On the Net: "What Is the Will of God for My Life?" and More

What Is the Will of God for My Life?

We are encouraged by Scripture to learn the will of God for our lives, and we do so by focusing our attention not on the decretive will of God but on the preceptive will of God. Read More

Special Report: The State of Church Planting Today

All the experts say that establishing new churches is the single most effective way to spread the gospel to a broken world. Read More

Five Types of Critics in the Church

Though the pain of criticism cannot be removed, it can be handled constructively. One way to deal with the issue is to make every effort to understand the mindset of the critic. In doing so, church leaders can respond redemptively and pastorally. Take a look at these five types of critics. Read More

The Church Usher's Vital Priestly Role

How the keepers of God's house show us his welcome. Read More

Feasting and Fellowship in the Age of Food Allergies

Eating can be a source of fellowship—but in a fallen and allergy-ridden world, it can also present challenges. Read More

When is a Young Leader Ready for More Responsibility?

Depending on the size of your church, the following key indicators will relate to a respective combination of your staff and key volunteer leaders. Read More

Relationship … Senior And Executive Pastors

The relationship is unlike any other similar relationship. Read More

Ten Key Questions For Sermon Preparation

There are many ways to prepare a sermon. When preparing a sermon on a passage of Scripture, though, I’ve found that there are ten questions that every preacher must answer. Not every answer will show up in the sermon, but every answer is important to the shape that the sermon takes. Read More

4 Reasons Why Every Bible Reader Should Do Word Studies

In this post I want to make a case for learning the basics of doing word studies, whether we are pulling out the shovel of deeper Bible study or the trowel of basic Bible reading. Read More

How Politics and Polls Killed the Term 'Evangelical'

Thomas Kidd explains how recent poll results point to the corruption of the term ‘evangelical.’ Read More

Christian refugees face death threats from Muslims in camps, say German churches

Christian refugees face discrimination and even death threats at the hands of Muslims in German refugee centres, according to a joint statement issued by the country's evangelical and Catholic Churches. Read More

On the Net: "Eight Mistakes Churches Make on Their Website" and More

Eight Mistakes Churches Make on Their Websites

Your church’s website acts as the front door of your church. It’s likely the first place a guest will look for information about your church. I’ve written in the past about what is essential for effective church websites, but today I turn my attention to what churches often lack on their website. Read More

3 Ways to Respond When People Leave Your Church

Reflect Jesus to people when they come to your church; reflect Jesus when people leave your church. Read More

7 Common Mistakes Pastor Search Committees Make

When you’re searching for your next pastor, watch out for these seven common missteps of pastor search committees. Read More

Faithful Teachers in an Age of Confusion [Audio]

Mike Ovey's talk from this year's Church Society conference, on the major threats to the truth of the gospel in the Church of England today. Listen Now

On the Net: "4 Ways to Break the Attendance Barrier" and Much More

4 Ways to Break the Attendance Barrier

There are four shifts that must take place to ensure continued growth past the traditional attendance barriers. Read More

Seven Things Church Guests Are Telling Us

What gives church guests a good experience. Read More

Two Statistics Every Church Planter Needs to Know

You can’t plant a church without partners. Read More

Larry Osborne on How to Close the Back Door at Your Church and Truly Align Your Team [Podcast]

Few people have been in leadership as long or effectively as Sticky Church author and North Coast Senior Pastor Larry Osborne. In a wide-ranging conversation, Larry talks about why it took so long for North Coast to grow to a large church, how to close the back door at your church and how to truly align a team. Listen Now

Also see "3 Things You Can Do Right Away" further down the page.

The Church at Its Racial Turning Point

Five ways forward after the recent tragic events. Read More

How Should I Process the Current Tensions and Violence in Our Country

How can we possibly process everything that’s going on in our world? The short answer is: we can’t. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try to think and respond wisely and Christianly. Here are a number of suggestions. Read More

10 Things You Should Know about Race and Racism

Anyone who thinks that we’ve made substantial progress in resolving the problem of racial disharmony and animosity in our society is simply not paying attention. The violent events that have filled our streets in the past week together with the response from both the white and African-American communities clearly demonstrate that mistrust, suspicion, and even hatred across the racial divide are rampant in virtually every sector in our society. So today we turn our attention to 10 things that all of us need to know about race and racism. Read More

Five Questions to Ask Before You Consume Cannabis

Not everyone will be tempted to consume pot, but most everyone will be in a position to advise someone who is considering it. With this in mind, here are five questions to ask before you consume pot. Read More

The Marrow of Calvinism

God’s sovereignty is the marrow of doctrinal Calvinism—provided we understand that this sovereignty is not arbitrary but is the sovereignty of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Read More

12 Marks of Excellent Pastoral Ministry

John MacArthur has had a long, faithful, fruitful ministry unblemished by great scandal. For decades he has maintained a tight focus on teaching the Bible verse by verse and book by book. In 2006 he taught through 1 Timothy 4 and there he saw Paul providing his young protégé with “a rich summary of all of the apostle’s inspired instruction for those who serve the church as ministers, as pastors. And it all begins with the statement, a noble minister, an excellent minister, a good servant of Christ Jesus.” What are the marks of such a man? MacArthur reveals twelve of them. Read More

One Common Struggle Every Pastor Faces

We often let a few negatives overshadow many positives. Read More

17 Benefits to Reading the Entire Bible

The benefits and joy of journeying the entire way through God’s salvation story are too good to miss. Read More

Three Questions for Bible Journaling

If you’ve never experienced the benefits of Bible journaling, perhaps you find yourself asking the question, “How do I write my thoughts about what I am reading in my Bible?” We like the idea, but have no idea what to write. I wasn’t sure how to begin the process of journaling in my Bible, but asking the following questions about any passage has proved to be a good place to start. Read More

10 Questions for Examining Your Life

Examining your life is essential to your growth as a Christian believer. Seeing your own sins and failings will make it possible for you to confess, repent, find forgiveness, and grow in grace. Read More

