Friday's Catch: 'Church Security: How Do We Keep Our Churches Safe in Today’s America?' And More

Church Security: How Do We Keep Our Churches Safe in Today’s America?

In the wake of The Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tennesee, Ed Stetzer offers a mix of pastoral and practical advice regarding church and church school security.

Small Church, Big Potential
In the American context we tend to view small things as insignificant. Scripture turns that perspective on its head. In fact, the Bible repeatedly shows how God uses minor things to make a large impact. Jesus used seemingly unimportant objects––like a mustard seed or yeast––to demonstrate the potency of supposedly inconsequential things.

'Banality of evil': Scholars explain what's behind assisted suicide's expansion in the West
As assisted suicide rises to new record levels in some areas of the globe, experts say that the "banality of evil" and expressive individualism are playing a role as governments in the United States, Canada and Europe are pushing the envelope by expanding who can access "medical aid in dying."

4 Systems Church Leaders Should Care About
I would add a fifth "system" to this list--the church's plan for dscipling not just inquirers but also long-time churchgoers.

The Asbury Outpouring: What We As Worship Leaders Can Learn
"After a week bearing personal witness to what God is doing at Asbury, I woke up with the awareness that there are a few important things we can learn right now." writes Dan Wilt. He has put his reflections in an article and in the longer form of a video for us.

U.S. Church Attendance Rates Find Stability Amid Changes While regular church attendance has dropped slightly since 2019, church participation has remained “remarkably steady” throughout the pandemic.

Historic North Carolina church trying to leave UMC shuttered by regional conference 

Whatever the rationale that was offered for this decision, it has all the earmarks of a property grab!

Communion Partner Response to Church of England Decision
The Communion Partners issued this statement on the Church of England's decision to permit the blessing of same-sex civil unions.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, March 30, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows! The best description of All Hallows Murray is an online gathering place for Christians and those exploring the Christian faith. The services of praise, proclamation, and prayer that are offered on this blogsite are not intended to replace those of a local church but are offered for the benefit of those who are unable to attend a local church for any reason, who may be traveling, or who wish to test the water before taking the plunge, or who otherwise may benefit from them.

Reading: Hebrews 12: 14-29

Message: A Call to Listen to God

 https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/03/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_30.html 

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Thursday's Catch: 'It’s Time for a Change: The Case for a New Ministry Model' And More

It’s Time for a Change: The Case for a New Ministry Model
We can’t lament the increased secularization of communities while assuming a ministry model designed for Christian culture will be effective.

15 Church Growth Ideas
Not every church is the same, and not all church growth ideas are equally effective for every church. What works for one may not work for another. To help spark new ways to improve your church, Church Fuel recommends these church growth ideas.

What You Don’t Know about your Church May Kill You
Many pastors begin a new assignment and get blindsided from issues they never expected. When that happens, it can be deadly.

Making the Most of Your Church Database
In this post Gavin Adams shows us how church data can make a massive difference in discipleship growth.

5 Ways Your Church Can Use Text-Messaging to Reach More People "While we’re still learning in this arena, here are some thoughts and practices that may be worth implementing and experimenting with," writes Brandon Cox. "Some of these, my church is already doing, and some of them, we’re just talking about."

The Secret to Leading an Amazing, Healthy Small Group
This article is about leading an amazing, healthy small group. And if you are reading this article, two things are probably true....

Wednesday's Catch: '130 Signs of Toxic Church Leadership' Ad More

130 Signs of Toxic Church Leadership

Recognizing these signs is the first step toward addressing toxic leadership and preventing it from taking hold in our churches.

How to Spot Surface Leadership
Growing in the knowledge of and the relational aspect of leadership, should be a goal for every leader. Yet, a team can quickly identify examples of shallow leadership.

How Sensible Pastors React to Harsh Public Criticism
Criticism can be either constructive or destructive. Constructive criticism comes from a pure motive to help the one criticized. Destructive criticism grows out of selfish motives and desires to tear down the one criticized. Criticism can also be either public or private. Both have a place. Typically, the critic should start with private conversations and escalate to more public statements when others are at risk. In rare cases, a whistleblower may need to inform the world about a particular situation.

Singing in Prison
"We all have strong views about hymns," writes Ephraim Radner. "My standard is whether they can be remembered in prison, be sung aloud, and have a practical immediacy capable of encouraging those in the cell next door. Like Paul and Silas."

How to Talk to Your Kids About the Nashville Elementary School Shooting (And a Free E-book on Helping Children Cope With Trauma)
Traumatic events like this week's shooting can leave children feeling frightened, confused, and insecure. Here are six practical ways to help.

Nashville school shooting: 5 ways to help young people process tragedy
As a youth leader, teacher, or parent, it can be difficult to know how to help our children and teenagers process something as tragic as a mass shooting like the one that happened this week at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. Six people—three children and three adults—were killed, as well as the perpetrator. But when traumatic events happen, it provides an opportunity to speak into young lives in a deep and meaningful way.

Spiritual Disciplines: Becoming Healthy Christians by Offering Our Whole Selves to God
Spiritual disciplines give believers of any spiritual maturity the freedom to cultivate a flourishing life with God.

