• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Good News Bible Chapel

Leading people to faith and maturity in Christ.

  • About
    • New to GNBC?
    • Our Story
    • Mission, Vision & Core Values
    • The Good News!
    • Our Statement of Faith
    • Leadership Team
    • Baptism & Communion
  • Connect
    • Life Groups
    • Men
    • Women
    • Children
    • Youth
    • Celebrate Recovery
  • Mission
    • Global Reach
    • #GNBCservesquad
  • Resources
    • Listen
    • Blog
    • PrayerCast
    • Online Giving
    • News and Updates
    • Ministry Partners
    • Policies and Statements
  • Directory

Steve DuPlessie

Aug 28 2019

Mid-week GNBC Family News | VOl 2-No32

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Hi Good News family!

Here’s the news…

> THAT’S VICTORY FOR GOOD NEWS! BAD NEWS FOR VICTORY! The 2019 Church Softball League championship game against Victory Assembly of God was called due to darkness Monday night when it was tied 15-15. So they picked up the game in the 8th inning at Wumsutta MS field at 6:15pm last night: sudden death, one inning at a time. Victory was up to bats first. Charlie Shea wrapped up his GNBC Softball pitching career, not allowing them any runs. Thanks Charlie! Then GNBC came up to bat. Ray DiCiaccio scored the winning run in that inning off a walk by Dave Christensen and a hit by Josh Garland, winning the championship game 16-15! The game — and the season — was over in 11 minutes! Congrats guys!

> YOUTH MINISTRY LAUNCHES 6:30PM WEDNESDAY SEPT 11th for MS and HS Students. Check in with Justin 774.273.1134 or Stef Wallace 508.838.8018 for more info!

> NO GN-KIDS (SS) THIS SUNDAY DUE TO THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND The Fall 2019-20 SS for Pre-K-6th Grade officially kicks off Sunday September 8th. We are in the process of updating our SS info. If you did not fill out one last week, please take a form for your kid(s) this week, fill it out, and turn it in to Susan Ferris. That information is an important part of our GNBC Child Safety+Security process. The forms are available at the Check-In Desk in the upper lobby.

> SUNDAY – 8:30AM: “HOW TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL TO SOMEONE” Don’t miss LT1 Leadership Training #5 is this Sunday at 8:30am in the lower Chapel. This week is your opportunity to learn and practice how to explain the gospel to someone and invite them to believe in Jesus. Come this Sunday, even if you’ve never been to LT1 before!The GNBC elders are offering this class for all interested with the goal of providing a solid Biblical foundation for women and men, through a period of intense study of the scriptures and answering questions, in an effort to prepare the next leaders of Good News Bible Chapel for Life Groups, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, ministry team leaders, as well as potential deacons and elders.

> THIS SUNDAY – “Get ready to rumble!’ Get your eyes opened to the spiritual warfare happening all around you as we look at “The armor of God” together in the sermon at 10:45am this Sunday. We wrap up the summer series — “Ephesians: The gospel for living” — with Ephesians 6:10-23

> MONDAY AT 6:30PM – CELEBRATE RECOVERY a Bible-based, Jesus-centered 12-step group for women and men, to help deal with life’s hurts, habits and hangups. Come any Monday night and bring a friend.

“I’m not perfect. I’m never going to be. And that’s the great thing about living the Christian life and trying to live by faith, is you’re trying to get better every day. You’re trying to improve with the Spirit’s power, not yours.“
Tim Teabow

> LEAD PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE (LPSC) REPORT #13

  • The final three candidates (out of 48 applicants) are scheduled to visit GNBC…
  • Stan Newton will visit on September 8th
  • Peter Smith will visit on September 15th
  • Matt Larkin will visit on September 22nd
  • We will have an indoor Pot Luck Lunch on each of those three Sundays, immediately following the service, to meet the three candidates and their wives
  • All are invited and welcome to sit in any or all of the LPSC meetings and participate in the discussions
  • Please continue to pray for the next Lead Pastor for GNBC
  • The next open meeting of the full LPSC is this Sunday, September 1st, at 6:30PM in the Blue classroom.
  • Notes from the meetings are posted on the Bulletin Board outside the Photocopy Room in the lower hallway.

