Monday's Catch: '12 Principles of Leadership Inspired by Jesus' And More

12 Principles of Leadership Inspired by Jesus
What can we learn from Jesus' leadership style?

Does Your Team Lack Trust? You CAN Rebuild It!
Trust is a critical ingredient to the success of a team.

Texting in Church: It’s a Good Thing!
Over 99 percent of all text messages are opened and read within five minutes or less. That factor alone makes text communication for churches a no-brainer. Want to learn more? Let’s start out by discussing the foundational basics of church texting.

12 Spiritual Disciplines That Will Make Your Faith Strong
According to Brandon Hilgemann, twelve primary spiritual activities were practiced by Jesus and prescribed for all believers in the Bible.

3 Dangers of a Mission-less Church
Jesus assigned His mission to the church. What are the consequences of a church that neglects its mission?

Rick Warren wants to talk about the Great Commission
Rick Warren is obsessed with the Great Commission — the final command of Jesus to go into all the world and preach the gospel, baptize believers and make disciples. His Great Commission passion and his belief that both women and men are equally called to the task recently got Saddleback Church kicked out of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, July 30, 2023) Is Now Online.

 

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows. This Sunday’s music includes two beloved traditional hymns as well as a new arrangement of a third traditional hymn. This Sunday’s message takes a look at what the New Testament tells about being a child of God.

Readings: Romans 8: 26-39 and Matthew 13:31–33, 44–52

Message: Children of God

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/07/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-july-30.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: 'Congregation to leave ACNA, seeks new affiliation with Episcopal Diocese of Texas' And More

Congregation to leave ACNA, seeks new affiliation with Episcopal Diocese of Texas

It is too early to say whether the departure of this church from the ACNA and its migration to TEC is the beginning of a disaffiliation trend in the ACNA.

Also see: Austin ACNA parish joins the Episcopal Church and Second Anglican Parish Heads for Episcopal Church.

As churches shrink and pastors retire, creative workarounds are redefining ministry
As older clergy get set to retire, there are few younger seminarians to replace them — and few churches that can afford to pay them.

What’s lost when religion becomes a ‘luxury good’
The church has failed when only the prosperous feel welcome.

Why Pastoral Competition Is Decreasing
“What are you running?” was once an ever-present question among pastors. That is not the case nearly as much today. Thom explains why.

4 Ways To Empower Young Leaders
The greatest satisfaction of most teachers is when others take what they have been taught and inculcate it into their lives. That’s what it means to relinquish leadership.

How to Lead with Influence and Impact
One of the often-overlooked characteristics of effective leaders is emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to how well you manage your own emotions and responses and react to those of others.

Evidence of the Holy Spirit at Work through Your Leadership
There are two great dangers in the life of a church leader. Leading from your own power and assuming it’s all up to God’s power. One leader tends to over-do and under pray. The other tends to over-think and under-do. We all have a natural bent or bias toward one side or the other. For some the emphasis is slight for others it’s significant. The farther toward an extreme the greater the danger. The great caution is that they are both exhausting and can be very stressful.

Family Night Ideas for Children’s Ministry and Community Outreach
Family night ideas are a hit for community outreach and congregational fun. Invite parents and children from the church and surrounding neighborhoods. Then gather for fellowship, games, snacks, and lots of laughter!

Re-Thinking Evangelism
A reality which we all must is face is that the way things are is not how we hope they'll be.

Judge orders Oklahoma to redo special session
A district court judge has ordered the Oklahoma Conference to re-create its April 22 special session to vote on the withdrawal of a church that filed suit. The order essentially requires the United Methodist regional body to hold what would be an illegal meeting under church law, the conference said.

The Church of England's image crisis
The image problems of the Church of England in secular Great Britain do not portend well for churches and denominations in the increasingly secular United States and Canada.

Most family breakdowns aren’t due to couples divorcing: study
Most family breakdowns aren't happening because marriages are falling apart, a new study from the Marriage Foundation shows. The trouble, according to the data, is among the unmarried.

Image Credit: Resurrection South Austin (via Facebook)

Friday's Catch: "Becoming a Connector Church' And More

Becoming a Connector Church
All the church had to do in the past was turn on the lights and unlock the doors, and people would come. That season in the church’s life has shifted, but many churches have not changed with the times. Long before the pandemic, the church in North America was in a season of decline, and those numbers have accelerated since 2020. Instead of looking backward, the church should begin to look outward as it revamps how it reconnects with the community.

3 Keys to Effectively Connect with New Guests
In our work consulting with hundreds of churches, we’ve found some common practices that can help you make a successful, lasting connection with a new guest....

Understanding Why the “Know Your Community” Report Is So Popular
Thom provides a high-level overview of the Know Your Community report. He looks at the factors that have led to its rapid growth.

A Great Source of Information for Religious Data by County
If you have never read The Association of Religious Data Archives, you need to watch or listen to this podcast by Thom.

5 Negative Church-Leader Mindsets About Funding
As church leaders, there is a connection between our beliefs on generosity, fundraising, funding, giving, and what happens in our churches. We must identify inherently negative ways of thinking and replace these thoughts with the mindset God desires of us. These negative mindsets can creep in over time, without us even realizing it.

