Thursday's Catch: The Re-evangelization of the West and More

How to Reach the West (Again)

Here are five basic elements to having a missionary encounter with Western culture. Read More

10 Reasons Every Pastor Should Care about Missions

Billions of people are being born, living their entire lives, and dying without ever hearing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This reality cannot be tolerable. Read More

The Trap of Tradition

Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. And, I suppose I should add, it is traditionalism that gives tradition such a bad name.” -Jaroslav Pelikan Read More

Embracing Your Reformed Roots

Our churches can flourish if we will embrace our Reformed roots. Now, some want to run back and use our roots as an excuse not to engage with our modern culture. It is more comfortable to live in the past than in the present. Others dismiss our roots as dated, old-fashioned, and even legalistic as we embrace a standard. However, we face the storm winds of a secular America and as we see churches and denominations swept away with the culture and times, it is important to embrace our roots, so that we might not only hold fast but even flourish in our day. Read More

Song Ideas for Good Friday and Easter

Check out these song Ideas for Good Friday and Easter. There are so many great worship songs about the cross and forgiveness and the sacrifice Christ made for us. And there are so many wonderful songs about the resurrection and the victory of God over sin and death and evil. Read More

Hands Outstretched

One of my favorite things to do when leading a worship service is getting to pronounce the benediction over the congregation at the end of the service. A benediction is a divine blessing from Scripture pronounced by the minister in order to equip God’s people as He sends them out into the world to live for Christ. The benediction is found throughout Scripture. Consider the following examples.... Read More

In the Book of Ruth a blessing is used as a form of greeting: "The Lord be with you." "The Lord bless you. " (Ruth 2:4). There is much to be said for beginning a gathering of the local church with such a greeting as well as concluding the gathering with a benediction.