To purely preach the gospel, a minister must preach that sinners are justified by the free grace of God alone, which is received through faith alone, which itself is a gift of God, and that this faith is placed in and rests on nothing except Jesus Christ the Righteous. Churches must see to it, in... Continue Reading

A 2008 survey by LifeWay Research found that “unchurched adults”—those who hadn’t attended a church, mosque, or synagogue in the past six months other than for holidays or events—are more turned off to utilitarian buildings. More Americans prefer a medieval cathedral to a contemporary church building…the look of a Gothic cathedral was more likely to... Continue Reading

As we stand at our Kadesh Barnea, we have a choice. We, too, can retreat into a wilderness of wasted opportunity. We can rest content in casual, convenient, cozy, comfortable Christian lives as we cling to the safety and security this world offers. We can coast through a cultural landscape marked by materialism, characterized by... Continue Reading

Ultimately, we are called to love one another like Jesus loves us. If the way we live our lives hurts someone else, we have the freedom and power in Christ to change for their sake. Even if the way someone else lives their life is distasteful to us, we have the freedom and power in... Continue Reading

Unity is not just a word. It must be a reality in order to mean anything. In a Confessional church like the PCA, our unity is framed by our Confession and by our willingness to be in subjection to our brethren. If we will not set aside our personal views and preferences for the sake... Continue Reading

I have nothing against college or youth groups. In fact, I’ve heard many great things from such programs. As like-minded youth gather to hear the scriptures taught by a church leader, they are encouraged as they feel their issues are being addressed, edified by their peers whom they see as going through similar circumstances, and... Continue Reading

Churches and individual partners, you need to insist the missionaries you support are communicating with you. You are just as much a part of that ministry as the missionary in the field. Get passionate about your calling towards missions. Demand regular communication from your missionaries, but also take the initiative. Check in on them. Tell... Continue Reading

Deliberately mine the historic tradition of psalmody and hymnody for worship.  Not that anything written by anyone still alive is to be excluded.  Far from it.  But try to make sure the songs of worship reflect the chronological sweep of the church’s life, from the Book of Psalms onwards.  Make people aware that praise did... Continue Reading

But many times, probably more than we would like to believe, a church member leaves a local body because he or she has a sense of entitlement. I would therefore suggest that the main reason people leave a church is because they have an entitlement mentality rather than a servant mentality.     Numbers of gifted... Continue Reading

God has designed the pronouncement of a Scriptural blessing or benediction to be the conclusion or culmination of the corporate worship of his people. By it the people who have gathered together in God’s name and with his presence among them depart with the assurance that God has indeed been in their midst and that... Continue Reading