How to Respond to Deconstructionist Social Media
"This latest Christian-adverse social media trend is tricky to deal with, but I am convinced that the primary response must be life-on-life discipleship," writes Zach Hollifield.

Judge rejects lawsuit seeking to stop Louisiana churches from leaving the UMC
A judge has ruled against a lawsuit seeking to stop congregations in Louisiana from leaving the United Methodist Church, citing the constitutionally protected separation of church and state. District Court Judge Kelly Balfour ruled last week against a lawsuit brought by a group of United Methodist clergy trying to stop disaffiliation votes in the UMC Louisiana Conference.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Biblical Worldview Among U.S. Adults Has Declined by 33% Since Start of Pandemic' And More

Biblical Worldview Among U.S. Adults Has Declined by 33% Since Start of Pandemic
New research from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University indicates that the 6% benchmark measure of American adults with a biblical worldview, recorded in January 2020, may prove to be the high-water mark for the foreseeable future. In the first annual study of Americans’ worldview in the post-lockdown era, the national incidence, the CRC says, has declined to a mere 4%.

Does Online Church Attendance ‘Count’?
Pastors are split on whether attending church services or simply participating in activities online counts as regular church attendance.

Have We Fruit
In this article Laceye C. Warner, Royce and Jane Reynolds Associate Professor of the Practice of Evangelism and Methodist Studies and Associate Dean for Wesleyan Engagement and Hybrid Programs at Duke Divinity School, Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina, explains how "For John Wesley personal experiences of grace lead individuals to share God’s grace with others producing fruit in community."

You may also like to read Dr. Warner's From Grace to Good Works; Growing in Holiness and Leading Simply.

Seven Reasons We Preachers Don’t Always Know What Our Church is Thinking . . . and a Reason to Get a “Know Your Church Report”
Chuck Lawless explains why he is a fan of te "Know Your Church Report."

Sound Equipment Essentials for the Portable Church
If your congregation is a portable church that meets in a secular space each weekend, like a school gymnasium, community center, or outdoor space, you’re probably spending hours loading and unloading equipment. Being a portable church can have its challenges, but audio doesn’t have to be one of them. Full Compass can help you build a foundation of audio equipment that allows you to create a sacred space anywhere, under any budget. Let’s explore the gear you’ll need to fit your unique needs, streamline your set up, and do it all while wisely stewarding your congregation’s resources.

How to Use the Bible on Your Phone
Having access to the Bible digitally is a tremendous blessing for the church, and yet, this resource is often undervalued. Even as there are many reasons why you should open the Bible in print, here are five advantages to reading it on your phone or computer.

Your Personality Test Doesn’t Give You a Pass on the Fruit of the Spirit
The problem with personality tests ... is we can sometimes dismiss or diminish clear biblical standards that don’t align with our self-perception.

'Radical' expansion of assisted suicide in Oregon is 'too extreme'
This legislation and Canada's euthanasia laws should concern all who are committed to preserving human life, the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as babies in their mother's womb.

Monday's Catch: '12 Ways to Make Sure Easter Guests Don’t Come Back" And More

12 Ways to Make Sure Easter Guests Don’t Come Back
Here are 12 surefire ways that not only keep visitors to your church on Easter Sunday from returning but also those who visit your church on any occasion.

Hitting a Church Growth Barrier? Getting Bigger Isn’t Your Only Option
Should you, as a pastor adjust your leadership style to accommodate a larger congregation? Or is there a way to allow for and encourage growth that won’t require such a radical shift?

Does God Read Every Thought?
The short answer is yes....

7 Ways to Create a Powerful Worship Set List
One of a worship leader’s most fundamental jobs is picking the right songs for Sunday. Not only that, but putting the songs in the right order. Sometimes you can just feel which songs you should do. But this usually comes with years of leading. So how do you pick a great worship set list whether you’re a seasoned worship leader or just starting out?

Protect Teens from Sextortion
Last month, international law enforcement agencies released a warning: “In 2022, the FBI received thousands of reports related to the financial sextortion of minors, primarily boys, representing an exponential increase from previous years. Unfortunately, the FBI is also aware of more than a dozen suicides following these incidents.” I wasn’t surprised. A year prior, a friend of mine shared how this exact trend occurred in his family. What’s going on? And what can Christian parents do?

‘Purple church’ pastors mull leadership strategies in polarizing times
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina held a leadership forum to help pastors figure out how to speak out without alienating half of their members.

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, March 26, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows! The best description of All Hallows Murray is an online gathering place for Christians and those exploring the Christian faith. The services of praise, proclamation, and prayer that are offered on this blogsite are not intended to replace those of a local church but are offered for the benefit of those who are unable to attend a local church for any reason, who may be traveling, or who wish to test the water before taking the plunge, or who otherwise may benefit from them.

Reading: Romans 8: 6-11

Message: Life in the Spirit

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/03/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-march-26.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'The Power of Small' and More

The Power of Small
Here are four powerful elements of a small church that, if embraced, will help our church culture reimagine the advantages of small churches.

Most churches in North America are small. Megachurches form a very tiny percentage of the churches in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

COVID-19 sent houses of worship online. Will congregations come back in person? Religious leaders can find concern and comfort in a survey about attendance at worship early in the pandemic.

