Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, February 6, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? The word “Gospel” means “good news.” So, what is the good news of Jesus Christ? In this evening’s message we unpack the Gospel which was passed onto to the apostle Paul and which he passed onto the church at Corinth and through his letters to us.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11

Message: The Best News of All

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/02/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Thursday's Catch: '3 Not-So-Obvious Reasons Church Visitors Don’t Return to Your Church' And More

3 Not-So-Obvious Reasons Church Visitors Don’t Return to Your Church
You’ve read the books, been to the conferences and tried everything you can think of, but the back door of your church is always wide open. What is going on?

Leaving One Church for Another Close By
...when a problem arises in your current church, or you disagree with the direction of the church, or you just feel like a change, it’s possible to attend elsewhere. Is this okay?

WCC calls on President Trump to follow international law for a just peace in Gaza
World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay has described the proposal of US President Trump as “tantamount to proposing full-scale ethnic cleansing and neo-colonization of the homeland of the 2 million Palestinians of Gaza.”

Related article: Even red-state leaders are slowly waking up to Trump's 'deranged' plans: Ex-GOP strategist

‘The church of fear is still in effect,’ author says
The fear and rage that drove evangelical support for Donald Trump has not abated since his return to office, journalist and author Christine Emba observed during a webinar on Christianity and democracy hosted by the Brookings Institution.

United Methodists express solidarity with immigrants
United Methodists have joined other Christians opposing President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration and promising to continue their immigration ministries.

Churches educating congregants on how to respond if ICE shows up
Religious groups are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst now that immigration raids can be conducted in churches, schools and other spaces historically off limits to such actions.

Related artices: CBF joins Quakers in lawsuit against ICE raids in churches and ICE raids in churches violate conservative principles

JD Vance accidentally directed us to a crucial moral question
Theology isn’t usually part of the job description for America’s vice president, but that’s not stopping JD Vance from giving it a try just a couple of weeks into his new position.

Related article: Amid criticism from religious detractors, Vance speaks at religious freedom summit

Develop the Art of Being an Associate Pastor
Once we’ve built the theological and spiritual foundations of associate-pastor ministry, we can turn to the practical dynamics of serving fruitfully while being “second.” While understanding our position and cultivating the right heart posture are essential, the daily execution of our responsibilities requires specific skills, strategies, and wisdom. This article explores how associate pastors can provide meaningful leadership while honoring our supporting role.

2 Tips for Implementing Personal Bible Reading
It’s pretty much impossible to turn off “preacher mode.” What do we do then? How do we implement a personal Bible reading time?

Rediscovering the power of prayer
In today's fast-paced world, where schedules are packed and to-do lists never seem to end, it's easy to lose touch with the people who matter most. Amid the chaos, carving out time for prayer often feels like an impossible task. Yet, as Christians, nurturing our spiritual lives through regular communication with God is essential. Perhaps it's time to rekindle the passion for prayer by reflecting on its profound importance.

8 Ways Church Tech Is Way More Than Computers
When people hear the term “church tech,” their minds often jump straight to computers, software, and audio-visual equipment. While these elements are undeniably important, the concept of church tech extends far beyond just hardware and gadgets. It encompasses tools and strategies that enhance worship, improve communication, and enable ministry to flourish in a rapidly changing world.

How Small Groups Benefit the Whole Church
Fostering genuine community and spiritual growth within a church can be challenging. While Sunday services provide a critical gathering point for worship and teaching, small groups play a vital role in enriching the church experience for individuals and the broader congregation. By offering opportunities for deeper connections, personalized discipleship, and collaborative ministry, small groups benefit the whole church in profound ways.

There is more than one way to deny the faith (basically, there are two)
What does it mean to “deny the faith”? Fundamentally, it is to walk away from following the Lord Jesus. To deny the faith is to reject him. There are two basic ways anybody might deny the faith and reject Jesus.

‘Practicing the Way’ in the Church: Analyzing the Comer Option
“Protestant circles need a new pedagogical strategy,” Carl Trueman recently claimed. “It is striking that in the New Testament and in the early second century (see, for example, the Didache) Christians and pagans were differentiated not simply by what they believed but by how they behaved. The Christian community must have a practical, moral distinctiveness.”

Wednesday's Catch: '“Belong, Believe, Become: Engaging Millennials and Gen Z in Faith” And More

“Belong, Believe, Become: Engaging Millennials and Gen Z in Faith” 

How can congregations faithfully engage in ministry with Millennials and Gen Z? In this episode, Dexter Nutall shares how New Bethel Church engages these generations. The church fosters belonging, social justice, and leadership, creating a welcoming and impactful community for young people. 

Related article: Gen Z's nones have their own beliefs. Try working with them, not converting them. 

What Really Happened to Religion in the 1990s? Young people abandoned Christianity in larger numbers - did they leave Catholicism, evangelicalism, the mainline?

Anglican denominations' record on abuse prompts calls for victim-focused reform
In the U.S. and Canada, survivors and advocates have been advocating for change in Anglican denominations amid a groundswell of abuse and misconduct cases.

Calvin Robinson Was Not ‘Defrocked,’ Says Denomination; Robinson Seeks Audience With Archbishop
While Calvin Robinson said on Monday (Feb. 3) that he still had not been allowed to speak to his archbishop about the revocation of his ministry license, the Anglican Catholic Church (ACC) released a statement clarifying that Robinson had not been “defrocked.”

Evangelical leaders appear to have no comment on Trump’s plan to take over Gaza
Christian leaders were noticeably silent Tuesday as President Donald Trump shocked the world by proposing the United States “take over” Gaza and expel all Palestinians living there. Baptist News Global searched for any national religious leader commenting on the president’s suggestion and found none — not even from those evangelical leaders who typically enthusiastically support the president. Politicians, however, were not so quiet.

