How to Encourage Church-Wide Evangelism
Evangelism is a core mission of the church, reflecting the Lord’s command in Matthew 28:19-20 to “go and make disciples of all nations.” However, developing a church-wide evangelism requires intentionality, vision, and strategy. Here are several steps to engage the whole church in this vital ministry.
It’s 2025: Where’s our witness?
Our supposed Christian witness was mortally wounded by our own lack of Christian compassion.
Andy Stanley warns of religious leaders who prioritize politics over mission
Church leaders are resurrecting old barriers that we spent years tearing down, and they’re adding new barriers.
8 Danger Signs of a Bad Pastor
Pastors are called to be spiritual leaders, guiding their congregations in faith, wisdom, and love. They are entrusted with the spiritual well-being of their communities and play a pivotal role in shaping the direction of a church. But not all pastors live up to this calling.
How We Misunderstand Servant Leadership
Beyond leading by example, and far better than merely doing whatever the team wants, team leaders should focus on supporting their ministry team members to be better team members.
Cripping the Clergy: Embracing Disabled Leadership
It’s a vicious circle: future priests are radically unprepared to engage with disability, which means they are unable to teach their parishioners a way out of their unquestioned prejudices and assumptions, which means that when those same parishioners get together to imagine their next priest, it doesn’t occur to them that disability might be something more than an attribute to be overlooked. It will not occur to them that disability is an identity that adds value.
What is the Future of Worship Music?
Worship music has long been a central component of the Christian faith experience, acting as a conduit for spiritual connection and communal identity. In American churches, it has evolved over the years, shifting from traditional hymns to contemporary praise songs, and now, it faces a new era shaped by technology, cultural trends, and a desire for deeper, more authentic worship experiences. As the cultural landscape of continues to change, several key trends are emerging, which will likely define the future of worship music.
10 Benefits of Reading Your Bible Every Day in the New Year
As we step into a new year, many of us are thinking about ways to grow spiritually, strengthen our walk with Christ, and live with greater purpose. One of the most powerful habits you can cultivate is daily Bible reading. This simple discipline can transform your life. Most of us who are Christians have been encouraged to read our Bibles, maybe if you grew up in church your entire life; however, it is so easy to neglect – especially when we do not see the benefits of it. Here are 10 benefits of reading your Bible every day in the new year.
How to Get Started and Choose a Bible Reading Plan for the New Year
For many women, the new year is an opportunity to create meaningful habits, and one of the most transformative habits is time with God’s Word. The challenge for many women is how to start and then consistently read a Bible reading plan amidst the demands of family, work, and ministry. The key to getting started is beginning with intentionality and grace. Here are five practical steps to help you get started and choose a Bible reading plan that’s both realistic and impactful in spiritual growth.
You'll Have To Be Patient
The 4 layers of patience (and the two we ignore).
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
This Thursday, January 2, is the ninth day of Christmastide, the season of the liturgical year, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in most Christian churches. This coming Sunday, January 5, will be the second Sunday after Christmas and the first Sunday of the new civil year. It is also Twelfth Night.
In some countries Christians traditionally remove their Christmas decorations on Twelfth Night, the first eve of the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6; in other countries Christians uphold a tradition of removing them after Candlemas, February 2. Candlemas concludes the seasons of Christmas-Epiphany.
In this evening’s message we examine the relationship between the new birth and the place of holiness in the life of a Christian.
Reading: 1 Peter 1
Message: A Gracious Gift of God
Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/01/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows.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:
-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.
-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.
What Is a True Movement?
God changes the world through Spirit-led movements, but movements are paradoxical. On the one hand, movements come from God: We can’t manufacture them or simply declare something a movement and make it one. That’s why Jonathan Edwards called the Great Awakening “a surprising work of God.” On the other hand, movements don’t just happen: historical accounts show that movements happen through human intentionality, prayer, and action. God births movements in moments when people recognize a need and step forward in faith.
Nearly a third of Evangelicals didn't donate to church, charity in past year: study
The share of Evangelicals who have donated to their church has dropped in recent years, with nearly one-third saying they didn't donate to a church or charity within the prior 12 months, according to a survey.
Being Refashioned in Christ
Ican be a grouser and complainer during the weeks leading up to Christmas. At no other time of year do I find my inner being quite so much at odds with what’s going on in the secular culture. But even I must admit that there is a certain mystique to it all. The “Christmas spirit,” however we think of it, does encourage us to look for the best in one another, which is remarkable precisely because most of the time we tend to see the worst in each other.
Keep Bible Reading from Being Rude
Don't ghost God. Respond in prayer.
The New Year’s Prayer Challenge
Happy New Year! Today, many of us are evaluating our routines, hoping to make improvements for 2025. A new year is an ideal time to take inventory of our prayer lives – both individually and corporately – which is why I want to encourage you with some ways to grow in prayer in this new year.
See also: Are you ‘Practising the Presence of God?’
How Has Technology Affected the Church?
Recent technological advancements have profoundly impacted virtually every aspect of life, including the American church. From online services to social media outreach, technology has created opportunities for connection and growth that previous generations could scarcely imagine. However, it has also introduced challenges that test the spiritual and relational health of congregations. The question remains: how has technology affected the church? Has it helped or hurt the American church? The answer is nuanced, revealing both benefits and pitfalls.
2025 Updates for AI and the Church
Can anyone really provide an update on AI? It is moving too fast for most of us. Jess and Thom try to keep local churches updated on the AI issues that could most affect them.
6 Ways to Use Your Pastor’s Sermons for Online Small Groups
Many of our Small Groups have experienced much change (and so quickly) in the recent weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some of you may have a love-hate relationship with technology, it sure is proving to be a blessing in these days and times. Our online Small Groups can connect and “see” one another virtually, using various online platforms. While there are many different studies available for online Small Groups to use, this is also a great opportunity for you to use your pastor’s sermon, and find ways incorporate it into your Online Small Groups.
Nurturing our relationship with God
In the same way that plants need the right conditions, such as water, sunlight and even a soil rich environment to grow, we too as Christians need the right environment.
A Primer on Roman Catholic Apologetics Targeting Evangelicals
n the late 19th century, liberal theology predicted the end of apologetics as the child of an entrenched, defensive, and doctrinaire faith. It was wrong. Apologetics is alive and well, especially on the web, where initiatives aimed at comparing different interpretations of the gospel (e.g. Roman Catholic, Orthodox, evangelical) flourish.
The best seats at church
The subject of seating doesn’t sound very spiritual. But Jesus tells us it is. He said the Pharisees desire the “best seats” in the synagogue (Matthew 23:6). With that comment, Jesus puts his finger on the spiritual nature of our seating arrangements at worship. Every Sunday that we walk into church, we face a spiritual decision. The later you arrive, the less choice you’ll have, but, when you have a choice, which seat will you pick and why?
What might 2025 bring?
It is a very brave/naïve/foolish person (select as applicable) who makes confident and precise predictions about what will happen in the next year. However, buoyed up by my recent track record – looking into the 2020s and predicting that SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (aka COVID-19) will be a serious issue in China, may spread into south-east Asia, but will not develop into a global pandemic, and Putin is a posturing bully who will not launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine – I make my predictions for 2025!
The Ministry of Presence
A very important Bible passage that prioritizes the ministry of presence is Matthew 25:34-40, where Jesus teaches that when Christians show up to serve the physical vulnerabilities of the least of His people in greatest need they serve Jesus Himself. This text addresses all Christians and ministers. May we all “Have the Ministry of Presence of Body.”
