Monday's Catch: "Ask These Four Questions to Make Your Christmas Outreach More Effective" and More

Ask These Four Questions to Make Your Christmas Outreach More Effective

For us, outreach during the holidays is critical to reach people before the long Maine winter sets in. Here are the questions that have helped us understand and serve our community in a more effective way. Read More

Five Key Steps to Reach and Retain Guests

These...are five key steps to reach and retain guests. Most of these can be implemented in your church right away. Read More

Rural Stories: Books to Challenge, Inspire, and Encourage the Small Town Pastor

Here are a few of the recent books that I’ve found to be helpful. The books in this list are certainly not the last word. There are more stories to tell. Perhaps yours is one of them. Read More

4 Truths About Christian Giving

This article is adapted from Weakness is the Way: Life With Christ Our Strength by J. I. Packer. Read More

The One Genuine Cure for Legalism and Antinomianism

...just as there is more to legalism than first meets the eye, the same is true of antinomianism. Read More

Effective Church Leaders Do Not Treat Everyone Equally

If you don't decide whose opinions carry the greatest weight, the loudest voices will win and your ministry will be reactive, not proactive. Read More

Elements of a Great Worship Service

God does what He does when He wants to. There’s no special formula to create a worship atmosphere. But with a humble heart, consider these ideas that will encourage an attitude of worship in the hearts of your people.... Read More

While Don Chapman is writing for the supposedly "contemporary" church, he makes a number of suggestions that might also work in more traditional churches. For example, rather having the usual organ prelude before the service, an instrumental prelude might be played on the cello; a medieval hymn tune might be played on the tin whistle, fiddle, lute, and oboe; a hymn or gospel song might be sung by a soloist; or a metrical psalm or anthem might sung by the choir. Other instruments beside the organ might be used to accompany hymns or special music during the service. And so on.

Why Do I Do Stupid and Sinful Things? 

Why do I do stupid things? Where do those desires come from? How did that idea pop into my head? Read More