The dinners provide all kinds of opportunities to serve. Families with children set up tables and chairs and put out tableware. Food and drinks are served restaurant-style by local youth groups, allowing the teens to interact with those whom they serve. Our guests sense that something is different about our church and this ministry, and... Continue Reading

Historically, the church orally instructed children and new converts in the Bible’s teaching and its doctrines; therefore most catechisms have a question-and-answer format. One of the earliest catechisms is the Didache, or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles.   The Importance of Catechesis During my childhood, my friends and I used to run home after school and... Continue Reading

Robinson says it’s not unusual for him to roll into church service wearing the same clothes from a gig the night before, but playing Sunday mornings typically discourages him from being “too reckless” on Saturday evenings. There are always exceptions.   Musicians take gigs from almost anywhere. Want them to play in a dirty old... Continue Reading

We will need to put more energy into building systems, including systems that account for the temptations of power, that will last for generations. We will need to somehow quell our lust to feel close to people who can charm the camera and hold the spotlight—recognizing that the half-life of such leadership has always been... Continue Reading

The church, founded in the Willow Creek Theater in Barrington, Illinois, also remains an evangelical powerhouse—and a model for churches around the country. It boasts a worship attendance of more than 25,000, making it the sixth-largest church in Outreach Magazine’s list of America’s 100 largest churches.   When the #MeToo movement arose this past fall, Willow... Continue Reading

Woodson’s story reignited the conversation over how church leaders can better address abuse allegations by alerting the police and/or allowing outside firms to investigate. “When people see churches trying to handle investigations of their own leaders internally, it leads many to doubt whether the church really desires to bring the truth to light,” wrote researcher... Continue Reading

Reflecting on that covenant it dawned on me how it might be a way to balance the expectations church members have of their pastor (and elders) with biblical expectations of the church folks.  Church members often feel free to voice, even demand, their expectations of pastors, elders, leadership and deacons with little regard for the impact... Continue Reading

“It is helpful to understand why churches resist change. I want to look at some of the things that lead to crisis, understanding that if the signs are recognized early enough, it may not come to drastic measures.”   Leading a church into revitalization is a daunting task. It takes much prayer, grace, and strength.... Continue Reading

“First, our children won’t see the church as valuable unless we see the church as valuable. If our children see that we’re happy to drop church whenever it suits us, there isn’t going to be much hope that they will view it as important.”   We had an interesting, if perhaps emotionally loaded, discussion at... Continue Reading

“For some, owning their faith may lead them to lose their life, their family, or their job. But that’s probably not you. After all, not all suffering is life-threatening or career-ending, is it? Almost all of us will suffer social rejection, criticism, or ridicule for identifying with Christ. The friendship that goes cold; the snide... Continue Reading