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

 

Welcome to All Hallows.

This coming Sunday begins the Season of Advent. During the Advent Season Christians in a number of traditions prepare not only for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ but also for his second coming. One of the ways that Christians observe the Advent Season is the lighting of an Advent wreath. It was originally a Lutheran practice, which spread to other Christian traditions. You can learn more about construction and history of the Advent wreath by googling “Advent wreath.”

Reading: Ephesians 3: 6, 12, 14-21

Message: Praying for the Spiritual Growth of Our Fellow Believers

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/11/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: '4 Fundamentals for Effective Discipleship' And More

4 Fundamentals for Effective Discipleship

If you have served in church leadership for a short period or a long tenure, it is never too late to begin to dream again through the difficulty that the church has gone through in the past. Whatever your local church is facing today is never a reason to stop dreaming and believing that God can do it again and help grow the church. For many in the church today, the spirit of defeatism has taken hold and must be set aside to honor God’s call on the local church and begin to move forward.

Leaving or Staying: Caring through Church Attendance Shifts
Should you focus on the people leaving, staying, or coming into your church? And how do you care for your church during shifts in attendance?

Ed Stetzer: What to Make of AI
This article was written by a person. Today you can’t always assume that’s the case. Artificial intelligence (AI) has already changed the world, and many of its future implications are still on the horizon.

Stop Calling Them Names
If you’re prone to use name-calling with theological opponents, consider three passages in Scripture and how they address our unhealthy culture in evangelicalism of pejorative labeling.

Also see: 12 Personality Traits That Have Gone Out Of Fashion (But Should Be Brought Back)

8 Dangerous Pastors Who Will Destroy Your Church
Beware of these dangerous pastors in your quest for God’s leader for the flock....

Why and How I Know What I Am Preaching 12 Months From Now
Eric Geiger explains why advanced sermon planning works for him practically and why he believes he has the freedom to work this way both biblically and theologically.

4 Fundamentals of Effective Discipleship Pathways
If we hope to create an intentional and strategic pathway to discipleship, we need to understand (1) how to best define "discipleship" and (2) the fundamentals of the journey. Growing disciples through a buffet of programs and events is no longer possible. Today's world requires more intentionality. To begin constructing our pathway, we must begin with the foundation.

Making Disciples: Three Habits for Everyday Evangelism
A downloadable resource from Campus Ministry Today booklet for anyone who is involved in discipling students on a university campus. While writte with univerity students in mind, the ideas discussed in the booklet are usable with other segments of the population.

Everyday Evangelism
The London City Mission has launched a new resource hub and podcast for everyday Christians who long to see Jesus change lives.

8 Easy Ways To Be Missional
Missional is not an event we tack onto our already busy lives. It is our life. Mission should be the way we live, not something we add onto life: “As you go, make disciples;” “Walk wisely toward outsiders;” “Let your speech always be seasoned with salt;” “Be prepared to give a defense for your hope.” There are easy ways to be missional everyday without overloading our schedules.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Christmas Eve Is a Sunday This Year (The Big Opportunity)' And More

Christmas Eve Is a Sunday This Year (The Big Opportunity)
"Christmas Eve lands on a Sunday this year. I understand the temptation to scale back. We briefly discussed this option at my church. The reality is this Christmas Eve may be one of the biggest opportunities you have for several years to come. You should do more, not less, this year. Here is why." 

 

7 Steps to Leading Through Change
Todd Adkis a step-by-step guide to leading effective change and becoming a more agile leader.

Ten Reasons Why Church Membership Is Biblical
Is church membership biblical? Yes. The reason is that the biblical nature of church membership is established from a variety of passages and considerations. Here’s a cumulative case of ten reasons why church membership is biblical.

Mutual Responsibility and Interdependence in the Body of Christ
Like the community at Corinth, our natural tendency is to congregate with people who are like us. Our social networks very much reflect our outlook. We find it easier to trust people whose life experiences are like ours. With such people, communication tends to be more natural. For this reason, it might be that not many of our churches convey the ethnic, social, and economic diversity of our neighborhoods. Some of our churches reflect the hidden lines that divide our communities.

What Did Jesus Teach about Himself?
Jesus taught on a variety of topics, from family to money, to discipleship, and more. But there is one subject that is central to all his other teachings—himself. Jesus’s autobiographical words reveal not simply interesting facts, hobbies, or personality traits, but an astonishing identity that, if true, demands our attention and response.

Beyond Tools: Crafting Ministry Success Through Thoughtful Curriculum Choices
A ministry leader’s role is to curate tools for maximum usefulness, with specialized knowledge and contextual understanding of your ministry.

It’s So Easy
It arrived in my mailbox last month, a small yellow envelope containing words of affection and encouragement.

In a world where Christ is king, authoritarian leaders can only be antichrists
Today's anti-democratic leaders are promising to deliver justice by any means necessary.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Four Diagnostic Questions for the American Church' And More

Four Diagnostic Questions for the American Church
If anything is clear in the book of James, it’s that he really wants to make sure his audience understands the gospel. The gospel isn’t merely an inward transformation, it’s an outward proclamation, meant to shine through in word, but also in deed. For James, a believer whose life isn’t changed in day-to-day actions isn’t a believer at all.

‘Tis the Season to Fight Sex Trafficking
It’s the time of year when families gather to give gifts and celebrate the joy of Christmas. Lights twinkle on the tree and the smell of pies and cider fill our homes. But there’s a darker side to this season, one that often goes unnoticed amid the festivities. Let’s look at one example.

Jesus was not born in a stable—and it really matters!
Myths like this one die hard. I decided not to post a book review of Gayle Boss' All Creation Waits because she perpetuates this myth in her book.

