South Featherstone Gospel Hall

  This article is based on “5 Tips for Effective 1-on-1 Discipleship” by George Moore, published by Logos on 3 September 2026. George Moore is a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received his Master of Divinity. He serves as an elder at Avenue Community Church in Memphis, Tennessee, and has written for the Jude 3 Project, Our Daily Bread, and the North American Mission Board. Scripture quotations in the original article are taken from the CSB. Moore’s purpose is to show why one-on-one discipleship matters and then to offer practical help for doing it well. Before the five tips, he lays the biblical foundation. Jesus’ leadership plan At the age of thirty, Jesus of Nazareth began a mission that would change not only the world but the entire cosmos. He did not do it alone. He began by discipling twelve men. In The Master Plan of Evangelism, Robert Coleman argues that Jesus gives us the greatest leadership-development plan in history. He spent the majority ...

  Cultivating Spiritual Formation in the Local Church Based on a Logos article written by Steve Auld. Introduction: The Growth That Really Matters When we talk about church growth, it is natural to think about numbers. We might consider how many people attend our services each Sunday, how many new people have joined the church, how many baptisms have taken place, or how many people are involved in the various ministries and activities of the congregation. These things can certainly be encouraging, and numerical growth can be a genuine blessing from God. However, there is another kind of growth that should matter even more to the local church: spiritual growth. The deepest desire of a healthy church should not simply be to see more people sitting in its seats, but to see those people becoming increasingly hungry and thirsty for God. We should long to see Christians growing in their knowledge of Christ, walking more closely with Him, becoming increasingly like Him and bearing the fru...

  Ananias, Sapphira and the Fatal Flaw of Pretend Piety Based on an article by Chase Krug, published on the Logos blog (13 August 2026) In the early chapters of Acts, Luke paints a remarkable picture of the young Jerusalem church. Awe rested on every soul. Believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. They shared their possessions freely so that no one among them was in need, and the Lord added daily to their number those who were being saved (Acts 2:42–47; 4:32–37). By any ordinary measure the church was healthy, vibrant and growing. Yet right in the middle of this encouraging account Luke records a shocking episode of sin and sudden judgement. Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, brought a portion of the proceeds to the apostles and presented it as if it were the full amount. They kept back some of the money for themselves while claiming total generosity. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, expose...

  Sacrifices in the Bible: The Strange World of Old Testament Worship Based on the article by Wyatt Graham, published on the Logos Blog, 6 August 2026 Old Testament sacrifices can seem strange and even repulsive to modern readers — the death of animals, blood sprinkled on altars, ritual purity laws, and the language of covenant salt. Yet these offerings form a vital part of the Bible’s story. They reveal how a holy God made a way for His people to draw near to Him, and they ultimately point forward to the finished work of Jesus Christ. What Are Sacrifices? Sacrifice stood near the centre of Israel’s worship. While God always desired obedience and faithfulness more than ritual alone (1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6), the sacrificial system provided a God-given pathway for His people to know and enjoy Him. Sacrifice itself was not unique to Israel; it was common in the ancient world. What set Israel’s system apart was that it was divinely revealed and directed toward personal and community...

  Atonement Theories & 4 Aspects of Christ’s Work Based On An Article By Glenn Butner Even the youngest Christians usually know that Jesus was born to save us, lived a holy life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again from the dead. Yet many struggle to explain why these events save us. The doctrine of the atonement provides that explanation for the purposes of evangelism, apologetics, and instruction in the faith. The English word “atonement” was coined by combining “at” and “one-ment,” an older way of speaking of reconciliation. The theology of atonement explores how “God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:19). Traditionally, discussions of the atonement have focused on different “models” or “theories” that explain what Christ’s death accomplishes and how. No ecumenical council ever defined a single official explanation for the whole church. Modern theology therefore often speaks of atonement models as either competing or complement...

  Do Guardian Angels Exist? What the Bible and Christian Tradition Say In the fourth century, Basil of Caesarea wrote with confidence: “No one will deny that every believer has an angel that accompanies him, acting like a kind of pedagogue and shepherd and directing his life.” He based this on Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:10: “Do not despise one of these little ones, for their angels continually behold the face of my Father in heaven.” But is this interpretation correct? Do guardian angels exist? What Are Angels? The English word “angel” comes from the Greek angelos , meaning “messenger” (the Hebrew equivalent is mal’ak ). In the Bible the term can describe human messengers, such as John the Baptist, but more often it refers to supernatural beings sent by God. In a broader sense the word covers a range of spiritual beings: cherubim, seraphim, thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities, watchers and archangels. These beings worship God, carry out His purposes, and serve His people. Hebre...

  I saw this poster recently which is true but then thought - what scripture supports it? And the answer may be longer than you think: Core texts on grace alone (not works): Ephesians 2:8-9 (the one already on the poster) - “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Titus 3:5  “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” 2 Timothy 1:9  “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace…” Romans 3:20, 28  “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight… Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 4:4-5  “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is co...

  What Is Messianic Judaism? For nearly two thousand years, the paths of Judaism and Christianity have largely diverged. Yet this separation often obscures a foundational historical reality: the earliest followers of Jesus were Jews. They worshipped the God of Israel, read the Hebrew Scriptures, and proclaimed that the long-awaited Jewish Messiah had come. The idea that faith in this Messiah would eventually produce a religion largely disconnected from the Jewish people would have seemed almost unthinkable to them. Messianic Judaism is the modern re-emergence of that original reality — Jewish people who believe in Jesus (often called Yeshua) while continuing to live as Jews. Ancient Roots The story begins in Scripture itself. God’s covenant with Abraham established a particular people through whom blessing would come to all nations (Genesis 12:1–3). Israel was chosen not to exclude the nations but to serve as the channel of God’s redemptive purposes. Jesus’ own earthly ministry was...

  If the Jesus You’ve Met Hasn’t Changed Your Life… There’s a searching truth that needs to be spoken clearly in our day: If the Jesus you’ve met hasn’t changed your life, you haven’t met Jesus — you’ve met religion. It is possible to know a great deal about Jesus and never actually know Him. You can attend church regularly, serve faithfully, quote Scripture, sing the songs, and still remain essentially unchanged on the inside. Religion can look impressive on the outside while leaving the heart untouched. True relationship with Jesus is completely different. It is rooted in love, grace and acceptance. It transforms from the inside out. It is personal, intimate and ongoing — you talk to Him, walk with Him, and rely on Him daily. When a person truly meets Jesus, something radical happens. The Bible puts it this way: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV) God does not simply improve the old...

  Dear friends, As someone who helps lead a small church here at South Featherstone Gospel Hall, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about our situation. We’re not a big congregation, and sometimes that can feel discouraging. But this week I read a very helpful article by Curt Leonard , who holds a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry and an MDiv, and who has pastored several small churches himself. He currently serves as pastor of Holiday Park Bible Church in Pittsburgh. The article is called “I’ve Pastored Small Churches. Here’s the Advice I Needed.” It really spoke to me, so I thought I’d share some of the key points and how they apply to us here at SFGH. 1. Focus on Health, Not Size Curt’s first piece of advice is to stop worrying so much about numbers and focus instead on the spiritual health of the church. That really struck me. We can’t control how many people come through the doors, but we can focus on whether we are growing in our walk with the Lord and helping one another...