In small-membership churches, spiritual formation thrives when it is intentionally embedded in the community’s life. Allen Stanton writes that while church size doesn’t determine the depth of formation, a deep sense of community and a shared story foster virtuous growth. Small churches don’t need to grow in size to fulfill their mission; they can cultivate meaningful formation within their existing structure, celebrating their unique strengths and forming individuals to live out God’s kingdom in everyday life.
New Jersey congregation prepares for ‘long court fight’ against town’s attempted ‘land grab’
Christ Episcopal Church in Toms River, New Jersey, backed by the Diocese of New Jersey and Episcopal Church officials, is preparing to fight the township’s effort to acquire its 11-acre property.
Related: A New Jersey church wanted to build a homeless shelter. Now the town might take its property.VOICES: Utterly sickening: ‘Christian nationalists’ praise Nazi leader who killed own children
That we even have to say these things — that “Christian” leaders are out here defending the murder of children as righteous — shows how far gone some parts of the Christian nationalist movement really are.
A warning: Not just two Americas, two American
John Edwards ran for president years ago talking of the “two Americas,” that of the rich and the poor. Now, through the machinations of our current president and his MAGA-oriented church, we are becoming a nation of two religions. One religion is in, the other out, one protected and the other under threat.
Christian, Do You Test Everything?
If the doctrine is false and I choose to believe it, I can expect God to hold me accountable for believing something that is false.
4 Foundations for Successful Church Planting
While there are no “silver bullets,” there are at least four foundations upon which every successful church plant has been established.
Moving From Being Friendly to Biblically Hospitable
It’s essential to consider the difference between being friendly and being hospitable, especially in the context of the Bible’s teachings.
Leadership Lessons from Martin E. Marty
Widely regarded as the foremost religious scholar of his time, Martin Marty’s legacy extends beyond his prolific writing and lectures to his profound impact on how we think about faith, leadership, and community. Marty’s approach, grounded in his Lutheran faith, exemplified the power of humility, respect, and dialogue in addressing the challenges of religious pluralism. In this article, Lovett Weems reflects on the values that defined Marty’s work and explores how his life offers crucial lessons for Christian leaders today.
Bible Verse Mother’s Day Prayer and Worship Ideas To Honor Moms
Want ideas for a Bible verse Mother’s Day prayer or service? Need tips for celebrating and honoring women at church? Then read on for Bible-based inspiration to thank moms.
Pastor David Platt Explains How (Not) To Read the Bible
Pastor David Platt wants to protect people from reading the Bible in ways that are “harmful” and to help them understand that the Word of God is a “treasure” that is available to them daily. Platt joined ChurchLeaders for an interview about his new book, How To Read the Bible, which is out today.
7 Tips for Leading a Bible Study
Bible studies should come in all shapes and sizes, connecting all kinds of people to God’s word. Throughout my twenty years of ministry and countless conversations with women in the church, I’ve found that many long to lead a Bible study, but few feel equipped to do so. Whether leading from a stage in a church auditorium or from the couch in your living room, here are seven tips that I’ve found to be effective.
10 Easy VBS Tips That’ll Make Leading Vacation Bible School a Breeze
VBS doesn’t have to be hard; use our 10 easy VBS tips to make your VBS even easier!
From pickles and jams to escabeche and sauerkraut, Episcopal church’s free classes open door to putting a lid on produce
There’s no excuse for food waste at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Gridley, California. Anything that’s not eaten right away or composted can be preserved, which has become an entertaining and tasty activity for the team of parishioners who teach free monthly food preservation classes, mostly using produce from the church’s community garden.
How might this congregation leverage its community garden and free monthly food preservation classes to reach the unchurched and spiritually disconnected and grow St. Timothy's?Make it Your Ambition to Share the Gospel
Here’s my question: Why do we often treat the spiritual condition of those around us as if we’re climbing Mount Everest and would be putting ourselves in danger if we helped them? Why don’t we rather see their danger and need, and then reach out to help? Why—when we consider our friends, roommates, fellow students, even coworkers—do we balk at sharing the only hope of life instead of caring for them by sharing the gospel?
Image Credit: File Photo by Mike DuBois, UM NEWS
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