The enduring legacy of C.S. Lewis 60 years later
C.S. Lewis died 60 years ago this month, on Nov. 22, 1963 — the same day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Understandably, the shock and ensuing controversy surrounding Kennedy’s murder buried the news of Lewis’ passing.

5 Reasons Prayer Is Challenging–with Insights for Breakthrough
Prayer is arguably the most powerful force in the world; it is literally life-changing. Yet, most would agree that prayer is significantly underutilized. Why?

5 Ways to Optimize Your Church's Giving Page
As a church communicator, I’m sure the last thing on your mind right now is updating your church’s giving page. While juggling the constant design requests and anticipating the inevitable last-minute sermon series and event changes, there is always something else to do. As a church communicator, I’m sure the last thing on your mind right now is updating your church’s giving page. While juggling the constant design requests and anticipating the inevitable last-minute sermon series and event changes, there is always something else to do. But the giving page is one of the essential pages on your website, and it deserves your attention.

Together on Mission
One of the highest priorities of the church is to accelerate the development of disciples and raise up leaders who advance the mission of Jesus. If our movements are to grow, we need to grow a culture where two things are true. First, we need an environment in which evangelism and disciple making are normalized for followers of Jesus. Second, we need healthy faith communities that can sustain multiplication.

New Normal Settles for Churches Post-Pandemic
Lifeway Research found 100% of churches met in person in August 2023. That’s not the case for every churchgoer. But the vast majority are back.

Trump-Era Controversies Had a Measurable Effect on Church Attendance
Politically moderate and left-leaning evangelicals appear to be most impacted.

Monday's Catch: 'When Pastors Doubt Their Leadership Ability' And More

When Pastors Doubt Their Leadership Ability

It is a key issue in pastoral leadership today.

Gen Z Is Looking for Friends
We don’t fully experience the beauty and nearness of God unless we’re in fellowship with other believers.

Is there Spiritual Safety in Numbers?
Some people treat their spiritual lives the same way. They think, “God is holy and just and he hates sin, will punish it forever in Hell, but I don’t need to be perfectly holy, just holier than most of the people I’m with. If I belong to a world religion consisting of millions of adherents, then God can’t possibly disregard that religion. There is safety in numbers.” But Jesus disabuses us of that misconception....

Five truths about church committees and their work
It’s that time of year again when faithful church members might receive phone calls or emails with special invitations for the year ahead: “We’d like you to serve on a church committee or ministry team.”

How to Get Ahead on Sermon Planning for the New Year
As you prepare for the new year, here are a few sermon planning ideas that may help you get a head start on sermon preparation.

How to Preach a Text You Don’t Fully Understand
There are many advantages to preaching through books of the Bible. One “disadvantage” is that you’ll occasionally have to preach a text that you really do not yet fully understand.

The Importance of the Pastoral Payer: Don’t Ditch It and Don’t Wing It!
Every Church has a way of leading its congregation in worship. Every Church has a liturgy, whether they call it that or not. Every part of the Church’s liturgy teaches our people something. A good question is, what is our liturgy teaching our congregation?

5 Bible Study Tips for Beginners
Whatever your experience may be, getting started with Bible study and staying consistent can be intimidating. Studying God's Word may feel challenging or overwhelming, but it's also life-changing.

Strategies for Worshiping with Your Kids
From Everyday Kids Ministry here are 10 strategies for worshiping with kids.

7 Easy-to-Implement Tips to Thrive During the Holiday Season
Avoid burnout and use these seven tips to thrive during the holiday season!

Religious Brits are happier and more satisfied with life
People of faith are "significantly" happier than atheists and non-religious people, new research has found. The study of 2,004 UK adults found that they are also more optimistic and resilient than their unbelieving neighbours.

Young people define ‘sacred moments’ broadly: From God to nature to relationships
‘Inviting young people beyond the traditional and typical provides room for them to experience something beyond the ordinary,’ a Springtide Research Institute report states.

Support for Trump is cultural more than theological, author says
Widespread evangelical support for Donald Trump — the twice-divorced presidential candidate who recently described his opponents as “vermin” — results from being shaped by culture more than by faith, a Christian author and scholar said during an Interfaith America podcast.

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

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows

Stores are stocking their shelves for the Christmas shopping season and families are setting up Christmas trees and decorating them and stringing their houses and yards with Christmas lights. Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year and the real Christmas Season, the Twelve Days of Christmas, begins on Christmas Eve and ends on Twelfth Night.

This Sunday is the last Sunday of what is sometimes called Ordinary Time. However, every Sunday, whether or not it falls on a Church festival, is extraordinary. It is a day to remember everything that God has done for us through Jesus Christ and offer God thanks and praise.

Reading: Matthew 25:31–46

Message: The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/11/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-november_25.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: '9 Teaching Methods of Jesus' And More

9 Teaching Methods of Jesus

Jesus was the master teacher. Thousands would gather to hang on his every word. People traveled far and wide just to hear him. The lessons he taught spread like fire and literally changed the world. As pastors, if there is anyone we should emulate in our preaching and teaching it is Jesus! Right? So how did Jesus teach? Here are nine methods Jesus used that we can apply.... 

Debunking Myths About Mentoring
Have you been asked to be a mentor? Have you wondered if you should reach out to that younger believer, but you’re just not sure if you’re qualified to be a mentor? Are you looking for a mentor and wondering how old the person should be? Questions swirl around the topic of mentoring, so let’s take a few minutes today to debunk a few common myths.

What I’ve Learned About the Power of Music
Music is the number one positioning factor in your church. No music reaches everyone, but every style of music will reach someone. The kind of music you use will greatly impact who you reach.

