We are seeing many smaller churches become healthier and make great strides for the gospel. In this two-part series, Thom and Mark first look at the attitudinal shifts that took place with leaders of these smaller churches on the rise.
Also See: The Rise of the Small Church - Part 2: Action ShiftsWhy We Must Rethink the Smaller Church, Part 1: The New Norm
While most people would consider a church with an average worship attendance of 50 to be small, those churches are larger than 50% of churches in America. In this three-part series, Thom and Jess discuss the implications of these developments. In this first of three podcasts, they discuss the reality of this new landscape.
Also See: Why We Must Rethink the Smaller Church, Part 2: The New Structure; Why We Must Rethink the Smaller Church, Part 3: The New OpportunityThe Power of Small Church Outreach
Here are three lessons I learned from both churches that I believe will encourage and help small church leaders in a wide variety of settings.
Three Surprising Advantages Small Churches Have with Gen Z
New research shows that when it comes to reaching young people, size isn’t a limitation—it’s an asset.
No Schadenfreude for the ACNA
A mentor of mine once told me that “you can’t love someone if you don’t like them,” and I think this is true. His point was that if you cannot see your neighbor as God’s image-bearer, loved by God, and thus in some sense “liked” by God, then you bear a duty to see, if dimly, what God sees in that person and follow God’s affections.
Archbishop Wood takes leave of absence pending investigation of misconduct
Recently, Archbishop Steve Wood decided to take a voluntary leave of absence while allegations against him are investigated and resolved. On Saturday, the ACNA Executive Committee approved a resolution to grant Archbishop Wood a paid leave of absence until the proceedings against him reach a conclusion. At that point, the Province will determine the most appropriate course of action.
Questions for GAFCON
This bonus episode of the podcast responds to the launch of a Global Anglican Communion, which would be separate from the Anglican Communion as we have known it.
There are Anglicans rejoicing over this news. Anglicans grieving over this news. Anglicans who don’t know what to think. And a lot of Anglicans who may not know what’s going on, or may not know what this has to do with them.
Today, we explore some of these feelings and questions, and pose some questions of our own.
More Americans report a resurgence in religion’s impact on public life, study finds
A new Pew Research Center study reveals a significant shift in how Americans perceive religion’s role in society, with a growing share of adults saying faith is finding renewed prominence in public life.
The findings are based on two Pew surveys conducted in early and mid-2025, involving nearly 18,500 US adults as part of Pew's ongoing analysis of religion and public life.
New York cathedral, diocese call on community to help feed people as SNAP benefits are reduced
The Very Rev. Winnie Varghese, dean of New York’s Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, has been preaching for the past week about the need for the community to step up to help people who face the loss of food benefits. Due to the federal government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits ran out on Nov. 1, threatening to leave already food-insecure people without publicly supported food aid.
Methodists jump to action with food ministries
Even as the Trump administration announced it would restore federal food benefits at half their usual levels, United Methodists across the United States rallied to feed hungry people while the U.S. government shutdown continues.
The hypocrisy of Christian nationalists not feeding the hungry
So let me see if I’ve got this right: According to Christian nationalists, the evangelical church ought to have control over America and run the government strictly by Christian principles.
Why, then, are these same people unwilling to follow the clear teaching of Jesus Christ? Why can these biblical literalists not comprehend the unequivocal words of Jesus, who said, “When you feed the hungry you feed me”? And why do these same biblical literalists suddenly see all the references to “bread” in the Gospels as metaphors?
Jesus talked a whole lot more about greed than about sex, marriage, doctrinal purity or beating immigrants into submission. Jesus talked a lot more about food and free banquets and bigger tables than about building golden ballrooms for the elite.
Once again, the problem with white Christian nationalism — as embodied by American evangelicals today — is that they’ve thrown Jesus overboard.
Do We Remember the Poor?
A few years ago, an author asked me to endorse a new book that would provide an introduction to Christianity. There was much to commend in the work—the clarity of the gospel, the moral vision of Christianity, and some practical guidance for beginning the life of faith. But one thing initially kept me from lending my name to the project. Something not minor but fundamental was missing: Christian care and compassion for the poor.
The Christian’s commitment to the less fortunate—or better said, the Christian’s own recognition of an inner poverty of spirit that leads to generosity toward those in financial or physical distress—was an essential part of catechesis in the early church. But it was missing here. Thankfully, the book hadn’t gone to print, and the writer acknowledged the oversight and eagerly made a few welcome additions to the text.
#136 A ‘First Aid Kit’ for Churches: Why Churches Must Be Concerned about the Hurting - Eddie Moody
Thom welcomes Dr. Eddie Moody, Executive Director of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, for a special series on the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs faced in today's society. They discuss how the “First Aid Kit” provides pastors and laypeople with the tools and knowledge needed to help the hurting. In this first part, they discuss why individual Christians should be concerned about helping others.
Also See: #137 Get Your Church to Love the Community by Helping the Community: An Interview with Eddie Moody; #138 Practical Ways Churches Can Use a ‘First Aid Kit’ to Help Others: An Interview with Eddie MoodyA Sneak Peek into 5 Characteristics of Gen Z Church
Here are five shifts that every church leader should consider as they plan their weekend services, especially if they hope to reach young adults in a post-Christian world.
No comments:
Post a Comment