Tariffs, trade, and the Gospel: A Christian perspective on global responsibility
Is an increasingly isolated, protectionist America in denial of a basic reality? That the world, more than ever, is bound together with great complexity. Economically, politically, culturally, militarily.

Leading the Small Membership Church
Small membership churches thrive on self-reliance, requiring leaders with strong relational skills. Lew Parks writes that preaching in these churches reinforces corporate identity, tells the congregation’s story, addresses key issues, and guides the church toward faithful growth and action.

The Bread Which We Break
One of the less well-observed rubrics in the English Book of Common Prayer is the requirement that the bread for communion ‘be such as is usual to be eaten; but the best and purest Wheat Bread that conveniently may be gotten’. Instead of the loaf of leavened wheat bread the rubric calls for, one usually sees wafers. It is much the same story in the other parts of the Communion I know best: the Episcopal Church (USA), the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Scottish Episcopal Church. It was not always so. Like many aspects of contemporary Anglicanism, the use of wafers – so unremarkable today – is a development of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Christian Debate Topics for Youth: 46 Subjects Teens Can Tackle
Christian debate topics are a hit with most teenagers. As a youth leader, you know kids love to talk. So why not harness that vocal energy by using Christian debate topics in youth group? In-depth conversations hone critical thinking, faith, and evangelism skills.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Do Dying Churches Really Know They Are Dying?' And More

Do Dying Churches Really Know They Are Dying?
Typically, the first step in making necessary changes is acceptance of the current reality. A church cannot change unless its members and leaders know that the status quo will lead to death. Sam and Thom review five situations where dying churches get stuck and, as a consequence, continue on the path toward death.

House bill to censure preacher assigned to committee led by a Southern Baptist
The bill asking the U.S. House of Representatives to censure Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde for her sermon at Washington National Cathedral Jan. 21 has been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. That powerful committee is chaired by Rep. James Comer, a conservative Republican and a Southern Baptist from Kentucky. He was baptized at First Baptist Church of Tompkinsville, Ky., and is a member of Forks of the Elkhorn Baptist Church in Midway, Ky.

Related article: Two versions of Christianity cross swords at the National Cathedral

Musk spotlights federal funds for Lutheran aid groups, calls them 'illegal payments'
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, accused Musk and others of spreading 'misinformation' and casting baseless doubt on longstanding federal funding agreements, including to resettle refugees

Related article: MAGA ramps up attacks on US Christian groups

Donald Trump’s January 6 insurrection is now a coup
On Feb. 2, private actors reportedly employed by Elon Musk took over U.S. Treasury computer systems that control the nation’s payments for government benefits. That action followed a Trump-ordered takeover of the USAID independent federal agency responsible for distributing foreign aid to people in needy countries around the world.

Related article: Trump, the destroyer of worlds

Vatican sees dangers in AI
A new Vatican missive approved by Pope Francis has warned of the dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI), while also stressing that, ultimately, it is human intelligence that will guide the morality of its use.

Old-Growth Forest Network Welcomes Virginia Parish
Stacey Remick knew there was something special about the five-acre forest surrounding St. Peter’s in the Woods Episcopal Church in Fairfax Station, Virginia. She never dreamed that the church property would one day be inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network, the only national network in the United States of protected, old-growth native forests.

Who Are the “Sons of God” and Nephilim in Genesis 6?
In this inaugural episode of What in the Word?, James M. Hamilton Jr., a professor of biblical theology and a pastor, joins Kirk E. Miller to talk about one of Scripture’s most notorious passages: Genesis 6:1–4Open in Logos Bible Software (if available).

The Priority of Humble Leadership
How many church leaders wake up every morning and plead with the Lord to save their ministry from themselves? Probably not many. We tend to underestimate the pervasive, pernicious, and powerful presence of pride in our hearts and to undernourish the grace of humility. As a result our self-confidence grows.

What can we expect when we pray? 

If prayer is such a widespread human phenomenon, then what makes Christian prayer different? Is there anything that distinguishes Christian prayer from the prayers of the vast multitudes of those who do not call upon the Father of Jesus Christ?

Monday's Catch: "The origins and use of the word 'church'" And More

The origins and use of the word 'church'
The word 'church' in common language has many meanings depending on the context. This is the story....

Sean Rowe Seated as 28th Presiding Bishop
In a sermon during his ceremonial seating at Washington National Cathedral, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe posed the question of what our lives would be like if we realized that Christ is among us.

Related article: Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe’s sermon at Washington National Cathedral

“The Future of the United Methodist Church” featuring Doug Powe and Lovett Weems
What does the post-pandemic and post-disaffiliation United Methodist Church (UMC) look like? In this episode, Jessica Anschutz speaks with Lewis Center Director Doug Powe and Senior Consultant Lovett Weems, who discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the UMC. They highlight regionalization, the need for structural reform, and changes to the ordination process, while advocating for renewed focus on mission. To remain vital, the UMC must balance sustaining traditional practices with disruptive innovation to connect with underserved communities while fostering spiritual growth and inclusivity.

Building a Bigger Table: The Task of Methodism Today 

In Treasures Old and New we reflect on the never-ending task of blending tradition and experience in ways that give life in the present and hope for the future. Thomas Merton described the task as the biggest paradox of the church—that “she is at the same time essentially traditional and essentially revolutionary.”

The Continental Divide of Doctrine
In the decades that I’ve been a Christian, I’ve been told of many doctrines, many convictions, and many movements that represent the theological equivalent of a continental divide.

Jesus’s View of the Old Testament
Jesus’s view of the Scriptures was similar to his contemporaries—accepting their completely divine origin, reliability, and authority in our lives—but also markedly different—seeing their judgment of ethnocentrism, their Christological nature, and their implications for the Levitical purity laws.

