Tuesday's Catch: 'Why is the Physical Gathering of the Church Important in a Digital Age?' And More

Why is the Physical Gathering of the Church Important in a Digital Age?
Why does it matter so much, especially now, that the church continues gathering, offering one another the gift of our presence?

I have observed a decided qualitative difference between services of public worship participated in person and those viewed on cable TV or the internet. The musicians and the vocalists sound different. Indeed, one's entire sensory experience is different. Those present at a service are more likely to participate in the prayers and the singing than those watching on cable TV or the internet. They also are able to socialize with the other participants before and after the service. This helps to create a sense of community. This past Sunday the visiting preacher forgot to turn on his head phone at the early service at the church I attend. Those present at the service could hear him; those watching the service on cable TV or online could not.

The Top 5 Legal Issues Churches Face Today 

Churches may be spiritual communities, but they operate in a legal world. And many aren’t prepared. In today’s episode, Sam interviews Ryan June of Castañeda + Heidelman LLP, and we unpack the five most common legal issues churches face: child protection, property disputes, employment law, governance and bylaws, and intellectual property. Ignorance of the law is not a spiritual gift. Whether your church is 50 years old or just starting, these legal risks can’t be ignored.

Why Do You Want To Measure Ministry Success?
Before we use metrics to determine ministry success, we need to know what the numbers measure and what they miss.

Prosecutor resigns, calls ACNA Bishop Stewart Ruch trial ‘irreparably tainted’
The case has not been dismissed, and the trial is scheduled to resume on Aug. 11.

Also See: ACNA delays trial of bishop accused of abuse due to prosecutor resigning

Americans advised not to drink alcohol in 18 states
Heat-related alerts had been issued for 18 states as of Monday, with the National Weather Service (NWS) urging residents to take steps to reduce the risk of heat illnesses.

80% of US counties contain 'health care deserts': Report
A growing number of Americans find themselves living in "health care deserts," areas lacking in the specific infrastructure and services needed to ensure timely access to medicine and care, new data suggests. According to new research from health care and prescription price-comparison website GoodRx, 81 percent of U.S. counties—home to more than 120 million Americans—fall under this definition in some way. This includes those which lack proper access to either pharmacies, primary care, hospital beds, trauma centers or community health centers.

10 Bible verses Christian nationalists take out of context to seize power
For authoritarian Christians, God ruling on earth means God putting Christians in charge of their neighbors.

Are AI sermons ethical? Clergy consider where to draw the line.
Much of the debate involves grappling with the question of whether AI is being used as a replacement for a sacred human project or whether it's a tool in the service of that project.

How Prayer Actually Works: To the Father, Through the Son, By the Spirit
You don’t have to get your Trinitarian theology all sorted out before you can pray to the Trinity. Our God hears prayers. He does not wait for us to pass the theology test before he listens to us praying.

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 said.

How to Evaluate Church Apps for Your Ministry
More congregations are living part of their spiritual lives through a screen. Sermons stream on demand, prayer requests circulate digitally, and online giving is routine. In this landscape, third-party church apps promise to consolidate communication, giving, events, and discipleship into one mobile-friendly experience. But with subscription costs and time investments involved, churches must ask: Are church apps really worth it?

Exploring the Possibilities of Shared Small Group Leadership
When churches organize small groups, the emphasis is often on relationships, discipleship, and growth. These communities flourish best when there is strong, consistent leadership. But is it possible—or even preferable—for a group to have more than one leader? This question invites us to examine the structure, purpose, and dynamics of small group leadership in a church setting. While the traditional model typically includes one person taking the lead, there is growing evidence and experience to support the effectiveness of shared small group leadership.

Counter-Catechesis for a Secular Age
One way of meeting the challenges of our day is to take an ancient practice and employ it afresh, to help the church recover what we believe in both depth and breadth. “Catechesis” simply means “instruction.” A catechism is one way instruction takes place.

How much J. I. Packer contributed to the content of To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism beyond writing its introduction is debatable. It takes doctrinal positions with which Packer strongly disagreed, leaving those familiar with his works to question whether he actually read its contents. He was an invalid and near blind at the time. For what Packer called the "central Anglican theological tradition, I recommend his Church Society article, "The Revised Catechism" and his books, Growing in Christ (originally titled I Want to Be a Christian) and Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs.

The Brilliant Apologetic Strategy of the Ancient Church
One of the benefits of studying the history of early Christianity is that we quickly realize that what we are facing in the modern day is far from new. Each challenge to the faith might seem new—sometimes leading to an unnecessary panic among some—but the early church faced similar (and often much worse) things before.