Joseph Mattera
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13 Traits of ‘Orphan Spirit’ Leaders
One of the greatest needs in the body of Christ is to release the spirit of sonship (Rom. 8:15). Since the nation of Israel and the church were modeled after the biblical family structure, its leaders were supposed to function more as spiritual parents than corporate executives. The apostle Paul said that we have only …
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11 Signs You Are a Functional Atheist
Although the definition of an atheist is one that denies the existence of God, in this article, I use the word to depict those identified as Christians who live as though there is no God that they are accountable to. Unfortunately, in my estimation, a considerable percentage of Christians live as functional atheists. The following …
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6 Contrasts Between Kingdom and Worldly Views of Money
Note: This is the first part of a two-part article. Look for the second part next week. Much has been written regarding what the Bible teaches about prosperity, wealth and stewardship. Despite the vast amount of material on this subject, many believers still struggle with having a biblical mindset regarding their resources. In regards to …
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Will Preaching the Word Soon Be Illegal in America?
On April 19, 2018, the California State Assembly approved Bill AB 2943. According to this bill, the church can no longer preach or teach that homosexuality is wrong and cannot try to correct that behavior. Many are concerned about the ramifications of this. Even psychotherapy for gender dysphoria is against this law. One astute Facebook …
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9 Reasons Why God Never Tries to Prove His Existence
God is self-authenticating. He never tries to prove His existence because it is already evident through the created order. Since He is the only objective being, all other living and nonliving objects emanate from His creative fiat word hence all reasoning (different from God’s) is circular and subjective. This is why scripture says that the …
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10 Traits of Effective Churches During the Global Pandemic
In the past few years, the global pandemic has exposed the weaknesses of many local churches. Friends from around the world have told me that many churches have closed their doors for good. Although most churches have not returned to their pre-pandemic attendance numbers, some have remained effective during the crisis. As I pondered why …
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10 Reasons Why We Need to Release the Church in the Workplace
In the early church, there was no separation between the clergy and laity. This separation happened when the church began to imitate Rome, and as a result, became an institution in the fourth century. Every believer in the early church was expected to be a witness for Christ. Most congregations met in homes and many …
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How America Has Declared Its Independence From God
Since the original Declaration of Independence, which was written by Thomas Jefferson and made official in 1776, the United States has made an about-face from the values inscribed in that document. Anyone examining the Declaration of Independence is immediately impacted by the new nation’s utter dependence upon God, His providence and its Judeo-Christian worldview. The …
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10 Reasons the Apostolic Movement Is Essential to Gospel Expansion
The global apostolic movement is the most significant expression of Christianity today. This is the view expressed by historian Philip Jenkins. He talks about the rapid expansion of the church in the global south, much of which is reminiscent of the first-century apostolic movement. In his writings he claims that in North America, the fastest …
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