Reponse to Mike's #4 (Joel)

1. RE: Where do you guys stand on the integration between application and information? My home church is generally very practical-application driven so I tend to lean more towards information, at least at this period in my life because of how much application I feel I already heal. But I think you hit the nail on the head saying there needs to be a balance. One cannot work without the other because the information is only useless trivia without application but without the information you have nothing worth applying.

2. RE: Is application left up to the individual or is it a group effort? For this one, I think it can be a both/and thing. Ideally, I think we should teach application and work on it as a group. Application without accountability isn't always easy to follow through with. Application is also an individual effort. Ultimately you are the one who chooses whether or not to actually apply what you learn. Especially in your case, application has to be an individual effort. Sometimes the opportunity isn't provide it and so you need to make it for yourself.