Ask most church leaders where evangelical Christianity is losing ground fastest, and they will probably name New England, the Pacific Northwest, or one of America’s largest cities. Those places certainly have relatively small evangelical populations.
But a small evangelical presence is not the same as a rapidly declining evangelical presence.
The more surprising losses may be occurring in rural communities and traditional evangelical strongholds. In many of these places, evangelical churches remain numerous and highly visible. But their connection to younger generations is disappearing.
Translating Data Into Discipleship
Anyone can learn to turn data into discipleship if they understand the process’s holistic nature and what it takes to make disciples.
The Volunteer Model Is Breaking
Jess and Thom discuss why this reality has reached a crisis stage in many churches.
Why Church Guests Don't Come Back
Jess and Thom spend a good bit of this podcast discussing this issue.
Survey finds Gen Z most likely to identify as religious
Generation Z adults are more likely than older Americans to describe themselves as “religious,” even as many also engage in practices at odds with Christian teaching, according to a new survey.
The Harris Poll released a survey Thursday based on responses from 2,136 U.S. adults collected July 1 to 4. The poll grouped respondents by generation: Generation Z (ages 18 to 29), millennials (30 to 45), Generation X (46 to 61) and baby boomers (62 and older).
Why New Age spirituality isn’t neutral
The Evangelical Alliance’s recent ‘Spiritual Curiosity’ resource makes an important observation about the moment we are living in. After years in which Western culture has often been described as becoming increasingly secular, many people are once again openly interested in spiritual things.
That spiritual curiosity tells us something important: human beings are searching for meaning, hope, guidance and something beyond the purely material world. The problem is not the recognition that there is more to life than what we can see; Christianity agrees that there is. The question is where we go looking for answers.
Scary, Angry Churches Make Scared, Angered Christians
From the Moore to the Point newsletter: A system that scares you can sometimes keep you compliant, but whatever can ultimately direct your life is your god.
The Word of God and the Mission of God
Commitment to the translation of the Word and engagement in mission has long been central to Anglican history, though it may be more accurately associated with evangelical Anglicanism. This emphasis aligns more closely with Cranmer than with Hooker, appearing to privilege the Word over the sacraments. It would be a mistake, however, to interpret this emphasis as a simplistic or modern understanding of sola Scriptura coupled with a narrow mandate to preach the Word to the far corners of the earth.
At the heart of the early Anglican Reformers’ emphasis on translation into the vernacular was a deep confidence in the word—or, more precisely, the Word of God, for the true agent in this story is God himself. The Anglican Reformers drew on a patristic emphasis on real presence, not only in the sacraments but in the Word as well (Hans Boersma explores this patristic emphasis in Scripture as Real Presence). The Word of God is powerful precisely because God chooses to make himself present to us in it.
Why we sing: Music, spirituality and the search for meaning
Singing is a practice so deeply embedded in Christian worship that it can easily be taken for granted. Yet singing occupies a distinctive place in the life of the Church: Christians sing in celebration and lament, at weddings and funerals, alone and together, and in words ranging from ancient psalms to contemporary worship songs.
What, then, does singing make possible that speech alone cannot?
That question ran through ‘Reasons to Sing: Singing, Spirituality and the Search for Meaning,’ a two-day conference at the University of Birmingham that brought together theologians, musicians and researchers to explore the physical, social and spiritual dimensions of singing.
Songs of Praise celebrates 65 years with special anniversary episode - and finds a new generation online
The BBC’s long-running religious programme ‘Songs of Praise’ is marking its 65th anniversary with a special episode celebrating its history and changing place in British broadcasting.
First aired on October 1, 1961, the programme has since produced over 3,240 episodes, recording hymns and worship songs in more than 2,000 churches, chapels and cathedrals across the UK, as well as in locations ranging from beaches and stadiums to concert halls and cruise ships.
Why My Church Does Not Sing Songs by Bethel, Elevation, and Hillsong
Afew years ago, I proposed to my fellow elders at Grace Fellowship Church that we stop singing songs by Hillsong. Though there were only a couple that were part of our repertoire at the time, I thought it would be wise for us to consider removing them. After some clarifying discussion, we agreed that we would stop singing those two songs, and that we would not add any more. In what follows, I want to explain my reasoning and explain why it also extends to a couple of today’s other major songwriting groups, Bethel and Elevation.