> 6:30-8:30PM TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 – FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITYLAUNCHES! Get out of debt! Start saving! Finally get ahead of the bills! Understand insurance! Know where your money’s going! Start giving generously!Dave Ramsey’s FPU is a great opportunity to finally get your finances under control. Alumni welcome. New content with four new, updated sessions! Register online. Check in with Adam Chamberlain for more registration information – 508.409.1579.

> SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th MEN’S SERVICE DAY – 7:30-10AM Hey guys! Bring your tools and let’s serve some saints in Jesus’ name! Connect early with Stuart McKeller — 857.270.4526 — if you have a project you’d like one of our teams to help you with on September 14th.

> SECURITY / CHECK-IN HELP NEEDED FOR GOOD NEWS KIDS (GNK) 2019-20 We are currently in need of help with Check-In/Supervisors and Hall Security, and Classroom Assistants. If you can help, or have any questions, please contact Susan Ferris. 774.254.7257 – ferrisworkstutoring@gmail.com.

> LAST CHANCE! CLEANING OFF THE SHELVES 🙂 Check the table in the Upper Lobby this Sunday for any Bibles, books, bags, water bottles, etc. you might have left on the shelves in the Upper & Lower Coatrooms. Any unclaimed items will be donated to the Salvation Army or recycled.

> SAVE THE DATE!

  • Sep 1 – 6:30PM Next Lead Pastor Search Committee open meeting
  • Sep 8 – 10:45am GN-Kids (SS) launches for Fall
  • Sep 8 – Stan Newton candidate visit at GNBC w/ Pot Luck Lunch
  • Sep 10 – 7PM Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University launches!
  • Sep 11 – 6:30PM Youth Group launches for MS + HS school year!
  • Sep 13-15 – Women’s Retreat #1 @ Berea
  • Sep 14 – Men’s Service Day – 7:30-10am
  • Sep 15 – Peter Smith candidate visit at GNBC w/ Pot Luck Lunch
  • Sep 20-22 – Women’s Retreat #2 @ Berea (the weekend GNBC women are going)
  • Sep 22 – Matt Larkin candidate visit at GNBC w/ Pot Luck Lunch
  • Nov 1-3 – Man Camp #1 @ Berea
  • Nov 8-10 – Man Camp #2 @ Berea

> SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR THE BREAKING OF BREAD SERVICE This weekly service focusing on remembering Jesus now begins at 9:30am and runs until 10:15am in the lower Chapel.

> MISSED A SUNDAY? You can always get the Sunday sermon here — listen online or download the MP3 — plus get a PDF of the sermon notes, plus a PDF of the weekly Program with announcements, prayer page, gospel page, Global Reach Partners update, and the current Life-Group list, etc. All available, each week, right here.

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

Only by grace,
Steve

[ You can get back copies of all the Mid-Week GNBC Family Newslettersonline at gnbc.org/category/news ]

Written by Steve DuPlessie · Categorized: News and Updates

Aug 23 2019

Mid-week GNBC Family News | Vol 2-No 31

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Hi Good News family!

Here’s a few things to call to your attention for the coming week…

> TONIGHT – 6PM STUDENTS MEET UP AT THE CHAPEL FOR FUN NIGHT! MS + HS students are headed off to mini-golf.. Meet up at the Chapel at 6PM. Additional drivers are needed. Cost: $25 per student; aid is available if finances are an issue. Connect with Justin or Steph for more info: Justin 774.273.1134; Stef 508.838.8018

> TOMORROW NIGHT – 7PM WOMEN’S GIDEON STUDY This is the final study at the Chapel in the Gideon video series with Priscilla Shirer. All women are welcome, even if you haven’t been to one yet! Includes video plus small group conversations and light snacks. Come, learn, grow, and make some new friends.

> FRIDAY NIGHT – 5-9PM COOKOUT AT CHRISTIE & ZACH’S IN REHOBOTH Don’t miss this opportunity for some great food, an opportunity for the kids to run around, and a great chance to meet and talk with old friends and make some new friends. 69 Tremont Street, Rehoboth.

> SATURDAY NIGHT – 7-8:30PM WOMEN’S S’MORES & CAMPFIRE All women are invited to a end-of-summer campfire for S’mores and a conversation that wraps up the Gideon Bible Study. Check with Christine — 617-877-0030 — with any questions.