Helping Where It's Needed in Church
It's a running joke in churches that nobody seems to feel "called" to clean the toilets. Apparently that's not a very common spiritual gift! But behind the joke there is often a very real concern. In every church there are a set of jobs that need to be done and many of those jobs are not much fun and require serious commitment.

5 Principles for Building an Evangelistic Culture in Your Church
For the Great Commission to be your church’s priority, it must be a part of your church’s culture.

Reach More People by Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
To reach people for Christ, you (and your church) need to step out of your comfort zone and take risks.

4 Secret Steps to Share Your Story
One skill every small group leader should have is the ability to talk with unbelievers about your experience of God in ordinary language that an unbeliever will understand—to share your story. In the church we use some specialized words like “repentance” and “being saved.” Of course, the average person who hasn’t been to church very often has no clue what these words mean.

This is a skill that all Christians, not jut those in positions of leadership, need to develop.

Four Ways We Can Become Good Neighbors
Jesus tied the most important command, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” to the second one, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39 NIV). The two commands go together. You can’t do one without the other. Right now, more than ever, the church needs to model what it looks like to be good neighbors.

Friday's Catch: 'A Farewell to David Pytches' And More

A Farewell to David Pytches

It's a sad fact that over the last few years we have been steadily saying goodbye to a whole generation of church leaders who, having come to faith as young men and women, steered and shaped the evangelical church in the turbulent last decades of the twentieth century. The most recent of these figures is David Pytches. With his passing to glory, the church has lost a great man.

Also see New Wine leaders pay tribute to late founder

Five Questions Every Church Should Be Asking
...what questions should every church be asking if there were to be a serious conversation about its future?

It Starts with Connection
We have to start somewhere. Generational discipleship doesn’t just happen. No matter what structures or programs we have in place, no matter how stunning our stage presence or powerful our preaching, no matter how nice our facility or how big or small our building, without the connections that lead to meaningful relationships, we will miss out on the greatest opportunity for lifelong disciples within our faith communities.

9 Things You Should Know About Thanksgiving
On the fourth Thursday of November, Americans celebrate a national holiday set aside to give thanks for the blessings of the preceding year. But there is more to Thanksgiving than you may realize.

4 Vital Components to Transform Your Team from Ordinary to Extraordinary
A strong team foundation includes three vital fundamentals....

My Favorite Christmas Worship Songs
Mark Cole shares a list of his favorite Christmas carols and worship songs.

I spend a lot of time listening to hymns, worship songs, and other forms of church music on YouTube and evaluating them. While Mark Cole's list is helpful, I find it rather limited, considering the mountain of Christmas sacred music that is available to churches.

9 Tools for Leading a Life Changing Bible Study
You don’t need seminary training to lead a great Bible study. All you need is some planning and a few tools.

The 4 Do’s and Don’ts for Children’s Ministry Safety Awareness
Here are 4 do’s and 4 don’ts of safety awareness for your church and your children’s ministry....

Thursday's Catch: 'The Story of Thanksgiving' And More

The Story of Thanksgiving
Every fourth Thursday of November, Americans everywhere, whether in the US or overseas mark Thanksgiving. This is the story....

How to Inspire More People to Give Thanks to God
It’s been said that missions exists because worship doesn’t. That is to say, because so many people don’t yet have a personal relationship with Jesus, out of which praise and worship naturally flow, we keep going with the good news to as many people as possible.

An Anglican Guide to Safeguarding Across Cultures
An Anglican Communion commission has issued Safe Church: How to Start, a 27-page booklet responding to a need expressed at the 2022 Lambeth Conference for basic, practical guidelines on addressing complaints of abuse, and on creating a culture of safety.

The Pioneering of Free Online Learning for Christian Ministry
Rev Henry Reyenga, a trailblazing advocate for online learning for ministry preparation, recently delivered an inspiring faith message in Watford, north of London, as part of a series of motivational speaking engagements held during the autumn.

Church's AI Experiment Gets a 'Meh'
Artificial intelligence technology, the subject of buzz and anxiety at the moment, has made its way to religion circles. Pastor Jay Cooper, who heads Violet Crown City Church, a United Methodist congregation in Austin, Texas, took AI out for a spin recently at his Sept. 17 worship service. The verdict? Interesting, but something was missing.

How to Pray for Wisdom
What is wisdom and how do we attain it? Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge and sound judgment in such a way that glorifies God. We develop wisdom by knowing the Bible and by relying on the Holy Spirit to help us correctly live it out. Through prayer, we ask God to guide our study of his word and to show us how to put what we read into practice.

The Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health
"We do not have enough evidence to determine if social media is safe for children and adolescents."

Does the Bible Demand the Disciplinary Smacking of Children?
It seems smacking (or, to use the American, spanking) has reared its head in Christian circles again.

Thanksgiving at All Hallows (Thursday, November 23, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thanksgiving at All Hallows.

Whether we spend Thanksgiving Day with family or friends or by ourselves, God will be present with us. God will be our companion. The word “companion” is middle English in origin, derived from Old French compaignon, which is literally “one who breaks bread with another.” It in turn is based on the Latin com- “together with” plus panis “bread.”

Our Lord broke bread with his disciples and others on numerous occasions. The two disciples whom he joined on the road to Emmaus recognized him in the breaking of the bread. He promised to be with his disciples to the end of time and that promise was made to us too. We can be assured that he will be a guest at our table on this day. Let us make him welcome.

Reading 1 Thessalonians 5: 12-22

Message: The Precious Gift of Hope

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/11/thanksgiving-at-all-hallows-thursday.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.