While the viewing of services livestreamed online has declined, people looking for a church wil view a service online for as many as six times before they visit the serice in person.

Louis Berkhof on the Historical Development of the Church's Doctrine of Antichrist
Berkhof’s summation of church’s development of the doctrine of “Antichrist” across time is very helpful. As you can see, there has been little consensus about this. Berkhof is also writing before more recent speculation generated by the prophecy pundits, especially in light of Israel being re-installed in her ancient homeland.

10 Resources to Teach Kids About the Resurrection
Easter is a time to share the story and joy of the resurrection.

The Viral Revival
TikTok is currently facing a reckoning in Congress over several concerns, including the security of Americans’ data. Whether or not the app is ultimately banned in the U.S., this is the story of how it has nevertheless been used in powerful ways for the spread of the gospel, particularly during the pandemic.

Secession is here: States, cities and the wealthy are already withdrawing from America 

The continued polarization of the United States and the withdrawal of various affinity groups into their own bubbles will lead to a weakened nation which is exactly what its rivals would like to see. Secession and the eventual breakup of the United States would make the successor states easy pickings for a foreign power and would see a once great nation disappear from the world stage. .

Friday's Catch: 'The Southern Baptist Convention’s coming ‘Great Ejection’' And More

The Southern Baptist Convention’s coming ‘Great Ejection’

Will this summer’s SBC annual meeting make Christian history?

The Least of These: A Guide to Practicing a Faith Without Margins
Angie Ward suggests four key practices, based on biblical principles, that can help us better show God’s love to “the least of these.” Following each practice, she provides questions to move you and your church toward concrete action in that area. 

How Christians grieve the Holy Spirit and mess up everything
Dan Delzell takes a look at the different ways that we can grieve the Holy Spirit. Wrath Is Not an Attribute of God
To say love and anger can coexist doesn’t go far enough. Anger arises because of love.

How to Detect Deception
Whether dealing with ancient texts or contemporary speech, when it comes to detecting lies, "the devil is in the details."

Small Group Structure: 3 Effective Ways to Organize for Youth Ministry
No matter your small group structure, these meetings are an important part of effective student ministry. Small groups move students past just showing up at youth group every week and listening to you teach. They move teens to a place where they can better develop community with their peers (and an adult leader or two) as well going deeper into God’s Word.

Report: LGBTQ Americans tend to be younger and have no religion
The new report from PRRI also found that many religious Americans support LGBTQ nondiscrimination rights, even those who oppose same sex-marriage.

Branding Jesus
Church attendance is in decline. This has given birth to many articles and think pieces exploring why churches are shrinking, and has prompted many churches to increase their efforts at evangelism. While spreading the good news is obviously more than this, it is definitely marketing. Church leaders and those concerned about keeping churches alive seek to promote the Jesus “brand” in ways that are relevant and compelling to modern audiences.

The Many Meanings of Connectionalism
If churches leave The United Methodist Church, are they still "in connection"?

These are the schools the Global Methodist Church recommends for hopeful clergy
The fledgling Methodist denomination, which broke away from the United Methodist Church last year amid ongoing debate over the role of LGBTQ Christians, has announced a list of recommended educational institutions for candidates seeking ordination as a deacon or elder.

Michigan's largest United Methodist congregation votes to leave denomination
The largest United Methodist Church congregation in Michigan has voted to leave the mainline Protestant denomination over the ongoing debate over homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Cornerstone Church of Caledonia, which has satellite campuses in Grand Rapids and the city of Wyoming, voted on Sunday to disaffiliate from the UMC and become a nondenominational congregation. The final tally was 616 in favor, nine against and two abstentions.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, March 23, 2023) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows! The best description of All Hallows Murray is an online gathering place for Christians and those exploring the Christian faith. The services of praise, proclamation, and prayer that are offered on this blogsite are not intended to replace those of a local church but are offered for the benefit of those who are unable to attend a local church for any reason, who may be traveling, or who wish to test the water before taking the plunge, or who otherwise may benefit from them.

Reading: Hebrews 10: 19-25

Message: Why It’s Important for Christians to Meet Together

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/03/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_22.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Thursday's Catch: '6 Traits People Value in Online Faith Communities' And More

6 Traits People Value in Online Faith Communities

There are six traits that people value in online communities, writes Heidi A. Campbell.

This material is excerpted from “What Religious Groups Need to Consider When Trying to Do Church Online” in the free ebook The Distanced Church: Reflections on Doing Church Online, Heidi A. Campbell, Editor.

Signs of a Jesus Movement in This Generation?
Generation Z is marked by an increasing number of “nones,” meaning people who claim no faith at all. Watchful Christian observers, then, take genuine hope in two recent notable events.

8 Hispanic Values Every Church Must Keep in Mind
The Hispanic population continues to grow in the U.S. What Hispanic values are shared by the community and how do those values impact evangelism?

8 Terrible Reasons To Leave a Church
Perhaps more than ever before, people are leaving (or changing) churches en masse. There are some good reasons to leave a church. What I’m seeing of late, though, doesn’t fit in the “good reason” category. The pandemic launched several more pandemics — fear pandemic, anger pandemic, political pandemic, racial pandemic, and a church pandemic. TThe recent climate has given way to a mass exodus from churches, mostly for terrible reasons. Here are a few....

