Africa, Animism and the Dangers of the Prosperity Gospel

The PG movement is nothing more than humans seeking to discover the forces that are influencing them and then manipulate their power. This is animism at its core, with a few Bible verses and Jesus attached.

If we want to see a reformation among African churches, we must intentionally and fervently ground our ministry efforts in a grace-alone gospel. Read More

A fascinating article.

Wednesday's Catch: Women Who Bore Good News and More

Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and her companions

The First Female Evangelists

Mary Magdalene and the woman at the well couldn’t help but share their good news. Read More

Should Prostitution Be Legal? [Video]

Legal prostitution makes women in the sex industry more vulnerable to harm and fuels sex trafficking. Sadly, there are many who think that legalizing prostitution would somehow make it safer for the women being sold. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Watch Now

Share this video with your church or small group.

5 Reasons Church Lighting Matters to Older Adults

I never thought I’d say this, but I’m now in the older generation at my church. I don’t feel old, though, and I prefer contemporary praise choruses or well-done hymns with a contemporary feel. To be honest, I most think about my age when the lighting is so low in a church that it’s tough for me to see. Here are some reasons the lighting really does matter to older folks.... Read More

Why We Sing With The Lights On

Why do we sing with the lights on and why would I consider this important enough to be the topic of this article? Here are a few reasons.... Read More

The Pastor and Pornography

The latest issue of 9Marks Journal is now on the Internet. Download or Read Online

In her research the late Dr. Judianne Densen-Gerber found a connection between pornography and child sexual abuse.

Monday's Catch: All Hallows Eve and More

Don’t Worry, There Are More Demons Than You Think

What Halloween gets right about spirits and why Christians have nothing to be afraid of. Read 
More

6 Ideas for Thinking about Halloween with Your Kids

What’s a Christian to do, anyway, when October 31 rolls around? Read More

It is okay to "celebrate"Halloween as we would "celebrate" the eve of any Christian feast day. Halloween is not Samain, the old Celtic festival marking the end of the old year and the beginning of the new, even though a number of its customs have migrated to Halloween. It is the eve of Hallowmas, or All Hallows Day, a Christian feast day on which all saints, known and unknown, are honored. It is also a feast day on which all the faithful departed are remembered. "Hallow" is an old English way of saying "saint" and Halloween is derived from All Hallows Even, which became Hallowe'en and then Halloween over the centuries. Halloween and Hallowmas form together the liturgical season of Hallowtide. In Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States a number of churches are named All Hallows Church or the Church of All Hallows. All Hallows by the Tower is the oldest church in the city of London and and was founded by the Abbey of Barking in 675 AD, 300 years before the Tower of London. Parents need to teach their children about the real Halloween and why Christians celebrate Halloween and Hallowmas.

Anti-Semitism and Unforgivable Sin

Hate is weak. Mercy is strong. Read More

The FAQs: What Christians Should Know About Antisemitism

Joe Carter explains what antisemitism is and what Christians can do about it. Read More

Jerks for Jesus

Does the Bible support acting like a jerk online? Read More

Didn't Jesus tell his disciples to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves?

Wicca: An Old Deception in a New Form

The news story couldn’t have been more direct: “There may now be more Americans who identify as practicing witches … than there are members of mainline Presbyterianism.”

Oh my.

Even worse:

“… Wicca has effectively repackaged witchcraft for millennial consumption. No longer are witchcraft and paganism satanic and demonic … it’s a ‘pre-Christian tradition’ that promotes ‘free thought’ and ‘understanding of earth and nature.’”

Now for the worst of the worst:

“Despite biblical warnings against the practice of witchcraft, the Rev. Valerie Love, who describes herself as a practicing Christian witch and an ordained minister of spiritual consciousness, is insisting that there is nothing wrong with Christians being witches and has recently launched a school to help Christians tap into magic.

“‘Stop thinking you can tell people how to worship. Stop thinking you can tell people how to connect with the divine. I could tell you how many people have told me, “You can’t be a Christian witch” but here I am. See, you can’t tell me how to worship. You cannot tell me how to connect with the divine. That’s between me and God. You cannot tell me how to pray,’ a defiant Love declared in a recent rant on Facebook.”

I think it’s time for some biblical theology. Read More

Related Article:
3 Warning Signs Someone Is Dabbling in the Occult

Wicca has certainly gained a foothold here in the Southern Bible Belt. But then the Bible Belt has always had a segment of the population that practiced witchcraft in one form or another. Their clientele included churchgoers as well as non-churchgoers and they themselves may also have attended church and even may have been pillars of their local church. Many so-called "folk remedies" may involve the recitation of a charm or spell and may employ the principles of sympathetic magic. 

In The Land Of Dracula, Witches Work As 'Life Coaches' Of The Supernatural

Transylvania

Magic "is beautiful and dangerous — it is a fight between good and evil," says third-generation witch Mihaela Minca. A 2014 survey found that in Romania, one in five people believe witches have powers.

The witch lives in the suburbs of the Romanian capital, Bucharest, in a busy village with a Renaissance palace.

There's a poster of her outside her house in Mogoșoaia: "The most powerful witch from Europe," the poster reads, "Mihaela Minca."

"Welcome, welcome!" she says, emerging through a beaded curtain at the front entrance. She's in a floor-length, black dress with bright flowers. Her hair, also black, is pulled back in a baby-blue headscarf.