Wednesday's Catch: 'The Top Ten Misaligned Priorities in Struggling Churches' And More

The Top Ten Misaligned Priorities in Struggling Churches
Churches decline for two main reasons—both having to do with a shift in priorities. First, they lose passion for the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Second, as a result, they no longer give God glory. When a church no longer pushes outward with the gospel, the people will no longer look upward to God’s glory. A church lacking both an outward and upward perspective will inevitably move in the other two directions: inward and downward. Inward churches always decline. Misaligned priorities happen over time, and they pile up on each other. What do they look like in a church?

Why Cool Church Doesn’t Work Anymore (and 5 Things That Do)
Everything has its season. And the season of the cool church is, in many ways, coming to an end.

How to Cultivate a Grateful Church
Cultivating a grateful church begins with you and your own practice of thanksgiving, specifically what you say and what you do.

Generosity and the Brain
In this post Charles Stone explains two significant processes in our brains that influence generosity: the sense of reward we personally experience when we give and the empathy we feel toward the recipient of our gifts.

Before You Go On the Attack
...a classic strategy in times of church conflict or theological debate is to demean the person who believes what you do not. Even if you do not quite regard the other person as an animal, you can regard him as a heretic or an enemy of the faith, as something other than a Christian. If the strategy of military leaders is to make their soldiers regard the enemy as less than human, the strategy of many believers is to regard their theological enemies as less than Christian. After all, the Bible provides clear instructions about the love, respect, and honor we owe to our fellow Christians. We permit ourselves to circumvent such instructions when the other person is an apostate or unbeliever.

5 Tips For Rehearsing Great Worship Song Outros
How do we rehearse song outros? Song outros provide transitions for your worship set, as they are the finish of a song that anticipates the beginning of the next. Outros are crucial for maintaining an atmosphere of worship for your congregation as the set progresses song to song. Here are five tips for rehearsing the “tail” of your worship songs – the outros.

Intercessory Prayer for Christians
Many of us have prayer lists for our daily devotions like the prayer lists of our parish for the Prayers of the People. But that is often the extent of it: mentioning the names and perhaps the plight of those who need our prayers and those we love. A vocation to intercessory prayers includes offering payers for other people, whose names have been given to us, even those who are unknown to us.

3 Secrets of Best Practices for Church Websites
Whether you’re building a church website for the first time or updating it for the 10th time, you might feel in over your head. There is a lot to keep in mind when it comes to building a truly great church website. But for now, focus on best practices for church websites big-picture guidelines, and you’ll be much closer to a church website that is welcoming to visitors, helpful for members, and true to your church.

Social media graphics from UM News
UM News shares stories and information daily on our social media channels. We also provide memes based on the United Methodist lectionary.

The United Methodist Lectionary is the Revised Common Lectionary used in the churches of a number of denominations.

Small Group Purposes During the Holidays
We all know that with the holidays approaching, our schedules get very busy – for everyone. However, we shouldn’t let the busy-ness stop our Small Groups from fulfilling our purposes. If we’re intentional, December can be a month full of meaningful celebrations, worship, service, learning, and outreach. Below are 5 ways fulfill your small group purposes together during the holiday months, despite busy schedules. 

When a Friendship Falls Apart: Finding God’s Path for Healing, Forgiveness, and (Maybe) Help Letting Go
Even in the closest friendships, sometimes hurt happens. Misunderstanding. Distance. Disagreement. Even betrayal and deceit. Perhaps you have experienced this kind of anguish, this kind of brokenness, firsthand. The loss can be staggering, a blow not only to your happiness and way of life but also to your confidence and sense of identity. The pain may haunt you for years to come.

Over 7,000 churches have left the UMC amid homosexuality schism
The number of congregations that have left the United Methodist Church amid the schism over the denomination's stance on homosexuality has passed the 7,000 mark. Over the weekend, the number of churches that have disaffiliated from the UMC since 2019 reached 7,286, according to UM News, with over 5,200 leaving this year alone.

Tuesday's Catch: 'You Can’t Fix What You Can’t See – 6 Steps to Define and Redesign Your Church' And More

You Can’t Fix What You Can’t See – 6 Steps to Define and Redesign Your Church
Does your current ministry model seem clear? Strategic? Intentional? A clear, strategic, and intentional approach to ministry isn't unholy. The opposite, in fact. Contributing to the Great Commission doesn't happen by accident. The more intentional we are in ministry, the better we position our church and ministry for God to work through it. Here's a question you must answer: If an outsider saw your ministry model, would it appear intentionally designed to move people along a discipleship journey?

An Urgent Plea to Churches
College students bring enthusiasm and potential to a local church, and many, if not most churches do a poor job of reaching these students. In fact, many churches lose their high school graduates when they go to college and don’t regain them (if they do) until they get married and have children.

However, married couples who went to church during their childhood and youth are not returning to church when they have children like they once did.

10 Ways to Reach Unchurched People at Christmas
The biggest mistake many churches make each Christmas is to hold a quiet Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service for members and leave it at that.

Christianity and Violence
The contemporary resurgence of religion seems to go hand in hand with the resurgence of religiously legitimized violence.... Hence, the argument goes, it is necessary to weaken, neutralize, or outright eliminate religion as a factor in public life.

While Jesus, when he found people in the temple, profiteering from the worship in the teemple and the payment of the temple tax, he made a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, the sheep and the cattle they were selling with them, he does NOT advocate the use of physical violence in his teaching. The advocacy of violence against minority groups by online influencers who purport to be Christians is not consistant with what Jesus taught. The killing or assaulting of members of minority groups is not something that geniune disciples of Jesus can or should condone if they are truly seeking to live their lives according to his teaching.

Character Over Competence in Deciding on and Developing Leaders
Younger leaders have been passionately challenged with messages like: Don’t peak too soon. Your platform must not be bigger than the person you are becoming. Don’t let your gifting outpace your integrity.The messages are wise, good, and true. We must declare messages about the importance of character to younger leaders AND we must design our leadership development to be more about character than competence.