7 Ministry Tensions: A Conversation About Pastoral Leadership
Some tensions in pastoral ministry don’t indicate failure; they signal engagement with real ministry in the real world.

How Big Does Your Worship Team Need to Be?
How many members are necessary to create an impactful worship team experience? While the size of your worship team can vary based on numerous factors, what matters most is fostering an atmosphere that draws people into genuine worship.

Why You Should Just Be Honest With God
It is no great feat to convince another person of a lie. Because other people cannot see our inner selves, they are easily deceived. But as we pray to God, we pray to one who knows our innermost thoughts, our innermost desires, our innermost longings. We pray to one who knows us far better than we know ourselves.

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, February 2, 2025) Is Now Online.

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows

The Feast of the Presentation falls on February 2 of each year. If it falls on a Sunday, its observance takes precedence over that Sunday’s. This year it fell on a Sunday.

The Feast of the Presentation is also known as Candlemas. On Candlemas, many Christians take candles to their local church, where they are blessed and then used for the remainder of the year. For these Christians, the blessed candles serve as a reminder of what the Bible says about Jesus’ being the Light of the World. In some Episcopal churches the service may be preceded by a procession in which the congregation takes part, everyone holding a lit candle.

The topic of this Sunday’s message is agape love.

Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10; 1 Corinthians 13; and Luke 2:22-40

Message: A Different Kind of Love

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/02/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-february.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: '3 Reinvention Pillars of Change' And More

3 Reinvention Pillars of Change
Reinvention involves anticipating, designing, and implementing change. According to Jim Merhaut, effective reinvention requires a leadership mindset ready to disrupt, experiment, and stabilize, ensuring meaningful, lasting change that shapes the future identity of the church.

Partners for Sacred Places helps churches see their spaces anew
Bob Jaeger and his team at Partners for Sacred Places want struggling American congregations to know there are numerous ways to preserve and use aging facilities beyond just seeing them become pieces of commercial real estate.

Was What Vance Told Hannity About Immigration Actually a ‘Christian Concept’? 

Comments Vice President J.D. Vance made this week explaining what he called a “Christian concept” are generating heated debate among Christians online. During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Hannity and Vance were discussing President Donald Trump’s immigration approach when Vance explained his belief that Americans should have a hierarchy of affections towards others.

While Vance cited Augustine's 'ordo amoris' in support of his contention that Christianity teaches a hierarchy of love, a careful reading of what Augustine wrote in its entirety does not support his contention.

The Rise of the Right-Wing Exvangelical
...we are now seeing the emergence of what might be called "right exvangelicalism." If left exvangelicals sought to keep Jesus but dispense with the church, right exvangelicals are following a similar trajectory, but from the other side of the political spectrum. This causes the right exvangelical to end up mirroring the left exvangelical, as it were: Start with right-wing politics circa 2025 and then come to Christianity after you've already committed to the political vision of the American right. But whereas this move caused left exvangelicals to keep a proxy of Jesus and dispense with the church, it is causing right exvangelicals to keep a proxy of the church and dispense instead with Jesus....

SBC pastor opposes ICE raids in churches and gets labeled ‘woke’ by far right
A Southern Baptist pastor in Tennessee who told his congregation of his concerns about President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging immigration crackdown has been labeled a woke Leftist by a far-right advocacy group.

This article goes into greater detail than an earlier article to which I posted a link.

Calvin Robinson Loses License After Parody
Greta Gaffin digs into the backstory behind the Anglican Catholic Church's revocation of Calvin Robinson's license to officiate.

Bishop Budde went viral because she showed us what's wrong with American religion
The sermon reminded many Americans what public religious faith looked like in the not-so-distant past, when the Episcopal Church was the de facto faith of the American ruling class.

Related article: Washington bishop’s plea to Trump inspires first-time visits to Episcopal churches

Whether the uptick in visits in response to Budde's sermon and the controversy surrounding it benefits the Episcopal Church in the long term only time will tell.

4 Types Of Thinking That Will Sabotage Your Leadership
Chances are a big chunk of what you’re going to do today in leadership is think. Add a crisis or instability into the mix, and your thinking can easily get tripped up into some well worn but dangerous directions.


7 Things the Holy Spirit Does in and for Our Salvation
Kevin DeYoung explains the work of the Holy Spirit from a Reformed perspectve.

Does Believing in God’s Sovereignty Mean We Must Be Fatalists?
...the question of how human choice and divine sovereignty can coexist is big and difficult, but it’s also vitally important for Christians to consider.

Friday's Catch: 'Just Ask: A Simple Solution to the Church Planter Shortage' And More

Just Ask: A Simple Solution to the Church Planter Shortage

The problem in the Western church is clear: There is a serious lack of church planters. So, what is the solution?

Ministering in Our Times and Amid Our Tragedies
Jesus’s bold teachings challenge us to keep God’s agenda in mind as we seek to understand our times and minister in them.

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s Words to President Trump Continue Stirring Controversy
More than a week after Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde asked President Donald Trump to show mercy on Americans, her comments remain a hot topic in Christian circles. Budde, the first female bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, spoke during a Jan. 21 interfaith prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral.

American values and a tale of two islands
In a move that is more publicity stunt than workable policy, President Donald Trump has ordered his administration to prepare to house tens of thousands of “criminal aliens” at the Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

Despite Vance attack, Catholic bishops press ahead on defending migrants
Just a week into the Trump presidency, the U.S. bishops find themselves in an unaccustomed position: For the first time in history, their character has been called into question by a Catholic standing at the helm of the U.S. government.

