Tuesday's Catch: The Generational Guide in Politics and More

How to Navigate the Generational Divide in Politics

The 2020 election is already a trying season for the American church. And among the dynamics at play is a growing generational divide among conservative evangelicals. Read More

Evangelicals for Social Action Leaves Behind ‘Evangelical’ Label

The 47-year-old organization sticks with the broader movement’s mission but not its name. Read More

3 Ways to Tell If Physically Absent Church Members Are Still Spiritually Engaged

Not everyone who has not physically returned yet is in danger of drifting away. Here are a few ways to tell who’s still connected and who needs to be reengaged. Read More

In the midst of a serious pandemic which is showing no signs of abating and in which one segment of the population is denying the seriousness of the pandemic, is unwilling to comply with reasonable public health measures intended to reduce transmission risks, and is spreading inaccurate and false information about the pandemic, pastors appear to be inordinately concerned about those who have not physically returned to church when they may need to be more concerned about those who have physically returned. If these returnees belong to that one segment of the population, those who have not physically returned may have good reason to stay away.

I personally was between churches when COVID-19 reached the United States, considering leaving one church to join another, and in the very early stages of starting a third. The pandemic required me to put these plans on hold or modify them. I chose to modify them, launching All Hallows Murray as an online community, first offering a Sunday morning service on Zoom and more recently Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday evening services on a different platform.

Since that time I have concluded that politics, not safety, is driving the reopening of a number of churches or their continued opening despite the fact the pandemic has not been contained. I do not believe that I am wrong in suspecting that other Christians who attended church before the pandemic have come to the same conclusion.

12 Ministry Questions Church Leaders Have Asked

As a seminary professor and church consultant, I hear a lot of questions about church. Here are some of the most recent questions (without my response). What are your thoughts about any one of these questions? Read More

How to Safely Uncover the Land Mines in Your Church

It might look like a nice place, but there is often more there than meets the eye. Sometimes the danger is clearly visible, but other times, it’s hidden beneath the surface. Read More

The Best Sermons Tell Stories

When so many of us pastors get up to preach week to week, we aren’t storytellers, but proposition-givers. There’s nothing wrong with the “three point sermon where all the points begin with ‘P,’” but sometimes we get so caught up accurately exegeting life-principles we don’t invite people into the compelling, terrifying, inspiring, life-altering narrative of God’s kingdom invading our world. Read More