When we describe the church as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic we mustn’t miss the emphasis on fellowship, which is the outward expression of a spirit and attitude of love.  To be one is to be united not merely by mutual assent to a doctrinal statement or creed, but by a genuine care and concern... Continue Reading

Polyamory is but the next movement to find an accepting audience among professing Christians already willing to justify any consensual sexual relationship with revisionist readings of Christian history and theology. Many Christians have been warning those of us who hold to monogamous heterosexual marriage as sexuality’s only valid expression that this day was coming.   Chuck and his wife made their... Continue Reading

Pastor as overseer of worship music does not mean he has to pick every song out, but it means that he certainly can. Exercising oversight can be done from near or from far, but it must be done. Pastor if your church music is missing the mark theologically, or is unsuitable for corporate singing, you... Continue Reading

Typically, people reduce this to geography: “I’m moving out of my parent’s house and in with my new wife across town.” But “leaving and cleaving” also alters your parents’ authority and responsibility. Once a couple gets married, there’s a seismic shift in the parents’ role. They don’t stop being Mom and Dad, but they can’t expect... Continue Reading

The plan is to help the five campuses transition to “autonomous churches” by 2022. The purpose in transitioning is to free up these congregations so they can plant more churches themselves and engage in their communities as well as be more involved with the global work of the church.   Matt Chandler is the lead... Continue Reading

“One factor in the decline was the liberal theological direction of the denomination, including its growing acceptance of homosexuality and gay marriage. In 2003, when it appointed its first openly gay bishop, the Rev. Gene Robinson, scores of congregations left the denomination.”   The Episcopal Church in the U.S. lost nearly 35,000 members last year,... Continue Reading

“To be clear, most church members do not make these statements nor do they reflect these attitudes. But healthier church members should and must speak up when they hear other members making such destructive statements.”   Words have meaning. And if church members start articulating words consistently, those words begin to reflect the priorities and... Continue Reading

We should certainly preach about the blessings God bestows, so long as we teach that the purpose of every one is the praise of God’s glorious grace (Eph. 1:3–6). He secures an inheritance for us, not ultimately for our comfort, but for his glory (Eph. 1:11–12, 14). He saves us in such a way that he alone... Continue Reading

Singing in parts is a reflection of the Body of Christ that serves one another with different functions. The melody is supported by the harmony, the inner voices contribute tension and release, color, and enriched harmonic textures. The sopranos need the basses who need the altos and tenors.   I love plainsong chant and the... Continue Reading

They—like all of us—still need discipleship. They may not always understand how deeply they need discipleship, but I’ve always found senior adults open to learning from someone who loves them.   If you’re a church leader, you need to spend intentional time with a senior adult – or with a lot of them. Even a monthly... Continue Reading