9 Things You Should Really Know About Anglicanism - UPDATED

1. Since the arrival of Christianity in Britain in the 3rd century, British Christianity has had a distinct flavor and independence of spirit, and was frequently in tension with Roman Catholicism. The Britons were evangelized by Irish missionary monks, and it wasn’t until the 7th century that the Roman church established its authority over Christianity in the British Isles, at the Synod of Whitby. But tensions continued until the 16th century.

2. The break with Rome in the 16th century had political causes, but also saw the emergence of an evangelical theology. The Church of England was not just a church of protest against the pope’s authority and his interference in English affairs. It was also a church that adopted a distinctly evangelical theology. The English Reformation cannot be reduced to the marital strife of Henry VIII.

3. Anglicanism is Reformed. The theology of the founding documents of the Anglican church—the Book of Homilies, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion—expresses a theology in keeping with the Reformed theology of the Swiss and South German Reformation. It is neither Lutheran, nor simply Calvinist, though it resonates with many of Calvin’s thoughts. Read More

I am re-posting this article by Michael Jensen as it is one of the most accurate descriptions of historic Anglicanism that I have come across on the Internet. There is too much misinformation about Anglicanism circulating on the Internet, for example Gerald R. McDermott's recent Crossway article, "10 Things You Should Know about Anglicanism." McDermott is the director of the Beeson Divinity School's Anglican Studies Program which prepares candidates for ordination in the Anglican Church in North America. In his article McDermott promotes the long-debunked myth that Anglicanism is a via media, "a 'middle way' between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism." The basis for McDermott's claim is the Church of England's retention of pre-Reformation liturgical forms of worship and episcopacy. This claim, however, founders on two rocks. The first is that the Church of England was not the only Reformed church to retain such forms. A number of the Swiss Reformed churches also did. The second rock is that while a number of continental Reformed churches conflated the offices of presbyter and bishop into the single office of pastor, leading sixteenth century Reformed theologians like Heinrich Bullinger and John Calvin were not entirely adverse to the retention of the office of bishop. McDermott also promotes a misrepresentation of the Thirty-Nine Articles' doctrinal position on the sacraments, a misrepresentation of their doctrinal position that is found in the ACNA's revised catechism, To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism. According to McDermott and the ACNA's revised catechism, there are "the five 'sacraments of the church'—confirmation, Holy Orders, marriage, absolution, and healing of the sick," in addition to the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. The Thirty-Nine Articles refer to these rites as "commonly-called sacraments." But it is clear that neither the Articles nor the two Books of Homilies which expand upon the doctrinal positions of the Articles regard such rites as sacraments but rather as corruptions of apostolic practice or states of life allowed in Scripture. The term "sacraments of the church" is borrowed from the canons and catechism of the Roman Catholic Church. Without specifically stating it, McDermott is inferring  that the Anglican Church retained the Roman Catholic sacramental system after Edward VI and Elizabeth I reasserted the ancient independence of the English Church from the See of Rome. Such an inference is far from the truth and reflects an Anglo-Catholic revisionist reinterpretation of English Church history and Anglican sacramental theology. McDermott also claims that all Anglicans subscribe to the same view of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper wherein fact there are a number of different schools of thought in the Anglican Church where the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is concerned. 

Saturday Lagniappe: Religious Persecution in India and More

Trump’s Praise for Modi on India’s ‘Incredible’ Religious Freedom Doesn’t Match Our Research

The Evangelical Fellowship of India documents 300-plus cases of Christian persecution by Hindu nationalists each year. Muslims have it even worse. Read More

Coronavirus, Christians, and a Christ-Centered Response

How we respond in times when we feel powerless may offer a greater opportunity for growth for us and to witness to others. Read More

Korean Churches Close for First Time as Coronavirus Cases Hit 2,300

More than 1 million ask government to ban apocalyptic Christian sect linked to half of infections. Read More

Secular Monks

For a secular monk, the only knowable pursuits are human pursuits, the only genuine aims human aims. A secular monk is “secular” in the sense that his cares and his projects are delimited by his day and his world. He can conceive of nothing else. Read More

Barna Study: This Is How Americans Feel About Going to Church

A new Barna study highlights the current attitudes Americans have toward attending church services. Notable trends found by Barna Group’s “State of the Church” project include that church hopping is increasing, church membership is declining among younger attendees, and people’s mixed perceptions of the church are calling its relevance into question. Among the study’s encouraging findings were that there are multiple spiritual benefits of church membership and that many churchgoers said they enjoyed attending church. Read More

10 Best Practices For Worship Sound Techs

Perhaps no technical leader faces more challenges on any given Sunday morning than the Sound Tech. With demands from every side, opinions aplenty, an ear to the Pastor (the real head Sound Tech), an ear to the worship leader/band, and an ear to the Holy Spirit, this role requires a saint, a sound technician, and a servant – all wrapped up in one. Gleaned from some of the most skilled and great-hearted Worship Sound Techs I know, here are 10 Best Practices For Worship Sound Techs. Read More

Looking Down On Others in Our Christian Subcultures

There is a lot of looking down on others in our culture. A few minutes on social media makes this very clear. Sadly, this is even true in our Christian subcultures. Read More

Why are Christians so Mean?