As Trump touts deportations, many Episcopalians are eager to offer immigrants sanctuary, support
The Diocese of Chicago has pledged support for immigrants as a “sanctuary diocese” since 2019. Now, with the Trump administration pursuing a new crackdown on immigration, Episcopalians in northern Illinois are living out that spirit of “sanctuary” in ways as diverse as their diocese.

Related article: Sacred Resistance ‘2.0’ gearing up to support vulnerable communities across diocese

United Methodists Mobilizing to Aid Immigrants in Face of Trump Orders
As fear stalks the United States from a tsunami of executive orders targeting immigrants, migrants and refugees, United Methodists around the country are mobilizing to help the people they've been serving in ministry for many years. As of Jan. 29, multiple United Methodist statements have been published in support of immigrants and in defiance of President Donald Trump's executive orders halting immigration and imposing mass deportations.

Theologians push back on JD Vance’s view of ‘ordered love’
Vice President JD Vance is getting schooled by theologians over his inverted theology expressed in a Jan. 29 interview on Fox News...Politics aside, numerous Christian theologians took to social media to point out the vice president — who is a conservative Catholic — misrepresented the teachings of Jesus and the Gospels.

Associate Pastor, It’s Good to Be Second
... in churches around the world, some of the most profound kingdom influence comes not from those standing in the spotlight but from those serving in the shadows. The role of associate pastor—often viewed as a transitional position to “real” leadership—may be the strategic key to unlocking a church’s true potential.

25 Hymns About Trusting God in Hard Times
In a time of uncertainty, what should we sing? Right now, the church certainly needs hymns about trusting God in hard times! The relevant hymns of the faith, both ancient and modern, offer us a vocabulary for expressing our fears, anxieties, and questions to the One who hears.

Sensory-Friendly Worship for Children with Autism: A Guide for Churches
Every congregation should consider sensory-friendly worship for children with autism. Kids with special needs and developmental disabilities are vital members of the church family. But traditional worship, children’s church, and Sunday school can present challenges.

5 Myths about Children’s Ministry (Jared Kennedy)
Today we are pleased to share an audio essay written and read by Jared Kennedy entitled "5 Myths about Children’s Ministry". Jared Kennedy serves as an editor at the Gospel Coalition. He is also cofounder of Gospel-Centered Family, a ministry that helps parents and church leaders share Jesus with the next generation, and the author of Keeping Your Children's Ministry on Mission: Practical Strategies for Discipling the Next Generation from Crossway.

Salt and Light: Remind Teens of Their Calling as Christ-Followers
Salt and light are important metaphors for Christian living. In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus calls his followers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Youth pastors and ministry volunteers can use these concepts to teach teens about discipleship and evangelism.

Thursday's Catch: 'Empathy for immigrants sounds like Christianity 101. Here's why some say it's a sin.' Ad More

Empathy for immigrants sounds like Christianity 101. Here's why some say it's a sin.
A small but influential group of evangelicals argues that enforcing the law is as important as mercy, and has come to see Christian charities as the enemy.

Suspending PEPFAR: An emergency of our own making
Trump’s stop-work order came with such power and authority that, literally, it caused global momentum on fighting HIV to simply stop.

Anglican priest Calvin Robinson defrocked over Nazi-like salute 

Robinson has defended the gesture, with which he concluded his speech at the National Pro-Life Summit last week, as an ‘attempt at dry wit.’

Related articles: Calvin Robinson Defrocked for Making Gesture Resembling Nazi Salute and Calvin Robinson removed as ACC priest after 'Elon Musk salute'

In asking Trump to show mercy, Bishop Budde continues a long tradition of Christian leaders ‘speaking truth to power’
A scholar of medieval Christianity explores the history of Christians who spoke out, unafraid to risk official censure or even death.

The Church in Dark Times with Mike Cosper
Ever wonder, “How did we get to this moment?” as a country, as a church?

The Catholic cohort
The first White House press conference introduced us to Karoline Leavitt: articulate, assertive and intensely Catholic. She represents to us the third component of the Religious Right in the United States.

12 Concerns and Burdens Church Staff Members Have Shared with Me
I most often work with lead pastors when I consult with churches, but I do spend time with staff members, too. I also have church staff members among my students at Southeastern Seminary. As I work with staff, here are some concerns staff have expressed to me over the years....

The Advantage of Pastoral Longevity
The vast majority of churches grow by layers not by leaps. Step by step, family by family, person by person rather than jumping by hundreds at a time. Because this is true, momentum is strengthened significantly by the longevity of the pastor. A longer pastoral tenure doesn’t guarantee greater spiritual results (growth and life change), but it sets the stage for it.

4 Attributes Of Powerful Preaching
Kevin DeYoung presents four qualities of what he calls "truly good preaching–-the kind that resonates with people and the kind God tends to employ."

From Church Juice – Secrets of Great Church Websites
Website design is constantly changing. Technology evolves and design trends change. While this is not an exhaustive list, nor are the websites ranked in any order, we encourage you to use these great church websites as you look to update your own church website this year.

Youth Ministry Leader Burnout: Move From Exhaustion To Health Youth ministry leader burnout is unfortunately common. This calling brings challenges that can zap your joy. When ministry demands lead to burnout, everyone suffers. The good news? You can take steps to prevent burnout and restore your overall health. Discover ways to avoid youth ministry leader burnout so you can serve joyfully and effectively.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, January 30, 2025) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warned his disciples about false teachers. False teachers are not always glaringly obvious. While some false teachers intentionally seek to mislead people, others are misled themselves. They have fallen under the influence of someone else. They may suffer from distorted ways of thinking that have made them vulnerable to false teaching. One has to look at the larger picture.

This evening’s message asks a very important question.