What Does the Holy Spirit Do?
Maybe you think of communing with the Spirit as hearing whispered messages or getting overtaken by waves of warm fuzzies. There are certainly places in the Bible where the Spirit manifests himself in demonstrative ways. In the book of Romans, however, Paul’s focus is on how the Spirit assists us in our growth toward Christ-likeness. Here are a few things Paul identifies.

6 Ways Churches can Support Foster or Adoptive Families
While the world tells us, “look out for yourself,” God’s Word tells believers, “look out for one another.” This is true inside the church, but it is also true of those outside the church. Galatians 6:10 says, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

How to Choose a Curriculum? The Most Important Question No One Asks
The challenges we are facing at this moment in time are that the world has changed so rapidly over the past decade and cultural formation is having a significant impact on our kids. In this new post-Christian environment there’s a question almost no one is asking the publisher but should ask, and it’s this: Can you show me an impact study on the effectiveness of your curriculum?

The Doubling Group Movement – A Worthy Goal
We can reach our nation for God with an army of small group leaders like you who long to see a doubling group movement. We can reach our nation for Christ.

How to Overcome the Great Commission Gap
Somehow the church has come to see discipleship and evangelism as disconnected. Or, even more insidious, as rivals or enemies. Too many pastors devote themselves to the work of discipling church members and helping them grow up spiritually, but see no connection to mobilizing believers for the work of the Great Commission.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Churches viewed favorably nationally, Barna Cities research shows' And More

Churches viewed favorably nationally, Barna Cities research shows
More than 75 percent of adults have a positive view of the church in Nashville, in the center of one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation. A prevailing positive perception of the church is common in research the Barna Group has unveiled.

It would be interesting to see how widespread this positive view of churches is, in what age groups, in what parts of the country, and what are major contributing factors.

4 Factors That Predict Church Growth
Pastors and leaders can evaluate their congregations by asking four questions associated with predicting church growth.

How to Create an Awesome Internship Program
Internships are great ways to find and develop your future church staff. When done right, you can have a lasting impact on the kingdom by the way you develop and mentor the up-and-coming church leaders of tomorrow. Let’s learn some best practices and how your church can train up the next generation of leaders.

Why Work from Home Won’t Work for the Church
...having a couple of office days is important. Why? Five reasons stand out.

Let’s Say NO to Winging It 

When it comes to leading worship, say no to winging it! The goal is not to be scripted, flawless, flashy, or impressive. The goal is to be ready.

Members Who Build Up the Church
Healthy local churches make a powerful and attractive testimony to a watching world. This means that every church member has to be devoted to building others up. Church members who build up the church are those who....

How to Nurture a Disciple of Jesus
This is a follow-up to the last post on what a Disciple of Jesus looks like. It came out of a discussion in a clergy study group....

While the means of grace are important in the spiritual growth of a disciple of Jesus, spiritual formation is key. This includes teaching new Christians and longtime Christians on how to employ the means of grace to their best advantage. Spiritual formation needs to become a far more deliberate process in local churches than it has been.

Fewer Churches Face Limited Cash Reserves
Compared to 2016, churches are more likely to have more than seven weeks of cash reserves. Additionally, few have had someone embezzle funds from the congregation.

38 churches suing Maryland-based UMC Conference over disaffiliation process 

A group of 38 congregations that have decided to leave The United Methodist Church over theological issues have sued the denomination over objections to the process of disaffiliation. Filed last week in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County, the lawsuit accuses the UMC Baltimore-Washington Conference of “holding their church buildings and property hostage.”

Judge rejects lawsuit against United Methodist Church over disaffiliation process
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by over 30 congregations that sued a regional body of The United Methodist Church and its bishop, accusing the denomination of an unfair disaffiliation process. Last November, a group of 38 congregations filed a lawsuit against the UMC Western North Carolina Conference, its board of trustees and its bishop, Kenneth H. Carter, arguing that the regional body had an unfair disaffiliation process. North Carolina Superior Court Judge Richard L. Doughton issued an oral ruling on Monday, in which he granted the Conference’s motions to dismiss the departing churches’ lawsuit.

Judge dismisses lawsuit by 36 United Methodist churches
The North Carolina churches sued in state courts to leave a denomination they view as having strayed from its theological moorings on LGBTQ issues.

Court rules on General Conference questions
The United Methodist Church’s top court has ruled on questions from the Council of Bishops about the coming General Conference, now scheduled for 2024. The bishops had asked about filling delegate vacancies and whether another General Conference needs to be scheduled after the postponed 2020 General Conference takes place in 2024. The Judicial Council also has released two other rulings, including a memorandum about complaints in the Congo Central Conference.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Company that Trademarked "Worship Leader" Makes Others Drop the Term' And More

Company that Trademarked ‘Worship Leader’ Makes Others Drop the Term
Popular meme accounts lose social media pages after being reported by Authentic Media, which says it coined the phrase.

5 Options to Recreate the Church Property
The church building and property may be too large for your current needs, and you may wonder what the church should do. Here are five options that I would encourage you and your church leadership team to review.

Ed Stetzer: A New Church-Planting Era
It’s time for another shift in church planting. This shift must move the focus to church multiplication rather than just church growth or planting, as important as both are.