"I can solve any kind of problem — with love, success, anything," she insists, leading us to a dining room with gold-painted chairs that resemble thrones. "I am a witch who gets results." Read More

Related Article:
What The Real Witches Of America Eat

Our local psychic has relocated from the town's main street to a location near the edge of town and now advertises that she is a "life coach." I don't know how large a clientele she has but she has been in business for more than 25 years.

If You Hate Jews, You Hate Jesus

Jesus unrolls the scroll of the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue

On the Jewish Sabbath this week, a white nationalist terrorist murdered eleven worshippers within Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue, in what is being called the deadliest attack on Jewish people in American history. Sadly, in a time when it seems that every week brings more bloodshed and terror in this country, we should not let the news cycle move on without a sober reflection of what this attack means for us as Christians.

Such is especially true as we look out a world surging with resurgent “blood-and-soil” ethno-nationalism, much of it anti-Semitic in nature. As Christians, we should have a clear message of rejection of every kind of bigotry and hatred, but we should especially note what anti-Semitism means for people who are followers of Jesus Christ. We should say clearly to anyone who would claim the name “Christian” the following truth: If you hate Jews, you hate Jesus.

Anti-Semitism is, by definition, a repudiation of Christianity as well as of Judaism. This ought to be obvious, but world history, even church history, shows us this is not the case. Christians reject anti-Semitism because we love Jesus. Read More

Last week I overheard a conversation in the hall of the building in which I take classes at the local university. A young man was telling a young woman that he was a member of the National Socialist Workers Party. In other words, he was telling her that he was a Nazi. What was unusual about this young man for a university student was that he was clean cut and wearing a jacket and bow tie. I don't think that the young woman grasped what he was saying. I believe that I have heard on a previous occasion the same young man tell a different student that he came from an evangelical Christian background and at one time planned to attend seminary and to become a pastor.

Recapturing a Love for Public Scripture Reading

One of the startling ironies facing our church culture is the simple fact that as access to the Bible has increased biblical literacy has decreased. In recent years, many have observed this growing problem (see Lifeway study here) and some, such as Ed Stetzer, have proposed solutions (see here and here) that advocate for, among other things, more intensive discipleship and small groups Bible studies. Certainly these practices will help and I pray that more churches implement them.

But I also want to propose an additional remedy: recapturing a love for the public reading of Scripture.[i]

I don’t assume that corporate Scripture reading alone will cure the problem, but it can’t hurt either. If only for a few moments, it will unite the entire church in a communal act of listening and engaging the word of God, which might just help us take some incremental steps toward hiding the word in our hearts. Read More

Because their liturgies include Scripture readings, Anglicans, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Orthodox, and Roman Catholics may be tempted to dismiss this article. But we need to ask ourselves how the Scriptures are read in our services? Are they read indifferently or prayerfully, from the heart, with a palpable reverence for God's Word? I think that we would be wise to take our cue from Stephen Presley's closing words: "The example of public Scripture reading in the early church reminds us that cultivating this art does not happen by chance, it requires careful reflection and preparation."

To Follow Jesus Is to Live Mission

What a Parable Teaches Us about Evangelism

The Lord calls us to spread the seed of His Word as we go, trusting Him with the growth. Only God knows the conditions of the soils and the souls we meet. We’re simply called to sow. Read More

The Benefits of Sharing Your Story

There are so many kingdom benefits to sharing what God has done in you. And one of those benefits is your freedom. When you share your story, it gives you opportunity for deeper healing and freedom in your life. Read More

Fighting Fear When It Comes to Sharing Your Faith

We think we’re chasing happiness when we follow our fearful heart, but fear sabotages our joy every time. Read More

Evidence through Action

How do we know God loves us when we can't feel it?

...Then I remembered St. Patrick’s ministry in Ireland.

Way back in the mid-400s, Patrick began traveling in that country, moving from settlement to settlement, staying with the people, loving them and working among them. Through his ministry, monastic communities sprang up. These communities were different from what we normally think of when we think of monastic communities where monks separated themselves from the rest of society for a life of solitude and prayer.

These were communities of committed Christ followers who lived and worked together, sharing resources, love, and life together. There were men and women, adults, and kids; some were single, some were married, some had families—some were priests, but most weren't, and they were all together in community.

One of the things that made these communities so cool was the way they treated outsiders.

There was always a gatekeeper, not to keep anybody out, but to be on duty all the time so that anyone who wanted to come in could come in, no matter what time of the day or night it was.

If you visited the community, the gatekeeper would welcome you first and then call everyone to come greet you. The abbot or abbess (head of the community) would immediately come out to make sure you felt at home.

It wouldn't matter what people were doing; they would stop because making guests feel welcome was more important than anything else. Then they'd show you to the guest house—the best accommodations in the whole place.

When it was time to eat, you'd eat at the head table with the abbot/abbess. It would be clear that you could stay as long as you wanted, but you were also free to leave at any time. You could eat with the community, work with the community, worship with the community—always welcome to share in everything about the community.

If you stayed for a while, they'd assign you a ‘soul friend’ to talk to—no agenda—just about whatever was on your mind. Eventually, if you continued to stay they'd talk to you about God's love and offer you the opportunity to become more than a guest.

It was a slow process of revealing God's love—a process that started with the concept of belonging and acceptance and moved only gradually toward commitment. It was a process that took time because it was about providing evidence of God's love. Not evidence in the form of skilled argument or tight logic; not even the evidence of a specific feeling even though that was probably part of it for most people.

It was the evidence of action—consistent actions of love, continued day in and day out, actions that made God's love visible and tangible and real through the welcoming, caring, support, and nurture of people. Evidence through action that God loves people and values them simply because they are. Read More

5 Myths about Evangelism

This article is part of the 5 Myths series.

