“What does this concern for normality look like when it is applied to public worship? In services it manifests itself in attempts to make visitors, especially non-Christian visitors, feel as comfortable as possible.”   My first article began with the observation that Satan ambitiously aims to attack the church at the very points that are... Continue Reading

Noting that the gaychurch.org website defines “affirming” as “the church does not view homosexuality in and of itself as a sin,” the association gave University Baptist a choice—disassociate from the website or disassociate from the association. The association gave the church until 2 p.m. on Oct. 20 to make a decision.   Last week a... Continue Reading

“Martin Luther, a scholar, took quill in hand, dipped it in his inkwell and penned his 95 Theses on October 31, 1517. These were intended to spark a debate, to stir some soul-searching among his fellow brothers in the church.”   A single event on a single day changed the world. It was October 31,... Continue Reading

Scripture could not be more clear on the adequacy and finality of Christ’s atoning work. Yet, in every mass, Rome asserts that Christ, cannot really be seated anywhere in heaven, but is ready, waiting, and being summoned back down for additional sacrifice to atone for sin. On this teaching alone Rome renders herself a desecration... Continue Reading

In celebrating Communion, we come to a table, not to an altar. Among all the critical rediscoveries during the Reformation, it is easy to overlook the importance of recovering the Lord’s Supper as a covenantal meal (not a re-presenting of Christ’s atoning death) with all the elements (bread and cup) distributed to every believer (no... Continue Reading

But because we live in an imperfect world, I’ll just assume everyone has one (or maybe at the most two) lifetime church changes in them while they are living in the same community. I understand that churches change, leaders changes, you change, and so a readjustment in your church home is not out of the question…. I’m talking... Continue Reading

Harris recently received a letter from the City of Oakland stating someone had filed a noise ordinance violation against the church due to a “nuisance activity, namely excessive noise in the form of choir practice with live musical instruments … and amplified voices.” The letter accused the choir of spoiling “the use and quiet enjoyment... Continue Reading

Sadly, for several years the sexual molestation of minors has been the number one reason that churches went to court. Victims in these cases generally allege that a church is responsible for their injuries on the basis of negligent selection, retention, or supervision of the perpetrator. Churches have lost many of these cases due to... Continue Reading

“I have found it helpful to describe a dynamic equilibrium for this congregation and other small to mid-sized congregations I have served, and then to hold that condition before them as a measure of vitality. Dynamic equilibrium suggests that the congregation is a complex organism with staying power, but an organism with certain key indicators... Continue Reading

“Understand that I’m not opposed to change. I’m honestly not. I may not like change, but it’s more because everything seems to be changing than it is my opposition to church change. Help me understand the change, and I’ll be with you. What I’m opposed to is change that’s not well thought out.”   I’m... Continue Reading