The Case for Engaging in Prayer
At all times we ought to pray. We ought–that’s the imperative of prayer. Not faint--that’s the alternative to prayer.

What Is God Up To?
Ceilia Bernhardt shares what she has come to know about God's ways.

10 Reasons Why Your Children’s Ministry Is Not Growing
Is your children’s ministry stuck? No matter what you do, you just can’t seem to grow. You are not alone. The vast majority of children’s ministries are plateaued. What is causing this? Let’s look at 10 reasons why your children’s ministry is not growing. See if you can identify with any of these.

How to Rehab a Biased Heart
What we need most isn’t better information. We need a radical reorientation toward the person of Jesus.

4 Reasons Volunteering Within the Church Is Crucial
We are all inspired by stories of personal sacrifice, but too often this boldness doesn’t translate into volunteering in the local church.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, July 27, 2023) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows. Small spherical glass oil lamps and pillar candles, when lit, can add ambience to this evening service which is conducive to prayer. It is suggested that one lamp or candle be lit at the very beginning of the service and additional lamps and candles during the singing of the evening hymn. The lamps and candles can be extinguished at the conclusion of the service. Since ancient times lamps and candles have been lit as way of honoring God who is our light and our salvation.

Reading: Matthew 6: 1-4

Message: What Does Jesus Teach about Giving to the Needy?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/07/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_27.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: The Return of the Exiles: A How-To Guide for Restoring Faithfulness to Mainline Churches' And More

The Return of the Exiles: A How-To Guide for Restoring Faithfulness to Mainline Churches

Is Generation Z destined to restore the mainline Protestant church to biblical faithfulness? Many of them think so, thanks to one Redeemed Zoomer, a popular YouTube personality with over 115,000 followers.

The Latest Black Tragedy Is My Trauma Too
Communal suffering has to be reckoned with. And so does God’s healing word.

Poll Finds an Increasing Number of Americans Reject Reality
A recently released poll finds an increasing number of Americans deny the reality of spiritual beings such as God, angels, and demons.

Could robot technology replace your local vicar?
As technology advances and becomes more integrated into our daily lives, it's natural to wonder what role it may play in our spiritual practice.

Why Honoring the Gifts and Abilities of Women Is Relevant to Dechurching
In this episode of As in Heaven, Jim Davis and Michael Aitcheson welcome Jen Wilkin to discuss the importance of seeing and honoring women’s gifts and abilities in the church as it pertains to dechurching in America.

Synod raises hopes for long-sought recognition of women in the Catholic Church
Called to examine power structures in the Catholic Church, the Synod on Synodality will grapple in large part with the role of women.

The Top Ten Reasons Why Pastors Have Anxiety (And How to Overcome It)
Pastors and church leaders experience anxiety for a variety of reasons. Unsurprisingly, almost two out of three pastors report stress in ministry. Usually, it is the compounding of multiple stress points rather than one singular item that creates anxiety.

Advice from a Retiring Minister
Some words of advice for young (and old) pastors from John Samuel after 37 years of church ministry.

You Can’t Just Preach Away the Problem 

Pastors and preachers, we must remember that our preaching is only 10% of our ministry. 90% of our heavy lifting to change hearts is done through intentional conversations OFF of the stage. If we are not intentional to disciple, counsel, and simply spend time with people then we are not going to have a deeper impact.

On Preparing Yourself for Corporate Worship
There are practical and spiritual actions you can take to prepare your soul for worship to help you get more out of the service. If you find yourself wanting more out of your church’s worship services, then take ownership and consider doing the following....

Turn Your Sermons into Small Group Studies
When you think about your sermon files, digital, analog, or otherwise, you are loaded with content. But, how do you repurpose your vast content into curriculum?

How to Turn the Tide and Build Trust
If trust has become an endangered species, how can we turn the tide towards restoration?

Wedesday's Catch: 'The Great Commission and 3 Types of Churches' And More

The Great Commission and 3 Types of Churches

There are three types of churches when it comes to the Great Commission. Which one are you? After Jesus walked out of the tomb alive and just before He ascended to heaven, Jesus gave His disciples authority to join His mission of reconciling people to God, people of all nations. Jesus commissioned His disciples, sending them out to make disciples. His words have been called the Great Commission....

From what I have read as well as from my own personal observations, evangelism and discipleship are two of the greatest weaknesses of North American churches.

Churchgoers Less Familiar Than Pastors With Deconstruction, More Likely to See It in Their Pews
More than 1 in 3 churchgoers who have heard of deconstruction have seen it play out among church attendees in their congregations.

North American churches are seeing deconstruction on a scale far greater today than at any time in the past. What is more is a growing number of social media influencers are promoting deconstruction.

Arranged In The Body With Purpose
Each member of a particular manifestation of the Body of Christ is God's gift to a particular community of true believers under the Lordship of Jesus Christ in that particular locality. They were placed in that particular church body for a particular purpose.

Why Pastoring Is Harder Today Than in the Past
Pastoring a church has always been difficult. According to Chuck Laweless, it is far more difficult today than it was when he first became a pastor 35 years ago. He explains why.