Myth #1: Evangelism is something I do myself.

The call to carry out the Great Commission feels heavy when we picture ourselves alone, laboring away to share good news. Anything in the Christian life feels heavy if I’m envisioning a rough road and myself walking along it by myself.

Stories from fellow travelers help light up the landscape. Stories, for example, of those who are reaching from Christ’s body outward—those who invite neighbors to a church Bible study group and who see those neighbors and their families gradually transformed by the gospel; those who host international students in their home, regularly bring them to church, and see some of them believe in Jesus; women whose brothers and sisters in Christ’s body have prayed for years with them for their husbands to come to faith. Interwoven through these stories are the hospitality and prayers of God’s people—specific prayers for the salvation of those they name together in God’s presence.

As a redeemed people, we bear witness to the good news that Jesus died on the cross, bore our sin, and rose from the grave, conquering death. Believing this good news makes us part of a body that lives and moves together toward seeing Jesus. We don’t do this evangelism thing alone.

Better to picture a road full of people walking together, sort of like we picture the Israelites walking up to the Jerusalem temple at feast time—whole groups and families, talking and singing and taking in others along the way. We’re God’s people. This is all God’s work. By his Spirit, God calls people to himself and gives them new life through faith in Christ. Those who have believed get to participate. He uses us. He uses us. Read More

6 Ways to Engage Your Neighbors on Halloween

For some Christians, “Halloween” is a dreaded word that can bring up questions and debate.

Is it OK for a Christian to celebrate Halloween?

Should I call it “Reformation Day” in order to make it more acceptable to my evangelical friends?

Should I only attend the “Trunk-or-Treat” at my church?

Should my kids’ costumes resemble only beloved Bible characters?

Putting aside all the differing opinions, Halloween offers an opportunity to engage your neighbors who don’t know Jesus. We can be present and involved with our neighbors in order to build relationships with them.

At this point you may be thinking, OK, what gospel tract should I place in every trick-or-treat bag? Gospel tracts have a time and place, but I would recommend an approach that requires a little more investment.

Halloween is a time when we have the chance to open up our lives to our neighbors, with the hope of open doors for gospel conversations. Here a few steps to consider this Halloween.... Read More

Related Article:
Nine Ways to Get Outside the Christian Bubble

Photo by RawPixel on Unsplash

4 Ways to Engage My Spiritual Insecurity

The African and Christian worldview stand in stark contrast to one another. Conversion often requires a painful wrenching from the African worldview, upbringing and experiences, which can result in spiritual insecurity for the new convert. Here are four Biblical pillars that every African Christian can use to help them stand firm against spiritual fear and doubt.... Read More

Photo by Anaya Katlego on Unsplash

What to Do When You Meet a Beggar

C.S. Lewis's stepson Douglas Gresham tells the story of Lewis and a friend walking along the street one day when a beggar approached them asking for money. Lewis's friend kept walking, but Lewis stopped and emptied his wallet, giving the beggar its contents. After rejoining his friend, he was chastised. "You shouldn't have done that, Jack. He'll only spend it all on drink." Lewis joked, "Well, that's what I was going to do."

The situation is a common one and ages old. We are no more faced with beggars today than the disciples were in the first century. In urban settings or rural, the specific approach and contexts may differ, but the neediness and the opportunities do not. What is your response when a stranger asks for money?

You are walking down the street or pulling out of the grocery store parking lot and you are confronted by a haggard figure, perhaps holding a sign, perhaps telling a familiar story about being homeless or hungry or needing to travel to a certain location or having a car out of gas. The stories can be eerily similar. I've heard the "I'm trying to get to _______ but don't have money for gas" story quite a bit. I have offered before to go to the gas station and put gas in their car. Sometimes they agree. Sometimes they don't. I have offered to get food instead of giving them cash for food. Sometimes they agree. Sometimes they don't.

Let's make the options simple for the sake of the gist of the argument. A hand is outstretched before you. Do you put money in it or do you decline? Read More

Photo by Jesse Vermeulen on Unsplash

Why Christians Need a Better Debate About Alcohol

The Story: About 1 in 20 deaths around the world result from harmful use of alcohol, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO). This represents more than 5 percent of the global disease burden. What can Christians do about this epidemic?

The Background: The WHO’s global status report on alcohol and health 2018 looks at alcohol consumption and the disease burden attributable to alcohol worldwide, as well as what countries are doing to reduce this burden.

As the report notes, despite some positive global trends in the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking and number of alcohol-related deaths since 2010, the overall burden of disease and injuries caused by the harmful use of alcohol is unacceptably high, particularly in the Americas and Europe.

An estimated 237 million men and 46 million women suffer from alcohol-use disorders, with the highest prevalence among men and women in the European region (14.8 percent and 3.5 percent) and the Americas (11.5 percent and 5.1 percent). Alcohol-use disorders are more common in high-income countries.

Of all deaths attributable to alcohol, 28 percent were due to injuries, such as those from traffic crashes, self-harm, and interpersonal violence; 21 percent due to digestive disorders; 19 percent due to cardiovascular diseases; and the remainder due to infectious diseases, cancers, mental disorders and other health conditions.