> SUNDAY – 8:30AM “HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF – PT 2” LT1 Leadership Training #4 is this Sunday at 8:30am in the lower Chapel. This coming Sunday we will finish the discussion of our Statement of Faith, and begin a two week unit on “How to study the Bible for yourself.” Come, even if you haven’t been before. The GNBC elders are offering this class for all interested with the goal of providing a solid Biblical foundation for women and men, through a period of intense study of the scriptures and answering questions, in an effort to prepare the next leaders of Good News Bible Chapel for Life Groups, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, ministry team leaders, as well as potential deacons and elders.

> THIS SUNDAY – “APPLYING THE MUTUAL SUBMISSION PRINCIPLE AT HOME & WORK” That’s the question we’re looking at together in the sermon at 10:45am this Sunday in Ephesians 6:1-9 as we near the close of our summer book-study series in “Ephesians: The gospel for living.”

> MONDAY AT 6:30PM – GNBC SOFTBALL TEAM IS IN THE LEAGUE FINAL We made the finals again at Wamsutta MS field on Locust Street in Attleboro. Bring your coffee and snack, a bag lunch, and a chair or blanket to sit on.

Faith doesn’t always mean that God changes your situation.
Sometimes it means He changes you.
– Steven Furtick

> LEAD PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE (LPSC) REPORT #13 Scott Allison, one of the finalists, was scheduled to visit GNBC this Sunday, August 25th but has already accepted a new position and will not be coming.
The final three candidates are scheduled to visit GNBC… Stan Newton will visit on September 9th Peter Smith will visit on September 15th Matt Larkin will visit on September 22nd We will have an indoor Pot Luck Lunch on each of those three Sundays, immediately following the service, to meet the three candidates and their wives All are invited and welcome to sit in any or all of the LPSC meetings and participate in the discussions
Please continue to pray for the next Lead Pastor for GNBC The next open meeting of the full LPSC is this Sunday, September 1st, at 6:30PM in the Blue classroom. Notes from the meetings are posted on the Bulletin Board outside the Photocopy Room in the lower hallway.

> TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 – FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES! Get out of debt! Start saving! Finally get ahead of the bills! Start giving generously! Dave Ramsey’s FPU is a great opportunity to finally get your finances under control. Register online. Check in with Adam Chamberlain for more registration information – 508.409.1579.

> SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 MEN’S SERVICE DAY – 7:30-11AM Hey guys! Men, please come along between 7:30 – 11am on Saturday September 14 and help serve the GNBC family by carrying out some projects at the Chapel. Breakfast will be provided. Please contact Stu McKellar – 857.270.4526 – for more details and to confirm your attendance in advance.

> SECURITY / CHECK-IN HELP NEEDED FOR GOOD NEWS KIDS (GNK) 2019-20 We are currently in need of help with Check-In/Supervisors and Hall Security, and Classroom Assistants. If you can help, or have any questions, please contact Susan Ferris. 774.254.7257 – ferrisworkstutoring@gmail.com.

> CLEANING OFF THE SHELVES 🙂 Check the table in the Upper Lobby this Sunday for any Bibles, books, bags, water bottles, etc. you might have left on the shelves in the Upper & Lower Coatrooms. Any unclaimed items will be donated to the Salvation Army or recycled.

> SAVE THE DATE!
Aug 22 – 7pm – Women’s GIDEON Bible Study at the Chapel
Aug 23 – 5-9pm – Christie & Zach’s 5pm Cookout #3, 69 Tremont St Rehoboth Aug 24 – 7-8:30pm – Women’s GIDEON Study Group cookout + camp fire @ GNBC
Sep 8 – Stan Newton candidate visit at GNBC w/ Pot Luck Lunch
Sep 10 – 7PM Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University launches!
Sep 13-15 – Women’s Retreat #1 @ Berea
Sep 14 – Men’s Service Day – 7:30-10am
Sep 15 – Peter Smith candidate visit at GNBC w/ Pot Luck Lunch
Sep 20-22 – Women’s Retreat #2 @ Berea (the weekend GNBC women are going)
Sep 22 – Matt Larkin candidate visit at GNBC w/ Pot Luck Lunch
Nov 1-3 – Man Camp #1 @ Berea
Nov 8-10 – Man Camp #2 @ Berea

> SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR THE BREAKING OF BREAD SERVICE This weekly service focusing on remembering Jesus now begins at 9:30am and runs until 10:15am in the lower Chapel.