Outrage at Russia's 'unconstitutional' crackdown on religion, evangelism

Russia's President Vladmir Putin has signed a package of new anti-terrorism measures into law amid protests that they will be used to crack down on religious freedom. Read More

Anglicans discover mistake in same-sex vote; resolution passes

A stunning reversal of a divisive vote has paved the way for the Anglican Church to perform same-sex marriages in Canada, but that won’t happen before 2019 at the earliest. Read More

Anglicans OK same-sex unions after vote error

Questions about the integrity of the voting process in which Anglicans narrowly rejected a resolution to allow same-sex marriage emerged Tuesday, leading to a stunning reversal of the result that had caused anguish among many members. Read More

Anglican Church in Canada passes same-sex marriage after embarrassing vote miscount

,br/> The Anglican Church of Canada has voted to approve same-sex marriage after all after church leaders confessed to an embarrassing error when counting the votes. Read More

Several Canadian Anglican bishops to OK same-sex marriage despite vote

Toronto Archbishop Colin Johnson considering “next logical step” to authorize some churches to have option to marry same-sex couples. Read More

On the Net: "The Reformations, a Tragic Necessity" and More

The Reformations, a Tragic Necessity

Many want to get back as quickly as possible to the early church to reclaim a common patrimony for all Christians in the fathers and mothers of the church of the first few centuries. As attractive as this may seem however, it is a luxury that Christians, especially in the West, can ill afford. Read More

10 Ways to Minister to Police Officers

If you’ve been paying attention to the recent news, you know that the police have been at the center of often difficult and sometimes controversial situations. Regardless of your opinions of some of the actions of police over the past week, we have an opportunity to minister to the vast number of great police officers who support us. Here are some ways your church might do so. Read More

Leadership Development According to Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Bonhoeffer's wisdom on leadership endures. Read More

3 Errors of Musical Style that Stifle Community

In their book The Compelling Community, Mark Dever and Jamie Dunlop point out 3 common errors of musical style can stifle local church community. Read More

This article was originally posted just a little under a year ago. It is an article worth reading again.

Stop Assuming Your Neighbors Are Hostile to Your Faith

Some of the headlines are ominous. The value of religious liberty is on the decline. Many Americans consider normal Christian beliefs to be “extreme” – Christianity’s foundational truths (such as, Jesus is the only way to God) or Christianity’s moral vision (Jesus’ strict sexual ethic). In some quarters, our faith is no longer merely strange; it’s bad – detrimental a free and pluralistic society. The evil one would love nothing more than to have these recent developments shut up Christians or to stir up in us a fear of rejection. Read More

Negative views of Muslims increasing throughout Europe

The research from Pew Global shows growing fears that waves of Muslim refugees will lead to more terrorism and fewer jobs. Read More

Calls to prayer as Russia's evangelicals face draconian restrictions

Russia has been accused of backing the Russian Orthodox Church at the expense of evangelicals. Read More

On the Net: "Top Ten things to Know When Finding a Facility for Your Church Plant" and Much More

Top Ten things to Know When Finding a Facility for Your Church Plant

Before you shop for space or start calling on signs, we advise the church to get an understanding of your space needs and your budget. Read More

Episode 80: Creating Clear Next Steps for Guests [Podcast]

Don't let people fall through the cracks. Learn best practices in retaining first time guests. Listen Now

From Preview to Launch

Like a private movie screening, Preview Services introduce the community to a new church that has not yet been released to the public. Read More

Ten Traits of the Healthiest Churches Ten Years from Now

Thom Rainer takes a look into the future ten years from now and describes what he believes will be the characteristics of the healthiest churches in America. Read More

3 Challenges in Urban Ministry

While cities are an excellent place for gospel advancement, urban ministry is not without its challenges. Read More

Six Major Issues Regarding the Digital Church

This phenomenon is not transitory. It will be with us for the foreseeable future. As I speak with pastors and other church leaders across America and beyond, here are the key issues being discussed. Read More

Di-ver-si-ty: Overcoming Homogeneity in Our Churches

Ed Stetzer examines the need for greater cultural, ethnic, generational, and racial diversity in American churches and how to achieve that diversity. Read More

Serving the Community Rarely Fits on the Church Calendar

“What is this church doing for the community?” In our nine years as a church, I’ve found this to be one of the most commonly asked questions by Christians, mostly millennials, who visit our church. This is a fair question and churches should have an answer. But the answer shouldn’t simply be a list of events. Instead, the answer should include how your church and its members are developing a growing number of relationships and consistently meeting long-term needs. Read More

Episode 79: Developing a Culture of Generosity in Your Church [Podcast]

Uncover the best practices in talking about financial stewardship and developing a generous culture. Listen Now

Alcohol Abuse, Perry Noble, and the Church's Response—What Now?

Alcohol abuse wrecks another pastor. Read More

Christology and the Doctrine of the Church

The doctrine of the church has fallen on hard times. Read More

So Are You Actually a Leader? A Simple Way to Tell In Less Than Two Minutes

How can you tell how you’re doing as a leader? Read More

3 Emails You Should Never Send

If you complain about the number of emails you receive, look at the number of emails you send. Read More

5 Reasons to Go Bivocational

I’m not claiming it’s wrong to minister full-time; merely that it’s not always right. Read More

You Are Smart Enough to Study the Bible

There are dozens of reasons for our collective lack of Bible study, but here’s one we need to address: I’m not smart enough.Few people use those words, but this captures the general sentiment. Many people feel inadequate or intimidated by the task of studying the Bible, so they never attempt it. Read More

John Calvin on Prayer: 6 Reasons Why You Should Pray

Is it even necessary to pray? This question is sometimes asked today. Apparently, it was also popular over 500 years ago. Read More

Parents,Don't Waste Your Lazy Summer Days

The pressure to keep our kids’ schedules filled to the brim can diminish the possibility of a summer respite. But is it really such a bad thing to have wide open spaces in our planners? Might this be the very thing we need in order to refocus our priorities and make the most of the short season of time we’re given with our children? Read More

Back to School: 4 Outreach Ideas

This back-to-school season, instead of focusing on just the students, support the people who support the students. Read More

The Playschool Tragedy for Twentysomethings

The twenties have become this new kind of “paradise” in between childhood and real adulthood, when you can party hard, experiment with new things, and spend lots of money without feeling the consequences. Read More

Russia's Newest Law: No Evangelizing Outside of Church

Putin signs new restrictions that limit where and how Christians share the gospel. Read More

The 1928 American Prayer Book: Too Protestant?