How to Handle Chronic Critics in Your Church
Every church has ‘em. The Chronic Critic – the person(s) who simply can’t be pleased. No matter what you do, they have something negative to say. You are not alone when you face chronic critics. Nehemiah, perhaps one of the greatest leaders of all times, was on a mission from God. Yet he faced chronic critics. They could have derailed his God-given mission. They didn’t. And here’s what he did.

You Don’t Know When Your Last Sermon Will Be
Every pastor will preach his last sermon—but unlike Jesus, most of them won’t know it.

Intergenerational Friendships In Church
All God's people have a role in in teaching younger generations about God and what he has done. Interaction between the generation and intergenerational friendshipsis critical to this role.

2 Questions the Next Generations Are Asking (and How the Church Can Answer Them)
Sharing truth in a context of trust and respect yields greater influence as we seek to answer the cultural questions kids are asking.

Is there 'bias' among Evangelicals when it comes to fundraising ads? 

Are Evangelicals more likely to view advertisements for charities supporting struggling children favorably if the child depicted in the advertisement is the same race they are? That is among the questions that a new 22-page study explores. The study "Race and Gender in Fundraising" by Infinity Concepts and Grey Matter Research seeks to "explore potential bias" among Evangelicals regarding their perception of fundraising advertisements.

In new book, Russell Moore urges evangelicals to stop lying and come back to Jesus
Once a rising star among Southern Baptists, Moore lost his job after criticizing Donald Trump and standing by abuse survivors.

Also see: Russell Moore is preaching to the choir with an ‘altar call for evangelical America’

Tuesday's Catch: '3 Ways to Redeem the Local Church' And More

3 Ways to Redeem the Local Church

Summer is an excellent time for your church to redeem a room piled with items for a future classroom for children. To reevaluate programs to see if they meet the current or future needs. Instead of fretting over change, see it as a way to redeem what God wants for your ministry and the local church. Three ways you can redeem the local church are to redeem the vision, space, and community connection.

Mid-year Assessment: Where Are the Gaps in Your Church?
We’re halfway through the year. Have you considered an honest assessment of how effective you and your church have been so far?

The Break-Even Dilemma: Why Your Church Has to Replace a Third of Attendance to Stay Even Each Year
On this week’s episode, Thom and Sam discuss why the typical church must replace a third of its congregation every year to maintain the same number of attendees. Most pastors feel this problem, but the Church Answers team has data on the issue.

The Unseen Side of Success: It’s Not Just About the Results
Explore why evaluating success goes beyond just outcomes. In leadership, a poor process that produces a good result isn't real success. Discover six reasons why processes are crucial in achieving true, sustainable success.

7 Problems When Church leaders Retreat into Isolation
Many church leaders—particularly those who have been overworked or wounded—have found themselves retreating into isolation. Here are some problems with that approach....

Five Reasons a Healthy Growing Church Must Teach the Essentials of Christianity
One of the key reasons many churches are not growing today is that many of their church members do not know the essentials of the Christian faith. Thom and Sam examine this phenomenon and offer key steps for the church to move forward.

Digital Hymnal’s Demise Is Delayed
Lifeway still plans to end online music resource but apologizes for short notice.

If a subscription pop-up prevents you from reading the entire page, copy the entire page and then paste in a Word document. This should bypass the pop-up.

The Ultimate DIY Guide To Mobile Church Solutions
It doesn’t have to cost you 25 grand or more to put together a mobile church setup. (That is what one company was charging for their smallest system.) It just takes knowing what equipment you need and where to get it.

Community Through Outreach 

In 2020 when the pandemic shut down Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, church leaders knew they needed a way to continue to reach their community and engage their members. They quickly began holding fresh food distribution events every couple of months, serving around 400 local families.

Special Delivery
Charitable donations usually surge during the holidays but dry up afterward, a problem Granger Community Church in Elkhart, Indiana, took action to address. After learning that shelters and food banks run desperately low on supplies during the first months of the year, Granger started its annual food drop 21 years ago.

BWIM will expand its advocacy in light of Texas actions
Baptist Women in Ministry will expand its advocacy efforts in light of actions taken and not taken by the Baptist General Convention of Texas last week, according to Meredith Stone.

Where Boomer Faith in God Is Low, Gen Z Belief Is Up
What nearly 20,000 people in 26 countries believe about God, Satan, and the supernatural.

If a subscription pop-up prevents you from reading the entire page, ccpy the entire page and then paste in a Word document. This should bypass the pop-up.

Monday's Catch: ''7 Signs Your Church Will Never Change' And More

7 Signs Your Church Will Never Change
Here are 7 signs your church is never going to change.

13 Signs Your Church Is Dying
Here are 13 signs of a dying church every church leader should look out for – in their churches and in their hearts.

Americans placing more emphasis on hobbies, money and community, less on religion: study
As the value Americans place on religion has declined over the last two decades, an increasing share of society now ranks community activities, hobbies or recreational activities, money, friends and health as extremely or very important priorities in their lives, while family maintained its rank as the highest priority of all, the results of a new Gallup survey show.

9 Better Ways To Say Welcome to Church
You might be shocked to see how much time at Watermarke Church we spend evaluating our welcome to church segment. It is only a three-minute segment of our 60-minute service, but like every facet of our service, we want it to be excellent, intentional and strategic.