> MISSED A SUNDAY? You can always get the Sunday sermon here — listen online or download the MP3 — plus get a PDF of the sermon notes, plus a PDF of the weekly Program with announcements, prayer page, gospel page, Global Reach Partners update, and the current Life-Group list, etc. All available, each week, right here.

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Only by grace,
Steve

[ You can get back copies of all the Mid-Week GNBC F

Written by Steve DuPlessie · Categorized: News and Updates

Aug 14 2019

Mid-week GNBC Family News | Vol 2 – No 30

August 14, 2019

Hi Good News family!

Here’s a lot things you should know this week…

> LEAD PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE (LPSC) REPORT #13

  • Scott Allison, one of the finalists, was scheduled to visit GNBC on Sunday, August 25th but has already accepted a new position and will not be coming
  • The final three candidates are scheduled to visit GNBC…
  • Stan Newton will visit on September 9th
  • Peter Smith will visit on September 15th
  • Matt Larkin will visit on September 22nd
  • We will have am indoor Pot Luck Lunch on each of those three Sundays, immediately following the service, to meet the three candidates and their wives
  • All are invited and welcome to sit in any or all of the LPSC meetings and participate in the discussions
  • Please continue to pray for the next Lead Pastor for GNBC
  • The next open meeting of the full LPSC is this Sunday, August 18th, at 6:30PM in the Blue classroom.
  • Notes from the meetings are posted on the Bulletin Board outside the Photocopy Room in the lower hallway.

> GNBC SOFTBALL IS IN THE PLAYOFFS THIS SATURDAY! We made the playoffs again! Games start at 8:45am at Wamsutta Middle School on Locust Street, Attleboro. If we win the first round, the next game is at 11:15am. If we win that, the third game is 1pm. All at Wamsutta. Bring your coffee and snack, a bag lunch, and a chair or blanket to sit on.

> “WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SUBMIT TO EACH OTHER?” That’s the question we’re looking at together in the sermon at 10:45am this Sunday in Ephesians 5:21-33 as we near the close of our summer book-study series in “Ephesians: The gospel for living.”


“Let God’s promises shine on your problems.”
Corrie Ten Boom

> MEN’S MINISTRY SERVICE DAY SEPT 14 Hey guys! Bring your tools and let’s serve some saints in Jesus’ name! Connect early with Stuart McKeller — 857.270.4526 — if you have a project you’d like one of our teams to help you with on September 14th

> SECURITY / CHECK-IN HELP NEEDED FOR GOOD NEWS KIDS (GNK) 2019-20 We are currently in need of help with Check-In/Supervisors and Hall Security, and Classroom Assistants. If you can help, or have any questions, please contact Susan Ferris. 774.254.7257 – ferrisworkstutoring@gmail.com.

> “HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF” THIS SUNDAY AT 8:30am – LT1 Leadership Training #4 is this Sunday at 8:30am in the lower Chapel. This coming Sunday we will finish the discussion of our Statement of Faith, and begin a two week unit on “How to study the Bible for yourself.” Come, even if you haven’t been to #1, 2 or 3.
The GNBC elders are offering this class for all interested with the goal of providing a solid Biblical foundation for women and men, through a period of intense study of the scriptures and answering questions, in an effort to prepare the next leaders of Good News Bible Chapel for Life Groups, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, ministry team leaders, as well as potential deacons and elders.

> CLEANING OFF THE SHELVES 🙂 Check the table in the Upper Lobby this Sunday for any Bibles, books, bags, etc. you might have left on the shelves in the Upper & Lower Coatrooms. Any unclaimed items will be donated to the Salvation Army or recycled.

> SAVE THE DATE!