“Far too many people, their families, and communities suffer the consequences of the harmful use of alcohol through violence, injuries, mental health problems and diseases like cancer and stroke,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO. “It’s time to step up action to prevent this serious threat to the development of healthy societies.” Read More

The harmful use of alcohol is far too common in the student population of the university town in which I live. Unfortunately drinking and even drinking to excess is seen as a rite of passage. There has been at least one alcohol-related death this year. The student in question consumed a large quantity of alcohol in a very short period of time at a fraternity party, lost consciousness, and died. Sexual assaults, sexually transmitted diseases, and unplanned pregnancies, in which the consumption of alcohol is a factor, are also a problem.

Photo by Drew Farwell on Unsplash 

The Russian/Ukrainian Orthodox Split: What You Need to Know

A power struggle underway in the Eastern Orthodox Church could have significant religious and political implications. Bartholomew I, the patriarch of Constantinople and one of the Orthodox Church’s highest-ranking leaders, declared on October 11 that he will grant the Ukrainian Orthodox Church independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. Such autocephaly, or “self-headship,” is a response to ongoing political tensions between Russia and the Ukraine.

Bartholomew hasn’t yet made a formal edict about the move, which would revoke a 1686 decree giving the church in Moscow power over the one in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

Days after Bartholomew’s announcement, the Russian Orthodox Church cut ties with Constantinople. Even before that, when the Ukrainian Church’s intentions of seeking independence became clear, the Russian Church, or Moscow Patriarchate, began taking action. It suspended liturgical prayers for Bartholomew, banned priests from co-presiding with Constantinople bishops at worship services, and stopped participating in gatherings, conversations and commissions led by representatives from Constantinople. Read More

Since the days of the tsars the Russian Orthodox Church has been an organ of the Russian state. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union the Russian Orthodox Church has enjoyed a privileged position in the Russian Federation, a position that it is reluctant to relinquish in light of the oppression that the Russian Orthodox Church suffered during the days of the Soviet Union. Other Christian denominations are barely tolerated if they are tolerated at all and are subject to severe restrictions.

The unity of Eastern Orthodoxy is tenuous at best. The two main branches of the Eastern Orthodox Church are the Russian Orthodox Church and the Greek Orthodox Church which are at odds with each other over a range of issues. It is not surprising that after Bartholomew announced his intention to grant autocephalous status to the Ukranian Orthodox Church, the Moscow Patriarchate reacted negatively to the announcement.

Practical Preaching Advice for Pastors and Lay Preachers #22

Quit Trying To Become A Great Preacher

Becoming a great preacher is about me. Preaching more effectively is about Jesus. Read More

How to Start a Sermon for Maximum Impact

The opening words of your sermon can fall flat if you don’t have a good plan. It’s good to be intentional about the way you introduce a message. I will walk you through exactly how to start your sermon for maximum impact and engagement. We’ll focus on how to capture and maintain the interest of your listeners in the first 5-6 minutes of your message. Let’s jump in to the most important part – the first 1.5 minutes. Read More

How to Overcome Preaching Nerves

Do you have a fear of preaching? Or maybe you wouldn’t say it’s a fear, but your nerves are on edge. You are not alone. Public speaking is commonly listed as one of the greatest fears that people have. Read More

How Do I Find My Own Voice in Preaching?

Disembodied voices don’t preach. Real people do—people with personalities, stories, fears, and convictions uniquely woven by God into the person who proclaims, “Thus says the Lord.” Read More

Why We Don’t Preach Gospel-Centered Sermons

Lately I’ve had numerous discussions with ministry leaders about why it’s so difficult to find truly gospel-centered preaching. Even among those who otherwise affirm the biblical necessity of prioritizing Christ in our preaching, it is sometimes rare to encounter sermons that do not treat Christ and his grace as an option or afterthought. Why is this so? Why, despite an abundance of helpful resources and exemplary models, do we still have a hard time turning the homiletical corner to preaching Christ? Here are three possible explanations.... Read More

Why I Need to Preach More about Hell

ever struggled with preaching on the reality of eternal judgment. I believed it, and I taught it. Over the years, though, I realize that I’ve given less attention to this topic—perhaps because I’ve learned that scaring people into Christianity seldom brings lasting results. Still, I’ve been burdened lately that my omission is problematic. Here’s why.... Read More

5 Truths About the Wrath of God [Podcast]

“With his whole nature in combination and harmony, God acts out his own completely consistent opposition to evil. He opposes it with every fiber of his being. And this opposition is his wrath.” — Mark Dever Listen Now

Photo by Nycholas Souza on Unsplash

Saturday Lagniappe: Pitfalls of Church Revitalization and More

"Every path has a puddle" Jacula Prudentum

When Does a Pastor Leave a Revitalization Effort? Six Questions to Ask [Podcast]

Lack of progress in church revitalization can lead to frustration and a desire to leave. But before you do, you should ask yourself the six questions we cover today. Listen Now

Seven Reasons Pastors Get Fired When a Church Is Growing

Even in “successful” revitalizations, it does not always turn out well for the pastor. Why is that? My list is not exhaustive, but here are seven common reasons....Read More

To Post, Or Not To Post

I like social media. I like that it helps me keep a slight connection with friends who I rarely see in person; I like that it often gives me something to have a good laugh about, and I like that it points me to interesting news, articles, and videos. But recently I’ve been posting less and less, and that’s because I’ve been asking myself a different question before clicking ‘post’. I’ve been asking, ‘What good might this do, and what harm might it do?’ Read More

When the Spiritual Gift of Discernment Turns Sour

Too often, people think they have the gift of discernment when in fact they have a critical, fault-finding, cynical, and negative spirit. They think they have the gift of discernment when they’re actually sinning! Read More

Stop Worrying about Your Reputation

Reputation is who people think you are. Character is who God knows you to be. While there should be little difference between the two, we all know that is often far from the case. Read More

When You Feel Like a (Christian) Imposter

The Bible is...deeply realistic about the continuing presence of sinful tendencies in our lives. We aren’t yet rid of our sinful nature. But that’s not all there is to say on this point. Yes, the sinful nature is still kicking around, but it’s not who we now truly are. Read More

I recommend taking time to read and digest this article. The sins of the past may haunt us throughout our lives. But who we are is not defined by what we may have done in the past or the sinful tendencies with which we struggle in our present life. It is defined by who we are "in" Christ. It is an insight that can make a difference in our lives if we take it to heart.