VOICES: The subordinationist heresy? Christ is eternally subordinate to Father God One of the clearest expressions of the idea that God the Son is eternally subordinate to God the Father comes from Wayne Grudem. He writes that the subordination of a wife to her husband reflects the “eternal … subordination in role, but not in essence or being [of the Son to the Father]… Scripture speaks of that … [in Hebrews 1:3]. Jesus is at the right hand, but God the Father is still on the throne” (Recovering Biblical Manhood 457).

The Lifeway-Ligonier Ministries State of Theology research study indentified this heretical belief as a common belief among many American Christians.

‘Vamos à igreja’: United Methodist worship music in Angola
Church services in Africa often last several hours, and are full of joyful music. During an April reporting trip to Angola, videographer Joey Butler and photographer Mike DuBose were able to capture music during worship at two United Methodist churches. A few of the songs might be familiar to U.S. audiences.

8 Tips On Taking Your Sunday Morning Worship To The Next Level
Here are a few things that Mark Cole learned in leading God'speople i worship for over thirty year.

9 Keys To Memorizing Music for Worship.
"Lately, I have been reminded about the importance of memorizing the music when I lead worship," writes Mark Cole. "I have found that memorization brings my leading of the congregation and worship of God to a whole new level."

The Total Package: Church is More than a Sermon
The church experience is much bigger than a sermon. 

This is something that we need to relearn or learn for the first time: Sunday worship is more than a praise band performing a worship set and a celebrity preacher delivering a sermon. 

Identifying Your Blind Spots

Identifying your blind spots can help your personal growth, deepen your relationships, and contribute to healthy, fruitful behaviours and beliefs.

What Do Mormons Believe About God?
What...do Mormons believe about God? Here are two pillars of their doctrine of God: (1) God the Father is an exalted man and (2) each person of the Godhead is a distinct and separate god.

Some critics see Trump’s behavior as un-Christian. His conservative Christian backers see a hero
Certain achievements during Trump’s presidency – notably appointments that shifted the Supreme Court to the right – have solidified that support. 

When devotion to a political figure replaces devotion to Jesus in the heart of a self-identified Christian, it raises questions about the genuineness of their devotion to Jesus in the first place. As Jesus pointed to his disciples' attention. A servant can serve only one master.

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, July 23, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows. One description of All Hallows is an online gathering place for Christians and those exploring the Christian faith. The Services of the Word that are offered on that blogsite are not intended to replace the services of a local church but are offered for the benefit of those who are homebound or unable to attend a local church for some other reason, who may be traveling, or who wish to test the water before taking the plunge, or who otherwise may benefit from them.

Readings: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Romans 8:12-19; and Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Message: What Does Jesus’ Parable of the Wheat and Weeds Mean for You and I?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/07/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-july-23.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: 'Keys to Reaching the Unchurched' And More

Keys to Reaching the Unchurched

Outreach Magazine conducted a study of formerly unchurched Americans. What made them come to a church? What made them stay? The answers to these questions gave us insight into the mind of an unchurched person and gave us guidance in reaching the unchurched more effectively.

5 Cultural Shifts We Must Understand to Reach Our Neighbors
The cultural shifts identified in this article are not world-wide but they are evident in Western countries and in placese where Wstern culture is influentual.

C. S. Lewis’s Argument from Reason: The Promise of Natural Theology
"I am intellectually indebted to a brilliant Christian thinker from the twentieth century who taught me how to defend the Christian faith, " writes Samuel G. Parkison. "He taught me how to prove the supernaturalism of Christianity by proving—you might say—the impossibility of the contrary. That is to say, he taught me not only that supernaturalism is a credible belief, but also that its denial is downright incredible, since naturalism (supernaturalism’s alternative) cannot attempt to prove anything without contradicting itself."

How Were the Books of the Bible “Chosen”?
The earliest Christians did not view themselves as choosing books, nor did they view themselves as having the right/power to do such a thing. Instead, they viewed themselves as receiving the books that had been handed down to them by the apostles. It would not have dawned on them that they could just pick whatever books they happened to prefer.

Technology isn’t inherently bad but the way we use it can lead to harm, author warns
"The growing complexity and pervasiveness of digital devices and social media is diminishing our capacity to relate authentically to others and to God," author and cultural sociologist Felicia Wu Song wared in a recent podcast. .“Research is showing (that technology) is creating an inability to actually attend to people and a lower level of empathy with people when we’re actually talking to them.”

Watching What We Wear
There are many complicated and confusing theological issues in the Christian life—issues that require deep intellectual research and sophisticated analysis, issues that call for multidisciplinary scholarship and expertise, issues that cannot be meaningfully addressed in an opinion column of several hundred words. Thankfully, modesty is not one of those issues.

Why we do not evangelise
In this article Chopo C Mwanza suggest five reasons why we do not evangelise.

Have We Misunderstood Paul on Homosexuality?
In this article Wes Bredenhof takes a look at a chapter in Michael Wittmer's book, Urban Legends of Theology: 40 Misconceptions.

Friday's Catch: 'How Many People Leave Their Childhood Religion?" And More

How Many People Leave Their Childhood Religion?
Without any fanfare or big declarations, people leave religion behind or chose a different faith when taking a survey. And yet we only have a very basic understanding of the mechanisms that make all that happen.