Reading: Judges 11:1-11, 32-33; 12:1-7

Message: Who Has Your Loyalty?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/01/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_30.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Is Gen Z In Revival or Retreat?' And More

Is Gen Z In Revival or Retreat?
Trends suggest Gen Z is simultaneously experiencing revival and retreat. How can churches be the front line for reaching the next generation?

New Research: Where Are Church Attendance Trends Headed Through 2030?
In the previous episode, Thom and Jess provided some of the most accurate data on worship attendance trends from 2019, the last pre-COVID year, through today. In this episode, they extrapolate the data to provide projected trends through 2030. You will probably be surprised.

SBC Pastor in Tennessee Faces Backlash for Immigration Comments
One online commentator's response to the sermon prompted me to dig deeper into the assertion that empathy is a sin. See the four articles to which I have posted links below.

Related articles: Have you heard the one about empathy being a sin?, ‘Empathy is considered a sin’: MAGAS viciously attack the church after Trump is asked to show compassion, The dangerous fad of calling empathy a sin, and What does the Bible say about empathy?

Bishop Budde was speaking Hebrew 

The bishop spoke truth to power. She has inherited a long and sacred lineage.

The gathering force of Trump's religious opposition
We are seeing the beginnings of an interfaith protest movement the likes of which we haven’t seen since the March on Washington.

How to Make Friends in College (or Anywhere)
As I’ve talked with youth leaders and campus pastors, some tell me that Gen Z struggles so much with social interactions that older generations almost need to reverse engineer their friendships, figure out what makes them work, and teach that to young people. So I asked those leaders for their best tips for young people trying to build their own friendships. I asked specifically about making friends in college, because that’s a time when young people are handling their own schedules and living with thousands of potential friends. But this advice could be adjusted to apply to all of us.

Church Youth Program Outline: Tips for Planning Youth Worship
No one-size-fits-all church youth program outline exists. But I believe the perfect order exists for youth worship. It just happens to be a case-by-case basis. Sure, our youth ministry has similarities in its regular worship order. But we like to view every program as its own living being.

Derwin Gray: Everyday Missionaries
If we do not equip the precious souls under our care and leadership to think and act like missionaries, the church in America will continue to reach fewer people, and discipleship in the church will continue to suffer.

Tuesday's Catch: 'The Burge Report: The New Era in American Religion Begins Now (What’s Happening?!)' And More

The Burge Report: The New Era in American Religion Begins Now (What’s Happening?!)
Are we entering a new era in American religion? Current data shows we are at an inflection point. Over the last 30 to 40 years, the share of Americans who had no religious affiliation has dramatically increased. That period is over, and something new is on the horizon. Ryan Burge joins the show to discuss what this new era in American religion may look like in the next ten years.

Related article: Young people are spiritually open but struggle with established religion - survey

Christians Face Increasing Global Persecution
Two organizations tracking global Christian persecution recently released their annual findings, highlighting issues around the world.

Faith groups say they'll help refugees despite Trump order. But they'll need help.
Trump's first term crippled much of the nation's resettlement infrastructure. Now a new executive order threatens to do the same.

Quakers file suit to stop ICE raids at churches like what happened Sunday
One day after federal immigration agents arrested a man at a church in Georgia, a coalition of Quaker meetings filed suit in federal court to block the Department of Homeland Security raids at houses of worship. The new policy of the Trump administration reverses previous federal policy that marked houses of worship and schools as off-limits for immigration raids and arrests. The actions are part of the new administration’s swift actions to create mass deportations of illegal immigrants.

What’s a Fair Share? ‘Raised for Our Justification’: Is It Enough That Jesus Died?Assessments Vary.
A comprehensive analysis conducted by The Living Church of 93 of the Episcopal Church’s 95 domestic dioceses found significant disparities related to assessment practices. In some dioceses, a parish is expected to pay a single-digit assessment to its diocese, while others turn over as much as a quarter of their operating income.

‘Raised for Our Justification’: Is It Enough That Jesus Died?
Is it really enough that Jesus died? If we’re justified by his blood, then what role (if any) does his resurrection play?

Happy Lies
I’m quite certain you have heard of the New Age movement. Though its popularity seems to have crested and begun to wane some time ago, it continues to wield a good bit of influence. But I wonder if you’ve heard of another similarly-named but quite different movement called New Thought.

The Anglican Mug
Perhaps it is strange to speak of a mug with such familiarity, but I would like to suggest that this relationship mirrors how many Anglicans approach their tradition. To more than a few clerics and theologians, our tradition isn’t treasured for its own sake but as a vessel — a means for holding and conveying something they deem of greater worth. That “something” might be the evangelical clarity of the Continental Reformation or the high aesthetic of Catholic worship stripped of Rome’s less palatable demands. Others see in Anglicanism a home for rationalist philosophy, Christian socialism, or even post-’60s Progressivism. The fact that this list could go on indefinitely only highlights Anglicanism’s peculiar openness to ideas and theologies that emerged elsewhere.

Sowing Gospel Seeds in Children’s Ministry
In show business, there’s a term called “typecasting.” It describes the way actors are repeatedly cast in similar roles due to their personality, appearance, or skill set...Typecasting shapes careers and influences how actors are perceived. Interestingly, I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon in children’s ministry. As we disciple children, it’s tempting to engage in “typecasting” ourselves

12 Indications a Church is Making Disciples
I’ve often heard people say you can’t measure discipleship. I don’t know if that’s true. It is certainly true you can’t necessarily put a number or percentage on discipleship growth – as easily as you can numerical growth, but you can tell, over time, if discipleship has happened or is happening. Granted, it’s still going to be subjective, as is this post, but I believe the Bible gives us clear indications someone has been discipled.