By Robin G. Jordan

While from the perspective of Anglicans who are Protestant in their theological outlook, parts of the 1928 American Book of Common Prayer seem to be too Catholic, from the perspective of self-identified Catholics such as the Patriarch of the Anglican Rite Old Roman Catholic Church (ARORCC), other parts of the 1928 Anglican Prayer Book appear to be not Catholic enough. The ARORCC represents itself as “an ancient, autonomous, semi-autocephalous Old Roman Catholic Patriarchate with Anglican patrimony descended from the Roman Catholic See of Utrecht.” On the ARORCC website its Patriarch in a pastoral letter to its bishops and clergy lists what he describes as “deficiencies” of the 1928 American Prayer Book. In his opinion the 1928 American Order for the Administration of Holy Communion, if it is “used in its unaltered form without any additions or deletions,” “lacks many essential Catholic elements in the Sacrament.” I have reproduced below the “deficiencies” that he enumerates in his pastoral letter:

1. There are no Prayers at the Foot of the Altar at the beginning of the communion service. This removes the act of the priest, servers, and people preparing themselves for the Holy Sacrifice. This also promotes Luther's refusal to accept the Catholic teaching that the priest is judge, witness and intercessor with God.

2. There is only a minimal calendar of Saints, consisting essentially only of the Apostles. Hence, there are also no collects of commemoration. Coupled with the statements made in the Articles of Religion, this can only be taken to be a denial of the Catholic doctrine pertaining to the Saints. That they are not included in the 1928 BCP renders it impossible to keep the Catholic feasts of the Saints. The various editions of Anglo-Catholic missals have had to remedy this chiefly through the addition of Roman Catholic collects. .

3. There is no true Offertory. The priest merely "sets the table" for communion rather than formally offering the host and chalice. Without suitable words in the ritual by which the bread and wine are offered, the door is left wide open for any interpretation of the elements of communion, including that they do not become the very and true Body and Blood of Christ, but merely are representative and constitute a memorial meal. Even though the words "And the Priest shall then offer, and shall place upon the Holy Table, the Bread and the Wine" appear in the rubrics, this is far from sufficient to indicate the sacrificial nature of a true Holy Communion. The non-sacrificial interpretations that are clearly possible on the part of the priest and the people are entirely Protestant in nature and not consistent with Catholic doctrine. .

4. In the Prayer for the Whole State of Christ's Church, the phrase "We humbly beseech thee most mercifully to accept our [alms and] oblations" appears, without any further comment that would suggest a sacrificial nature. Indeed, that the oblations of bread and wine are written next to alms further weakens any possibility that the oblation of bread and wine in the 1928 BCP rite is necessarily and unambiguously a sacrificial offering to which the people may join themselves.

5. The 1928 BCP communion service lacks Secrets, by which the priest offers special prayers silently on behalf of the people. The lack of these prayers weakens the role of the priest in the sense of a Catholic priesthood, i.e., an alter Christus. .

6. Most troubling is the prayer of consecration itself. The prayer refers to the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross at Calvary. Instead of then referring to the present act on the altar as that same, true and living Sacrifice to which the priest and people join themselves, it explictly refers to the present act as a "perpetual memory" of the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. If it is the intent of the priest that communion be merely a memorial, then it is indeed no sacrament at all. .

7. While the phrase in the Invocation "...in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood" does refer to the Body and Blood of Christ and may otherwise not be a troubling statement, taken in the context in which the 1928 prayer of consecration is phrased renders the statement in the Invocation merely the furtherance of the Protestant heresy that Holy Communion is merely a memorial. Further in the Invocation is stated "And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee." This statement merely by itself represents Catholic doctrine. Yet, in the context of the entire rite, it becomes highly confusing as to the true nature of the communion service, i.e., is it a Sacrifice (Catholic doctrine) or merely a memorial (Protestant heresy). .

8. The Agnus Dei is completely missing. .

9. There is no invocation of Saints, and there are no prayers for the dead, furthering the various Protestant heresies regarding the Saints and intercession for the dead. .

10. There is no Domine non sum dingus per se, but there is the following prayer: "We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen." This prayer further adds to the confusion regarding the sacrificial nature of a true mass. Given the earlier aspects of the 1928 rite that suggest communion is not a sacrifice, but a memorial, this prayer furthers both that notion and the idea that the presence of Christ is mystical. That is, a denial of transubstantiation, and hence of Catholic doctrine. Indeed, Article 28 of the Articles of Religion explicitly denies transubstantiation. Hence, all statements in the 1928 rite referring to the Body and Blood of Christ must be interpreted merely in a symbolic fashion. Thus, taken in its unaltered and unedited form, the rite of the 1928 BCP is not a true sacrifice. .

11. The priest in the 1928 BCP rite does not keep his thumbs and forefingers joined until the ablutions. This action is done in traditional liturgy to prevent profanement of any particles of the Body of Christ that may be on the priests thumbs and forefingers. Furthermore, there is no explicit act of ablutions of the sacred vessels. That these actions are absent in the 1928 BCP rite is rather telling and certainly consistent with Article 28 of the Articles of Religion. .

12. The Articles of Religion themselves, under which the intent of the 1928 BCP rites must be interpreted and considered, contain numerous anti-Catholic doctrine. This leads to the serious question of valid intent on the part of anyone celebrating Holy Communion under the 1928 BCP rite.