What Does It Mean to Be An “Unprofitable Servant”?

On a related theme the late R.C. Sprouls provides this insight: "When Jesus said that we are unprofitable servants, He did not mean that our service is of no value. Jesus frequently called His disciples to be productive. Rather, He meant that we gain no “bonus points” or merit from our service." Read More

God Calls for Spiritual Leaders, So Where Are They?

The church was commissioned to make disciples. But we seem to be seriously lacking in that department. Some may call it a discipleship deficit.

More than one concerned leader has asked regarding spiritual formation, “What should we do?” and “How should we do it?” They want to know the best ways to turn this discipleship deficit into the kind of robust discipleship that will matter along the way. Read More

Friday's Catch: US Evangelicals' Favorite Heresies and More

Our Favorite Heresies of 2018: Experts Weigh In

Scholars explain what is most discouraging and encouraging about Ligonier theology survey that found 3 out of 4 US evangelicals are “Arians.” Read More

7 Other Weekend Metrics Church Leaders Should Study Regularly

Too often, church leaders only pay attention to weekend attendance and revenue patterns at their churches. Sometimes these numbers are referred to as “nickels and noses” or maybe the slightly more vulgar “butts and bucks.” However, there are many other factors to consider if we’re trying to understand what’s really happening inside our churches. Read More

Eat, Pray, Code: Rule of St. Benedict Becomes Tech Developer’s Community Guidelines

SQLite, the most-used database engine of the 21st century, throws back to a code of conduct created by a sixth-century monk. Read More

The version of the Rule of St Benedict listed in the SQLite's code is a communal rule of life that congregations might want to adopt as a part of their church covenant.

Things Christians Just Don’t Get To Do

This one began with a conversation, with a statement within that conversation: “Christians don’t get to hold a grudge!” It’s just not an option, not a vice we can allow ourselves. But it’s not the only thing Christians don’t get to do. There are other kinds of behavior that God rules out, that God describes as being nothing less than sinful rebellion. Sadly, this doesn’t always stop us. Some of these behaviors continue despite God’s insistence that they are unfittinng for his children. Here are a few I’ve encountered lately in life, family, and ministry. Read More

When Christian Leaders Don't Read the Word Regularly and Consistently

Chuck Lawless identifies five things that can happen when we no longer read the Word as regularly as we once did, when the time we spend in the Word grows less and less. Read More

Sing the Psalms [Podcast]

Tim Keller believes that every emotional condition, every life situation, is covered in the psalms in some way. Thus, whatever our condition, the psalms ought to be always on our lips. In preparation for the Sing! 2018 conference in Nashville, Keith Getty sat down to talk with Keller about how to incorporate psalms into corporate worship as well as family worship, counseling, and personal prayer. Listen Now

Why Student Ministry Is Failing in Most Churches

Here’s the big problem: Most churches either don’t value the student ministry enough, or they value the wrong things. And because of this, far too many young people are abandoning the church after they graduate. Although we could debate the statistics, the simple fact is that most student ministries see more students falling away after graduation than remaining in their faith. So here are three major problems that I believe have led to the failing state of student ministry in most churches.... Read More

Closing the Technological Discipleship Gap

Every week, you have congregants hurting their witness from destructive online rage fights while others have only a vague idea of what you mean by “the Twitter.” How do you disciple a congregation with such wide differences in behavior? Read More

Gospel Proclamation vs Gospel Demonstration

There is an interesting conversation going on right now in a lot of churches. Many people, and specifically people in leadership are asking, “How do we balance gospel proclamation and gospel demonstration?”

Gospel proclamation is proclaiming the gospel clearly. People hear the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ and have the opportunity to respond by grace and through faith.

Gospel demonstration is serving others in the name of Christ, showing his love when we act upon what we say we believe about Christ. Christians must be salt and light in a world that deeply needs that salt and light. I’ve preferred calling that “living out the implications of the gospel,” but it is ultimately a demonstration of that gospel transformation.

People have debated, “What is the mission of the church?” Is the church to speak truth, or show truth? I didn’t know we had to choose. And in fact, we don’t. Balancing these two important aspects of the mission is often more difficult than it appears, which has led to debates. As humans, we tend to lean in certain directions in life and ministry. The same happens in this discussion.

But we don’t always balance well, so some people end up doing more of one than the other.

At the same time, debate can be helpful as we figure out how to effectively show the love of Jesus as we continually share the love of Jesus. Read More

Marks of a Biblical Church Part 2: Biblical Churches in Different Contexts

What We Mean By “Church” Matters

Most of the references to “church” in the New Testament refer to specific groups of people in local settings. There is, for example, a universal Church, but the focus of the New Testament references are to local churches.

Today, that gets a bit murkier.

A few years back I was going to our local theater to see a movie when I was a part of a church that met in that same theater. So I made a joke that we were “going to church” to see a movie. My 13-year old daughter said, “No, the church is the people.”

