10 Ways to Read Your Community
Ten ways to “read” and know your community
Read your community’s history. Even if no one has written a full history, many communities have published at least a brief record of their story. Learning that story will not only help you understand the history better, but it will also show others your interest in being a genuine part of the community. I... Continue Reading
On Dying Where You’re Planted: The Rooted Pastor
I am grudgingly accepting that you don’t choose the place, the place chooses you
“There is a risk to staying put. We should acknowledge it. That seems odd—what could be more conservative than putting down roots? But it is wildly speculative. The risk goes by the name: “opportunity cost.” By staying put you limit yourself to what the land can yield, to what this particular place can yield. And... Continue Reading
Southern Baptists To Vote On NAMB Ministry Amendment
Chaplain-led ministry near overseas military bases someday may become part of the North American Mission Board's church planting outreach
The SBC Executive Committee approved a recommendation to be presented to messengers in Columbus, Ohio, to enable NAMB to “provide specialized, defined and agreed upon assistance to the International Mission Board in assisting churches to plant churches for specific groups outside the United States and Canada.” NASHVILLE (BP) — Chaplain-led ministry near overseas military... Continue Reading
Fifteen Reasons Our Churches Are Less Evangelistic Today
There is widespread concern about the lack of evangelism in our churches and among Christians.
I conducted an unscientific Twitter poll recently to see what church leaders and church members thought of this trend, My specific question was: “Why do you think many churches aren’t as evangelistic as they once were?” The responses arrived quickly and in great numbers, both in public tweets and in direct messages to me. Indeed,... Continue Reading
The Early Church & the Deity of Christ
Did the early church fathers affirm the deity of Jesus Christ? Or was it only after the fourth century (and the Council of Nicaea) that Christian leaders began to articulate their belief in God the Son?
Though it’s not an exhaustive list, here are 25 quotes from a number of ante-Nicene church fathers demonstrating their belief in the deity of Jesus Christ. These early Christian theologians all lived before the time of Constantine and the Council of Nicaea. As such, they provide incontrovertible proof (from post-New Testament history) that Constantine was... Continue Reading
What Makes Millennials Stay in Church
A new study confirms the importance of parents in fostering kids’ adult faith.
“If you had to ask for a mixture of things that overall are correlated with strong Christian beliefs and strong Christian orthopraxy, you’d be looking at making sure mom and dad developed a relationship with their teens, … that they’re regular participants in a local church, and they practice home-based, parent-led discipleship,” said Brian Ray,... Continue Reading
Top Ten Reasons to Attend Evening Worship
If worship is good and true for the morning, why not for Sunday evening?
Recently, in my weekly email to my congregation, I gave my people my “Top Ten Reasons to Attend Evening Worship” in an ongoing effort to educate, encourage, and exhort. They are not exhaustive and they apply to my context, in particular, but the principles should be applicable to any who reads this. May God move his... Continue Reading
Presbytery of the James (PCUSA) Demands $3.5 million for Property; Church Offers $400,000
The presbytery wants $3.5 million for Crestwood Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Va., to withdraw from the PCUSA and join the ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians
Crestwood’s counter offer was $400,000, and while in negotiations, the other costs were added. Crestwood’s offer, it said, compared with settlements reach by other churches that had successfully negotiated their way out of the presbytery, and was an estimate of what the church could afford to pay. After several churches have negotiated their way... Continue Reading
The Top Ten Most Fiercely Defended Traditions in Churches
A tradition is neither inherently good nor bad. Its value or its distraction in a given church really depends on how members treat the traditions.
By “traditions,” I am referring to those extra-biblical customs that become a way of life for many congregations. A tradition is neither inherently good nor bad. Its value or its distraction in a given church really depends on how members treat the traditions. I recently embarked on a major research project for a new... Continue Reading
Mainline Protestant Decline and Hope
Liberal inclusivity and diversity should have been enticing to Millennials and other sought after demographics, right? Of course not.
My United Methodist friend remarked upon hearing this story that in general we know what will grow a church. It’s not a mystery. The real question is, do we want the biblical message and ministry that will attract new people, or do we prefer less challenging alternatives, with predictable outcomes. Church vitality or decline to... Continue Reading
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