He goes on to prohibit the use of the 1928 book in the ARORCC except with his permission and with the additions that he lists in his missive. While some may regard his assessment of the 1928 Holy Communion Service as nitpicking, it is clear that the patriarch himself views these deficiencies as serious problems in the way the rite was compiled. I thought that his pastoral letter was interesting in that it is illustrative of the different ways in which the 1928 book can be viewed.

The 1928 American Prayer Book was compiled when the two major influences in the then Protestant Episcopal Church were the Anglo-Catholic and Broad Church parties. The 1928 Prayer Book reflects these influences. Whether the compliers of the 1928 book intended that the book should be open to multiple interpretations of its doctrine is a question that readers will have to decide for themselves. Why the 1928 book causes dissatisfaction in both Anglicans with a Protestant outlook and Catholics is that its compilers may have sought to balance opposing views in the book, thereby producing a book that is far from satisfying to those who adhere strictly to these views. This may be one of the book’s weaknesses. It also may be one of its strengths.

The Anglican Church in North America’s draft Prayer Book is being promoted in some quarters of that province as a contemporary language version of the 1928 American Prayer Book. But a careful examination of the two books shows that to not be really the case. While the Prayer Book and Liturgy Task Force and the Bishops Review Committee have borrowed material from the 1928 Prayer Book, the ACNA’s draft Prayer Book is far more Catholic than the 1928 book. They have also incorporated material from other sources. By “Catholic” I am referring to the unreformed teaching and practices of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. The compilers of the draft Prayer Book have included in that book much of what the 1928’s compilers chose to leave out.

If the translation of the 1928 American Prayer Book into modern English had been their intention, they had the late Peter Toon’s work as a starting point. Toon edited an edition of the 1928 Prayer Book in which each page of that book was interleaved with modern English translation of its rubrics and texts. It was designed to introduce individuals unfamiliar with Tudor English to the 1928 book.

In some ways the 1928 American Prayer Book was a compromise—sufficiently “High Church” to appeal to moderates in the Protestant Episcopal Church’s Anglo-Catholic wing but not so “High Church” as to be rejected by what passed for its “Low Church” wing in the opening decades of the twentieth century. The compilers of the Anglican Church in North America’s draft Prayer Book, on the other hand, have not exhibited the same kind of restraint as the PECUSA’s Joint Commission on the Enrichment and Revision of the Prayer Book.

Churches in America—Part 3

Convictional Christians are not leaving the faith.

In addition to vital trends associated with Protestants and evangelicals, there are three more vital trends that are necessary to make sense of America’s religious landscape.

The rise of non-denominational churches.
The growth of nondenominational churches is often overlooked in analyses of U.S. religious data. These are congregations that are not affiliated with national church organizations like the United Methodist Church or Assemblies of God. The rapid growth of these churches demands attention. For example, the majority of the 100 largest churches in the U.S. are nondenominational. Soon, the largest evangelical ‘denomination’ will be nondenominational. Read More

Saturday Lagniappe: "The Origin of Calvinism" and More

The Origin of Calvinism

This Sunday is the birthday of the French Reformed theologian John Calvin. In this article John Piper reflects on the origins of what some people call "Calvinism" after John Calvin. Read More

How To Recognize & Remedy Micromangement

Everyone can’t be lead in the same way. When leading one person, more direction, or follow-up may be perfectly appropriate and needed, but for another, it’s micromanagement. Read More

Passion for God's Word Changes the World

In 2013 while on research leave at Tyndale House in Cambridge, UK, I had a chance to examine the holdings of the British and Foreign Bible Society personally. The collection, housed in the Cambridge University library, was curated by a friend of mine. In addition to very old copies of the Bible (including first editions of Tyndale's New Testament!), there were shelves of translator notes and Bible's from missions contexts around the world. And there too was Mary Jones' Bible, which I held in my hand. Read More

How to pray for the police

Here are eight ways we can pray for the police in America. Read More

3 Ways to Help Our Kids Process Racial Injustice

How can we partner together as parents to raise kids who peacefully stand for justice, rather than ignorantly becoming complicit in it? Here are three simple steps in that direction. Read More

Creating an Evangelistic Culture: Thoughts on Lee Strobel’s Address at Amplify16

Alvin L. Reid reflects on one of the plenary addresses given at the Amplify Evangelism Conference held in Wheaton, Illinois this week. Read More

Bishops step in with call for action as Malawi faces national food crisis

Bishops in Malawi have warned that their country is facing a national food crisis as latest governent figures suggest nearly half of the population could be going hungry. Read More

Nigerian Christian who sought refuge in Italy from Boko Haram is murdered

A young Nigerian who fled Boko Haram to seek asylum in Italy has been murdered in a racist assault. Emmanuel Chidi Namdi, 36, died from injuries from a beating in Fermo after his wife Chinyeri endured racist insults. They had escaped to Italy after their daughter and Emmanuel's parents had been murdered in an attack on their church in Nigeria by Boko Haram. Read More

The Church of England: Synod faces conservative boycott over gay marriage talks

The Church of England's governing body may face a conservative rebellion over its discussions on gay marriage. Read More

Gay marriage on the agenda for Canadian General Synod this week

Archbishop Fred Hiltz opened the 41st General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada with an admission the church’s deliberations on the topic of same-sex marriage would be difficult. Read More

Opening address by the Primate of Canada to General Synod

Presiding Bishop Fred Hiltz addresses what may prove to be a contentious General Synod for the Anglican Church of Canada as liberals seek to leverage its approval of same sex marriage rites. Read More

Bermuda pastors key in gay marriage referendum

Traditional marriage proponents in many U.S. states and other western nations see a disheartening trend when it comes to same-sex marriage: Citizens vote to reject it. A court overturns the will of the people. Same-sex marriage becomes the law of the land. But Bermuda -- a British island territory some 650 miles east-southeast of North Carolina's Outer Banks -- seems poised to reverse that trend.Read More

This article may be overly-optimistic.