  • Aug 17 – 8:45am – GNBC Softball Playoffs @ Wamsutta MS, Locust St, Attleboro
  • Aug 22 – 7pm – Women’s GIDEON Bible Study at the Chapel
  • Aug 23 – 5-9pm – Christie & Zach’s 5pm Cookout #3
  • Aug 24 – 7-9pm – Women’s GIDEON Study Group cookout + camp fire @ GNBC
  • Sep 9 – Stan Newton candidate visit at GNBC w/ Pot Luck Lunch
  • Sep 13-15 – Women’s Retreat #1 @ Berea
  • Sep 14 – Men’s Service Day – 7:30-10am
  • Sep 15 – Peter Smith candidate visit at GNBC w/ Pot Luck Lunch
  • Sep 20-22 – Women’s Retreat #2 @ Berea (the weekend GNBC women are going)
  • Sep 22 – Matt Larkin candidate visit at GNBC w/ Pot Luck Lunch
  • Nov 1-3 – Man Camp #1 @ Berea
  • Nov 8-10 – Man Camp #2 @ Berea

> SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR THE BREAKING OF BREAD SERVICE This weekly service focused on remembering Jesus now begins at 9:30am and runs until 10:15am in the lower Chapel.

> MISSED A SUNDAY? You can always get the Sunday sermon here — listen online or download the MP3 — plus get a PDF of the sermon notes, plus a PDF of the weekly Program with announcements, prayer page, gospel page, Global Reach Partners update, and the current Life-Group list, etc. All available, each week, right here.


Isaiah 41:38, 39 The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.


Only by grace,
Steve

[ You can get back copies of all the Mid-Week GNBC Family Newslettersonline at gnbc.org/category/news ]

Written by Steve DuPlessie · Categorized: News and Updates

Aug 07 2019

Mid-week GNBC Family News | Vol 2 – No 29

August 7, 2019

Hi Good News family!

Here are a lot things you should know this week…

> POOL PARTY! The Student Ministry (MS+HS) pool party is TOMORROW NIGHT, August 8th, at Esse Stebbings’ house in Rehoboth from 6-9pm. Please bring a snack to share. Please contact Stef 508-838-8018 or Justin 774-273-1134 for the address or if you have any questions!

> PRAYER & PRAISE…
– Our brother Rob Whitney crossed over from this life to meet Jesus Monday night. No further details are available yet.
– Continue to pray for unity in the Search Committee as they work together to identify who God is preparing for the next Pastor at GNBC

> WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY 7-9pm TOMORROW NIGHT Sisters, don’t miss this video study — plus discussion — with Priscilla Shirer on the life of Gideon: Our weakness, God’s strength. In the lower Chapel. Snacks are served!

> PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE (LPSC) REPORT #12
– Scott Allison, one of the Top 3 finalists, is scheduled to visit GNBC on August 24th and preach on the 25th
– We will have am indoor Pot Luck lunch that day, immediately following the service, to meet the Allison family
– The final to video interviews were completed last Thursday night
– The Search Committee will finalize its ranking of all eight finalists (out of 48 applicants) by tomorrow night (8/8/19) so the last two candidates can be selected and scheduled to come to the Chapel to preach and meet the GNBC family
– All are invited and welcome to sit in any or all of the LPSC meetings and participate in the discussions
– Please continue to pray for the next Lead Pastor for GNBC
– The next open meeting of the full LPSC is Sunday, August 18th, at 6:30PM in the Blue classroom
– Notes from the meetings are posted on the Bulletin Board outside the Photocopy Room in the lower hallway

> CHECK OUT THE GNBC.ORG BLOG The current post is “3 thoughts on Joshua Harris.”

> “HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF” THIS SUNDAY AT 8:30am
LT1 Leadership Training #3 is this Sunday at 8:30am in the lower Chapel. This coming Sunday we will finish the discussion of our Statement of Faith, and begin a two week unit on “How to study the Bible for yourself.” Come, even if you haven’t been to #1 or #2.

The GNBC elders are offering this class for all interested with the goal of providing a solid Biblical foundation for women and men, through a period of intense study of the scriptures and answering questions, in an effort to prepare the next leaders of Good News Bible Chapel for Life Groups, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, ministry team leaders, as well as potential deacons and elders.