How to Choose the Best AED For Church
An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is a life-saving medical device that can treat sudden cardiac arrest. When someone goes into cardiac arrest, their heart stops beating, and they stop breathing. AEDs are designed to be used by laypeople with little or no medical training and can be found in public places like churches. With so many models on the market, knowing which AED is right for your church can be difficult. Here’s how to choose the best AED for church.

Celebrating Thanksgiving with Your Small Group
Small groups are a good avenue for expressing thanks in tangible ways. Here are two practical ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving as a group.

Saying Thank You
In your every day and holiday choices you can express gratitude to the Creator and Creation. Your actions speak loudest. Here are some suggestions.

Monday's Catch: 'Lamenting the Church Plant Fad' And More

Lamenting the Church Plant Fad
Brad Somers warns that church planting, the church's collective mandate is in danger of becoming a fad.

5 Surprising Approaches Churches Are Using to Increase Attendance
Here are five surprising practices a few churches are using to increase attendance.

6 Ways to Encourage Churchgoers to Serve During the Holidays
The holiday season often provides even more avenues for churchgoers to serve. Here are some ways to help people in the pews move to service.

7 Specific Ways for a Leader To Offer Praise
Good leaders are appreciative of the people they lead. They learn to offer praise well.

11 Obstacles to Effective Discipleship
Leading a church to be a discipling church—especially if that’s never been their focus—is not easy. You might, in fact, be learning that truth the hard way about effective discipleship.

The first Christians in North America
Considering who were the first Christians in North America seems particularly appropriate in November, as this is the month in which the US remembers the first 'Thanksgiving' of the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1621, following their first successful harvest.

Nearly 90% of parents believe their child is performing at grade level but reality is much worse
Nearly 90% of parents, the majority of whom say their child gets grades of B or higher in school, believe their children are performing at or above grade level in reading and math. However, data from standardized tests suggests the reality is much worse than what parents think.

United Methodist Church faces shake-up in ecumenical relations
Ongoing uncertainties and a new breakaway denomination are putting a strain on The United Methodist Church’s ecumenical relationships. 

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

 

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

“Are we living in the end times?” “Is Jesus’ return imminent?” These questions and more are on in the minds and on the lips of Christians in this third decade of the twenty-first century.

Readings: Zephaniah 1:7, 12–18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Message: The Day of the Lord

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/11/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-november_47.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: 'Restoring the Ministry of Blessing' And More

Restoring the Ministry of Blessing
In his book And I Will Bless Them, Roy Godwin shares how God has given authority to believers to bless people, communities, nations and land. The book, which has been endorsed by Pastor Pete Greig and worship leader Darlene Zschech, is combined with a video series by Roy giving practical advice on blessing individuals and sharing his miraculous encounters in various countries.

Roy Pollina, a former pastor of mine, now retired, has also written a book on blessing, To Bless a Child, in which he "invites parents, grandparents, and anyone who regularly loves and cares for a child to establish a lifelong tradition of 'blessing' – praying and hoping good things for a child, with divine intent."

5 Ways to Listen to Different Voices as a Leader
One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen leaders make is forgetting everyone doesn’t think like us...We assume what we are thinking is what everyone else is thinking.

Will Your Teens Lose Their Faith If They Go to College? Ryan Burge on What The Data Shows
Despite the portrayal of academia in the 2014 movie, “God’s Not Dead,” sending your kids to college does not increase the likelihood that they will lose their faith, says political scientist Dr. Ryan Burge. In fact, data shows that the more educated people are, the more religious they tend to be.

Why "Train Up a Child" Is Not a Promise
"I believe that this verse is a principle, not a promise," writes Dale Hudson. "Just like many other "promises" in Proverbs, it is not a 100% guarantee." He goes on to explain why.

Dysfunctional Family: 5 Sneaky Traps To Avoid as Parents
Parents often make several common mistakes, even without realizing it. Discover if any of these dysfunctional family signs appear in your home. Are you guilty of hurting your family with any of these unintentional yet common mistakes?

5 Attitudes that Simplify Complicated Relationships
The Apostle Paul wrote about what it looks like for a follower of Jesus to change the game – to cut through the emotional clutter that keeps us from being close to people. He gave us five new attitudes to develop as believers.

Why You Don’t Need to Be ‘Gifted’ to Share Your Faith
...it is tempting to want to delegate something as important as eternity to a professional, or someone who seems to have a special gift from the Lord. However, the fact is, each of us can (and should) share Christ.

St. Martin’s in Houston Celebrates Its 10,000th Member
In many churches, you become a member by saying you’re a member. St. Martin’s has a much more structured approach. It’s starts with “Membership 101” — about six hours of classroom instruction. “When folks join through this membership class, we’re real clear about what’s expected,” Levenson told TLC. Members are expected to actively participate in worship and Christian education, to join a ministry, and to make a financial pledge.

Having high expectations of church members and communicating those expectations from the outset can have a postive impact on the growth of a church.

Friday's Catch: 'Should All Churches Reproduce?' And More

Should All Churches Reproduce?
As we think about multiplying churches around our community, nation and world, we should focus on markers of health. We need to be sure we are reproducing what is good, life-giving and honoring to God. We should also minimize and avoid multiplying what is unhealthy. As you dream and pray about the possibility of reproducing, ask these six simple but probing questions.

When We Jump to Conclusions
When you and I make assumptions about others without checking them out, it’s easy to start telling ourselves stories about them in our heads that are not true. We are bearing false witness in our own thoughts, resulting in damaged relationships. The principle is simple: Never assume you know what a person is thinking or feeling.