Stop Ceding the Pulpit on Immigration
Many pastors are afraid to speak on immigration, as it is both a biblical and political issue. But the stakes are too high to stay silent.

How Immigration Can Revive a Christian Nation
While white Christianity is declining in the U.K., migration has meant true gospel Christianity is not.

From Christchurch to Emanuel AME, we must recognize the patterns of white supremacy
Recent reports suggest the attacks on houses of worship are not rare and the perpetrators are seldom acting alone.

7 Tips for Church Marketing and Communication
Marketing and communication play an important role in any pastoral team’s ability to connect with congregants, as well as the church’s overall ability to connect with the community.

Unlocking the Lewisian Imagination
Why did C.S. Lewis write such good books?

Why I Quit Doing One on One Discipleship
Jim Egli explains why he switched from one-to-one discipling to disciplining in mini-groups.

Do the Happiest People in the World Want the Gospel?
So the myth—that the Nordic people are happy and don’t need the gospel—is like looking at someone you know (perhaps on social media) and saying, “They look like they have everything under control, and don’t have any problems. Certainly they don’t need me to share Jesus with them.” That’s a dangerous lie. So how can we combat it? Here are four ways.

Eurasia and Estonia begin exit from church
Church regions in Eurasia and the Baltics, built up after the breakup of the Soviet Union, now plan to leave The United Methodist Church. Church law has a multistep process for church regions outside the United States to change their relationship with the denomination. Delegates of the Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference voted on March 18 to allow the church regions to begin the withdrawal process.

Bitter infighting threatens Kenya’s Methodist Church
At the center of a controversy that has been unfolding since 2015 is Presiding Bishop Joseph Ntombura.

Monday's Catch: '3 Stereotypes of Christians (And How to Change Them)' And More

3 Stereotypes of Christians (And How to Change Them) 

Today’s non-Christian 20- and 30-somethings are big fans of Jesus but are less thrilled with His followers and the churches where they worship. Pastor/author Dan Kimball reveals their most common stereotypes of Christians and the Church, what they wish church was like—and why you should be listening to these emerging voices.

4 Powerful Reasons Why Revival Often Starts With Young People
Over the past month, we have watched as the fires of prayer and revival have swept across colleges and universities nationwide. Some of those, like Asbury, Lee, Samford, Cedarville, and Belmont are private Christian universities. LSU, Western Kentucky University, and Texas A&M are public institutions. This most recent outpouring is not selective.

What Jesus Sees (Even When Others Do Not)
Jesus saw who Peter would be. Or perhaps better, Jesus saw who he would make Peter to be.

What Jesus Saw When He Looked at Peter after the Rooster Crowed
While we can’t know with certainty how Jesus looked at Peter, I think we can make a reasonable deduction based on who Jesus is, how Peter responded, and how Jesus pursued him after his resurrection. I agree with Charles Spurgeon, who says, “I think it was a heart-piercing look and a heart-healing look all in one,— a look which revealed to Peter the blackness of his sin, and also the tenderness of his Master’s heart towards him.

5 Biggest Mistakes Pastors Make on Sundays (and How to Avoid Them)
Evaluate this list to find out how many you make. Charles Stone follows the list with some suggestions on how to avoid them.

Five Questions for Churches as Worship Gatherings Become Smaller
We at Church Answers are asking church leaders and church members five key questions regarding smaller worship gatherings. We are concerned that these smaller sizes are being used in some churches to accept decline or to become comfortable about not reaching the community. Here are our five questions....

Why We Need Worship Pastors, Not Worship Leaders
One of the greatest blessings a church can receive is when the person leading music is a worship pastor, not just a worship leader. Worship pastors increase the spiritual sensitivity of the weekend service, expand the church’s pastoral reach, and create a synergy between the music and teaching. While it is important for worship leaders to be competent, talented, and able to execute their portion of a weekend service with little difficulty, there is so much more that worship leaders bring to the table.

Is Every Christian Called to Go? 

Should every Christian be a missionary? Does the Great Commission call everyone to go to the nations? In this episode of Neighborhoods and Nations, Steven Morales is joined by David Platt to discuss the responsibility of every Christian in the Great Commission.

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, March 19, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows! The best description of All Hallows Murray is an online gathering place for Christians and those exploring the Christian faith. The services of praise, proclamation, and prayer that are offered on this blogsite are not intended to replace those of a local church but are offered for the benefit of those who are unable to attend a local church for any reason, who may be traveling, or who wish to test the water before taking the plunge, or who otherwise may benefit from them.

Reading: Ephesians 5: 18-14

Message: Believe, Follow, Share—The Life of Discipleship

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/03/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-march-19.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe" '‘Lord, Do It Again’: Tim Keller on Revival' And More

‘Lord, Do It Again’: Tim Keller on Revival

Real revival is the intensification of the ordinary operations of the Holy Spirit.

The Importance of Affirming Online Engagement
This post is an excerpt from the just-released book by James Emery White, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church in a Post-Christian Digital Age (Zondervan).

White makes avery good point. We have experienced a major shift in the way things are done and there is no going back to the way things were done before this shift.