> MONDAY NIGHT SOFTBALL LEAGUE!
The last game left in the regular summer church-league season is next Monday night. But, we made the Playoffs! Watch here next week for the Playoff Schedule. Again! Bring a chair or blanket this Monday to sit on…
– 6:30pm Aug 12 vs. Waters Church 2 @ Willett School, Attleboro

CELEBRATE RECOVERY MONDAYS AT 6:30pm Get help for life’s hurts, hang-ups, and habits, in this 12-step, bible-based, Jesus-centered 12-step group for women and men.

> SAVE THE DATE THIS SUMMER+…
– Aug 8 – 6-9pm – Youth Group Pool Party at Essie Stebbings’ pool in Rehoboth
– Aug 8 – 7 pm – Women’s Bible Study at the Chapel
– Aug 12 – 6:30pm – GNBC Softball at Willett School, Attleboro
– Aug 22 – 7pm – Women’s Bible study at the Chapel
– Aug 23 – 5-9pm – Christie & Zach’s 5pm Cookout #3
– Aug 24 – 7-9pm – Women’s GIDEON Study Group cookout + camp fire @ GNBC
– Aug 25 – 10:45am – Visit to GNBC by Scott Allison + family
– Aug 25 – Noon – Pot Luck lunch at GNBC with the Allison family

– Sep 13-15 – Women’s Retreat #1 @ Berea
– Sep 20-22 – Women’s Retreat #2 @ Berea (the weekend GNBC women are going)

– Nov 1-3 – Man Camp #1 @ Berea
– Nov 8-10 – Man Camp #2 @ Berea

> MEN’S MINISTRY The work day, scheduled for this Saturday, will have to be rescheduled. Look here for info for the monthly men’s breakfast, starting in a few weeks in September.

> GOOD NEWS KIDS (GNK) 2019-20 Thank you to those who have stepped up to serve in the children’s ministry for the upcoming school year. God has provided all of the classroom teachers! We are currently in need of Check-In/Supervisors, and Classroom Assistants. If you can help, or have any questions, please contact Susan Ferris. 774.254.7257 – ferrisworkstutoring@gmail.com

> SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR BREAKING OF BREAD SERVICE This weekly service now begins at 9:30am and run until 10:15am in the lower Chapel.

> MISSED A SUNDAY? You can always get the Sunday sermon here — listen online or download the MP3 — plus get a PDF of the sermon notes, plus a PDF of the weekly Program with announcements, prayer page, gospel page, Global Reach Partners update, and the current Life-Group list, etc. All available, each week, right here.

Lamentations 3:22-23
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Only by grace,
Steve

[ You can get back copies of all the Mid-Week GNBC Family Newsletters online at gnbc.org/category/news ]

Written by Steve DuPlessie · Categorized: News and Updates

Jul 30 2019

3 Thoughts on Joshua Harris

by Steve DuPlessie | July 30, 2019

I read the very sad news yesterday that Joshua Harris — former pastor of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and well-known author of “I Kissed Dating Good-bye” and “Humble Orthodoxy: Holding the truth without putting other people down ” — announced on his Instagram page that he was divorcing his wife and has left the Christian faith.

Josh wrote that he and his wife would be divorcing due to “significant changes [that] have taken place in both of us.” And on July 26, 2019, on the same page, explained that he no longer considers himself a Christian,* writing, “The popular phrase for this is ‘deconstruction’, the biblical phrase is ‘falling away.’ By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian. Many people tell me that there is a different way to practice faith and I want to remain open to this, but I’m not there now.”

My heart breaks for his wife and their three children. And my heart breaks for Joshua himself. It is obvious he has been struggling with his faith for some time. He stepped down as the lead pastor of Covenant Life Church in 2015. He has asked his publisher to stop publishing his books. This reveals a confused and tormented mind that resulted in a life-changing, destiny-changing decision for Joshua.

Major disappointment…
Three thoughts come to mind in this sad story. First, I’m disappointed that Joshua decided to make a very public display of his divorce and apostasy. As difficult as it already is for his family, his former church, and his many Christian friends, the publicity surrounding his announcement only exacerbates and amplifies his fall, harming first-and-foremost the name of Jesus in a culture already skeptical at best of followers of Jesus, plus causing literally thousands in his circle of influence to now question the integrity of all that they believe because of what he wrote and taught passionately for many years, but now rejects and repudiates.

