Around the Table

Guests:
Steph Baner
Lynn Fiechter
Fred Witzig

Show notes: 

• What are pros and cons; what expectations should congregations have
• What expectations should ministers have? What is the congregation's role?
• Thoughts of retired minister
• Different minister models: priest, wise sage, body (entire congregation responsible for the Word)
• Value in shared ministry model (involving entire congregation).
• Ministers are committed, but want to know how to do it.
• Ministers need to rely upon Holy Spirit; need for congregation to pray.
• Need to deal consistently with difficult Bible passages across our congregations.
• Weight of responsibility is good.
• Should not think I have to do it all.
• Should not compare ourselves; we are each uniquely gifted.
• Pulpit does not contain all gifts the church needs.
• Weakness of our model is for ministers to reduce expectations too far because of the congregation's involvement.
• Study of Word is healthy expectation (Instructions from Timothy).

Guests:
Brad Eisenmann, Randy Gudeman, Mark Masters

Guests:
Brad Eisenmann, Lynn Fiechter, Nick Gutwein, Wayne Hartzler, Ben Wiegand

Show Notes:
Benefits of revision and categorization.
Goal and benefit of identifying practices.
Some of our practices are not clearly spelled out in the word.
Need to teach principles behind our practices.
Acknowledge concerns around Statement of Faith revision.
Man-made document will never be perfect.
Likely will need future revisions based on the word.
Examples of distinctive practices/understanding.
Hope for how revised document will be viewed by brotherhood.
Acknowledge efforts by past brothers on original Statement of Faith.

Guests:
Brad Eisenmann, Lynn Fiechter, Nick Gutwein, Wayne Hartzler, Ben Wiegand

Show notes:
Historical account of existing Statement of Faith.
Acknowledged concerns around revising Statement of Faith.
Must understand what we believe to preserve sound doctrine (pillar).
Make understandable to those outside of our church.
Carefulness expressed.
Involved many in the church, outside of elder body, into revision process.
Focused on process, not on getting it done quickly.
Process involves spending considerable time in the Word.
Explained separating doctrine from tradition (categorization).
Limits of categorization.
Difficulty of categorization.

Guests:
Randy Beer
Matt Kaufmann
Mark Streitmatter 

Show notes:

• Red flags in seeking a mate:
• Looking to marriage to fix me?
• Resistance to transparency & counsel.
• Spending time and talking intimately with opposite sex.
• Feelings win against reason; be thoughtful; don't lead with emotions.
• Good recommendations when seeking a mate: be involved in church activities; build relationships and friendships; build relationship with God; learn how to battle with Satan and overcome; learn healthy interactions with both sexes including mother/father.
• We need to know God has led us together, especially when the storms come.
• Does God have only one mate for me? Don't put God in a box. We should not be on a journey to find "the one". God directs our path; not scripted.
• What do I do when I feel led to ask for a brother/sister? Best advice is to consult with elder.
• Can't eliminate hurt from our world or our own lives.

Guests:
Randy Beer
Matt Kaufmann
Mark Streitmatter

Show notes:

• Connection of marriage to the bride of Christ.
• Our adversary would like to disrupt godly marriages.
• Value of lifelong commitment with sacrificial love.
• Love thrives in an atmosphere of commitment.
• What are pitfalls of marriage by faith? Unrealistic expectations. (Explored more in Part 2)
• Singleness is a time to get to know God; searching him out; preparing ourselves to be married and be parents.
• Marriage problems have roots before marriage.
• Need to be content in whatever state or aspect of life we are in.
• What does it mean to marry by faith? Don't try to predict what God wants. Seek God first; his righteousness. God has it all figured out; trust him.
• Faith needs to be in God, not in ourselves.
• Faith is not having it all figured out (not certainty), but certain that God will have his way.
• God is the faithful One.
• Marriage is a discernment process grounded in faith.
• Faith involves getting godly counsel.
• How do I get godly counsel?
• Elders often have a lot of experience counseling singles about marriage.
• Godly parents are helpful; ministers; a trusted friend.
• What is our picture of a godly wife/husband?
• Society says to choose wife/husband by yourself.
• ACCFS has resource for self reflection.
• Questions to ask yourself:
  • Am I ready for marriage? emotionally, financially....? 
  • Am I willing to be transparent?

Guests:
Nick Gutwein
Greg Lehman

Guests: 
Lynn Fiechter
Steve Ringger

Guests:
Tim Funk
Herbie Knochel

Guests: 
Marvin Dotterer
Dan Leman
Mark Leuthold
Fred Witzig

Show notes:
• Vulnerability shared
• Impact on wife and family
• Honest questions from kids shared
• Good examples how the congregation can help with young kids
• Challenges shared regarding time commitments
• Helpful to wife that congregation didn't view them differently
• Blessings shared: faith building & growing in the word, God revealing himself in personal ways
• Personal/vulnerable challenges shared
• Course for new ministers from ETR focused on lessons from Timothy: what the course is like
• How the course supports minister's wives
• Unexpected blessing of ETR course: community
• Suggestions for minister support from congregation