.
Not only do we need to do what's prevalent to reaching the next generation but first and foremost it Needs to be pleasing to God. A lot of out worship music is aimed more to lifting Us up or a type of musical preaching but it Should be aimed at lifting up the Lord our God most of all...
Challenges are opportunities
Everything we do should be Holy Ghost driven. That's the only way to affect ppl for eternity.
💟💟💟💟
Having a difficult time finding a good assembly in Bucks County, PA. Suggestions? Thank you.
Dr Bernard I have tons of questions and I have spent the last 3 years studying like the bereans. I have watched countless debates over tongues and the other gifts of the Spirit and I have come to the conclusion that those who reject the gifts of the Spirit have actually stopped short and are satisfied with the knowledge of who God is instead of submitting their will to him and in that category I would put Dr James White who debated you a few years ago and in his debate he insisted that he and his father and grandfather were all called to the preachers or teachers yet in the next breath he suggested that God does not speak today! How do you hear the call to preach if God doesn't speaking to you? Their own theology cuts them off Midway. The church was not born until the day of Pentecost and many have tried to say that tongues was not what the Pentecostal church has described but if it was not an immediate sign that could be witnessed by others but was merely a changed heart then why did some guy offer to buy that power? He wanted to buy the power because he immediately saw that laying hands on someone cause them to speak in tongues! Since tongues was given on the day of Pentecost and the gifts and callings of God are without repentance then it's still the same tongues today! I also have noticed in my 3 years of research that every person who opposes the Pentecostal faith will use 98% the testimony of other people who agree with them or dead theologians who agree with them and 2% Bible. Very rarely will the scoffers of the Pentecostal Faith actually open the Bible and have a debate using biblical text only! They always quote Luther or they quote some other dead man whose name and testimony is not even recorded in Scripture so I'm confused when they say that Pentecostals are false teachers yet Pentecostals open the holy book and use it to testify but these accusers use the testimonies of other dead people? The raising of the Dead is actually not just physically dead but the raising of those who are spiritually dead who have knowledge ahead knowledge of God but do not have the spirit of God. I don't believe it's possible for someone to be filled with the Holy Spirit and argue against the gifts of the Spirit! A person who argues against the gifts of the Spirit today is a person who is filled with head knowledge and their pride has stepped in and decided that they will use the word of God to be God instead of allowing the word of God to truly conform them to the image of the Son. By the way everyone who argues from that position are all very heady and haughty theologians who according to their own testimonies do not spend any time being concerned about lost souls as a matter of fact they even mock and make fun of those who they think are lost and they do it in a way that exalts their knowledge of God above the lostness of the sinner. I'm sure you have had the privilege or the lack of privilege of watching John MacArthur's strange Fire ceremonies where he and his religious goons mock and make fun of people that could possibly be lost. I have never seen a Pentecostal person laugh at the idea of someone being lost but I have seen a multitude of Calvinists and people like James White find it funny. I'm thinking the only person that would laugh at a lost soul is Satan! Seems like you can't be of the Holy Spirit and of Satan at the same time!
If I might say, its not that people automatically disrespect authority, it's more like we don't automatically respect someone because they are in an office of authority. People still have to earn it by being honest open and transparent with us. Thankfully that isn't an issue in the Church, God has blessed us with great leaders. However, we aren't so blessed when it comes to secular society. I guess that shows what is more important.
My angle on this is a bit different. In the church, I think people generally respect authority, but they don't necessarily trust it. Trust is built over time, and it's a fragile thing easily destroyed. A healthy Christian follows authority as authority follows Christ. It's during times when spiritual authority wanders in which navigation gets real tricky for a believer. The waters can get real muddy when a believer perceives a conflict between a leader and the will/Word of God.
Not an issue ? Are you absolutely insane ?
@@retiredbob I tried to say it as gently as I could. Your approach was a bit more direct. 😄
I agree that we don't automatically respect someone just because they are in an office of authority.