And, she’s right. But she also called our other campus at the time (which had a building) our “church” when no one is in it.

The challenge is that the word church carries a lot of baggage and does a lot of work—often in ways that are different than what the New Testament teaches. Read More

Related Article:
Marks of a Biblical Church Part 1: What Makes a Church a Church?

Photo by Sarah Noltner on Unsplash

10 Thoughts on Christians and Halloween

Because this question comes up every year, I am updating and reposting this blog from two years ago. I have studied spiritual warfare for many years, so you might assume that I strongly encourage believers to avoid anything related to Halloween. That’s not exactly the position I take, as seen below.... Read More

In the 1950s dressing up as ghosts, goblins, and witches and going trick-or-treating, baking a Halloween cake, having a Halloween party, bobbing for apples, hollowing out a manglewurzle or pumpkin and putting a candle in it, and lighting a bonfire were considered harmless fun--old customs that people observed on All Hallows Eve, customs like greening the church for Christmas, exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve, eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and hot cross buns on Good Friday. They were traditional ways of marking the changing seasons of the year. In the ensuing years the kill-joys have worked to turn the eve of Hallowmas, the feast of All Hallows, into something dark and sinister. For the ancient Celts the new year began in November. Dressing up as ghosts, goblins, and witches, playing tricks on others, giving food to those who demanded it, and lighting bonfires was their way of protecting themselves from what they believed stalked the night on the eve of the new year when the barrier between this world and the Other World, the world of the dead, was particularly thin, and all kinds of supernatural creatures were abroad. Now these customs are simply a reminder that we no longer need such things for our protection. We have Christ. They also provide us with a wonderful opportunity to meet and befriend our neighbors - a natural block party. Rather than cowering in fear like the Celts of old, let us use this night to be what Christ has called us to be - his representatives in our neighborhood, our community, and the world. 

5 Myths the Church Often Believes about Domestic Violence

Cathy sits in her car and counts her cash. She’s just dropped off her kids at school and reminded the principal that no one else can pick up her children. Not even their father.

Especially not their father.

The name “Cathy” is a pseudonym, but her story is real. One in 4 women live in destructive relationships and many of these women sit in church every Sunday, next to the abuser, the father of their children.

The tragedy of domestic violence is well-documented within police departments, counseling offices, and national organizations. But the one place it remains a secret and a source of denial is within the place that’s supposed to be safest—the church.

A Google search reveals various myths about domestic violence, but what myths are signature beliefs within the church? Read More

Photo by John Pablo Arenas on Pexels

How to Suffer Well in Church Planting [Podcast]

Tony Merida talks with Philip Moore about suffering in church planting. Listen Now

If Kids Don’t Understand Why Miracles Don’t Discredit the Bible, Their Faith Will Be Easily Crushed

“The light of common sense, thrown on the stories of making snakes out of rods, of the Red Sea dividing itself, of Christ’s making wine from water, curing blind men by rubbing spit in their eyes, walking on water, the story of the flood, God’s making the world in six days, of making a woman from Adam’s rib and all the mythical, miraculous stories of the Bible would cause any sensible man to question the veracity of the whole book, including all the stories of the gods, spirits, angels, devils, and the things that common sense tells us are not true.”

This quote, from a website devoted to atheism, is similar to so many I have received from skeptics over the years. The basic claim is this: Christianity defies common sense.

In other words, the very existence of miracle claims in the Bible immediately discredits it.

While there certainly are many Christians and skeptics engaging in deeper, more scientific or philosophical battles online, simplistic appeals to common sense are the down-and-dirty weapons often hurled through social media. You don’t need to know one thing about logic, theology, history, biblical scholarship, philosophy, or science to cobble together an emotionally impactful statement that can make someone feel utterly stupid for what they believe. That’s why appeals to common sense can be so powerful: They’re easy and effective. The general message is that what Christians believe is so ridiculous, anyone with just a little common sense can see it’s not true.

Common sense is presented as a one-size-fits-all bulldozer against faith.

And if your kids haven’t been trained to think critically about the nature of miracles, their faith will be easily crushed by that bulldozer.

Here’s a 10-step framework to help your kids think well about this subject. Each point builds on the last. You can easily use these brief explanations to discuss a point each day on the way to school or at the dinner table. Read More

"Common sense" is itself culturally-determined and reflects the cultural influences operative in the life of an individual--the individual's worldview. What is common-sense to someone living in rural Kentucky is not common-sense to someone living in urban Japan. The two individuals, when presented with the same situation, will take quite different courses of action which they both will regards as being simply a matter of common sense!  

The Best Way to Grow Your Church

Just like there’s no “one” way to exercise or eat, there’s no “one” way to do church.

A Sunday-school-driven church could crush it if its pastor really believed in it and stuck with it.

So could a church with orchestra music.

Or any number of things that 21st century pastors think have outlived their shelf life.

The church you serve can be effective with virtually any model of ministry as long as it uniquely fits who YOU are as the lead servant of your church and connects with your community.

And you know this.

Deep down you know this.

Yet you still second guess yourself. Read More

Image: Brooke Larke, Unsplash

3 Church Communication Lessons from That Church Conference

A few members of the Church Fuel team attended the That Church Conference this week, which is a communications and marketing conference specifically for churches. It’s hosted in the Atlanta area and brings in speakers from all over the country (and attendees from all over the world—like Singapore and Poland this year) who are passionate about helping churches navigate the creatively challenging and ever-changing communication and digital media best practices.