Understanding the Decline of the Southern Baptist Convention (Part 1)
Several observations Thom Rainer makes in this two-part series are applicable to other denominations. In the first part he looks at how much the SBC has declined.

Understanding the Decline of the Southern Baptist Convention (Part 2) 

Several observations Thom Rainer makes in this two-part series are applicable to other denominations. In the second part, he identifies three major reasons for the decline of the SBC.

An Overlooked Reason for Decline in Seminary Enrollment
J. D. Payne connects the dots and traces the decline in seminary enrollment to a decline in discipleship. The declie in discipleship may also account in part for the decline in church attendance.

Why Atheism Kills Community

This article explores atheism’s baleful impact on community, using as a lens the curious trajectory of the atheist “Sunday Assembly” movement.

5 Truths You Should Know Before Entering Ministry
Lee McDerment shares what he learned from learned from being on staff at NewSpring for the last 20 years.

Are You a Resilient Pastor?
What’s the difference between being a resilient pastor who perseveres and a pastor who becomes another sad statistic?

How to Make Sure You’re Preaching to Everyone
Preaching is a central part of the pastor’s life and maybe the one thing that cannot be delegated to someone else. The preacher stands in front of crowds that have come with an open invitation. They are young and old. They are seasoned saints and those who have never heard the gospel. So, how can we preach meaningful messages to all these people, week after week, at the same time?

Worship Ministry: 12 Keys To Promote Growth
See if these 12 keys challenge you like they challenged Mark Cole and help you grow as a worship leader and a worship pastor.

What to Do When You Don’t Feel Like Praying
Most Christians will admit that a consistent prayer life is elusive.

Why Nursery Ministry Is Not Babysitting
...it is ministry at the most critical time in a person's life. Babies can learn about God. In fact, infants and toddlers learn more during those early years than at any other time in life.

8 Reasons We Should Evangelize
W. Tyler Sykora offers eight reasons to help to give Christians proper motivation to share the Gospel.

Texas Baptists affirm women in ‘ministerial’ roles as SBC debate moves to states
In the same week as the Texas Baptists’ meeting, Black leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention and SBC President Bart Barber met over similar issues in Ridgecrest, North Carolina.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, July 20, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows. This evening's service is one of two services that All Hallows, an online worship service and digital church ministry, offers each week. The other service is on Sundays. These services are offered for those who are homebound or who unable to attend their local church for any other reason, for those who are traveling, and for anyone who wishes to explore the Christian faith and way of life.

Reading: Matthew 6: 19-34

Message: What Does Jesus Teach about Seeking the Kingdom of God?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/07/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows-july.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: 'Three Questions You Should Ask If You Are Having Trouble Getting Volunteers' And More

Three Questions You Should Ask If You Are Having Trouble Getting Volunteers

In the course of a year, every church leader will get discouraged one or more times when there are few or zero volunteers. Thom Rainer challenges leaders to ask three questions if volunteerism is a problem.

7 Things Not to Say When Asking for Ministry Volunteers
You understand the importance of recruiting help in ministry. And the way you ask for volunteers can make or break the church’s enthusiasm.

Pastors experiencing more loneliness, less support is a 'cause for concern,' Barna warns
Pastors are experiencing more loneliness and less support than in years past as fewer seek out spiritual support, according to data the Barna Group considers to be a "cause for concern."

12 reasons for pastors to have an ongoing counseling relationship with a competent clinical therapist...
Like anyone else, pastors can suffer from mental illness and mental health issues, and when they do, they should seek the professional help of a competent Christian clinical therapist. But is there any reason for a pastor to engage the professional services of a clinical therapist if they aren’t suffering from a mental illness or struggling with mental health issues? Yes.

Lead With a Contagious, Refreshing Spirit
If someone feels like you like him or her, they’re more likely to respond positively to your leadership. If they don’t, and enough people feel the same way, your leadership will suffer. Consider these simple ways to become a likable leader.

5 Reasons Praise and Lament Belong Together in Worship
How should the community of faith respond when our lived experience does not correspond to our faith-filled proclamation?

A Digital Hymnal Meets Its Demise
Once hailed as the future of Baptist church music, lifewayworship.com is shutting down.

The Ten Commandments of Worship Slides
Your screen content is one of the most visible venues for everyone in your church. It’s worth the effort and time to make your worship slides and screen content impactful.

How to Get Your Church Members to Become Prayer Warriors
It seems that every church that has a renewed emphasis on prayer sees greater health in all areas of the church. Thom Rainer and Sam Raier share how effective praying churches have motivated and equipped members for more powerful prayer.

Children’s Ministry Training Basics You NEED to Include for Volunteers
Children’s ministry training is a hot topic. How (and how often) do you train your kidmin volunteers? Basic laws and safety guidelines are always changing. And so are the kids we minister to. So with all this in mind, are we truly equipping our leaders and volunteers to be effective in what they do?

According to the anti-malware on my personal computer Ms. Hensley's web site is dangerous.

