Saturday Lagniappe: 'Your Church's Seating Chart Isn't All Bad' And More

Your Church's Seating Chart Isn't All Bad
Small things can help people feel like they belong in a congregation.

I always sit in the front pew or front row of chairs. The late James F. White, liturgical scholar, author of numerous books on worship, and proponent of the revitalization of liturgical worship, observed that those sitting at the front of a worship space were more likely to participate in a worship service than those sitting near the back. I sit in the front for that reason.

Young Pastor's Guide: 5 Shifts to Revitalize Your Traditional Church
So you’re a young pastor, and you lead a traditional church. What are your first moves to help revitalize your church or help it grow, maybe for the first time?

In this video, I share five critical shifts traditional churches need to make to see genuine rebirth and sustainable growth.

ACC leaves archbishop of Canterbury’s role unchanged in ongoing talks on Anglican identity
The 19th Anglican Consultative Council, on the final day of its June 28-July 4 meeting here, approved a resolution that affirmed the existing understanding of Anglican identity — leaving the archbishop of Canterbury’s central role unchanged — while calling for further discernment on proposed structural changes to the Anglican Communion.

Also See: Anglicans discuss collaborative approaches to the refugee crisis at ACC-19

July 4, 1776: The founding of a Christian nation?
This year is the 250th anniversary of a momentous event in the history of North America and the world. The celebration is of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. Well, to be a bit picky there are three dates that could vie for this formal point of departure from British rule.

What Is 1 Enoch and Why Does Jude Quote It?
Jude citing 1 Enoch is not the only example of a biblical author using nonbiblical writings.

If God Meant Everybody, why did he say Neighbour?
...if you actually read the context of God’s command in Leviticus, you’ll see that it summarises a much larger sweep of laws giving many practical examples of how to love and care for all kinds of specific “neighbours”—including people who are poor, people who are foreigners, people with disabilities, people who are working for you, people who have wronged you (ie, your enemies), people you do business with, your parents, the elderly, anyone who might be endangered by your carelessness, and more—and these are just examples from Leviticus 19. The rest of the law includes many more. So when God said, “love your neighbour as yourself”, he didn’t leave us guessing about who he meant. He went out of his way to give us many specific examples of how this love ought to work, and who it should be expressed to.

Discerning a Call to Ministry: Am I a Planter, Revitalizer, or Maybe Something Else?
Discerning a call to ministry is rarely a simple or predictable journey. This eBook explores the biblical foundations and practical realities of pastoral calling through the lens of experienced church planters and multiplying pastors. Drawing from research with proven ministry leaders, this resource examines the inward calling and outward confirmation often present in those called to pastoral ministry and church planting. Using Scripture alongside insights from seasoned practitioners, this eBook provides a balanced framework for understanding and confirming God’s direction for your life and ministry....

Why Pastors Above the Age of 70 Will Become Increasingly Common
Thom and Sam share five reasons why pastors above the age of 70 will become increasingly common.

How to Lead More Vibrant Prayer Meetings
Too many churches have taken the prayer meeting back behind the barn and shot it. If those prayer meetings were like some I’ve been to, I’m sympathetic.1 I’m thinking of prayer meetings....

Is This Young Person Ready to Be Baptized? Clarifying Questions and Considerations for Churches
Scott Daniel offers three clarifying questions and some related reflections to help churches evaluate whether a young person is ready to be baptized. This decision ultimately falls to the church, which must consider whether a young person is prepared to follow Jesus, whether they can fulfill the responsibilities of church membership, and whether they would be willing to remove the young person from membership as an act of discipline. It is wise to move slowly when making such decisions.

In churches that practice pedobaptism, these questions and considerations may be helpful in discerning whether a youngster is ready to be confirmed.

The Single Best Way to Kickstart Evangelism at Your Church
How do you reach new people with the Gospel if only 1% of your congregation says they have the gift of evangelism and only 1% of pastors say their church is ‘very effective’ at evangelism?

Here is the single best way you can kickstart evangelism at your church.

In an Episcopal church (or an Anglican church whose congregation is largely made up of former Episcopalians), you'll be faced with decades of preaching and teaching, "Episcopalians don't do evangelism!"

Image Credit: St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Bexley, Ohio