3 Pivotal Questions to Ask When Considering a Church Merger
How do you determine if a merger is right for your church?

3 Warning Signs You Could Love Your Title More Than Your Task
How can we evaluate ourselves? How can we recognize a drift in our hearts towards loving our position and title more than what our position and title is for? Here are three warning signs....

Worship Director Discovers Term ‘Worship Leader’ Is Trademarked After His Facebook Page Is Suspended
Did you know that the term “worship leader” is trademarked by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)? The man behind the social media account, “Rogue Worship Leader,” a worship director, made this discovery after his Facebook account was shut down for trademark infringement.

"Worship leader" is a widely-used term in churches, on the internet, and in books and magazines. I am surprised the US Patent Office granted this company copyright.

How to Engage Youth in Church: 5 Important Ways to Reach Teens
No matter your congregation’s size, you probably wonder how to engage youth in church. One major mistake many churches make is not engaging young people. This is one reason college students leave the church. They don’t feel engaged and involved in the ministry of the entire congregation.

Truths and Tips for Discipling Teens
We cannot pour out to our kids what hasn’t first been poured into us.

Who Needs Missionaries? (It’s Not Just the ‘Unreached’)
We can’t view the Great Commission as a linear task to be fulfilled or finished. It’s a command to be perpetually obeyed.

Americans like Jews, Catholics and mainline Protestants. Evangelicals, not so much.
A new Pew Research poll finds that only 18% of nonevangelical Americans had favorable opinions of evangelicals; 32% had somewhat unfavorable views.

Church hit by vandalism sees outpouring of support
Windows were broken. The organ and piano were overturned. Resources were ripped up. Vandalism that occurred March 4 at The Village Church of Indiantown seemed like one of the worst things that could happen to a church. Instead, it has become a blessing.

I would suspect that more than one person was involved. Pianos are heavy and require more than one person to move. The extent of the vandalism also points to more than one person.

Friday's Catch: 'The Hidden Growth Opportunities for Churches in Every Community' And More

The Hidden Growth Opportunities for Churches in Every Community

This is the video replay of the Church Answers webinar in which I participated on Thursday. Church Answers offers a number of useful resources for local churches seeking to learn more about their community and to reach and engage the unchurched and spiritually-disconnected in their community.

3 Advantages of a Small Church
Jesus is about mission, not church size.

Since the 1880s, Southern Baptists have argued over the role of women
At the SBC’s meeting this summer, delegates may debate a constitutional amendment to limit women leaders. It wouldn’t be the first time.

5 Practices That Help Turn Prayer Moments to Prayer Movements
Prayer is always personal first, it starts with a person, then catches fire to others.

12 Keys to Improving Worship Keyboards
So you’re playing worship keyboards for your band this Sunday! Here are some proven steps and practices to help you do a great job.

3 keys to being a life-long friend
There is a dearth friendship in our culture. Despite being increasingly connected on-line, there is much research which points to the scarcity of personal friendships as one of society’s main ails. People are mobile, and often raise their children in several cities through their life, making “old friends” an antiquated phrase.

Churches that don't evangelise will die, says Nicky Gumble
Rev Nicky Gumbel, the recently retired vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB), has urged a gathering of church leaders in London to be active in evangelism and resist the temptation to "water down" the Gospel.

Progressive United Methodists Cannot Have It Both Ways
John Lomperis responds to Bill Brownson’s recent article, “Put Down the Fear-Filled Playbook.”

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, March 16, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows! The best description of All Hallows Murray is an online gathering place for Christians and those exploring the Christian faith. The services of praise, proclamation, and prayer that are offered on this blogsite are not intended to replace those of a local church but are offered for the benefit of those who are unable to attend a local church for any reason, who may be traveling, or who wish to test the water before taking the plunge, or who otherwise may benefit from them.

Reading: Genesis 49: 33; 50:1-26

Message: Lessons about God from the Old Testament

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/03/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_15.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Thursday's Catch: 'Faithful Christian Organizations: A Better Way to Stay on Course' And More

Faithful Christian Organizations: A Better Way to Stay on Course

For any organisation to lose sight of its mission is regrettable. But if the organization’s mission has something to do with the person and mission of Jesus, it’s not just regrettable; it’s tragic. And yet it happens. All. The. Time.

Local churches suffer from mission drift just like other Christian organization. Among the reasons for the losss of interest in Christianity and the decline in church attendance in the United States and Canada is mission drift and its effects upon the life, ministry, and worship of the local church.

A Promise of Provision: 4 Benefits of Embracing an Abundance Mentality
Rejecting scarcity thinking and adopting an abundance mentality produces at least four life-changing results as you lead your church or ministry.

Look to Proverbs for Leadership Training
Leaders are learners, and great leaders are constantly seeking wisdom from those who have gone before them.

Preaching from a Place of Fullness
The contrast at the heart of this post is between periods of ministry where one’s reserves are low, and periods of ministry where the heart feels at capacity with the glory of God and the loveliness of Christ. They are starkly different experiences.

Appalachian Music Meets Anglican Liturgy in East Tennessee
Guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, dulcimer, and harmonica often ring out alongside the organ and piano from the 1861 brick building in the historic district of Elizabethton, Tennessee. In recent years, St. Thomas Episcopal Church has focused on integrating bluegrass music into the Anglican liturgy, and the resonance of the two traditions has helped revitalize the parish, says its rector, the Rev. Timothy Holder.