Related article: 5 Principles of Making Disciples and Enabling Spiritual Growth

Monday's Catch: 'Worship Circles: Worship Settings Don’t Have to Look Like a Concert' And More

Worship Circles: Worship Settings Don’t Have to Look Like a Concert
In recent years, modern worship settings have increasingly mirrored the energy and aesthetics of live concerts. Bright lights, fog machines, and towering sound systems dominate many church sanctuaries. While these elements can create an engaging atmosphere, not everyone connects with God in this high-energy environment. Enter worship circles: a refreshing approach that prioritizes intimacy, simplicity, and connection over production.

Worship settings also don't have to look like a lecture hall or a medieval church with a high altar. When families gather at Thanksgiving, they typically gather around a table, not in front of it.

In Planting, High-Energy Worship Is Essential
As declining congregations shrink in worship attendance below thirty percent of their sanctuary capacity, the energy in the room often drops below the threshold of a winsome gathering. When new churches cannot fill their worship space past thirty percent capacity, they will likely suffer from low energy in their worship gatherings.

Services that are poorly put together and contain too many elements can also negatively affect the energy of worship.

A Cultural Shift
We are living through several epic cultural shifts. Since the demise of the five-hundred-year Protestant-Christian cultural consensus in recent years, almost every denominational group has shrunk in size, especially in participation from younger people. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, churches saw fewer young families with children. The loss of America’s “mainline” Protestant churches is significant for the country in terms of the faith development of Americans and the way politically diverse churches helped hold us together as church families through moments of national division.

Working Americans Turn to Food Banks as Fed Inflation Battle Drags On
Once a month, Kersstin Eshak visits a food pantry in Loudoun County, Virginia to stretch her family’s budget. Eshak’s husband works at a big box retailer. She works as a substitute teacher. They have income, but with prices up nearly 23% over the past five years — and still rising — their earnings just don’t stretch quite far enough some months. Food banks across the nation are seeing a similar story: A post-pandemic wave of demand for food driven by working people caught in America’s cost-of-living crunch.

President Trump's obsession with tariffs and his other economic policies, including larger tax cuts for the rich and deep spending cuts in programs designed to help low income and no income Americans, are going to make things worse.

Fla. church opens doors to anyone in need of food, shelter: 'This is what the Lord wants us to do'
The founder of a Florida church comprised mostly of homeless people explained how the Lord provided her with the space to open the doors to those in need of food and shelter, the embodiment of Christ-like behavior. 100 Church, located inside a storefront in North Port, began offering free community dinners in October 2020, when many churches had stopped providing such services due to the government's COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. That same year, 100 Church provided shelter to anyone needing a place to stay.

America needs a new sanctuary movement today
As President Donald Trump categorically bans people from seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border and cancels flights for incoming refugees, it’s worth recalling this isn’t the first time the federal government has failed the world’s most vulnerable — nor would it be the first time everyday Americans decided to fight back.

Related article: Episcopal bishops uphold sanctuary policies, oppose threat of immigration arrests in churches

Who Is a Young Adult?
Defining who a young adult is in your community is one more step toward connecting them in the church and making disciples.

Five Reasons Millennial Pastors Are Not Moving to Larger Churches
They are the second largest generation in America’s history. At 74 million persons, they are only surpassed in size by the Boomer generation. Born between 1980 and 1997, they are shaping our businesses, our government, and our culture. And they are shaping our churches.

Discipleship Bands
A discipleship band is a group of three to five people who read together, pray together, and meet together to become the love of God for one another and the world.

Discipleship bands can be independent small groups. They can be affiliated with a existing church. A cluster of discipleship bands can also form the nucleus of a new church.

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, January 26, 2025) Is ow Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday is the Third Sunday after the Epiphany. It is also the last Sunday of January. In a little over five weeks, it will be the first day of Lent, commonly known as Ash Wednesday, which falls this year on March 5th. It is a good time to start thinking about how we are going to observe a holy Lent in 2025. For example, we may want to take on a new spiritual discipline such as Lectio Divina, a meditative prayer practice that involves reading a passage of scripture, reflecting upon it, and then praying in response to what God is saying to us through that passage.

This Sunday’s message addresses the question of who is a part of the Body of Christ.

Readings: Nehemiah 8: 1-3, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; and Luke 4: 14-30

Message: Who Is a Part of the Body of Christ?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/01/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-january_25.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Just Hire the Right Person' And More

Just Hire the Right Person
Policies are inherently limited because there can never be enough rules to cover every conceivable circumstance.

10 Things Healthy Churches Do Well
Whether we are a critic or a lover of the church — or for some of us, both — it's important to remain balanced.

Bishop’s Sermon Ignites Web Debates
House Resolution 59, a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 23, condemned the sermon preached by Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde during the National Prayer Service two days earlier, which closed with a direct plea to President Donald Trump to show mercy.

Related articles: Now the US House wants to censor a preacher? and Inauguration week was a collision of two Christianities

The budgets coming to Congress would bend the moral arc away from justice
Those of us committed to continuing King’s dream should be outraged by the unjust economic proposals being advanced by the administration and Republicans in Congress.

9 Tools for Leading a Life-Changing Bible Study
Having the right tools available can open a conversation around God’s Word that will eventually lead to discipleship. You don’t need seminary training to lead a life-changing Bible study. All you need is some planning and a few tools.

Whatever You Want to Be: Start Acting Like It
Whatever you want to be in life – novelist, filmmaker, artist, pastor, leader, whatever – there’s one piece of advice I’d give you: Start acting like it. Too many people wait years for their opportunity while successful people step out and do it now. Sure, you may not have funding, school isn’t finished, you haven’t left your day job, or you haven’t picked the right project. But I’ve discovered that everything changes when you start the interior process of being that person.