C.S. Lewis: Art With a Message
For all who love the Narnia books, we cannot help but see Lewis’ rich theology coming to life in the characters and conversations of these books. One might be tempted to think that Lewis produced art with a message, that he scripted the message he wanted to communicate in each book — or even in the series as a whole — before he was writing. But this was not the case....

8 Blessings Of Studying Your Bible
Between the "already" of your conversion and the "not yet" of your final home going, few things are more important in the Christian life than a practical and functional level of biblical literacy. One of the Father's most important gifts to his children in the here and now is the gift of his Word, and we simply won't be what God has called us to be and consistently do what God has commanded us to do without an ability to draw wisdom and insight out of the pages of his amazing Book.

When God’s People Do Not Live in the Word, Bad Things Happen
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in that law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2). The Lord never intended for His Word to collect dust on a table in your back bedroom. When God’s people do not live in the Word, bad things happen. People paid for your right to own a Bible in your own language with their very lives. What are you doing about that?

VOICES: Developing a culture of prayer (book excerpt)
There is so much advice and there are so many techniques for how to change the culture of a church, but it isn’t as complicated as it may sometimes seem. Culture is simply a set of shared values. Culture forms as a group of people begin to value similar things. Whatever we value most is what defines our culture. That is not hard to understand, but it can be extremely difficult to change.

5 Lessons I Learned from ANGRY Emails
Charles Stone shares some lessons he learned plus a few more about using email.

Addressing Bigotry in Christian Circles
It is becoming increasingly popular to hear the word “bigot” in today’s culture, especially one who tries to live in a way that honours the Lord. The reality is, the more Christians stand on the truths of Scripture, the more we are going to look like we are coming against the ways of the world. How can Christians balance the need to address bigotry and misconceptions about Christianity while also maintaining a respectful and harmonious environment everywhere they go?

Engaging Islam: Biblically Responding to Our Muslim Neighbors
Christians with a heart for their Muslim neighbors need to understand Islamic beliefs and how to engage these beliefs biblically.

United Methodists will decide realigning church’s structure, authority in 2024
For the first time in half a century, acceptance of sexual minorities isn’t likely to be the major issue coming before The United Methodist Church’s worldwide legislative assembly next spring. Instead, the looming political fight appears to be how to realign the structure and authority of the UMC by reorganizing the global denomination into roughly continental regions, including the United States.

Thursday's Catch: 'Understanding Why Evangelistic Growth Has Been So Slow' And More

Understanding Why Evangelistic Growth Has Been So Slow
Many are proposing reasons for this sluggishness, but there is one major reason that is rarely talked about. Evangelistic growth is slow because few are practicing discovery evangelism.

Don’t Use the Transfer Portal to Grow Your Church
Regardless of their opinion of the college transfer portal, pastors should avoid trying to grow a congregation using the church transfer portal.

Benefits and Hazards of Gen Z’s Emotionally Engaged Faith
Gen Z Christians see emotions as an invitation to be with God—to process with him the range of what we feel and face in daily life

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How to Respond to False Accusations
There are few things more frustrating than being wrongly accused.

3 Texas United Methodist Church conferences looking to merge into single regional body
Three Texas-based conferences of the United Methodist Church are mulling the possibility of merging into one following the departure of 300 congregations from the regional bodies. The UMC Central Texas Conference, North Texas Conference, and Northwest Texas Conference are considering a proposal to unify into one regional body, with the process beginning shortly after Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. was appointed to oversee two of the regional bodies.

Church of England synod moves forward with a test of prayers for same-sex couples
The vote follows the House of Bishops’ agreement last month to commend ‘Prayers of Love and Faith,’ a collection of prayers and readings for use in existing services. The bishops also approved the prayers as the basis for stand-alone services for gay couples

Also see: Same-Sex Blessings Advance in C of E After Narrow Synod Vote

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

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

An autumn evening, the rustle of falling leaves, the flickering of candlelight, the fragrance of spiced apple cider. Time to conclude a busy day with prayer.

Reading: Matthew 25: 14-30

Message: Good and Faithful Servants

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/11/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_16.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.

Wednesday's Catch: 'New Kinds of Churches Really Are the Hope of the Future' And More

New Kinds of Churches Really Are the Hope of the Future 

"This week I came across two news stories from different Anglican dioceses on opposite sides of the world, one of which heartened me greatly," writes Michael Frost.

VOICES: America, don’t give up on Gen Z
Is Gen Z really a lost cause, or might my generation actually be a reason to have renewed hope in America’s future?

What Does the Visual Layout of Our Churches Say About Worship?
What is the impact of how our worship services appear?

Worship Music Versus Group Singing. What We’ve Gained and What We’ve Lost
In most churches today, the worship time has become a concert. People love the music, but they don’t know the words, and so they just watch. I visit churches pretty much for a living, and as I look around during the services, the vast numbers of the congregation are watching the stage and listening – not singing.

Seven Tips to Make Sermon Points More Memorable
How can you make your sermon points more memorable?

A More Spontaneous and Genuine Evangelism
It was not Jesus’ intent to say that the individual Christian must change locations in order to evangelize. But it is most certainly the whole church’s responsibility to see to it that we make disciples where we are, now. Evangelism is not to be done later when the move takes place, or when the trip is taken to another far off country, or when the special evangelistic project commences, though it is certainly inclusive of these.

Syncretism: Don’t Mix Prosperity Heresy with Evangelism
Poor contextualization results in syncretism—the blending of ideas to the extent that the core meaning is changed beyond recognition.