@@Johnbobon Amen! Well said! This has been my experience. Navigation in muddy murky Waters. It's very tricky. We need recourse for redress.
Challenge/opportunity.
I'm 62 and look back on 54 years of Pentecost salvation experience.
From the presentation here I will only select one opportunity towards cultural relevance primarily of North America.
The UPS assembly is undermining itself by apparent dress codes.
Black slacks and white shirts for communion? Dresses and suits for men? I suggest these are thrown away completely and immediately as this culture need not and will not put up with such nonsense. We should look like the population in general and not be fussy as we were some decades before.
God continually bless us to the blessing and saving of others whom you call.
Be Wise and not fool!
There is no other WAY than this,
Before GOD MADE GREAT SIGNS, WONDERS, AND MIRACLES Churches in first century surrendered their all to HOUSE OF GOD (Acts 2:42-47;4;32-37).
If not surrendered our all to GOD, then the devil with all power, signs, and lying wonder will be performed (2Tes. 2:9-12).
Wow! Question : How can a "leader" explain & exhort the future of the New Testament Church, without One Time, Not Once! Mentioning the Lord Jesus Christ! Please explain that to All the people, the Church.
"Although they had a form of godliness,, they denied His Power"
Jesus IS God, so...
@WALDO which Jesus do they have then?
I see you don’t understand the format of this video and to whom it addresses.
@WALDO thanks for your opinion which is about as worthless as any other.
Church VS Ekklesia-whats the difference. a The restoration of the body of Christ into an ekklesia is the greatest change since the Protestant reformation 505 years ago. I have listed a few differences between what church look like today and what an ekklesia looks like. Church often involves itself with worldly politics and sees itself as the moral compass for society. An Ekklesia is only interested in the business of building Gods kingdom on Earth.
Church is split into 55000+ denominations and corporations. There is only one Christian Ekklesia, one body, one nation, one spirit, one loaf of bread and one crucificion.
Church has a name to rally support for its cause. An Ekklesia has no name
Each individual church promotes itself, Ekklesia promote the unity of the body of christ.
church leaders have their own vision statement to run their church. An Ekklesia is run by Jesus and has only one mission statement Matt 28v19.
church promotes compulsary giving by promoting Tithing (10%). An Ekklesia gives via a generous heart (100%)
Church target audience is often to those in the financial middle and upper class. An Ekklesia targets those rich in faith but financially poor.
Church wealth is used to build organisations, pay mortgages to banks and saleries. An Ekklesias wealth goes to meet the needs of the saints.
church focus is on building church numbers (bigger the church the more powerful). Ekklesaia are home churches. (often meet as a city ekklesia).
church clergy and elite are the only people allowed to move in the gifts and lay hands on others. An Ekklesia has no clergy or elite, all members are able to move in the gifts and pray for others and are encouraged to do so.
church congregations are often fruitless, Ekklesia congregations are fruitful
Much of the church prostitutes itself by loving Jesus but also loving the things of the world, Ekklesia loves only Jesus.
Church- personal prophecy is almost non-existant. An Ekklesia personal prophecy is encouraged.
Church has been used by the Holy Spirit since the protestant reformation but its now an old wineskin. An Ekklesia is the new wineskin and is a reformation movement (early church was an ekklesia).
Church is institutionally organised. An ekklesia is geograghically organised
The chuch is imperfect, an ekklesia is perfect
Church has communion services. Ekklesia has shared agape meals.
Church is largly intellectual and know the bible. Ekklesia lives the Bible
Church lacks the love of the father. Ekklesia demonstrates the love of the father
Acts 20:28
Whose CHURCH?
is CHRIST divided?
33ad-1908-present/future
Oldest of it's kind
1TIMOTHY 4:1
Of the CHURCH not in the Faith.
Repent return quickly.
Putting your money in stocks -is this Christian behavior?. 7:41