Dallas Willard was once asked, “Why are Christians so mean?” His answer was up to the task. He said that Christians are mean in proportion to when they value being “right” over being “like Christ.” Read More

How Do I Evangelize in Word and Deed? [Podcast]

Ligon Duncan begins the conversation by sharing his and David Platt’s shared belief in the primacy of the Word just as God speaks and brings his people into being. Watch Now

Practical Preaching Advice for Pastors and Lay Preachers #58

Brothers, Preach Your Heart Out — No Matter How Few People Are in the Room

“God’s job is to worry about the number of sheep. Your job is to feed the sheep.” Read More

Preaching by Fireside [Podcast]

Kyle and Matt welcomed Dusty Marshall to the show again, but this time for a fireside chat about preaching. What's it like preaching to 6 people? What's it like preaching to those we don't know? We answer those questions and more on this episode that is, quite literally, LIT. Listen Now

Take Your Shot: Preaching in a Liturgical Context

Preachers can learn a few things from the example of precision shooters. In fact, preachers and marksmen have at least two things in common. First, both preachers and marksmen need a thorough understanding of the specific context in which they operate. Second, they both need to make calculated adjustments if they are going to hit their intended targets. Read More

Skeletons In The Pulpit And Cadavers In The Pews

Alone, catchy points on sermon outlines cannot move people any more than a skeleton will move with no meat on its bones. Read More

3 Questions To Ask Before Any Sermon

Whether listen to a sermon, or preaching one, Tony Reinke's three questions are vital. Read More

How to Use Stories to Upgrade Your Sermons

Great stories! They can make or break a sermon. Read More

6 Important Rules For Using Quotes In Your Sermon

Eric McKiddle wants to save you from some misunderstand--and a lot of potential grief. Read More

Finally! A Definitive Answer To 'how Long Should I Preach?'

After 35 years of pulpit ministry, Hershael York gives us the answer! Read More

Friday's Catch: Emerging from the Church World Cocoon and More

13 Ways to Get Outside the Christian Bubble

Because I continually talk with believers who are cocooned in the church world, I’m updating and re-posting these thoughts about how to get out of the Christian bubble (and, if you’re not sure about whether you’re in the bubble, you might check out this post about signs we’re in the bubble). I hope some of these suggestions are helpful to you.... Read More

The Missing American Revival

Culture will not primarily be changed by Instagram influencers posting inspirational thoughts to the masses, but by faithful followers having conversations with their friends and neighbors. Read More

What’s the Earliest Evidence for Christianity? (The Answer May Surprise You)

What is the earliest historical evidence for Christianity? Read More

Mary Magdalene: 5 Things You Should Know

That Mary Magdalene was a prostitute is just one of the many depictions of her put forward over the centuries. She has also been made out to be the seductress of Jesus (for instance the film “The Last Temptation of Christ”), Jesus’s wife (a myth debunked by Duke scholar Mark Goodacre – see note below), or a promiscuous woman. None of these claims are supported by the biblical texts. Read More

You’re Called to Ministry … But You’re Not Called to Every Ministry

While all Christians are called to evangelize, give, serve, and pray (among other spiritual gifts), we are not all called to everything equally or gifted equally for them. Not everything that comes from heaven has your name on it. But something does. Read More

Five Family-Friendly Resources for Lent

What does it mean to teach our children about lament, fasting, and mortality? These books, apps, and flashcards can help. Read More

Democratic Christians Weigh Their Primary Concerns

The presidential contenders are wooing religious voters. How do the faithful make sure God isn't a political prop? Read More

Thursday's Catch: How to Pray for Japan and More

How to Pray for Japan on the Front End of a Coronavirus Outbreak

As the threat grows, and as we wait in miserable anticipation, and try to make decisions about when to continue normal ministry patterns and when to cancel or change events to play it safe, we need prayer. Please continue to pray for Wuhan and all effected by this illness across Asia and around the world. Here are some ways to pray for Japan specifically. Read More

Is Your Church Ready for the Coronavirus

Here’s how to prepare your church for a public health crisis like the coronavirus. Read More

How Should Christians Talk About the COVID-19 ‘Potential Pandemic’?

As the threat of COVID-19 increases, Christians are finding it increasingly necessary to form an opinion and discuss the topic. But how do we do that in a way that fits the demands of biblical ethics?* Here are four suggestions. Read More

Must Pro-Life Mean Pro-Trump?