Spiritual Warfare and Small Groups
Spiritual warfare and small groups can be deeply connected because of the close connections leaders have with members of their small groups. This, however, is not a reason to fear—but it is a wake-up call to remember the significance of the role small group leaders play in the spiritual life and well-being of their members. The struggle is real.

UMC conference can’t stop church from pursuing disaffiliation, judge rules
A judge has ruled that a United Methodist Church congregation in Oklahoma can't be prevented from pursuing disaffiliation from the denomination, ruling against the regional body. Oklahoma County District Court Judge Aletia Timmons ruled in favor of First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City on Monday, concluding that the Oklahoma Conference had wrongfully delayed the congregation's process of discernment.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Eight Ways Any Church Can Get the Attention of the Neighborhood' And More

Eight Ways Any Church Can Get the Attention of the Neighborhood
God’s mission travels in one vehicle: the church. In the same way that different kinds of vehicles travel our roadways, many different churches share the good news message. No congregation has a corner on the Kingdom, and every Bible-believing church has the potential to be an asset in the Kingdom of God.

Campus ministry partners convert Florida Episcopal congregation’s office building into student housing
As church attendance declines and congregations shrink, a growing number of churches, Episcopal and non-Episcopal, are exploring new ways to utilize their facilities. They are discovering that they have more space than they need and are looking for good ways to put it to use.

Given opportunity to affirm women in ministry, BGCT punts
The Baptist General Convention of Texas — once considered a supporter of women in ministry — declined to give full blessing to the idea when presented the opportunity at its annual meeting July 18. Motions affirming women in ministry and calling for greater resourcing got watered down or withdrawn after initially being ruled of out of order.

This development may reflect what researchers have identified as an increased trend toward social conservatism.

7 Ways we can Stretch Ourselves as Leaders
How can a leader keep up with the pace of change? What can you do to grow?

5 Reasons Leaders Stumble and Fall
When we are aware of what causes us to stumble and eventually fall, we can be watchful, accountable, and make better decisions.

Critics: Stay Away or Draw Close to Them?
Criticism hurts, especially the non-constructive kind. We tend to stay away from such critics. But is that the wisest choice? Should we draw close to them instead of pulling away from them?

Stop Calling Them Names
"The trouble is our social-media-dominated outrage culture rewards quick indignation and careless accusations, " writes Sam Emadi. "And, I fear, this habit of name-calling and slander too easily slips into the church and characterizes our conversations."

5 Foundations of Right Theology
Many Christians misunderstand basic theology. What starting points can pastors give their people when it comes to properly “doing” theology?

Steadfast Confidence of a Christian
What are the marks of this kind of confidence? Surely they are not the marks of bravado and self-assurance that mark the so-called confident people of the world, for Christian confidence and security is entirely different. And yet that kind of internal security, brought to us not in and of ourselves and our abilities, but brought to us through faith in Christ and His work, does have signs. Markers. Evidence that we are actually secure in what we believe.

Help! I Want to Make Friends at Church
Whether you’re new to your church or have been there for years, getting to know brothers and sisters in Christ can be challenging. Perhaps it’s the hustle and bustle of Sunday, your inability to attend a small group or Bible study, or perceived incompatibility—whatever the reason, making friends at church often takes work.

How to Love an Immortal
I must admit that the title of this article intrigued me.

4 Ways Churches Can Approach Giving to Global Missions
How does your church support global missions?

A Tale of Two Stories: Mormonism vs. Christianity
Mormons use similar words. But they define these words differently.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Rebuilding the Local Church After a Decline' And More

Rebuilding the Local Church After a Decline

Rebuilding after a pandemic, moral failure, neighborhood decline, etc., is difficult. For the longest time, decline was seen as the pastor’s fault, but today it should be seen as a microcosm of a significant societal shift. Instead of ignoring the decline, the church has an opportunity to look at ways to rebuild from the loss.

Infusing Evangelism Into the DNA of New Churches
I must agree with Kevin Harney. Most new church plants are not intentional or strategic in carrying out the Great Commission in the community or neighborhood in which they were planted.

10 Reasons Church Attendance Is Declining (Even for Committed Christians)
This isn’t a post about why people are leaving the church (that’s a different subject). This is the first in a series of posts about church attenders who love God, appreciate the local church, and are even involved in the local church, but who simply attend less often. So, why all this attention? This trend isn’t going away…in fact, it’s accelerating. It impacts almost every church regardless of size, denomination, or even location. It probably marks a seismic shift in how the church will do ministry in the future.

Also see: "Weather Most Likely Reason for Churchgoers Skipping Services."

12 Ways Parking Lot Greeters Can Serve
Greeters make a difference in a church, and some of the strongest churches I know have them everywhere from the parking lot to the welcome center to the hallways to the small group rooms. Here are some things greeters can do in the parking lot....

VOICES: Bridging the opposing views of woman pastors
Do women qualify for the office of pastor? Two recent CP articles take opposite views and each offers useful observations about the issue. Is there a way to bring those two different views closer?

Our common call: How historic Baptist theology affirms my call to pastoral ministry
"I am more confident in my call to pastoral ministry because I know historic Baptist theology. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the common anointing for ministry are basic to Baptist thought and have helped me be more affirmed in my call from God as a woman serving as pastor of a Baptist church," writes Maddie Rarick, pastor of Meadow Oaks Baptist Church in Temple, Texas.

