Recovering the Revolutionary Nature of Christianity
Why we can't afford to forget history. Read More
Church Planting and Commuting in the Mega-Regions
Leverage your commuting members to plant new churches. Read More
11 Reasons to Love the Senior Adults in Your Church
Occasionally, I speak in a church that is predominantly senior adults. Each time I do, I think about how a church like that is going to survive – but I also remember why senior adults matter. Remembering these things reminds me to love them even as we make changes to grow the church. Read More
The Too Visible Church
Theologians like to speak of the distinction between the invisible church and the visible church. The invisible church “consists of the whole number of the elect” (WCF 25.1), meaning all true Christians. The visible church “consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion” (WCF 25.2), or in other words all those who are baptized and in Christian congregations. Every local congregation is part of the visible church, for it is the church that the world sees.
Yet I wonder if in our day and age the church may be too visible? Read More
When Christians Dwell in Unity
All believers have experienced this truth: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” (Ps. 133:1). Sadly, we have also experienced its corollary: “How bad and miserable it is when brothers are divided.” Is it possible for brothers and sisters to disagree and yet maintain unity? By God’s grace, we can know this blessedness even in the midst of disagreement. To do so, we must keep firmly in mind and heart three considerations: the presuppositions of disagreement, the provocations of disagreement, and the practice of disagreement. Read More
Five Myths About the Ancient Heresy of Gnosticism
Gnosticism was a heretical version of Christianity that burst on the scene primarily in the second century and gave the orthodox Christians a run for their money. And it seems that some scholars look back and wish that the Gnostics had prevailed. Read More
10 Things You Should Know about God's Omnipresence
The word “omnipresence” refers to the truth that God is everywhere: from here in the room where I sit to beyond the galaxies that the Hubble telescope is able to probe. Let’s look at ten things we should know about this attribute of God. Read More
Six Surprising Insights Regarding Church Budgets and Salaries - Rainer on Leadership #285 [Podcast]
Church budgets and staff salaries are sometimes sore subjects in churches. Today Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe examine six trends in church budgeting and salaries that affect churches of any size or denomination. Listen Now
3 Ways Personality Tests Can Enhance Your Leadership
While I would not classify myself as a huge proponent of personality tests, I have used them in settings in which I lead because I find them very helpful. They are not the end-all of leadership and we must remember that people are much more than their personality profile’s color, animal, or mix of letters. But they can enhance your leadership in at least three ways.... Read More
When God Goes Big And I Go Small
The Bible often speaks in broad words, in great sweeping statements. We often observe so little nuance in its words, so few exceptions to its commands. As we read the Bible we come across statements like these.... Read More
How to Be an Innovator Without Being an Imitator
Innovative leadership should constantly drive us to communicate eternal truths in fresh, new ways. Read More
7 Keys to Exponentially Increase Your Youth Ministry Impact
The seven keys I’m about to share with you were the result of a research project, first among hundreds of youth leaders across the nation, and then throughout the book of Acts. These specific values popped to the top of every high performing youth ministry as well as on every page of the book of Acts. There’s really no magic formula or shocking surprise here. What’s shocking is that somehow most of us have missed so many of them in how we view and do youth ministry. Read More
Time to Quit Social Media
Cal Newport had a provocative recent column at The New York Times titled “Quit Social Media: Your Career May Depend Upon It.” In spite of being a bestselling author and blogger, as well as a tenured computer science professor at Georgetown, Newport is not on social media. (Indeed, he does seem to have a Twitter account, from which he has tweeted once.) Here’s one of his concerns.... Read More
9Marks Journal: Healthy Churches around the World
One of our hopes for this Journal is that it will spur you on in prayer for our brothers and sisters around the globe. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of prayer requests from our contributors. Read Online or Download
New Documentary on G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton has been included as one of Catholicism’s “pivotal players” in a new video series produced by Robert Barron. A Catholic friend sent me the video, noting that Chesterton is a pivotal player for all of Christianity, not merely Catholicism. And this video helps us understand why. Read More
Report: How Abortion Clinics Endanger Women
A new report documents how the unsafe conditions and practices at abortion clinics like Planned Parenthood are a public health crisis that endangers women. Read More
Laurie Thompson appointed Dean of TSM
On December 6, 2016, the Board of Trustees of Trinity School for Ministry unanimously appointed The Rev. Dr. Henry L. Thompson (Laurie) as the seventh Dean/President of the Seminary, effective immediately. Read More
The Leaders Of Africa's Anglican Christian Churches Are 'Despotic' Says Nigerian Archbishop
The Archbishop who heads the leadership team at the Anglican Communion has confessed he took the job because he felt called to do something to address the "disagreement and even hatred" between fellow Anglicans. Read More
GAFCON Chairman's Advent 2016 Pastoral Letter
At the heart of our mission is the task of restoring the Bible to its rightful place at the centre of the Anglican Communion and if we really believe its message, then everything we do will be shaped by the promise of Christ’s glorious, personal and universal return as Saviour, Judge and Lord. In an uncertain world, this is certain. The election of an outsider as the next President in the United States and the upheaval of the UK’s vote to leave the European Union earlier this year remind us of the uncertainty of human rule and the urgency of proclaiming God’s rule and kingdom. Read More
'We Have No Fear... We Are Ready To Lay Down Our Lives For Christ': Chinese Christians To Evangelise In North Korea
Chinese Christians training missionaries to share the gospel in North Korea – ranked the worst country in the world for Christian persecution – say they have "no fears" about the brutal treatment they may face. Read More
Christians Face 'Pervasive And Long-Standing Persecution' In Burma
Christianity is institutionally discriminated against in Burma and Buddhism has been elevated to the de facto state religion, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today said in a stark warning about lack of religious freedom in the country. Read More
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