We have placed too much faith in the political calculus and not enough faith in God’s power. Read More

President Trump would not be the first politician to take a position on an issue in order to win the support of voters who hold this position. The president has shown himself to be quite facile at telling his base of support what they want to hear. However, the president's stance on a number of other issues is not commensurate with a genuine "pro-life" stance, for example, dismantling the affordable care act, engaging in a trade war that has damaged a number of segments of the US economy and raised the cost of living, cutting back on supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, and proposing cuts to social security and medicare. Being "pro-life" goes beyond championing the unborn and enacting anti-abortion legislation as important as they are. It involves ensuring that everyone from newborn infants to the elderly enjoy a high quality of life.  

10 Creative Ways to Fast for Lent 2020

You might be totally unfamiliar with Lent—or even suspicious of it—but there are still excellent reasons to observe it…and plenty of creative ways to do so! Read More

Building a Culture of Evangelism Takes Time, So Be Patient and Get to Work

... the New Testament teaches that evangelism is the whole church’s job. But asserting the “whole church” does evangelism can be a bit confusing. What does that mean? Is there some special evangelism program hidden somewhere in the pages of the New Testament? Furthermore, what if any relationship exists between our personal evangelism and our church’s outreach ministry? Read More

Chinese American Churches on the Frontlines of Coronavirus Vigilance

Attendance has dropped as much as 50 percent this year.

There has been no sustained community transmission of the coronavirus in the United States so far, and many Chinese churches such as Raleigh Chinese Christian Church (RCCC) are doing their best to keep it that way.

Taped to the entrance of the church’s glass doors is a yellow notice with the word “ATTENTION” in capital letters. It warns parents not to bring their children to church if they’ve traveled to Asia in the past 14 days.

Churches such as RCCC—a nondenominational congregation with services in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English—have taken it upon themselves to self-quarantine, in keeping with Centers for Disease Control guidance.

Many others have taken additional precautionary measures, such as canceling small group gatherings, Sunday lunches, and other communal events. Read More

Going Vegan for Lent Can Orient Us to Christ's Calling

Following Church tradition and the Bible could help us steward creation through our diets.

In recent years, environmentalists and animal rights activists have called for Christians to commit to veganism during Lent. But while the practice may be growing as a lifestyle choice, fasting from animal products is an ancient Lenten tradition far predating current interest in veganism. As Christians around the world begin the observation of Lent, contemporary thinkers consider how the practice of fasting squares with current science on the impact of cutting meat and dairy from our diets, calling believers to think of the practice not only as a deeply personal part of their spirituality but also as something with social and ethical implications.

Though vegans are a tiny minority worldwide, a 2018 study reported that two out of three Americans had reduced their meat consumption in recent years, citing expense and health concerns as primary reasons for doing so (though environmental impact was also a frequent concern).

Yet thousands of years before veganism became popular, the Bible and Christian tradition included fasting as a way of maintaining healthy attitudes toward food and stewarding the earth responsibly. Dave Bookless, an expert in biodiversity conservation who serves as the director of theology for A Rocha International, pointed out in an interview that fasting from meat and dairy at certain times of the year has long been a Christian tradition. “Lent is traditionally a time of abstinence,” said Bookless, a part-time vicar of a multicultural congregation in London. “In quite a lot of Christian cultures, if you look back through Christian history, people were vegetarian during Lent. That was quite a common thing in many parts of the world. And it’s still a common thing in some Christian traditions.”

As CT mentioned in 2006, some evangelicals have rediscovered fasting in older traditions. For instance, Orthodox Christians regularly abstain from animal products on Wednesdays and Friday as well as in the weeks leading up to Easter and during other parts of the liturgical cycle. Fasting has also been a Catholic practice for centuries: many Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays, opting for seafood instead. Today, while some may remain skeptical, fasting during the Lenten season is part of many Protestant traditions.

Scripture contains myriad instances of fasting, most of which are total fasts from food and drink: Christ’s total fast in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-2), David’s for the life of his ailing child (2 Sam. 12:13-23), Esther’s for her people (Esther 4:3) and Nehemiah’s fasting and imploring God to save Israel (Neh. 1:4). In Scripture, fasting is a means of repentance and of crying out for God’s attention and help. But fasting doesn’t necessarily require total abstention from food: it can also mean the simple avoidance of meat and dairy, as in the cases of Daniel (Dan. 10:3). John the Baptist (Matt. 3:1-4), as a consumer of locusts and honey, was not strictly a vegan, but through his ascetic diet and lifestyle is often considered the father of monastic fasting traditions. These Scriptural examples set the precedent for Christian traditions of abstaining from animal products, particularly during Lent. Read More

5 Benefits of a Church-Planting Network

To see a church planting movement in the West, churches will need to work together.

Throughout 2020, Exponential will continue the mobilization conversation as we focus on the importance of collaboration. If we’re going to see a church-planting movement in the West, churches will need to work together. One of the best ways we can accomplish this is through networks. Dave Ferguson, who leads Exponential’s annual conference, shares five ways the church can benefit by joining or starting a network. Read More

Together With Networks: Profiles of Church Planting Networks - Free e-Book

The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self

And How the Church Can Respond

Historians are the great relativizers of the present. When someone declares that the times in which we live are unprecedented, the task of the historian is to offer a sanctimonious response, by pointing out that, in actual fact, this or that event, action, idea, or pattern of behavior was previously evident in 13th-century Florence or Periclean Athens, or during the time of the Tang Dynasty in China. And such relativizing is often true and always a helpful corrective to the temptation to idolize or catastrophize our present age.