Friday's Catch: '10 Reasons Churches Aren’t Attracting People Who Need Jesus' And More

10 Reasons Churches Aren’t Attracting People Who Need Jesus
Many churches bemoan the absence of newcomers but fail to consider how their own failure to meaningfully engage others contributes to this reality. Phil Maynard outlines 10 reasons churches aren’t attracting the many people in their communities who need Jesus.

8 Phases of Moving Guests from Anonymity to Community at Your Church
What is the process by which guests transition from unfamiliarity with your church to becoming raving fans? How do they move through those phases, and how are we helping them at every step along the way? Understanding how guests transition along the spectrum from stranger to advocate for the church is important for us as we build our programs and processes.

7 Best Practices of First-time Guest Gifts at Your Church
Are you leveraging your first-time guest gifts effectively enough to move people from being guests to fully connected members of your church?

Related article: First Time Guest Gifts: 26 Lessons from 33 Churches

‘You Need to Repent’—Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates Responds to White Evangelical Pastors Celebrating Trump’s Presidency as a Sign of God’s Favor
Pastors celebrating Donald Trump’s presidency as a sign of God’s favor to the United States need to repent of their “theological arrogance” and their “failure to understand Scripture in light of history,” said Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates in a video posted to Instagram on Thursday, Jan. 23.

Churches are no longer off-limits for immigration arrests under Trump
Authorities in the US have been given the green light by the Trump administration to arrest undocumented migrants at schools, churches and hospitals.It has been over a decade since Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) and Customs and Border Protection have been allowed to make arrests in so-called "sensitive areas". The policy change was announced on Tuesday by the US Department of Homeland Security.

Catholic leaders speak out against Trump's immigration policies
A growing number of Catholic Church leaders are criticizing President Trump's immigration crackdown. Bishop Mark J. Seitz, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, joins "America Decides" to discuss his opposition to some of Trump's recent moves.

‘Laken Riley Act’ sets the stage for Trump campaign against immigrants
Amid a flurry of executive orders from the White House immediately after Donald Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20, immigrant and refugee advocates were on the lookout for signs of the campaign promises they fear most. Some of those things came true almost immediately, but one of the most significant actions came at the same time in both houses of a Republican-controlled Congress: Passage of the Laken Riley Act. That bill now is on track to become the first one Trump signs into law as president. Hailed by conservatives as a needed response to the threat of violence by illegal immigrants, the bill has been dismissed as dangerous political theater by others.

10 Kinds of Pastors You Should Have MAJOR Concerns About
In this article Scott Postma shares a number of his concerns about pastors and the role they play in the church’s decline.

The Ministry of Small Things
In the pursuit of meaningful service for Christ, oftentimes the little things are the big things.

“Exploring Spiritual Direction“ featuring Eunhyey Lok
How can spiritual direction impact leaders and congregations? In this episode Eunhyey Lok reflects on the role of spiritual direction, its benefits for personal and church growth, distinctions from counseling, and tips for finding a spiritual director.

The story behind the red letters in your Bible
Millions of people read the New Testament printed with the words of Jesus in red. Most people do not realise that this is a fairly modern evangelical tradition. This is the story....

How To Teach Kids Theology
Tim Challies reviews Sam Luce and Hunter Williams' How To Teach Kids Theology.

Handling Questions in Youth Ministry: Advice About Advising Teens
Youth group members view you as a trusted guide. So your approach to handling questions in youth ministry matters. You won’t always have the answers, of course. But you can address sensitive or controversial topics with wisdom and compassion.

Thursday's Catch: 'Trump’s Executive Order Harms Persecuted Christians, Argues World Relief' And More

Trump’s Executive Order Harms Persecuted Christians, Argues World Relief
Less than a week after Donald Trump’s inauguration, World Relief is calling on the president to reverse course on immigration policy, particularly with regard to an executive order suspending the United States Refugee Admission Program (USRAP). World Relief argues that Trump’s course of action exacerbates humanitarian concerns, including for Christians fleeing persecution around the world.

Episcopal bishop says she'll continue to pray for Trump, who lashed out at her over viral sermon
The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of the Diocese of Washington, said Wednesday that she will continue to pray for President Donald Trump, hours after he lashed out at her over a sermon.

Related articles: Trump demands an apology from bishop who asked him to ‘have mercy’ on LGBTQ+ people and migrants, Bishop defends comments aimed at Trump during sermon, and After eyebrow-raising sermon to Trump, Bishop Budde beset with criticism and praise

A plea for courage
Thank you, Bishop Mariann Budde. Where are the rest of them, the folks who proclaim the Christian faith and yet never would dare stand before the president to ask for mercy for our sisters and brothers who deserve mercy? Where are the hundreds of ordained folks who proclaim that Jesus has something to do with their lives and the work they do as priest, preachers and bishops in this present moment? Where are their pleas for mercy? Where is their courage?

Bishops Challenge President, Policies
Bishops issued pastoral letters urging Episcopalians to care for marginalized and vulnerable people after President Donald Trump’s Inauguration and the new administration’s wave of executive actions affecting immigrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, and transgender individuals.

3 Diagnostic Questions for the Christian Idolater 

That title might not make sense to you. At first reading, it might seem to be self-contradictory. How can a Christian be an idolater? Christians recognize and believe in the God of the Bible, don’t they? And don’t they willingly confess Jesus as Lord? How, then, can Christians be idolaters? Pretty easily, actually.

The Tell-Tale Signs of Abusive Pastors

Abuse originates in how victimizers view others. At some level, they believe that other people exist to fulfill their desires. Pastors who take advantage of others place themselves at the center and try to control the orbits of vulnerable people around them. Victimizers are not necessarily brash or overpowering. They may be sensitive, subdued, and even charming. Many abusive pastors have likable personalities. So what are some warning signs to watch for? Josh and Sam discuss this difficult topic.