I suspect Joshua thinks that questioning will be a good thing. But I have seen personally in the past the spiritual and relational destruction that follows in the wake of the failure of very visible leaders. It’s not good. It leaves others to pick up after the mess. Some never recover. Some lose their own faith in the process. We are warned in Scripture of the harmful influence of apostates — those who fall away from faith and stop believing. Joshua is now one of those we are warned about.

The hidden struggle…
Second, it seems to me that the louder some preachers yell about some particular sin, the more likely it is that sin will show up in their own life. Maybe their preaching betrays their own inner struggle with the temptation that finally overwhelms them.

So I think of Bishop Eddie Long, the loud and passionate anti-gay Atlanta preacher who was later found to be in multiple homosexual relationships and died of AIDS. Ditto for Ted Haggard, outspoken former Colorado Springs pastor and President of the National Association of Evangelicals. And there’s Bob Coy, founding pastor of Calvary Chapel, Fort Lauderdale, and Tulian Tchividjian, grandson of Billy Graham and disgraced pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. And of course Bill Hybels, the founding pastor of Chicago’s paradigm-changing Willow Creek Community Church and founder of the world-wide Leadership Summit that influenced tens of thousands of pastors and ministry leaders around the globe for over two decades. Each was a very visible and outspoken preacher of the gospel. And each crashed and burned very publically. And there are many more bad examples like them, unfortunately.

It seems their own devils got the best of them. Which makes me a bit skeptical of the loudest voices — are they bravely standing up for gospel truth, or are they crying desperately for help? (And that scares me more than a little personally as I write this post…)

Pride goes before the…
Third, each of these preachers was a major, prominent evangelical leader who somehow managed to entertain serious doubts, struggles, temptations, and character flaws … and no one seemed to notice their descent from Orthodox belief and practice into sin and disbelief. Where were the elders of their churches? Where were their friends? Too often it seems the brightest lights and loudest voices have no close friends who notice or who speak truth into their lives.

This brings me to the whole charade of “accountability partners.” I was the accountability partner of a pastor who fell into a moral abyss, discrediting himself, ultimately losing his job and home, shaming himself and his family, the church he pastored, and the name of Jesus Christ. I thought we were good, we were doing everything right for the “accountability” thing to work: meeting regularly, monitoring his online activity, befriending his family, etc.. But, there was a critical flaw in the process: he was lying to me the whole time, telling me only what he wanted me to hear and conveniently leaving out the self-incriminating stuff.

Accountability only works inside the circle of humble honesty. And most of these moral failures reveal a major underlying sin of pride. Humility, transparency, self-awareness all seem to be absent. That’s why, over and over again — 117 times by my count — the Scriptures urge us to pursue and maintain humility:
Proverbs 11: 2 – Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Colossians 3:12 – Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

3 Lessons…
So, let the lessons of Joshua Harris be a warning to each of us: First, sin isn’t just personal and private; one of the many consequences of your fall is the negative, faith-shattering impact it has on others. Second, know yourself and so be careful of judging others for the sin you struggle with. And finally, accountability is first and foremost to God; be honest with God, and with yourself; identify pride, pursue and embrace humility.

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions…”
Galatians 6:1-4a 


* I have observed that many times when someone announces that they no longer believe in Jesus or trust the Bible as God’s truth it subsequently comes to light that they are engaged in sin that is inconsistent with their professed faith — and that incongruity, that intellectual and moral disconnect between what they say they believe and what they’re doing is so difficult for them to reconcile that they have a serious choice to make: embrace the faith, or embrace the sin. Too often they choose to embrace the sin, saying something silly like “I don’t believe that anymore.” To hold onto belief is just too convicting. The guilt and shame are too deep and too real. So they try to fool themselves — comfort themselves emotionally, relieve themselves psychologically, justify themselves intellectually, and free themselves morally — with “That’s not true; I never really believed that…” Sad indeed.

Written by Steve DuPlessie · Categorized: Blog

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 72
  • Go to Next Page »

Footer


235 West Street,
Attleboro, MA 02703

Contact Us


508-226-2916


questions@gnbc.org

Connect on Social Media
      

© Copyright 2021 Good News Bible Chapel, Attleboro, MA · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Micah Bickford