Theses on the North American Anglican Schism 

Cole Hartin offers five theses related to the ACNA-TEC split.

Regret About Transitioning: When Trans Teens Have Second Thoughts
The debate about trans kids involves important questions. Are minors old enough to make life-altering decisions about their own bodies? Are doctors rushing children into gender-affirming health care? What if kids later regret the steps involved with transitioning? Is detransitioning possible? Is it successful?

13 Principles for Teaching the Bible
As they seek to improve at teaching the Bible, every pastor and teacher should consider these principles with every text they teach.

Child Check in Systems for Churches
Choosing from all the child check in systems for churches that are available can be overwhelming, but there are a few features that are especially helpful in setting parents at ease. Here’s what to look for in your child check-in system.... 

Theology: The Missing Piece in Discipleship

If our understanding of the Great Commission is primarily a call to evangelism, we’ve forgotten a key piece: theology.

Religion shapes vaccine views – but how exactly? Our analysis looks at ideas about God and beliefs about the Bible 

This article examines the role of religion in vaccine attitudes and behaviors, based on the research conducted by its authors to date.

Monday's Catch: 'Pentecostals: Their Growth and the Implications for Evangelicalism' And More

Pentecostals: Their Growth and the Implications for Evangelicalism

Throughout the West, many churches and denominations are in a state of plateau or decline—and have been for quite some time. Since 1987, almost every major denomination in the United States has fallen in its overall membership. However, there has been one consistent outlier to buck the trend: Pentecostals.

Black Americans lead the way in 'spiritual vitality' and church attendance
Black Christians are more likely to say they are engaged with Scripture than all other Christians as new data shows that African Americans are more likely than all other cultural demographics to attend church at least monthly.

Guests Return to Worship Services Because of These 9 Surprises
Some time ago in a Twitter survey, Thom Rainr asked respondents to share with him a singular event that impressed them in a church worship service. In fact, most of the respondents said they were “delighted” or “surprised,” and that the one event made guests return to the church.A pattern developed around nine factors. Here are some representative quotes around each of the issues....

Oh Oh Ooh Ooh La La, Whoa
Generic syllables can be enjoyable to sing and can provide a musical segue that involves the congregation. They also can carry meaning as they give expression to a burst of emotion that either respond or lead into lyrics that actually say something.There are times when an emotional “oh!” is the most appropriate lead in to a life-transforming truth. But something more has been happening. Crowds are singing lengthy portions of songs using vowel sounds rather than actually singing words. Is this a good thing? Does it matter?

The most overlooked part of funerals and church services
It would appear that a lot of people are forgetting to pray these days. We should find that extremely disturbing. And more than a little revealing. Nothing tells the tale on us more than the place we give to prayer, whether personally or in the worship services.

Three cautions before you teach others how to pray
Here are three cautions for anyone about to stand in front of others to teach prayer.

Tips for Using Breath Prayers
The Bibles teaches us to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) How do we do this? A breath prayer is a very short prayer that can be said in one breath and repeated throughout the day. It is an ancient form of prayer, found in writings as early as the second century. The prayer communicates a sense of nearness with trust and dependency on God.

What to Do When You Don’t Enjoy Church
Perhaps you’ve just struggled through another Sunday service. If you’ve ever wondered why sometimes church feels more like a burden than a blessing, here are five possible reasons why (and what you can do about them).

Man Cannot Live on Feeds Alone: The Christian Diet for a Digital Age
Many of us see and hear more information in a day than we can possibly manage. Over time, this consistent overload dulls our senses — in particular, our spiritual senses.

Reading for fun reaches record low in US amid decline test scores: report
Amid reports of plummeting test scores, new research finds that the percentage of students who report that they read for fun has reached a record low, according to an assessment released by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

7 Steps for Churches Building Relationships with Schools
Partnering with local schools provides an opportunity for churches to live as missionaries in their own communities.

Joyful Mission in a Christian Household
"As our eldest child is preparing to leave home for college this fall, I have been reflecting on these precious years with our children at home," writes Kristine Blaes. "We have had good seasons and challenging seasons. We are grateful for all of it. But the seasons with the most joyful memories are those when we have been intentional about mission together as a family."

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, July 16, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows. All Hallows is an online worship and digital church ministry for Christians who are unable to attend a local church for any reason or who are traveling and for anyone who wishes to explore the Christian faith and way of life. All Hallows offers two services in a simple format each week, one on Thursday evenings and the other on Sundays.

Reading: Isaiah 55: 10-13

Message: The Power of God’s Word

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/07/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-july-16.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' : 'Why ‘Collective Might’ Is the Future of the Church' And More

I am home recuperating from the surgery. I thank everyone for their prayers and ask that you continue to keep me in your prayers. 

Why ‘Collective Might’ Is the Future of the Church
...collective might is absolutely central to the mission of the Church today. God actually designed us to collaborate. In a time when leaders are tired, weary of division, and unable to scale the ways they want to serve, leveraging the power of collective might—with each of us playing our unique part—is the best way forward. And collective might doesn’t just apply to large-scale ecosystems like the Church, but rather, it can be released at every level—from cities and associations to any given church and its members.