9 Points For Preaching On The Problem Of Evil
The topic of evil offers many onramps to preaching powerful sermons and proclaiming the gospel. Dr. Norman Geisler offers insight for preaching and pastoral conversations.

Independent Small Groups – Apart from a Church?
Small groups have long been a cornerstone of church life, providing believers with opportunities for fellowship, spiritual growth, and mutual support. But as the nature of religious engagement evolves, many are questioning whether church small groups can thrive outside the formal structure of a church. While these groups have traditionally been rooted in a church community, recent trends suggest that independent small groups are not only possible but also increasingly common. Some believers are beginning to consider whether independent small groups can exist apart from association with a church, and the benefits and challenges that come with such a setup.

What Is Discipleship?
On a church ministry level, discipleship leverages the resources of God’s people to promote disciple making.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, January 23, 2025) Is now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

Dawn and dusk have traditionally been times of prayer for Christians since earliest times. In the morning, we dedicate the day and ourselves to God; in the evening, we confess to God how we have erred and strayed from God’s ways during the day, ask God’s forgiveness, give thanks for the mercies God has shown us, and pray for God’s protection throughout the night. This daily rhythm of prayer keeps our heart and mind focused upon God as does the spiritual disciple of being mindful of God’s presence with us wherever we are and whatever we are doing and sharing with God either silently or aloud as circumstances permit what is on our heart and mind. We also attentively listen for God’s voice.

In this evening’s message we look at two spiritual dangers Christians face and a way Christians can help each other to grow spiritually.

Reading: Galatians 5: 13-26

Message: Works In Progress

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/01/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_23.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Budde Appeals to Trump for Mercy for Those Living in Fear' And More

Budde Appeals to Trump for Mercy for Those Living in Fear
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde appealed directly to a glowering President Donald Trump on behalf of LGBT people and immigrants in an emotional finish to her sermon at Washington National Cathedral’s interfaith Service of Prayer for the Nation, which marked the close of Inauguration events on January 21. “Millions have put their trust in you,” Budde said. “As you said yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of the loving touch of God. In the name of our God, have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now.”

Related articles and videos: In sermon to Trump, Bishop Budde pleads for immigrants, transgender rights, At prayer service, Episcopal bishop calls on Trump to show mercy, Bishop rebukes Trump at service, asks him to ‘have mercy’ on LGBT people, illegal immigrants, Trump rails against bishop who rebuked him over LGBT stance, This Church Sermon Went Viral After Bishop Chastised Donald Trump, and Trump criticizes church service after bishop makes plea for immigrants

Presiding Officers Attack Trump’s Deportation Plans
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe and President of the House of Deputies Julia Ayala Harris criticized President Donald Trump’s plans for deporting undocumented immigrants on an unprecedented scale in a pastoral letter issued January 21. They describe a series of executive orders he signed just after taking office as a “harbinger” of more dramatic actions soon to come.

Related article: Presiding officers uphold Biblical call to ‘welcome the stranger’ after Trump’s anti-immigration orders

Trump's inauguration should be a day of REPENTANCE for Christians in America.
Patrick Kahnke explains why he believes Trump's inauguration should be a day of repentance for American Christians.

I. Am. Afraid.
I am not just worried. Or apprehensive. Or uneasy. I am afraid.

The ‘Surprising Rebirth’ at Oxford: Perspectives from a Graduate Student 

When I started my master’s program, I came mentally prepared for the ridicule I’d been told Christians inevitably receive in academia. I even read historian Tom Holland’s Dominion to arm myself with positive moments in Christian history, ready to face the gauntlet of accusations about colonialism, imperialism, and misogyny. To my surprise, I encountered a far different posture toward my religious beliefs.

Beyond the Fiction: What Are the Real Church Attendance Trends in America?
It’s hard to get a handle on accurate church attendance trends in America. Examining some of the most reliable sources for church attendance data, including the work of Church Answers, Thom and Jess look at some incredible data that will provide clarity and help your church.

Our Migrant God
The Bible is filled with migration narratives because it is a reality that humans have lived throughout our history, and one that humanity will continue to experience. And while stories like Christmas depict the courage and compassion found in dire circumstances, other narratives reveal devastating choices people make when struggling to survive.

A Set List Challenge for Worship Leaders
The problem with worship songs is that we end up just picking them. We scan the CCLI top 10 and string together a bunch of hits. Little thought goes into what my friend Zack Hicks calls the “theological diet” of our people.

Hannah Gronowski Barnett: Are You Ready?
Hannah Gronowski Barnett offers a strategy designed on 10 key principles that she believes are essential to building ministries that effectively reach, engage and mobilize the next generation on behalf of the gospel.

What Makes a Good Church? 10 Signs You’re Attending One
What makes a good church? No church is perfect, but there are some biblical blueprints that dictate whether or not a church is fulfilling its God-given mission as the bride of Christ. The reason a church cannot be perfect is because we as humans are flawed. Inevitably, the second any one of us step inside a church building, we in fact have contaminated the idea of perfection. Regardless of the human imperfections, here are 10 signs of what makes a good church.

9 Guidelines for Developing a Culture of Evangelism with Your Church this Year
Here is a list of guidelines I have found helpful in leading churches to develop a culture of evangelism that is biblical, practical, and owned by the members. Pastors must take the lead and set the example in their teaching, modeling, story telling, expectations, and providing training and outreach opportunities.

7 Ideas for Fostering Connections with Unchurched People
Three in 4 pastors say fostering connections with unchurched people is a top priority. Here are seven practical ways to engage with others.

Image Credit: Jack Jenkins, RNS