John Calvin on the Necessity for Reforming the Church

More than 450 years ago, a request came to John Calvin to write on the character of and need for reform in the Church. The circumstances were quite different from those that inspired other writings of Calvin, and enable us to see other dimensions of his defense of the Reformation. The Emperor Charles V was calling the Diet of the Holy Roman Empire to meet in the city of Speyer in 1544. Martin Bucer, the great reformer of Strassburg, appealed to Calvin to draft a statement of the doctrines of and necessity for the Reformation. The result was remarkable. Theodore Beza, Calvin’s friend and successor in Geneva, called “The Necessity for Reforming the Church” the most powerful work of his time.

Calvin organizes the work into three large sections. The first section is devoted to the evils in the church that required reformation. The second details the particular remedies to those evils adopted by the reformers. The third shows why reform could not be delayed, but rather how the situation demanded “instant amendment.”

In each of these three sections Calvin focuses on four topics, which he calls the soul and body of the church. The soul of the church is worship and salvation. The body is sacraments and church government. The great cause of reform for Calvin centers in these topics. The evils, remedies and necessity for prompt action all relate to worship, salvation, sacraments and church government. Read More

On the Net: "2 Requirements for Organizational Change" and More

2 Requirements for Organizational Change

People and organizations rarely change without two things being present. Read More

Why Church Should Make You Uncomfortable This Weekend

When you love your local church, it’s fun to gather with the people of God. We look forward to hanging out with people we love each weekend. I’m arguing in this post, though, that church should be at least a little bit uncomfortable for all of us. Here’s why. Read More

10 Traits to Identify Potential New Servant Leaders

One of the most important tasks of a leader is to identify potential new leaders. If a church or organization is to grow, finding new leaders is critical. Read More

How to Lead During Times of Chaos

How should leaders react when things fall apart? When everything breaks loose, what’s the best approach for righting the ship and getting the organization moving forward again? While each story involves complexity and time, here’s my suggestions from the start. Read More

4 Elements Your Sunday Services Need

Hone in on these four elements over the next several months and watch your worship experiences go from good to great. Read More

Making the Most of Your Bible Reading

Since college I’ve grown in prioritizing Bible reading. I’ve learned that I must approach the Bible with focus and care in order to meet with God. Here are 8 ways to make the most of your bible reading I hope you'll find helpful. Read More

How to Pray in Our Time of National Crisis

Throughout the Old Testament, and especially in the Psalms, we find lamentations that can serve as model for how we can respond in prayer in times of crisis. Here are some suggestions for how to use such passages as guides. Read More

5 Tools for Developing Spiritually Mature Disciples

There are five primary tools that Saddleback Church has been using for over three decades to cultivate spiritual growth. Really, if you want to know the secret behind Saddleback Church, it’s these five things. These are five very practical tools that we have used to develop the maturity level of people in our church. Read More

Prophet, Priest, and King

The new issue of Credo Magazine is now here! Read the magazine as a PDF

Iowa Churches Can't Discriminate During Services 'Open to the Public'

Churches can't limit bathroom use to biological gender or make anyone feel unwelcome, the state says. Read More

Should Christians evangelise Muslim refugees?

r Krish Kandiah believes it is possible to share faith in appropriate, non-exploitative ways that demonstrate respect and honour to those with whom Christians communicate. Read More

On the Net: "Returning the Mission of God to the People of God" and More

Returning the Mission of God to the People of God

The church was never meant to be a stagnant pool but, instead, a flowing river of gospel movement, disciples who make disciples who make disciples. Read More

5 Basic Mistakes Churches Make Over and Over Again

The church has the most important mission on earth. Every church should behave like it. Read More

Iggy, Nick, and What Your Culture Really Values

Every team, organization, and ministry has a culture. The culture is the shared beliefs and values, often beneath the surface, that guide the collective actions. There is a lot written about culture, but here are three simple questions to help uncover what your culture really values and believes.... Read More

George Washington: The American Moses

In his 1796 Farewell Address, George Washington argued that religion and morality were essential pillars of the new republic. Read More

6 Reasons Why Porn Is Not Harmless

Porn is much more than an individual decision—it is part of a system that preys on women and children; and its viewers are participating in, contributing to, and being shaped by that destructive, enslaving system. Read More

The 6 Core Responsibilities of a Senior Pastor

Stick to the priorities as best you can. Empower others to do the rest. Read More

Is Skipping Church Good for Your Soul?

An occasional break from the Sunday routine can refresh a soul and help avoid pastoral burnout. Read More

Preachers and Prepackaged Sermons

Technology has made more resources available than ever before; yet the demands of pastoral ministry outpace the ability to keep up. In those moments of feeling overwhelmed, it can be tempting to look for ways to bypass the hard work of sermon preparation. Read More

The Four Most Popular Ways to Read the Song of Songs

We don’t need to make the man in the Song of Songs into an allegory or a type of Jesus to see how the book points us to “the sufferings of Christ and the glories that will follow.” Read More

Bible Study Meets Crafting: The Bible Journaling Craze

What this artsy trend among Christian women shows us about offline spirituality. Read More

4 Reasons Why Every Christian Ought to Know the Traditional Creeds

Jeremy Bouma explains why Christians should know the traditional creeds. Read More

4 Alternative Ways to Pray

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes' The little book of prayer experiments aims to help people think outside of the box when it comesto prayer. Read More

Six Simple Ways Churches Can Get the Most from Facebook Live

Live video is not new for many churches. It’s possible that you’ve used Periscope, Meerkat, or Facebook Live at some point to promote an event or just to have fun. As Facebook Live has grown in popularity, I’ve increasingly been asked “Which should I use for my church?” The answer has now become obvious: Facebook Live. Read More

10 Reasons Leaders Don't Disciple the Way Jesus Did

Jesus preached to the crowds, but He invested in the few: 12 disciples overall, three with whom He spent more time (Peter, James, and John), and perhaps one with whom He spent even more time (Peter). Many church leaders don’t operate that way, though – and that’s a problem. Here are some reasons I’ve observed that explain this omission:.... Read More