Our Founder and CEO, Michael Lukaszewski, spoke at the conference this year and so did a number of other speakers with a ton of helpful advice for church communicators. Here are our top takeaways from this year’s That Church Conference. Read More

Colleges Are Changing for Generation Z... And So Should You

The New York Times recently reported how the newest students – translation, Generation Z – are transforming the way schools serve and educate them. Bottom line? They are “super connected, but on their terms.” It’s proving frustrating and challenging. Or, as the dean of students at Purdue University confessed, “I do get discouraged.”

They do not tend to read books. They rarely read emails. They are a generation that “breathes through social media… sending presidents and deans to Instagram and Twitter.” Further, students today want to navigate campus life on their own, getting food or help “when it is convenient for them. And, yes, on their mobile devices or phones.” As the associate director of learning programs at Ohio State University noted, “It’s not really technology to them.” He’s right. With the iPhone coming out when most were in grade school, it’s just the natural way to do life. So now, schools such as Ohio State issue iPads, have courses marked “iPad required,” and are building an app that “in addition to maps and bus routes, has a course planner, grades, schedules and a ‘Get Involved’ feature displaying student organizations.” More customization is coming. Soon, when students open the app, it will know “which campus they are enrolled at, their major and which student groups they belong to.”

But it’s not simply a communication revolution. They are forcing course makeovers, “pushing academics to be more hands-on and job-relevant.” Millennials may have wanted climbing walls and en suite kitchens—but Generation Z wants all things career development. It’s even changing office hours. One journalism professor not only takes attendance via Twitter and posts assignments on Slack, but holds office hours at 10 p.m. via the video conference site Zoom “because that is when they have questions.” The only role email plays is instruction, as a business skill, on how to write a proper one. Read More

Do the Ten Commandments Have Authority Over New Testament Christians?

One of the first and most recurring things my kids have learned–at Sunday school, in Christian school, and around the dinner table–has been the Ten Commandments. In fact, my middle three children love to sing (incessantly!) the Ten Commandments song they learned for last year’s choir concert. As a Presbyterian pastor–but more so, as a Christian–I consider it one of my most obvious responsibilities that I teach my kids the joyful responsibility of knowing and obeying the Ten Commandments.

Could it be that I, along with countless other Christian parents and pastors, am making a mistake?

In his new book Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World, Andy Stanley insists that “The Ten Commandments have no authority over you. None. To be clear: Thou shalt not obey the Ten Commandments” (136). Mike Kruger argues forcefully (and charitably) against this bold thesis. It will surprise no one to learn–especially given my new book–that when it comes to the role of the Ten Commandments specifically, and the Old Testament more broadly, I agree wholeheartedly with Kruger and disagree strongly with Stanley. Read More

See Also:
Why We Can’t Unhitch from the Old Testament
Five Reasons to Obey the Ten Commandments
Marcion and Getting Unhitched from the Old Testament

Zombie Church: Restoring Life to the Undead

There are zombie churches among us. The undead church. Where undead persons feast. Where genuine life has been lost, and in its place is something . . . scary. Lifeless.

In some churches, the loss of life is obvious; in others it is more subtle. Have you ever walked into a church where everything appeared normal? Everyone was smiling and seemed so happy because, after all, smiling at church is what Christians are supposed to do. Everyone was personable, but no one was really personal. It might even have seemed like everyone’s friendliness kept you at arm’s length. How many people greeted you at church but never really took the time to get to know you? Have you ever gone to a church service where nothing seemed wrong per se but you just felt like something was missing?

Some of us have not only wandered into these churches, but we have sung in their worship, listened to their sermons, and returned week after week. Some of us have become part of these churches. Some of us have lived our whole lives in a zombie church. Read More

How To Start Training Your Church Leaders To Become Equippers, Not Just Doers

A simple, practical first step to help you or your team start building a team.

As pastors, we have a solemn obligation to equip church members to do ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12).

Instead, too many pastors burn out because the pastor and the church members expect the pastor to do most or all of the ministry for them.

Making the transition from the doer of ministry to the equipper of ministers is very hard for most pastors to do. And it can be even harder for church members to understand, let alone step up to. After all, pastors are in ministry because we’re passionate about doing it, and we’ve trained our congregations for generations to let us do it for them.

Shifting from doing all the ministry, to training others to do ministry doesn’t come easily. But it is essential. And it’s biblical. Read More

See Also:
If We Can Worship Anywhere, Why Go To Church?
5 Terms Christians Need To Stop Misusing
Six Church-and-Culture Issues I Don't Care About Any More
Six Church-Insider Issues I Don't Care About Any More
Forget The Extras – Your Church Needs To Get The Basics Right

Are you Leading Well? 13 Questions to Ask Yourself

Five years ago I began a new adventure: leading a new church in a new country. I accepted the lead pastor role at a great church in Canada, West Park Church in London, Ontario. This church is filled with great people committed to God and the cause of Christ. I’ve loved my time here and although I faced some challenges the first year, it has been a great experience. Before I even started, I spent three weeks preparing for my new ministry and I learned these four keys necessary to start well and sustain healthy ministry. I’ve also included 13 questions that help us determine how well we are leading.

I use the acronym PALM to illustrate these 4 simple keys. It describes four practices that not only make a new transition go smoother, but represent leadership priorities I recommend every good leader embrace whether or not he or she is new to a ministry role. I’ll briefly explain them and then pose some questions to help you evaluate how well you are embodying these principles. Read More

Also See:
7 Questions Leaders Should ask Themselves Every Morning

My Church Is Stuck, What Do I Do?