Yet for all of the continuities and precedents that likely exist in the past for the way we live in the present, it’s arguable that the times in which we live today do exhibit a number of pathologies whose coincidence is unprecedented. This doesn’t necessarily mean the church’s response needs to be as novel as the times, as I will argue below; but it does mean that we need to reflect on the implications of our times, lest we panic overmuch or rest too much on our laurels.

The unprecedented coincidence of our times is that of the plastic, psychological notion of the self and the liquidity, or instability, of our traditional institutions. Read More

Introduction. Explanation. Application. – A More Effective Way To Write Sermons

Give me ten minutes, and I’ll teach you an approach to writing your messages that might be a game changer.

This is an approach that can be used with any preaching archetype, any personality, any length of message, any passage, etc.

In seminary, I was taught the “3 point” outline, which I quickly abandoned after about a year of preaching.

Then I experimented with Andy Stanley’s well-known Me-We-God-You-We outline.

After a year or so I found it didn’t work very well for me either. Read More

Also See:
Why Preparing A Sermon In 10 Minutes Will Make You A Better Preacher

Monday's Catch: Fasting, Unhealthy Giving, and More

How To Fast For Lent

Lent would be a great time to experiment with fasting, but it’s important to understand what you’re getting yourself into! So we’ve written up a few pointers on how to fast for Lent (or any other time). Read More

Five Types of Unhealthy Giving to a Church

Some types of financial or other gifts can actually hurt a church. Here are five of the most common examples, recognizing that some of them can overlap. Read More

My former vicar, later rector, was unable to turn down a gift. As a consequence we had a church attic filled with white elephants. One church donated its old, damaged, and stained Prayer Books. They should have been thrown away. We were a new church plant seeking to establish a positive image for ourselves in the community, make a good impression with visitors, and to attract new members. This particular gift was not something that would help us reach these goals.

Death Of The Dinner Party?

This could be yet another symptom of our loneliness epidemic. Read More

Instead of bringing people together, today's culture is separating and isolating people from each other. Eating alone has become common place.

In Praise of Unfussy Hospitality

Biblical hospitality isn’t about the impressive menu or Pinterest-perfect table settings. It’s about making people feel welcome. Read More

Social Media and the Loss of “Serendipitous Learning”

In theory, social media engagement should make it easier for us to come across different perspectives, but in practice, it leads us to “cordon ourselves off into hermetically sealed bubbles filled with only the exposures and experiences we select–or those that various clever algorithms serve up for us.” Read More

3 Things Guaranteed to Happen When God Calls You

Have you ever been called by God?

Dr. Jeff Iorg, president of Gateway Seminary, has written an incredibly helpful book on this subject titled, Is God Calling Me? Answering the Question Every Believer Asks. In the book, he explains that a call is a profound impression from God, one that often comes with life-altering ramifications.

Iorg helps unpack this by demonstrating there are three main ways God makes His calling known and clear.

Some people have a sudden, dramatic experience or undergo some sort of crisis. You might think of Peter being called away from his fishing nets to follow Jesus or Paul’s blinding conversion that caused him to go from being a religious terrorist to a Christian missionary.

Other people, like famed apologist and author C.S. Lewis, come to recognize a calling through reasoned decision-making and contemplation. Others discover God’s calling through the prompting of people in community.

Regardless of how God reveals His will, here are three things guaranteed to accompany His calling on your life. Read More

When God Says "No"

I was 33 years old and minister of evangelism at the largest, most prestigious church (of our denomination at least) in the state. A few months earlier, our pastor had left and the leadership had handed me the assignment of preaching every three Sundays, every Wednesday night, and doing the Tuesday men’s Bible study for 150 fellows. All of that in addition to my regular duties.

I loved it.

One day, the chairman of the pastor search committee visited my cubby-hole of an office. “Joe,” said Paul Moak. “Do you believe God wants you to be pastor of this church?” What a question. Definitely a stunner that caught me off guard. But I knew the answer.

“No, sir,” I said without hesitation.

“Neither do we,” he said. (That seems funnier now than it did at the time.)

“But there’s a movement to make you the pastor of the church,” he said. Read More

N.T. Wright: the New Testament Is Clear on Female Preachers

When Pastor Miles McPherson asked N.T. Wright about his thoughts on women in ministry, the audience at Rock Church in San Diego erupted into enthusiastic applause. However, Wright said, the same question would elicit a yawn in the U.K. “We settled this one years ago,” Wright explained. Wright, who says he is asked about this topic nearly everywhere he goes outside of Britain, leans heavily on two passages of Scripture when it comes to answering the question “what does the Bible say about female preachers?”