Every region has its own particular music culture and in employing its music in services of public worship and other church gatherings a local church can build bridges with the community and reflect the community more closely. One of my favorite settings for the gospel acclamation--the alleluia sung to herald the reading of the Gospel at the Holy Eucharist is Timothy Fish's "Happy Land Alleluia." Fish composed service music for Roman Catholic parishes in Appalachia, using America folk hymn tunes with which the parishioners were familiar. The tune of this particular setting is the tune of the hymn, "There Is a Happy Land." In the region of Kentucky in which I live shaped-note hymns and songs have a long history. A neighboring town is the home of the Southern Harmony Big Sing, in which I have had the pleasure of participating.

Got Reverence? Try Minor-Key Songs on Sunday.
So many of us want God to be our friend but not our sovereign. We accept his transcendence, but we love his immanence.

How to Write Dynamic Agendas for Your Home Groups
Watch a bird in flight, and you will notice the two wings do not flap randomly; they are in perfect sync with one another. The cell church is often called a “two-winged” church, able to reach new heights because of the connection of its large-group and small-group wings. Just as in the early church, a synergy combines the dynamic of corporate gatherings and the intimate sharing of home groups (Acts 2:42-47).

Keeping Up With the Harvest
At Worship Harvest Church in Uganda, missional communities are literally front and center. Most weeks during Sunday morning worship, a different missional community group of five to 30 people takes the stage, and one or more of its leaders tell a story of God at work through the group.

Why Some People Aren’t Christians 

In this article Tim Challies shares four reasons he has found why people do not become Christians.

3 in 5 US workers fear sharing religious views in the workplace: survey
Nearly two-thirds of employed adults in the United States believe that respectfully explaining their political or religious beliefs at work can result in negative repercussions, according to a new report.

Christians are often unwilling to share their religious beliefs regardless of whether there might be negative repercussions because they have internalized the cultural attitude that religion is a private matter and adherents of a particular religion should keep their religious beliefs to themselves and not to talk about them, much less proselytize other people. This is particularly true of the younger generations.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Saddleback’s Andy Wood Explains Female Teaching Pastors Are Biblical, Female Elders Are Not' And More

Saddleback’s Andy Wood Explains Female Teaching Pastors Are Biblical, Female Elders Are Not
On Friday (Mar. 10), Saddleback Church lead pastor Andy Wood released a video responding to the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) recent determination that the denomination’s largest church is no longer “in friendly cooperation with the Convention.”

Research Reveals Importance of Small Groups, Evangelism, Assimilation for Church Growth
A Lifeway Research study finds church growth requires active small groups, focused evangelism, and the assimilation of new believers.

5 Things Future Church Planters Should Be Doing Right Now
Have you sensed the Lord’s calling to plant a church? Here are five things future church planters can do now to prepare to be sent later.

How to Avoid Being Blindsided by Your Own Church
Charles Stone has, in his words, "found that creating a genogram of your church, called a family diagram in psychology, can yield much insight into how people may have perpetuated unhealthy patterns in a church. It’s simply taking a bird’s eye view of your church’s past, looking for connections, and drawing them out."

John K. Jenkins Sr.: The Apostle Paul’s Secret to Preaching
This article was adapted from a talk John K. Jenkins Sr., pastor of First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Maryland, gave at the 2022 Amplify Outreach Conference. To register for this year’s conference on October 17th & 18th go to AmplifyConference.org.

Are your sermons hard or easy to listen to?
In this post Charles Stone shares some interesting insight about the brain that can make your sermons easier to listen to.

Match of the Day Without Commentary - Lessons for the Church
In church services and other church gatherings we can fail to pay attention to what is important because there is too much comment on what is happening to simply enjoy it and participate.

3 Common Mistakes We Make When Reading the Bible
Wyatt Graham identifies three common mistakes we make when reading the Bible.

How the Holy Spirit Helps Us Read Scripture
Good interpretation is ... dependent on the ongoing work of the Spirit to in-spire us to understand, receive, and apply what God has spoken. We call this the doctrine of illumination of the Holy Spirit.

Where Should Teens Look for Answers?
3 reasons we must steer them to the Bible as their No. 1 source.

New Program Offers Accreditation for Child Safety Standards
An 80-point checklist provides churches with opportunities for accountability, awareness, and conversation.

The First Seven Things to Do When a Child Accepts Christ in Your Church
A child in your church decides to follow Christ. There is no greater decision! Now what?

What Does a Mature Disciple of Jesus Look Like?
If the church is about making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, then we need to know what that looks like. As Stephen Covey said, begin with the end in mind. Here is what Jack Shitama came up with.

Rise in LGBTQ+ Population Slows
According to the latest Gallup survey, the rise in the percentage of Americans who identify as LGBTQ+ leveled out in 2022.

Five charts that explain the desperate turn to MAGA among conservative white Christians
White Christians’ attempt to halt their demographic slide has fostered two narratives of American life.