Just a few years ago our church was running a little over 150, today by God’s grace we have grown into a healthy, evangelistic and disciple making church of 700 and growing. We have averaged 20 percent growth for the past four years. We tested and tried the restored church paradigm and philosophy. We were determined to not stay STUCK. Today we get asked a lot of questions about this so let me explain.

The problem is widespread, the Church in America appears to be declining. Depending on which expert you talk with, between 70-90 percent of all churches are in need of some type of revitalization. Why are churches losing attendance? Why are salvations dwindling? Why are baptisms becoming harder to come by? After-all, we have the greatest message in all the world. Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead to forgive us of our sins!

The bottom line, no one’s listening. That’s right, the church has been pushed from the hub of a community and relegated to a silent partner. No one’s listening...

We are now living in a post-church culture. There’s no worldly benefit to attend church, and often aligning oneself with a church can bring negative connotations.

No one’s listening because... Read More

Image: Chris Liverani, Unsplash

20 NEW Politically Incorrect Thoughts on Church in America

This List Needed an Update for 2018. Here It Goes.

About four years ago, I was in a particularly feisty mood and I wrote this article to see how many church people I might offend.

Enough time has passed that it seemed appropriate to offer some new politically incorrect thoughts. I have plenty of them, but I’ll narrow it down to 20, because I like consistency.

Here’s my 2018 list.... Read More

A God Veiled in Time and Space but Revealed in Christ

If God wants us to believe in him, why doesn’t he come out of hiding?

When I read that songwriter Michael Gungor told his wife, Lisa, “I don’t believe in God anymore,” I experienced a familiar feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was the same one I’d had a couple of years before when Nick, a 20-something leader in our church, called in a panic. He was having doubts and wanted to talk. I spent hours with him, listening as he poured out his questions and fears. Over the months that followed, I prayed God would reveal himself to Nick, but his doubts hardened into unbelief. He began telling people he was an atheist.

Nick and Gungor seem to be following a well-beaten path to atheism: cognitive dissonance over the church’s stand on sexual orientation and gender; outrage over pain and injustice; doubts regarding the authority of Scripture; and an embarrassing feeling that science has rendered belief in the Bible’s claims ridiculous. If there are reasonable explanations for these conflicts, why doesn’t God just show us? Why doesn’t he come out of hiding? Why doesn’t he come out of hiding and reveal himself to my child, to my friend? Or, if he has, to where can I point them? The various doubts that tripped my friend before he fell into atheism were all situated on the bedrock of the hiddenness of God. His thinking went like this: Christians say that God requires people to believe in him or they will be eternally condemned; God, if he is good, would assist people in forming that belief by revealing himself; God does not reveal himself; therefore, God is either not good, or he does not exist.

Michael Gungor and my friend Nick are hardly alone on this path to atheism. According to a 2015 Pew Research Center survey, Protestantism is no longer a majority religion in the US, and 18 percent of adults raised in a religious tradition now consider themselves either atheists, agnostics, or unaffiliated—a shift driven largely by millennials. As far as many of these young adults are concerned, the burden of proof is on God. If he exists, he’s going to have to prove it.

The hiddenness of God, which was once a problem for philosophers and theologians, is now a reason for millennials and their older counterparts to reject the gospel. Christian parents and leaders can help them work through this, but they must be able to offer reasonable answers to two questions. First, why would a God who insists that we believe in him not give us more evidence—why would he hide? And second, where would he hide? One would think that the God described in the Bible would be hard to miss. Read More

The Cruelty of Victim-Blaming and the Hope for Redemption

During my past six years serving as a college pastor, some of my most disturbing conversations have been with unrepentant sexual assault perpetrators and their defensive Christian parents. In their attempts to justify their actions, too often I would hear from the perpetrators (and their parents), “Have you seen her Instagram account? Do you know what she’s like at parties? But she made the first move. Well, she asked for it. She has a history.” And so on.

With more than 20 percent of female undergraduate students experiencing some form of sexual assault or misconduct, these tendencies to blame the victim have led some to demand action or even walk away from the faith. But does Scripture remain silent to the injustice of victim-blaming? Does God remain silent to the cries of victims for redemption from their shame? Read More

Joseph Pearce Delves Deeper Into Narnia Mysteries, C.S. Lewis’ Literary Expertise

Why do we need yet another book about The Chronicles of Narnia? Hasn’t book after book explained the Christian symbolism in C.S. Lewis’ classic series of fantasy books?

Yes, but Pearce’s treatment is different. He literally does go “further up and further in,” delving deeper into not only the Christian mysteries found in “the Narniad” but also excavating meaning from Lewis’ literary expertise and his role as a social and cultural critic. He deftly points out where Lewis, as a scholar of medieval and Renaissance literature, alluded to great works from those periods and how he peppered his books with critiques of fads and movements to which he was averse.

The results are eye-opening, prompting awe of Lewis’ literary skill and genius. Read More

Image: Pauline Baynes

4 Things That Shouldn't Drive Church Growth (and One Thing That Should)

Something’s driving your church. There are a variety of things that drive a church…the challenge for many church leaders is no one is really quite clear on what that is.

What drives your church is critical because it impacts everything you do. Ultimately, it directly impacts both your health and your growth as a congregation.

As I talk to leaders of churches of all sizes, I find different factors at work.

As much as we’d all love to say Jesus runs the church, the reality is that church is a partnership. God seems to delight in human interaction, and while God is in control, leaders have a role.

How we play that role can create health or dysfunction.

Here are 4 things that shouldn’t drive church growth (and one thing that should). Read More