“The usual idea that women were kept down in the ancient world and it’s only recently that feminism has brought them back up is quite wrong,” Wright argues. The theologian, who recently published a book called The New Testament in Its World, said women who had some authority in the church and society were not anathema in the ancient world. “There were lots of independent women in Paul’s world and that was something Paul worked with.” Read More

Should We Use Humor in Preaching? (4 Things to Know)

In Charles Spurgeon’s day, ministry and merriment didn’t often mix.

Evangelicals, particularly those of the Reformed variety, weren’t exactly known for their sense of humor. In his autobiography, Spurgeon quipped that the 12th commandment must have been, “Thou shalt [wear] a long face on Sunday.”

But Spurgeon bucked the trend. He was quick-witted—and it showed in his sermons. The great Spurgeon took the gospel with blood-earnest seriousness, but didn’t take himself seriously at all. Read More

Also See:
The Text: Removing the Assumptions
How To Preach Your Church Toward Its True Identity
4 Reasons Why We Should Preach Hard Texts
Jesus’s Only Bible: 7 Tips for Preaching the Old Testament

Saturday Lagniappe: Observing the Season of Lent and More

5 Ways Lent Participation Deepened My Faith

Rachel Sinclair shares how observing the Lenten Season deepened her faith. Read More

Planning a Worship Service for Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday will be upon us soon. Like all elements of the Christian Church liturgical calendar, Ash Wednesday is an effective way to preach the gospel and “walk through” the gospel story. At our church, Sojourn, we always observe Ash Wednesday with an early morning service. Read More

Loneliness in the US, the UK, the Garden of Eden, and the Church

Vivek Murthy, former Surgeon General of the United States, believes it is not good for you to be alone. In fact, the former Surgeon General is on a crusade against loneliness because of the damage that loneliness produces in people’s lives. According to Murthy loneliness is the biggest health problem facing our country....Leaders in the United Kingdom have reached the same conclusion. Read More

5 Freakish Things a Church Must Do

Christians are a peculiar people. God describes us that way in His Word.... What a community of peculiar people believes and holds to will be a bit freakish to the world. Therefore, your church should be seen as a bit odd, freakish, and otherworldly. Here are five peculiar things a church must do.... Read More

5 Church Leadership Lessons I Learned from Mose's Father-in-Law

I know that’s not a very intriguing or sexy title…no clickbait there. However, to this day, the best leadership book I’ve ever read is the Bible (and like you, I’ve read a lot of leadership books). One of the most interesting leadership interactions I’ve ever read about is out of Exodus chapter 18. Read More

Why It's Good Not to Be in Charge (5 Things You Can Learn While You Wait for the Keys)

Few things are more frustrating for young leaders than being limited in their role. Read More

Want Your Kids to Stay Christian? Double Down on Home Discipleship

Data suggests that what you do with your free time affects your family’s long-term spiritual formation. Read More

The FAQS: What You Should Know About Polygamy in America

What just happened? Earlier this week the Utah Senate unanimously passed a bill that effectively decriminalizes polygamy. Read More

Friday's Catch: A Lesson from Creation and More

How the Forest Inspired Me to Stay in Church

Church failures uproot congregations. But we're reminded by ecology that strength is found in community connection. Read More

5 Trends Redefining the Relationship between Americans and the Church

As part of their State of the Church 2020, Barna calls out five statistical trends that are vital for church leaders to recognize moving into the future. Read More

6 People at Risk of Leaving Your Church

Sometimes what we focus on as a church has unintended consequences, like making groups of people feel unwanted. Read More

3 Ways Busyness Hurts People and Churches

There was a famous research experiment conducted by two Princeton psychology professors that shows the harm busyness does to our priorities and our focus. Because the experiment was conducted on seminary students, it is very applicable to ministry leaders and churches. Read More

Thursday's Catch: Modern-Day Challenges to Evangelism and More

Evangelism Formation: Three Major Challenges to Our Evangelism Today

As we enter into 2020, challenges to evangelism continue to rise. We need to face them to help us prioritize the spread of the gospel. Read More

When Is It Time to Walk Away from a Revitalization Effort? [Podcast]

Thom Rainer and Kevin Ezell discuss how to recognize when it is time to walk away from a revitalization effort. Listen Now

What Must Ben Shapiro Do to Be Saved?

Does a person need to put their faith in Jesus to be saved? Read More

2 Compelling Reasons to Observe Lent

To say it simply, the liturgical year was developed as a way to help the spiritual formation of Christians. How does it do that? Read More

I am posting this article because Glen Packiam does make a convincing case for observing Lent. However, I found a number of problem areas in the article. Packiam did not check some of his facts. For example, it was Thomas Cranmer, not Oliver Cranmer, who composed many of the prayers and other liturgical texts in the first and second Prayer Books of King Edward VI. He also does not identify which "Anglican Book of Common Prayer" to which he is referring. The link leads to a error message, "This glennpackiam.typepad.com page can’t be found." The Litany of Penitence is found in the Episcopal Church's 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The older Prayer Books contain the commintations which are declarations of God's curse on various categories of evil doers.