AI Is Trying to Erase Death. Here's Why Christians Should Be Concerned
What if AI doesn't just change how we work, but how we grieve?
We're entering a world where AI can recreate the voices, faces, and personalities of people who have died. What sounds like science fiction is already here, and I believe it's one of the most important conversations the church needs to have.
In this video, I explore why AI "resurrection" is so tempting, why I believe it's a counterfeit to Christian hope, and how pastors and church leaders can help people navigate this new reality with wisdom, truth, and compassion.
The Christian faith has never promised escape from death. It promises something far better: that because of Jesus, death doesn't get the last word.
How AI has made child sexual abuse more prevalent
It all begins with a single screenshot from Instagram, Snapchat or some other social media.
The photo itself is nothing remarkable — a casual selfie, a holiday memory, a sports photoshoot, a prom photo. You know the kind. Billions of photos like these are shared on social media every single day. These are the kind of photos that get printed out and framed by grandmas all over the world.
But this photo — instead of getting a like, a comment or a special place on grandma’s wall — gets turned into something completely different.
AI Friendship vs. Real Friends: Annie F. Downs on Why Christians Need to Stay in the Secular World
Annie F. Downs joins the show to talk about why every leader needs a personal board of directors and who actually belongs there.
We discuss why AI friendship can never replace the real thing and why Christians need to stay in the secular world instead of retreating from it.
Plus, we get a massive update on her recent marriage and what that does to her singles ministry.
Loving the Stranger, Shaping the World
International Student Ministry (ISM) remains one of the most strategic but consistently underappreciated facets in world missions today. To date, there are over 6.9 million international students worldwide—that is, students who attend institutions of higher learning in countries other than their places of origin and nationality. North America (primarily the United States and Canada but also including Mexico) remains a highly popular destination for international students, hosting approximately 2.1 million international students and scholars.
Students from around the globe have historically flocked to North America’s colleges and universities because they are among the best the world has to offer. A key consequence is that many of the world’s political leaders both past and present spent their formative years as international students in Canada and/or the U.S. The implication of this for ISM is obvious: Christian outreach to international students has the potential to impact, powerfully so, the global political sphere spiritually.
But a small evangelical presence is not the same as a rapidly declining evangelical presence.
The more surprising losses may be occurring in rural communities and traditional evangelical strongholds. In many of these places, evangelical churches remain numerous and highly visible. But their connection to younger generations is disappearing.
Translating Data Into Discipleship
Anyone can learn to turn data into discipleship if they understand the process’s holistic nature and what it takes to make disciples.
The Volunteer Model Is Breaking
Jess and Thom discuss why this reality has reached a crisis stage in many churches.
Why Church Guests Don't Come Back
Jess and Thom spend a good bit of this podcast discussing this issue.
Survey finds Gen Z most likely to identify as religious
Generation Z adults are more likely than older Americans to describe themselves as “religious,” even as many also engage in practices at odds with Christian teaching, according to a new survey.
The Harris Poll released a survey Thursday based on responses from 2,136 U.S. adults collected July 1 to 4. The poll grouped respondents by generation: Generation Z (ages 18 to 29), millennials (30 to 45), Generation X (46 to 61) and baby boomers (62 and older).
Why New Age spirituality isn’t neutral
The Evangelical Alliance’s recent ‘Spiritual Curiosity’ resource makes an important observation about the moment we are living in. After years in which Western culture has often been described as becoming increasingly secular, many people are once again openly interested in spiritual things.
That spiritual curiosity tells us something important: human beings are searching for meaning, hope, guidance and something beyond the purely material world. The problem is not the recognition that there is more to life than what we can see; Christianity agrees that there is. The question is where we go looking for answers.
Scary, Angry Churches Make Scared, Angered Christians
From the Moore to the Point newsletter: A system that scares you can sometimes keep you compliant, but whatever can ultimately direct your life is your god.
The Word of God and the Mission of God
Commitment to the translation of the Word and engagement in mission has long been central to Anglican history, though it may be more accurately associated with evangelical Anglicanism. This emphasis aligns more closely with Cranmer than with Hooker, appearing to privilege the Word over the sacraments. It would be a mistake, however, to interpret this emphasis as a simplistic or modern understanding of sola Scriptura coupled with a narrow mandate to preach the Word to the far corners of the earth.
