Judging by the words of some self-identified Christians on Facebook and the actions of some local churches, they may be right.
4 Steps to Amplify Community Engagement Let's be honest. Who would miss your church if it vanished overnight?
9 Characteristics of Spiritually Healthy and Numerically Growing Churches
What helps a church break free of the overall trajectory of decline most U.S. congregations find themselves? According to the 2020 Faith Communities Today (FACT) study, the same factors that predicted growth and vitality two decades ago do the same today, but fewer churches are actually growing.
Hitting A Church Growth Barrier? Getting Bigger Isn’t Your Only Option
There are options that will allow and adapt for church growth without making the abrupt and not-always-helpful change from hands-on pastor/shepherd to CEO-style manager.
But Contemporary Worship Brings People to Jesus!... Right?
Are churches making full-fledged disciples of Jesus? Or are they producing something else? Based upon the research, my impression is that the latter is the case. Contemporary worship has played a part in that development. Worship is something in which the congregation engages, not just for a hour on Sunday inside a church building, but 24-7 in every day life. The way many churches worship is teaching churchgoers the wrong lesson. We magnify God in church on Sundays in preparation for magnifying God in our daily lives during the week. The key is "we magnify God...," not the band, not the preacher.
Christ’s Prayers Can Transform Ours
When it comes to prayer, Jesus is not only our teacher but also our exemplar.
Yes, Jesus Told Us to Pray in Secret. But He Also Prayed with His Friends.
Jesus' instructions to his disciples was intended to help them from making the mistakes that the Pharisees were making. It was not a prohibition against praying in public gatherings, large and small.
Are Kids' Lonely at Your Church?
I recall an article in which the writer insisted that the reason the kids went to church was to learn what the Bible teaches and for no othe reason. They did not go to church to socialize with other kids and make friends. My reaction was, "Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!" Parents do not go to church solely to learn what the Bible teaches. They go to church to meet their social needs as well as their spiritual ones. If an adult does not make friends at church, they will find a church where they can make friends. Why set one standard for adults and another for children. If kids do not grow to feel like they are part of the church community, the church family, they are not going to stay when they are old enough to leave.
Church Confidentiality Policy: What’s Appropriate in Children’s Ministry
Every church ministry needs clear confidentiality guidelines and a commitment from everyone involved to follow those guidelines. Children's ministries are no exception.
Diffusing Tensions on Social Media
When we go online, Jesus expects us as his disciples not to park his teaching and example teaching and example when we sign on.
Why Broken Is Best
God loves us as broken as we are and will take our brokenness and heal and transform us.
6 Needed Shifts for Reaching the Next Generation
We need to make these shifts not only to reach the "next generation" but our own generation.
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