Pro-Gay Theology Advocates Are Repeating the Mistakes of the Past
The push to normalize homosexuality within the church is not letting up. One of the arguments pro-gay theology advocates make is that Christians have made grievous interpretive errors in the past and are making the same mistake with homosexuality today. When you look closer at the details of their claim, it turns out pro-gay theology advocates are the ones who are repeating yesterday’s errors.

Tuesday's Catch: '5 Ways We Get Evangelism Wrong and What We Can Do About It' And More

5 Ways We Get Evangelism Wrong and What We Can Do About It
Todd Korpi offers five ways we often get evangelism wrong (either in our assumptions about it or in how we actually do it). He also includes five ways he believes we can correct our perspective on this misunderstood, yet crucially important, practice.

Opening the Digital Front Door
Though it’s essential that we keep the weekend-service door open, the primary front door of the church has changed again. It’s no longer the weekend service but an online experience. Whether it’s a visit to a website or an online campus, the front door is digital.

6 Ways to Stay Connected to Churchgoers Traveling for the Holidays
Many churchgoers travel during Thanksgiving and Christmas, but you can continue to encourage them from afar during the holidays.

Moving Forward with Little Steps
In a struggling church that has faced years of attendance decline, few children and deferred maintenance issues, the leadership tends to look for a person, program or partnership that can reverse the decline in an instant. The Hail Mary hire or programmatic change is a desperate attempt to reverse decline. Instead of a church looking for a silver bullet, they can develop and follow microsteps to achieve their turnaround dreams. Mircosteps are a series of small steps taken to move the church forward over time, seen through deliberate actions to pause, plan and promote.

A World Without Babies
The most private choice we make has potent public consequences.

How to Prepare a Sermon: From Complexity to Clarity
How do you write (and preach) clear and focused sermons?

Alabama megachurch with nearly 5,000 members leaves UMC
An Alabama megachurch that has nearly 5,000 members has left the United Methodist Church due to the mainline Protestant denomination’s ongoing debate over homosexuality. Christ Methodist Church in Mobile, which reportedly has 4,936 members, was one of eight churches granted disaffiliation from the UMC by the Alabama-West Florida Conference at a special session held on Sunday.

Welby’s Tenure on Shaky Ground Over Same-Sex Blessings
A proposal by the Church of England’s bishops has touched off a major clash over whether to allow services of same-sex blessings without the General Synod’s full authorization. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s credibility as a leader is on the line, as he has floated the idea of early retirement in the face of criticism from all sides of the debate.

Monday's Catch: 'Leverage Thanksgiving as an Outreach Opportunity' And More

Leverage Thanksgiving as an Outreach Opportunity
There are a few practical ways you and your church can leverage Thanksgiving as an outreach opportunity in your community.

10 Reasons Why a Small Church Tends To Stay Small
"These are simply my observations as to why a stagnant, ungrowing small church tend to stay that way. I send it forth hoping to plant some seed in the imagination of a pastor or other leader who will be used of the Lord to do great things in a small church."

The ONE Big Change Taking Place in Church Hiring Practices (and It’s Under the Radar)
There is a massive movement from full-time church staff to part-time. Don’t yawn. You probably know that reality already. But second, here is the overall reason for the change. Church leaders view staff positions dramatically differently than they did just ten years ago. More church staff are indeed becoming part time. That’s the “what.” But let’s uncover the “why” to explain this movement.

The Rewards Are Greater Than the Risk of Developing Younger Leaders
Wise leaders often think about the risk and the reward in their decision-making, and when it comes to the decision to develop younger leaders, the reward is always greater than risk.

6 Ways To Increase Influence With People Who May Not Fully Trust You
"Recently I was meeting with a wonderful group of leaders and we were discussing how to increase influence with those who may not fully be trusting their leadership.The following are six pieces of advice I gave them...."

Real Men Don’t Sing? Not So Fast...
Our calling is to model for the next generation how to worship. Men, husbands, and dads aren’t exempt from that responsibility. So, with that understanding, are we modeling for our children that real men don’t sing or that joyful noise singing is unreservedly what real men do?

VOICES: What does the Bible tell us about bearing false witness?
We live in an era of great deception and manipulation, where people have no issue with lying, especially if it serves their own selfish interests. Of course, this has always been the case, as mankind has been sinful since the fall. But in our digital media-driven society, the opportunity for bearing false witness, and destroying someone’s reputation through lies and slander, has proliferated fast and furiously alongside the dozens of social media apps that put a microphone, camera, and keyboard into the hands of billions around the globe.

Most Christians think AI isn't good for the Church: study
As some pastors experiment with using artificial intelligence to generate a church sermon, a new study released by Barna shows that the majority of Christians don’t believe AI is good for the Church.

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

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

What is the difference between a Christian and a disciple of Jesus? It is a difference that we may wish to give careful thought. “Christan” is used very loosely in our day and time and may be applied to people or things which have no real connection to Jesus or what he taught or did. On the other hand, a disciple is a devoted follower of Jesus, someone who not only believes in Jesus but also endeavors to put into practice what he or she has learned from Jesus’ teaching and life.

Reading: Amos 5:18-24

Message: The Most Overlooked Temptation

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/11/sundays-at-hallows-sunday-november-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: 'Faith and brokenness in the military — Meeting at the intersection' And More

VOICES: Faith and brokenness in the military — Meeting at the intersection
This Veterans Day, we owe it to our armed service members to ask why it is that the number of those dead from suicide more than quadruples the number of those killed in the line of duty. And what can we do to intercede for those who struggle with mental health issues?

Why having children is a good thing
Antinatalism is currently a fringe position, but it is worth considering seriously because fringe positions have a nasty habit of sometimes becoming mainstream....

The Crisis of the Fourth Estate
All to say, the crisis of the fourth estate is the crisis of every institution. Increasingly, we don’t trust anyone but ourselves.