Churches forced to shut in Nigeria - for being too noisy

This is a problem that some churches in the increasingly-secular West must dream of sharing. Christianity is growing so fast and so noisily in parts of Nigeria that the authorities are actually having to shut churches down - to secure peace and quiet for local residents. And it is not just churches. Mosques too are being closed in a clampdown on noise pollution. Places of worship are being sacrificed as part of a plan to make Lagos free of noise pollution in just four years. Read More

On the Net: "Churches in America" and More

Churches in America—Part 1

Overall, the Church’s influence on Americans is beginning to fade. Read More

Churches in America—Part 2

Mainline Protestantism as a whole is hemorrhaging. Read More

10 of My Fears for the American Church

In the last two months, I’ve spent time on the mission field in two different parts of the world. I LOVE the local church (and I hope you know that from my blog posts), but I fear more for the American church every time I spend time overseas. Here are some of my fears.... Read More

How Growing Churches Can Maintain Strong Community

A church’s ability to grow and to make people feel needed and known shouldn’t feel mutually exclusive. Read More

5 Ways to Build a Small-Church Dream Team

Churches need to find leaders who know how to build teams and develop leaders around them. Read More

21 Thoughts on Preaching

In no particular order, here are some reflections, musings, and bits of advice on the noble task of preaching the Word of God. Read More

The Methods vs. The Message

Many Christians go their entire lives without being used by God to be the human instrument and means by which a person comes to Christ. My own calling is not as an evangelist, but seeing another human being come to Christ is the most meaningful ministry experience I’ve ever had. Read More

Archaeologists dig up Christian grave marker that pinpoints site of first Lindisfarne monastery

A crowd-funded archaeology dig has uncovered evidence of the lost medieval monastery where the Lindisfarne Gospels were written. Read More

The Problematic Nature of Prayer Book Revision in the Anglican Church North America

By Robin G. Jordan

If you are seeking to find biblical Anglicanism in the Anglican Church in North America, you are not going to find it in the province’s draft Prayer Book or its Catechism and Ordinal. What you will find is a travesty of authentic historic Anglicanism. Rite after rite the draft Prayer Book is a repudiation of the historic Anglican formularies. The Catechism fails to conform not only to the doctrine of the formularies but also to the teaching of the Bible. The Ordinal embraces teaching and practices that the English Reformers rejected in the sixteenth century on solid biblical grounds.

If you are seeking to find genuine comprehensiveness in the Anglican Church in North America, you won’t find it in the province’s formularies either. The draft Prayer Book and the Ordinal contains no alternative rites or language for the use of convictional Anglicans faithful to the Bible and the historic Anglican formularies, no permission to omit texts and ceremonies that they find incompatible with the doctrinal and worship principles of biblical Anglicanism’s reformed, evangelical faith. The Catechism is far from acceptable to all legitimate schools of Anglican thought.

What makes matters worse is that the canons of Anglican Church in North America do not contain any clear procedure for the adoption of a Prayer Book. This includes the Ordinal and the Catechism since these formularies typically form a part of the Prayer Book in an Anglican Church. The constitution of the province gives the Provincial Council the power to make canons ordering the common life of the provinces in respect to common worship among other matters. The canons require the use of the draft Prayer Book once it is adopted. They provide no exceptions to its use:

“Until such time as a Book of Common Prayer for use in this Province has been adopted, all authorized Books of Common Prayer of the originating jurisdictions shall be permitted for use in this Church.” Canon II.2.1

The canons also identify as the responsibility of the ordinary of a diocese “to ensure that the forms used in Public Worship and the Administration of the Sacraments” in his diocese “be in accordance with Anglican Faith and Order.” They further stipulate that “nothing be established that is contrary to the Word of God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures.” See Canon II.2.2.

However, they delineate no procedure for the adoption of a Prayer Book.

The current procedure being followed in the Anglican Church in North America in which the Prayer Book and Liturgy Task Force and the Bishops’ Review Committee devise new rites for the province and the College of Bishops approves them has no constitutional or canonical basis—none whatsoever. Any Prayer Book produced by this process is neither constitutional nor canonical.

Even if the Provincial Council should make a canon regularizing the book and the Provincial Assembly ratified that canon, the book’s lawfulness would be questionable. Whether the use of such a book would be binding upon clergy and congregations of the Anglican Church in North America is debatable. Bishops who sought to enforce its use in their diocese would be violating Canon II.2.2 due to the book’s departures from biblical teaching and Anglican formulary doctrine.

As it is the College of Bishops in usurping the role of the Provincial Council in the preparation of a Prayer Book for the province is contravening the province’s constitution. From what I gather members of that body claim that the Ordinal is subject to no further changes because the College of Bishops authorized and adopted it in 2013. But the constitution and canons of the Anglican Church in North America neither vest in the College of Bishops such authority nor recognize it as inherent in that body.

If you look closely at the way that the Anglican Church in North America has been governed to date, you will discover one irregularity after another. In some cases the irregularities have been regularized. But often as not they have been glozed over. This way of doing things has become part of the culture of the Anglican Church in North America and does not bode well for the province’s future as the abuses of authority in the province will become greater and greater with the passage of time.

If the Anglican Church in North America is to stay together as a province, it will need a Prayer Book that is genuinely comprehensive and is not a party book like the draft Prayer Book. It will need to have a clear process for the adoption of a provincial Prayer Book delineated in its canons. It will also need canonical provisions permitting dioceses and sub-provinces to adopt their own service books for their own use. This includes their authorization of the continued use of the traditional Prayer Books. What the province does not need is a Prayer Book that seeks to impose the views of one party in the Anglican Church in North America upon the rest of the province. 