Where It All Begins — Shifts to Make Before Church Growth
It is with a strong sense that God is calling us back to the primary purpose of the church that the Exponential “big idea” for 2024 will be “One Eighty: The Return to Disciple Making.” In order for churches to return to biblical disciple making, we will need to pivot and make the following 180-degree turns.

10 Tips on Getting to Know Your Community
Here are ten ways to “read” your community....

If a church is going to reach and engage the unchurched, lightly churched, and dechurched population of the community in which it is located, its leaders need to carefully exegete the community, its demographics, its psychographics, its culture, and its subcultures. Church leaders who neglect this critical task can expect their church to be ineffective in reaching and engaging these population groups. As their church's existing base shrinks, the church's congregation will shrink with it and eventually the church will either have to merge with another church or disband.

The Power of Spoken Word in Shaping Congregational Culture
Words hold immense power to shape your reality and influence those around you. When it comes to your congregation, the way you communicate can make or break the culture you create. You can unleash the power of words to create a remarkable and thriving environment.

J.D. Greear calls on Southern Baptists to slow down on constitutional amendment
A recent president of the Southern Baptist Convention published a 3,500-word explanation of why he believes the so-called “Law Amendment” is unwise, even though he personally agrees with the theology behind it.

That amendment, proposed by Virginia pastor Mike Law, would declare any church with a woman serving in any role with the title “pastor” or allowing women to preach out of “friendly cooperation” with the SBC and therefore expelled. A first reading of the amendment passed at this year’s annual meeting in June. To be adopted, the amendment must pass a second vote next summer.

VOICES: Is the ‘slippery slope’ argument against ordaining women valid?
One argument that patriarchal Christians commonly use against women’s ordination is the “slippery slope”: the ordination of women will lead to the ordination of people in same-sex unions.

6 Qualities to Cultivate for Ministry Leadership
Many young people are surrendering to the call to ministry leadership. What is the first step in discipling them?

7 Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry
"I believe there are at least seven deadly sins of small group ministry," writes Mark Howell. "I also believe they are forgivable, but there is a consequence. In this case the consequences almost always affect unconnected people, group leaders and group members."

How To Guarantee You WON’T Grow Spiritually
How does a person grow? Specifically, for followers of Jesus, how does a person grow spiritually?

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, July 13, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows. This evening we will be taking a look at one of Jesus' more challenging teachings. Following this teaching is one of the things that set Jesus' disciples apart from the rest of the world. It is not the only thing, but it is an important one.

Reading: Matthew 5: 43-48

Message: What Does Jesus Teach about How We Should Treat Our Enemies?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/07/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_13.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.

 

Thurday's Catch: The Implications of Having More People in Their 80s and 90s in the Church

To readers of Anglicans Ablaze: This is to let you know that I will be undergoing surgery on the morning of Friday, July 14, 2023. The surgery is outpatient and I anticipate that I will be discharged later in the day. For this reason I will not be posting a Friday edition of Anglicans Ablaze. Your prayers that the surgery will go well, there will be no complications, and I will enjoy a quick and uneventful recovery will be greatly appreciated. 

The Implications of Having More People in Their 80s and 90s in the Church
There is an implicit redefining of older adults in the church. In many situations, older adults are no longer in their 60s and 70s, but they are in their 80s and 90s. What does this aging mean for churches?

Answering Next-Gen Questions About Faith
Gen Z has questions about faith and the church we should be paying attention to. One of the greatest apologetic opportunities we have right now is simply our presence and willingness to listen to their honest questions. Before we get to the specifics of the questions the next generation are asking, it is important we understand the context of where these questions are coming from.
Weather most likely reason for churchgoers skipping services
Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church, but sleet and hail will keep many churchgoers out of the pew on a Sunday. In fact, some may even skip to get a little extra sleep or watch their favorite team. A Lifeway Research study of U.S. adults who attend a religious service at a Protestant or non-denominational church at least monthly finds several reasons some will miss church at least once a year.

7 Ways To Increase Safety at Your VBS This Summer
...the number one concern of parents when registering their kids for summer Bible programs is safety. It’s critically important for churches to have a plan in place and cover all their bases. Church leaders can use the following eight tips as a safety checklist for their VBS program....

5 Reasons the Best VBS Teams Come Back Every Year
You worked hard to recruit an amazing team of VBS volunteers. How can you ensure they’ll want to join your VBS teams year after year? Maybe you can even recruit your VBS team to help throughout the year!

Why We Need to Hear Sermons in Person
Some people believe there’s nothing lost by sermons being delivered outside of public preaching at a gathering of a local church. But much is missed when the sermon isn’t heard live, in person, and with other believers.

Seven Ways to Overcome Satan
The Bible makes it clear: We’re in a battle. It’s a battle we can’t escape with an Enemy we can’t see. As long as we confess Jesus as Lord and have the Spirit of God within us, Satan will do everything he can to destroy our faith. That’s why we’re told to “stand firm” against his schemes (Ephesians 6:13). So how do we fight? How do we overcome Satan’s attacks?

Americans’ Trust in the Church Remains Near Historic Low
Trust in the church or organized religion, while down from 2021, is up just slightly from 31% in 2022 to 32% in 2023.