7 Ways Disney Changed the Church
Here are seven ways Disney changed the contemporary church—and for the better....

Welsh Christianity’s Surprising Rise and Decline
Many American evangelical Christians are at least aware of the Welsh revival of the 18th century, but this book traces the whole history of Christianity in Wales. Why is looking at one nation’s Christian history important?

3 Ways Leaders can Deal with their Shame
Shame is a powerful and often silent killer of our soul. It has afflicted many pastors and ministry leaders.

5 Ways to Invest in Your Soul Care
Leadership is a marathon, not a sprint; you’ve got to take care of yourself if you want to go the distance.

5 ways to ruin a sermon
...here are 5 ways to ruin a sermon.

Why Do I Have to Keep Forgiving?
Forgiveness always hurts; it always costs something dear. How, then, can we forgive? Only when we consider how much God has forgiven us.

Using Your Gifts 

...the testimony of Scripture is that throughout redemptive history, God's people have used their gifts not just for those within the covenant community but for others as well.

Church of England attendance increases but still below pre-pandemic levels
The Church of England has seen an uptick in attendance for a second year running but figures still remain lower than before the pandemic. Its latest figures, released today, showed that in 2022 regular worshippers grew by nearly 20,000 people to 984,000.Average weekly attendance for all ages increased from 605,000 to 654,000. Among children this figure was 87,000, a 17% increase on the previous year.

Pope forcibly removes a leading US conservative, Texas bishop Strickland
Strickland, 65, has emerged as a leading critic of Francis, accusing him in a tweet earlier this year of “undermining the deposit of faith.”

Friday's Catch: 'Church Switchers Identify Factors Behind Their Decision, Expect a Lot From New Congregation' And More

Church Switchers Identify Factors Behind Their Decision, Expect a Lot From New Congregation

When church switchers change congregations, they have a long list of important factors they are looking for in a new church.

The Seeds of Exponential Church Growth
The church’s mission to multiply to the ends of the earth has not changed and neither have the building blocks to accomplish that mission.

5 Ways to Honor Veterans in Your Church
The way we honor veterans goes beyond carving out time to recognize them in a service once a year. It involves the whole church all year.

7 Keys To Starting a New Ministry
Has God called you into starting a new ministry? It can be intimidating!

Worship That Builds Up
What “builds up” in our gatherings is what makes more of Christ and makes us more like Christ.

The Art of Sermon Illustrations
Well-meaning sermon illustrations can easily fall short in a variety of ways. As important as illustrations are, there are many pitfalls related to the pursuit of the perfect illustration....

How to Listen to a Sermon: 15 Practical Tips for Receiving the Word
How we listen to and receive the preached Word will greatly impact our Christian maturity and fruitfulness.

The Temptation We Most Often Overlook
It’s the temptation of godlessness.

What Evangelism Is & Why 3 Laws Are Better Than 4
Bill Bright’s Four Spiritual Laws is one of the most cherished evangelistic tools in modern memory, but I’d like to talk about what I consider to be a better evangelistic approach available: we might call them the Three Laws of Evangelism for the Care of Souls.

Pope Francis approves baptism for transgender people
In a significant move, Pope Francis has granted authorisation for the Catholic Church to baptise transgender individuals. Moreover, this new directive extends to the children of gay couples, allowing them to receive the sacrament of baptism.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, November 9, 2023) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

With Halloween now behind us, many Americans are looking forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. Thanksgiving is not just a day to gather with family and overindulge in food. It is a day to give thanks to God for all the mercies, great and small, which God has shown us. Christmas is more than one day. It is twelve days in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Messiah and the hope of the nations, our Savior and Lord. New Year’s Eve is not just a time in which we usher out the old year and usher in the new year but more importantly it is a time to rededicate ourselves to God’s service.

Reading: Matthew 25: 1-13

Message: What Every Good Boy Scout Knows

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/11/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_9.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' Catch: 'Capturing God’s Vision for Your Church' And More

Capturing God’s Vision for Your Church
Inside every local church is a vision that God has for it. The question that must be asked is, will we follow it?

Caring for Our Wounded Survivors
Many have said a society’s measure is how it treats the poor, or the “least of these,” or the marginalized.

Don’t Overlook Commuter-Campus Ministry
Ministering to such students may require adjusting the expectations of involvement and success for your ministry.

11 Indicators of Spiritula Growth in Children
How can we know if our children are growing spiritually? How can we know where they are at in their walk with Jesus?

10 Character Traits of Jesus To Emulate
Christians and non-Christians alike usually can agree that Jesus is the best role model to have. From His faith, perseverance, generosity, and even His intelligence, people see the best qualities that mankind can possess. The Bible teaches everyone to become more like Jesus each and every day, so it’s helpful to learn about some of the character traits He had. The following is a list of 10 character traits of Jesus that everyone should emulate.

Acquisition of C.M. Almy Reflects Industry Shifts
C.M. Almy and Sons, among the Episcopal church’s best-known vestment making and church goods companies, has been acquired by F.C. Ziegler, America’s largest manufacturer of church supplies. The November 1 announcement of the transfer of ownership comes only after a few months after Wippell and Co., a U.K. vestments firm with a broad reach into the Episcopal market, gave notice of its pending closure.

UMC top court rules against church forcibly closed before it could disaffiliate
The United Methodist Church's highest court has ruled that a regional conference in North Carolina can shut down a congregation trying to leave the denomination.

How a bucolic Tennessee suburb became a hotbed of ‘Christian Nashville-ism’
The mix of religion, power, money and influence around Nashville and its suburbs makes it fertile ground for a Southern evangelical take on Christian nationalism.