On the Net: "Why Charismatics and Calvinists Need Each Other" and More

Why Charismatics and Calvinists Need Each Other

Adam Mabry writes how the mingled power of the doctrines of grace and the gifts of grace producing the fruits of grace convinced him that Reformed and charismatic need each other. Read More

The Sexual Revolution and the Witness of the Church

In the face of the sexual revolution, the Christian church in the West now faces a set of moral challenges that exceeds anything it has experienced in the past. This is a revolution of ideas—one that is transforming the entire moral structure of meaning and life. These challenges would be vexing enough for any generation. But the contours of our current challenge have to be understood over against the affecting reality for virtually everything on the American landscape, and furthermore in the West. Read More

The Object of Our Faith

Throughout all of Scripture we see stories of God’s people as they wrestled with doubt. Yet God was merciful to them, and He is merciful to us. So ought we to have mercy on others who doubt (Jude 22). Read More

8 Ways Satan Convinces You To Question Your Salvation

Though Satan can never steal the Christian’s crown, though he can never snatch him away from the hand of the Father, he is so envious and malicious that he will leave no stone unturned in robbing the Christian of comfort and peace, in making their life miserable, in giving them reason to live in constant sorrow and mourning, doubt and questioning. Read More

The Challenges of Scaling a Church – An Interview with Rusty George [Podcast]

Rusty George didn’t plant Real Life Church, but he saw it grow from a small gathering in a movie theater to a multisite church of over 5000 attenders. Rusty talks openly and honestly about the highs and lows of growth, staffing, change and raising money to fund a vision to reach unchurched people. Read More

8 Words of Encouragement for Young Leaders 

Ron Edmondson shares some principles and practices of leadership he has learned along the way. Read More

10 of the Most Shameful Expressions Ever Uttered in Church

It would appear that ministers have to put up with more complaining and griping than any group on the planet. Read More

10 Questions I Ask Before Preaching or Teaching

I’ve been preaching and teaching a long time, and I certainly don’t claim to be an expert. In fact, my failures in the past have led me to ask these 10 questions before I stand before a congregation.... Read More

5 Ways to Reduce Time on Email

Email often helps people communicate more to accomplish less. Instead of being a time-saver in communication, email often wastes time by creating unnecessary communication. Read More

6 Ways to Take Your Fall Festival to the Next Level

Try these six ideas to maximize your fall festival’s ability to reach new members of your community. Read More

Battle looms in Church of England over 'blessings' for gay marriage

Evangelicals are preparing to block what they believe is an attempt to introduce same-sex blessings to the Church of England. Read More

Independence Day Special Edition

What Is True Liberty?

America is mad for liberty. Ours is a free country. We enjoy freedom of speech and of religion, the freedom of the press, and the freedom to bear arms. And rightly so. But though Americans love freedom, many of them have forgotten what it means. Read More

8 Freedoms We Don't Think about Enough on July 4th

Today in America, we celebrate Independence Day. We’ll have picnics, family gatherings, and fireworks. I fear, though, we Christians will miss a number of additional reasons to rejoice today. We miss some other freedoms that are critical.... Read More

Is the Declaration of Independence a ‘Christian’ Document?

Were the Founders Christians or Deists? Read More

Engaging the Elections at Church

How to pastor your congregation during the campaign season. Read More

Reaching Non-Churchgoers in the Twenty-First Century

By Robin G. Jordan

As Lyle Schaller points to the reader’s attention in the Forward to William H. Willimon and Robert L. Wilson’s book, Preaching and Worship in the Small Church, the proclamation of God’s Word and the celebration of the sacraments are the primary reason for the existence of the small church. Preaching and worship are the first things on its agenda. The finding of a recent LifeWay survey that only a third of non-churchgoers are open to attending a worship service with a friend is at first glance not good news for the small church. But it need not be.

Marty Duren in his article, “5 Reasons You May Not Be Reaching People in Your Community With the Gospel,” suggests a number of ways that churches may alter their strategy to reach and engage non-churchgoers in light of these findings. All of these suggestions are things that the members of a small church can do.

The members of small churches can talk about Jesus with non-churchgoing relatives, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. They can take time to get to know people well enough to know what they think and to tailor their gospel approach in accordance with what they have learned. They can learn to actively listen to people and to discern what Steve Sjogren, Dave Ping, and Doug Pollock in their book Irresistible Evangelism: Natural Ways to Open Others to Jesus describe as people’s “spiritual address,” the unique address that every human being on the planet Earth has in relationship to the kingdom of God. Sjogren, Ping, and Pollock’s book is a resource that the whole congregation of a small church might study together on Sunday morning and whose insights the small church pastor might revisit again and again in his sermons.

A small church can host community meetings and sponsor community service projects. It can find out what is important to the community and meet the unchurched American population there. A small church can show them that it is interested in the community where they live and where their children go to school.

The members of a small church can join with unchurched members of the community in activities that are beneficial to the community. While these activities may not be directly connected with the gospel, Duren points out, they serve as bridges to the gospel. "Until we have earned the interest of the uninterested," he stresses, "they aren’t hearing our gospel presentation anyway."

The key to reach and engaging this segment of the non-churchgoing population appears to be forming genuine relationships. Like ourselves the unchurched are more likely to listen to a trusted friend than a complete stranger or a casual acquaintance. I have heard story after story of those who have turned to Christ through the witness of someone whom they respected and whom they knew to genuinely have their well-being at heart. The way this person lived mirrored what he or she said.

5 Reasons You May Not Be Reaching People in Your Community With the Gospel

Tuesday afternoon LifeWay Research released the results of a survey that should give every pastor and church member pause. The information will call into question some of the strategies churches and church leaders have relied on for many, many years. Now, about a third of non-church attenders are now open to attending a worship service with a friend. Fewer are interested in a small group for people curious about God.

It may be that “invest and invite” should be reconsidered if the invite is to a “churchy” type of activity.