At the heart of the early Anglican Reformers’ emphasis on translation into the vernacular was a deep confidence in the word—or, more precisely, the Word of God, for the true agent in this story is God himself. The Anglican Reformers drew on a patristic emphasis on real presence, not only in the sacraments but in the Word as well (Hans Boersma explores this patristic emphasis in Scripture as Real Presence). The Word of God is powerful precisely because God chooses to make himself present to us in it.
Why we sing: Music, spirituality and the search for meaning
Singing is a practice so deeply embedded in Christian worship that it can easily be taken for granted. Yet singing occupies a distinctive place in the life of the Church: Christians sing in celebration and lament, at weddings and funerals, alone and together, and in words ranging from ancient psalms to contemporary worship songs.
What, then, does singing make possible that speech alone cannot?
That question ran through ‘Reasons to Sing: Singing, Spirituality and the Search for Meaning,’ a two-day conference at the University of Birmingham that brought together theologians, musicians and researchers to explore the physical, social and spiritual dimensions of singing.
Songs of Praise celebrates 65 years with special anniversary episode - and finds a new generation online
The BBC’s long-running religious programme ‘Songs of Praise’ is marking its 65th anniversary with a special episode celebrating its history and changing place in British broadcasting.
First aired on October 1, 1961, the programme has since produced over 3,240 episodes, recording hymns and worship songs in more than 2,000 churches, chapels and cathedrals across the UK, as well as in locations ranging from beaches and stadiums to concert halls and cruise ships.
Why My Church Does Not Sing Songs by Bethel, Elevation, and Hillsong
Afew years ago, I proposed to my fellow elders at Grace Fellowship Church that we stop singing songs by Hillsong. Though there were only a couple that were part of our repertoire at the time, I thought it would be wise for us to consider removing them. After some clarifying discussion, we agreed that we would stop singing those two songs, and that we would not add any more. In what follows, I want to explain my reasoning and explain why it also extends to a couple of today’s other major songwriting groups, Bethel and Elevation.
AI Is Trying to Erase Death. Here's Why Christians Should Be Concerned
What if AI doesn't just change how we work, but how we grieve?
We're entering a world where AI can recreate the voices, faces, and personalities of people who have died. What sounds like science fiction is already here, and I believe it's one of the most important conversations the church needs to have.
In this video, I explore why AI "resurrection" is so tempting, why I believe it's a counterfeit to Christian hope, and how pastors and church leaders can help people navigate this new reality with wisdom, truth, and compassion.
The Christian faith has never promised escape from death. It promises something far better: that because of Jesus, death doesn't get the last word.
How AI has made child sexual abuse more prevalent
It all begins with a single screenshot from Instagram, Snapchat or some other social media.
The photo itself is nothing remarkable — a casual selfie, a holiday memory, a sports photoshoot, a prom photo. You know the kind. Billions of photos like these are shared on social media every single day. These are the kind of photos that get printed out and framed by grandmas all over the world.
But this photo — instead of getting a like, a comment or a special place on grandma’s wall — gets turned into something completely different.
AI Friendship vs. Real Friends: Annie F. Downs on Why Christians Need to Stay in the Secular World
Annie F. Downs joins the show to talk about why every leader needs a personal board of directors and who actually belongs there.
We discuss why AI friendship can never replace the real thing and why Christians need to stay in the secular world instead of retreating from it.
Plus, we get a massive update on her recent marriage and what that does to her singles ministry.
Loving the Stranger, Shaping the World
International Student Ministry (ISM) remains one of the most strategic but consistently underappreciated facets in world missions today. To date, there are over 6.9 million international students worldwide—that is, students who attend institutions of higher learning in countries other than their places of origin and nationality. North America (primarily the United States and Canada but also including Mexico) remains a highly popular destination for international students, hosting approximately 2.1 million international students and scholars.
Students from around the globe have historically flocked to North America’s colleges and universities because they are among the best the world has to offer. A key consequence is that many of the world’s political leaders both past and present spent their formative years as international students in Canada and/or the U.S. The implication of this for ISM is obvious: Christian outreach to international students has the potential to impact, powerfully so, the global political sphere spiritually.
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