Songs for an Ash Wednesday Service

This Wednesday begins the season of Lent—the season of the church year when we prepare for Easter. I thought it might be helpful for me to share the Ash Wednesday songs I picked for our evening service. Read More

3 Reasons to Visit an Elderly Person Soon

Each one of us can do something simple to help an elderly person. We can visit. Read More

10 Needed Commitments from Bible Study Leaders

I am surprised how little attention churches give to securing Bible study leaders and holding them accountable. Below are ten covenant commitments I would want them to affirm as they serve in the local church.... Read More

Don’t Compartmentalize Your Christianity

Sadly, many people who call themselves Christians live functionally compartmentalized lives. Whether they realize it or not, they have divided their lives neatly into two drawers: real life and spiritual life. Read More

This has become a serious problem in the United States and accounts in part for the diminished influence of Christianity and non-Christians' negative view of Christians.

Wednesday's Catch: Developing Leaders in a Brain Drain Community and More

Developing Leaders in a Brain Drain Community: Demographic Realities & Church Leadership Roles

Identifying, equipping, and releasing leaders is critical to church health and growth. Read More

3 Tips for Dealing with Death in Your Ministry

Here are some tips to effectively minister to those walking through mourning and even who are dying. Read More

Three Unreasonable Expectations Pastors Have of Their Churches

Good church leaders expect more of their churches. However, in this post I want to address unreasonable expectations pastors have of their churches. Read More

Why Train Women to Teach the Bible? [Podcast]

Taylor Turkington begins the conversation by highlighting that both men and women in the church can have the gift of teaching the Bible, and because of this, it is important to equip them—just like all the saints should be equipped for the work of the ministry as described in Ephesians 4:12-14. Listen Now

Bringing our Children to the Table

Since the practice of the Lord’s Supper has regained something of a focused treatment online in recent days, I thought it might be advantageous to focus on another important aspect of the Lord’s Supper–namely, how and when is it appropriate for children to receive communion? In doctrinally serious churches, welcoming the children of believers to the Lord’s Supper is one of the most important elements of the life of the church. It is also one of the most difficult and widely debated matters. Read More

This article is a slightly edited version of a post first published at the Christward Collective in October of 2017.

No Social-Media Algorithm Rewards Grace

Managing social media for a large Christian organization, I see Christians shine the bright light of the gospel and mercilessly eviscerate others online every single day. I fear many of us have fallen into feedback loops created by algorithms intended to generate engagement, and have lost sight of our calling to be known by our mutual love (John 13:34–35). Read More

Supporting Discipleship Teams

No matter how the church is structured, there are a few things that a church can do to help those discipleship leaders keep a church-wide focus on making disciples. Read More

Polyamory: Pastors’ Next Sexual Frontier

These once-taboo relationships are showing up in churches across the US. Read More

4 Steps to Take When Yesterday's Sins Haunt You

Maybe you’ve been there. The accuser of the brothers and sisters (Rev 12:10) pounds at you because of yesterday’s sin, and you struggle living in freedom. Maybe these steps will help you.... Read More

The FAQs: Is Freemasonry Compatible with Christianity?

Over the past few years, I’ve received numerous requests to address the issue of Freemasonry and Christianity. While this is not intended to be comprehensive analysis or explanation, my hope is that it will be sufficient to help followers of Jesus determine for themselves if these two systems of belief and ritual—Freemasonry and Christianity—are compatible. Read More

Coronavirus Fears Mean We Need More Communion, Not Less

A pastor and former CDC medical officer considers the outbreak’s real threats to churches. Read More

This Is How Asian Churches Are Preventing the Spread of Covid-19

Asian churches are altering their normal worship services and meeting schedules to take precaution against spreading the coronavirus, now known as Covid-19. Churches in China have been ordered closed since January 29th, while churches in other Asian countries are implementing precautionary measures in the hopes of containing the virus. Read More

7 Surefire Ways to Repel Church Visitors

What are some of the top reasons people never returned after visiting a church?

We took to social media to crowdsource some answers to this question. There were several themes apparent through multiple similar responses. Others were hard to believe.

Here are seven reasons people never returned to a church—along with direct quotes from some of the responses. Read More

Tuesday's Catch: Witchcraft on the Rise and More

Why Witchcraft Is on the Rise

Americans’ interest in spell-casting tends to wax as instability rises and trust in establishment ideas plummets. Read More

Three Lessons from Simon the Magician

Last Lord’s Day in our congregation we were confronted by the unsettling figure of Simon the Magician in our series in the book of Acts (8.9-24). Luke seems to include his story in his treatment of the Samaritan church for the same kind of reason he includes Ananias and Sapphira in his chronicle of the Jerusalem church: to serve as a sobering warning to all churches. In particular he is a warning of at least three things.... Read More

10 Questions Churches Should Ask Their Gen Z Members

Listening well to emerging young adults will offer new insights into the challenges (and opportunities) the church will face in the coming decades as these young adults gradually take their places in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and pews—if they do. Read More