As Christians in America hope to reach our communities with the gospel, we should learn from the current realities. According to LifeWay Research those realities include.... Read More

Also See
Research: Unchurched Will Talk About Faith, Not Interested in Going to Church

Saturday Lagniappe: "Five Questions Every Church Planter Should Be Asked" and More

Five Questions Every Church Planter Should Be Asked

When I was in the early stages of pondering the church plant I’m currently working in, my coach asked me a series of five simple questions that, over the course of months, helped me think through what my church plant would look like. I’ll share those with you here, along with how I processed them, in the hope that the same questions might help you process your own ministry. Because your context is different, your answers will be different. That’s okay—variety is a good thing. Read More

How To Make Budget Cuts In A Healthy Way

Budget cuts, when led well, can actually create a healthy season of pruning in the life of a church. Read More

The Gospel of the Gospels

Quick. What are the Gospels? Time is up. Did you answer: “The Gospels are the biographies of Jesus Christ?” When we read the Gospels as biographies only, we basically look at them like trees apart from the proverbial forest. There is a better way to read and hear them. The Gospels are biography, but they are theological interpretations of the life of Jesus Christ with the purpose of proclaiming the coming of the king of Israel and the inauguration of His kingdom over all the earth. Read More

True Leaders Are Teachable

When it comes to the indispensable qualities for being a leader in the body of Christ and in life in general, there’s one characteristic that perhaps should be placed at the top: teachability. Read More

4 Reasons Why Leaders Need to Avoid Yes-Men

Say "no" to those who always say "yes." Read More

Every Pastor Needs Someone to Mentor

Mark Dance gives a number of initial steps that a pastor might take toward becoming a mentor. Read More

7 Reasons Why Church People Criticize Pastors

If you serve in a church, criticism comes with the territory. I doubt that any pastor or leader likes it. But, we must deal with it in a God-honoring way. One way to do that is to understand why people criticize us. I’ve listed below what I believe are seven reasons why church people criticize pastors with a suggested response to each. Read More

Seven Mistakes in Public Speaking

A well-timed, well-delivered address can rally the troops, strengthen the team, and compel them toward excellence. On the other hand, I’ve seen (and exhibited at times, I’m sure) some mistakes in public speaking. Here are a few of those. Read More

Nigeria 'worst' humanitarian crisis, activists say

Boko Haram violence has created a multifaceted humanitarian crisis in Nigeria that the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative (21CWI) and former Congressman Frank R. Wolf describe as the "gravest" in the world. Read More

Pastors favor patriotism for July Fourth services

Americans who attend a Protestant worship service the week of July Fourth are likely to get a good dose of God and country. Read More

Pope Francis continues to sow confusion with remarks on marriage, homosexuality, and—yes—justification [Podcast; transcript]

One of the most amazing things we are now witnessing is that the papacy is being reinvented right before our eyes. It is Pope Francis that has led this entire process of basically redefining the entire papacy. He has done so not so much by his official actions in terms of his official doctrinal teaching, but rather by his words, by his gestures, and by the general way he presents the papacy. Read More

To read the full transcript, click button.

Episcopal Church's Largest Congregation Is 300 Muslims Who Meet for Friday Prayers

An Episcopal church in Washington, D.C. has been welcoming Muslims into their sanctuary for Friday prayers for eight years, and the men who meet there now outnumber the church's congregation. Read More

On the Net: "3 Critical Truths About Spiritual Warfare" and More

3 Critical Truths About Spiritual Warfare

When spiritual warfare becomes our primary lens, we risk getting stuck in an immature level of underdevelopment. Read More

Who Needs Creeds When I’ve Got a Bible? – An Excerpt from What Christians Ought to Believe

In today’s excerpt from What Christians Ought to Believe, author Michael F. Bird explains that creeds are not only biblical, but also critical for identifying what scripture says about God, Jesus, salvation, and the life of the age to come. Read More

Why You Shouldn’t Run Toward Ministry

The call to ministry isn’t necessarily revealed by the degree or skill set you possess, although those things certainly play some part in ministry. Ironically, the call to ministry emerges as you diligently apply yourself to something every other Christian is called to as well: service in your local church. Read More

6 Places to Look for More Church Workers

Every church I know needs more workers in some area. Most churches I know struggle with finding those workers. It seems that no matter how hard they try, they can’t find all the workers they need. If that describes your church, think about looking in these places for workers.... Read More

How Safe Are Your Kids? 4 Children’s Ministry Security Checks

Four simple ways to test the security in your children’s ministry area. Read More

Patriotic Worship is Coming to a Church Near You

Pastors and churches mix patriotism and worship around July 4th. Read More

The Qur'an, the Bible

Three significant differences between the Qur’an and the Bible are considered here.... Read More

Evangelicals in the Church of England urge 'biblical' view on sexuality

Leading evangelicals in the Church of England have made one of their strongest stands to date in support of what they say is a biblical view on homosexuality. Read More

Battle of the Somme remembered: Nation falls silent 100 years after Britain's bloodiest day

Britain has fallen silent this morning to honour thousands of the nations soldiers killed in the Battle of the Somme 100 years ago. Read More

More than 3,500 Irish died in the savage Battle of the Somme

Today marks the centenary of the start of the Battle of the Somme, which extended over four and a half months and left battle scars that have been felt ever since. Read More

Russian government introduces draconian Soviet era restrictions on religious freedom – churches all over Russia turn to prayer and fasting

Christians in Russia called for prayer and fasting as the country looks set to introduce draconian new restrictions on freedom of religion similar to those that existed in the Communist era. Read More

Russian law would restrict evangelism

A Russian law that would place significant limits on Christian evangelism has drawn opposition from the International Mission Board, U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse and a New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary professor among others. Read More

Russia: Evangelicals pray, fast and lobby Putin as severe restrictions placed on evangelism

Russian evangelicals are praying, fasting and petitioning President Vladimir Putin after measures severely restricting their ability to evangelise and practise their faith were passed by the country's upper legislative house. Read More

Russia's Proposed Law: No Evangelizing Outside of Church

Evangelicals protest the law, which would severely limit where and how Christians share the gospel. Read More

Report on freedom of religion shows horrific persecution of Christians worldwide

A horrific catalogue of human rights abuses of Christians and other believers is listed in the latest freedom of religion or belief report from the European Union. Read More