Tuesday's Catch: 'How to Rekindle Your Heart for Evangelism' And More

How to Rekindle Your Heart for Evangelism

For years, the Billy Graham Center has been gathering senior pastors into cohorts that meet monthly to receive encouragement and accountability in their personal witness, and to be equipped to lead their churches in evangelism. Denny Johnson of Annandale (Minnesota) Evangelical Free Church is one of about 60 pastors currently in an evangelism cohort.

How The Church Has Failed Single People (And What To Do About It)
Based on recent studies, over 40% of Christians in America are single and between the ages of 30 to 49. It’s time we start correcting our own assumptions about singleness. Society has gotten better about not making single people feel like outcasts. This is a mentality shift we need to adopt in the church as well.

Familiarity Blindness in your Church: 7 Ways to Cure It
Familiarity blindness afflicts many church ministries. We get accustomed to doing things a certain way, become so familiar with our surroundings, or slip into a ministry rut that we become oblivious to their staleness or their need for change.

3 Reasons Your Sermons Should Be Shorter
The job of a preacher is not to tell the congregation everything there is to know about a particular Bible passage. His job is to convey its central message and how it can be applied to their lives.

6 Helps To Pray When It Doesn’t Seem Like It’s Working
Dan Reiland offers 6 suggestions regarding what we can do when praying does not seem like it is working.

Do You Know What Group Leaders are Teaching in Your Church?
Three things are critical to ensuring group leaders are truly discipling individuals and leading them into a closer walk with Christ.

Seven Signs You May be Losing Your Love for Your Church . . . and What to Do about It
It happens. Even those who deeply love their local congregation sometimes go through situations and circumstances that test that love. In some cases, that love slowly erodes—almost imperceptibly. Here are some signs you might be losing your love....

Monday's Catch: 'As the American Church Shrinks, Global Christianity Can Point the Way Forward' And More

As the American Church Shrinks, Global Christianity Can Point the Way Forward
We believe the voices and presence of global Christians represent hope for a new, more faithful future.

Seven Considerations If You Are a Church Member Planning on Leaving Your Church
Thom S. Rainer gives seven things that we should consider before leaving our church.

How To Hear God’s Voice: 5 Things You’re Forgetting To Do
God speaks in as many different ways as there are people to hear him. Here are some of his most common forms of communication.

50 Thoughts on Preaching
Good advice for pastors and lay preachers.

How to Improve Singing Pitch – 7 Great Tips
If you are a singer or working with singers, here are seven keys for how to improve singing pitch.

5 Myths People Spread About Jesus, Sex and Gay Marriage
In his teaching Jesus does make reference to sex between members of the same sex but in a roundabout way. He uses the word, "porneia," which in some versions of the Bible is translated as "fornication." This word, however, has more than one meaning. Fornication is just one of its meanings. At the time of Jesus' earthly ministry it included not only sex outside of marriage but also sex between members of the same sex and beastiality, sex with an animal. The broader meaning of the word "porneia" is often overlooked.

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, March 12, 2023) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows! The best description of All Hallows Murray is an online gathering place for Christians and those exploring the Christian faith. The services of praise, proclamation, and prayer that are offered on this blogsite are not intended to replace those of a local church but are offered for the benefit of those who are unable to attend a local church for any reason, who may be traveling, or who wish to test the water before taking the plunge, or who otherwise may benefit from them.

Readings: Exodus 17: 1-7; John 4: 5-42

Message: What Jesus Teaches Us about Planting and Reaping

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/03/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-march-12.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'What God Wants From Your Church' And More

What God Wants From Your Church

Jesus said He would build His church, but He chose to do that through us. It’s a divine partnership. His purpose and power, our calling and responsibility.

Rick Warren Shares With Russell Moore the Scriptures That Convinced Him Women Pastors Are Biblical

Rick Warren peeled back the curtain on why he believes it is biblical for women to serve as pastors and elders in the church this week (Mar. 8) while speaking with Russell Moore on “The Russell Moore Show” podcast.

This article goes into more detail than the article that I posted Friday.

How to Revitalise a Dormant Church
David Brown, a pastor based in Paris, has nearly half a century of experience revitalising churches across Europe. Christian Today speaks to David about his new book, Reconnect Your Church, and how churches can stay healthy and prevent decline.

What to Do When Revival Comes
"Suppose genuine revival breaks out. What should my priorities be?" D. A. Carson responds to this question.

4 Reasons Jesus Used Parables
Jesus used so many parables in his teaching that it begs the question: Why did Jesus choose to communicate in this way? Why didn’t he speak forthrightly to the crowds that gathered around him?

Bibliolatry: the Exvangelical Boogeyman
David Beadle shares his views on the relationship of Scripture and the sacraments and more.

Don’t Blame the Church Sound Guy: 5 Reasons It’s Not His Fault
Calen Neff gives 5 reasons that it may not be the sound guy's fault for sound issues that you are experiencing in your church's worship services.

Don't Try to Fix Your Group
The purpose of a small group is not to "fix" its participants.

Identifying—and Challenging—Our Biases
As a general rule, we can only do better when we know better. We only know better when we lean in, listen, reflect, and grow.

Everyone has biases, unfair personal opinions that influence their judgment. Some biases are more evident than others.

These 6 Questions Will Reveal How Well You Love Your Neighbors
What does it look like to keep ourselves accountable to joining with God on his mission in our neighborhood?