“The most common factor in declining churches is an inward focus. The ministries are only for the members. The budgetary funds are used almost exclusively to meet the needs of the members. The times of worship and worship styles are geared primarily for the members. Conflict takes place when members don’t get things their way.... Continue Reading

If there’s one thing that I would add to that, and it isn’t really an add on, it’s how the word, prayer, and sacraments take shape on the ground. That’s where discipleship steps in. I love personal and pulpit evangelism. I’m sharing the gospel with 14 other people outside of Sunday worship! It’s the “word”... Continue Reading

Or can we encourage people to follow Jesus within the context of remaining a cultural Hindu, Buddhist or Muslim? Do we tell converts not to get baptized and not to join the church? For 2,000 years, this was not even a question. Thousands of men and women from other religious backgrounds have converted to Christ,... Continue Reading

Pastoral advice to the churches from the United Reformed Church in North America (URCNA) on issues raised in the teaching found in the Federal Vision. Synod affirms that the Scriptures and confessions teach the doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone and that nothing that is taught under the rubric of covenant theology... Continue Reading

And this decision on our part does not mean that we have already left the RCA. Now that our petition has been filed, we will enter into a formal process with the classis—a series of meetings and reports which will take place over the next 6-8 months, as spelled out in detail by our Book of... Continue Reading

“Windwood has been engaged in prolonged litigation with the Presbytery of New Covenant over church property issues. That dispute is not resolved by the congregation’s vote to realign with ECO. A press release from the church verified that on May 18, 2014, Windwood Presbyterian Church held a congregational meeting and that 395 ballots were given... Continue Reading

How can we serve “messy” people? How can we make “messy” people feel welcome in our churches? Several ways: Don’t act shocked when we see sin. Unfortunately, we tend to act shocked when certain sins or struggles come to light. We aren’t surprised by pride or anger or impatience. Regularly acknowledge our own sins, failures, and... Continue Reading

Many younger Evangelicals who leave “the faith once delivered” do so for reasons well beyond the “pernicious sexism, religious intolerance, and conservative politics”….Our ministries are diluted and rendered, ultimately, powerless, when we fail to proclaim the whole counsel of God, when we cater to listeners’ feelings more than their needs, and when self-loathing becomes more... Continue Reading

This twinge of fear was the latest in a long line of red flags that as a church, the PCA is less and less confident in the power of the Holy Spirit, and more and more reliant upon the wisdom of the age; less and less committed to Christ’s design for the church, and more... Continue Reading

The conservative element in the local PCUS presbyteries had become generically evangelical, or in some cases fundamentalist. Most ruling elders in the majority of conservative churches had never read the Westminster Confession of Faith.  Actually, I don’t think many of them even knew it existed.  It’s an embarrassing fact, but it is true!    ... Continue Reading