Why Christians Should Never Retire

Christians may be free to “retire” from their occupation, but as disciples of Christ we aren’t ever free to retire from serving God and others. If we’re fortunate enough to be freed from the demands of working for a living, that opens a door of opportunity to do more work for the kingdom using the wisdom, experience, talents, and resources the Holy Spirit has given us through a lifetime of discipleship. Read More

The Hidden Truth Behind Bivocational Ministry

Bivocational ministry is really more an issue of salary and paperwork. In reality, there is no such thing as part-time ministry. You’d have a better chance at finding Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster.  Read More

Monday's Catch: "Seven Differences Between Your Church and a Cafeteria" and More

Seven Differences Between Your Church and a Cafeteria

Thom Rainer identifies seven differences between a church and a cafeteria. What is your church? Read More

The Slippery Slope of Families Not Attending Church Consistently

There is a trend happening in churches. Families are attending church less frequently. In most cases, families that used to attend twice a month are now attending once a month. Families that used to come once a month are now only showing up at Christmas and Easter. There are many reasons why this is happening. Here are a few key ones.... Read More

9 Things You Should Know About Family Structure

Here are nine things you should know about family structure. Read More

The Satanic Doctrine of a Wrathless Cross

The cross is not only about wrath, of course, but if we lose this vital aspect of Christ’s atoning work, we lose the very heart of the good news. Read More

Gospel Proclamation within Secularity

(Or, The Art of Church Planting Preaching) Part 1 Read More

How to Improve Your Preaching

Kevin DeYoung offers eleven questions he's been asking myself as he thinks about improving as a preacher. He doesn't use these questions as any kind of weekly checklist, but they are they are the sorts of things rattling through his head and heart. Read More

Jesus’s Only Bible: 7 Tips for Preaching the Old Testament

If we’re convinced that Jesus’s only Bible is still important for Christians, how should we think about the intimidating task of preaching from the Old Testament? Here are seven tips for aspiring Old Testament preachers. Read More

Friday's Catch: The Importance of Screening and More

Due to recurring internet outages in my area and a malfunctioning modem I will not be posting Saturday Lagniappe this weekend. I apologize for any inconvenience that I may cause my readers.

The Screening Process That Protects Your Children and Church

The screening process for paid staff, a volunteer, or a leadership position is a vital piece of your church’s overall safety plan and includes seven key elements. The screening process functions as a deterrent for would-be offenders, eliminates easy access to children, and brings to the surface need-to-know information about a person’s character, commitment, and history working with children and youth. Read More

Revitalization, Part Two

When renewal isn’t enough. Read More

Revitalization, Part Three

Leadership in church revitalization. Read More

3 Ways the Devil Tempts the American Church

If we’re not careful, we’ll be fooled by the schemes of the Devil. Read More

How to Respond When Church Members Hold Key Leadership Positions but Don't Attend Faithfully [Podcast]

The issue at hand is sensitive, but we want to provide clarity on best practices. How do you respond to key leaders who don’t attend church faithfully? Listen Now

The 9 Greatest Concerns Pastors Have for Their Church

Pastors and church leaders face a litany of issues and problems within their congregations and outside the church. But what are the top concerns of the average pastor? Read More

Could A 10-Minute Sermon Work?

It's not about length, is it? "I want my pastors to know they can preach for 10 or 60 minutes." Read More

The Danger of Teaching Information Without Application

I believe the number one problem with preaching in America is its lack of application. Too many pastors use an academic model in which they simply lecture their congregations. As a result, people often walk out of worship services with their lives unchanged. Read More

3 Questions to Ask about Multiethnic Worship Gatherings

Rather than suggesting how to have a multiethnic worship gathering, though, I think it’ll be more helpful to raise some questions to ask as our ministry contexts become increasingly diverse. Read More

The Most Unsung Discipleship Tool in Our Churches

We are not called to make music—we are called to make disciples. Read More

My Husband Is Deconstructing His Faith. How Do I Journey with Him?

This Valentine’s Day, some of us are called to love unbelieving wives and husbands. Read More

Want to Defend the Faith? Tell a Story.

Is there more to defending the faith than merely appealing to reasoned justifications? Read More

Thursday's Catch: Church Planting in Dublin and More

Church Planting in (Spiritually Desolate) Dublin [Podcast]

Church planting in this postmodern context is difficult. The required financial investment is high. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Yet, for pastors like Mark Smith and others, the commitment to disciple-making and church planting in Dublin is unwavering due to their unshakeable hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Listen Now

A link to the transcript of this podcast may be found just below the link to the podcast.

Church Revitalization, Part One

One doesn’t have to be a missiologist to recognize the need for many churches to experience revitalization. One of the more powerful ways to experience church revitalization is through a renewal movement. Study the great awakenings and you will see stories of revitalization birthed in the midst of revival.... But we don’t have to have a great awakening to see churches revitalize, either! Here are some types of renewal movements that can help bring revitalization today. Read More

Four Types of Churches That Will Soon Die [Podcast]

Our goal is to see churches live and thrive. To know how to help churches we must understand and identify the drift which pulls churches towards the grave. In today’s episode of Revitalize and Replant Thom Rainer and Mark Clifton will discuss the characteristics of four churches which will soon die. Listen Now

A substantial number of Continuing Anglican churches in North America exhibit these characteristics. They are inward-looking and self-absorbed. They have become disconnected from the community in which they are located. In a sizable number of cases they never connected with that community. They neglect the teaching of the Bible. They use a liturgy whose language comes from a bygone age. They sing hymns whose content is divorced from present day realities. They cling to a past that is long gone and will never return. They have become refuges and safe havens - illusionary bubbles of stability - from the constant change that characterizes this century and the previous century but in doing so they have chosen to die.

9 Reasons Our Family and Friends Don't Believe the Gospel

Southeastern Seminary, where I teach, is emphasizing “Who’s Your One” this semester. We want all of our administration, faculty, staff, and students to seek to pray for and share the gospel with at least one person during the next couple of months. Based on my years of sharing Christ with family members and friends, here are my thoughts about why folks struggle with believing the gospel. Read More

Who's Your One?

It doesn’t matter how many buildings we construct, churches we plant or sermons we preach if we’re not intent on doing everything so that lost men, women and children will experience the transforming work of God. Learn More

How to Use Facebook for Church Planting

Duke Taber explains how he used Facebook to start a new church. Read More

A single page version of this article may be found at the Easy Church Tech website.

Here Come the Skinny Cows

Four reasons tithes and offerings are about to drop dramatically. Read More

How to Know If You’ve Made an Idol of Politics

Almost no one is willing to admit they have made an idol of politics—including me. That’s why I started creating a list of idol-identifying questions that I thought would vindicate me. Read More

How Frequently Do Church Shootings Occur

Deadly incidents are on the rise at churches, says Carl Chinn, a church security expert. According to his research, there had never been a mass murder (four or more killed) associated with a faith-based property before 1963. Since then, there have been 14 such incidents. Read More

The statistics in this article are relevant only to the United States. In other countries church shootings may be less common or more frequent. Church leaders need to consider the particular circumstances of their church in considering what church security measures to adopt.

Wednesday's Catch: Beware the Complacency of Eternal Security and More

"Aslan is on the move...."

Beware the Complacency of “Once Saved, Always Saved”

We have two seemingly contradictory truths: On the one hand, the Bible says that once God saves you, you’ll always be saved; on the other, it says that only if you endure to the end will you be saved. You have to put the two together. Read More

10 Flavors of Works-Based Salvation

By nature and by training we all seek solutions to our problem of sin. To varying degrees, these solutions include doing something—law keeping, good works, etc—to please or appease or satisfy the God who is one day going to judge us. The idea of contributing to one’s own salvation is universal. It’s the engine which propels every religion. Read More

God Wants You Holy

If there is a command in Scripture guaranteed to offend the modern mind and set off a stubborn inner resistance that is dead-set on holding its ground and giving up nothing, it’s this: Be holy. Read More

Not All Sins Are the Same

Why hell will be worse for some. Read More

4 Primary Tasks for the Shepherd-Planter

Church-planting pastors aren’t just planters; we’re shepherds, too. We’re charged with the faithful care of our flocks. We take our cues from Jesus, the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11). Read More

7 Lazy Habits That Will Sink Your Ministry

Ministry is one of the best places to hide—if you’re lazy. There are several reasons for this.... Read More

10 Children's Ministry Issues

As my church consulting team does congregational interviews, we often hear concerns about children’s ministries. Listed in no particular order, here are the most common concerns we hear.... Read More

9 Problems in Children's Ministries in the Local Church

Chuck Lawless identifies some more weak areas of children's ministries in some churches. Read More

Tuesday's Catch: A Missional Strategy for Churches in the 21st Century and More

There is a Balm in Gilead: A Missional Strategy for Churches in the 21st Century

What is the church to do in such a tumultuous climate of rapid change? Read More

Yes...Your Church Can Reach Millennials

In spite of what you read about them, you can reach Millennials. Read More

8 Ways to Reach Single Adults through Your Church

Chuck Lawless offers a number of suggestions for reaching this group in your community. Read More

8 Reasons Why Your Church Needs to Connect with the Nearest College or University

I don’t know your church’s location, but I suspect that it may be within driving distance of a college or university campus. If so, your congregation needs to connect with that campus. Here’s why.... Read More

Ten Ways to Make Outsiders Become Insiders in Your Church

Every church has a “force field” that keeps guests and seekers out. By “force field” I mean “shields”, as when Captain Kirk in Star Trek says, “Shields up!” Some churches want to keep people out. Most churches do not. Most churches want to attract Christians looking for a new church, and non-Christians curious about the Christian faith. Read More

7 Questions to Ask When Starting a Church Planting Network

What it takes to start and sustain a church planting movement. Read More