5 Keys to Share Faith–Without Being a Jerk
The men surrounded Candace after the community meeting. They knew Candace was a Christian. They had some serious questions for her. This scene played out a couple of weeks ago. Actually, I see—and...
View ArticleHow Church Makes People Happy (It’s Not What You Think)
New research reveals the latest path to better health and wellbeing. Go to church. But the true link to the health benefits may not be what you expect. Gallup found that people who regularly go to...
View Article5 Ways the Church Will Change
Is the American church fading away? Will the losses in membership and attendance lead to a marginalized church presence such as that in present-day Europe? What will the American church look like in...
View Article“Life Change Happens in Circles, Not in Rows.” Are You Kidding Me?
They say the “right” thing. “Sunday morning isn’t the main event. The real ministry happens in our small groups.” “Life change happens in circles, not in rows.” More ministry leaders are arriving at an...
View ArticleWhat’s Missing in Missional
“We try to be missional. We try to be externally focused,” the young pastor told me. “But nothing seems to work.” This church, in a metropolitan area, has invested in numerous efforts to reach into the...
View ArticleChurch Trapped by Consumerism
Church shoppers. They’re derided as fickle, self-centered customers caught up in the toxic fever of consumerism. “People treat church and church programs like the mall,” said a church leader. “All they...
View ArticleWhen Jesus Becomes a Fill-in-the-Blank
People describe the Christian faith as a “personal relationship with Jesus.” But in the church, how have we gone about encouraging and developing that relationship with Christ? Curiously, church...
View ArticleWhat If He Actually Came Today?
After watching some of the latest historical Jesus shows on television, I wondered how Jesus would be received if he’d make a similar physical visit today. Would his mission be similar? He’d be coming...
View ArticleMeet and Greet: Shake and Fake?
Whenever a pastor or worship leader prods us to “stand and greet your neighbor,” I muster my little smile and go through the motions. “Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.” I assume the goal is to...
View ArticleIncognito Zone: Where the Church Is Booming
The final leg of our cross-country trip brought us to a sequestered zone where the church is thriving. After flying over multiple states where the majority of congregations are stagnant or shrinking,...
View ArticleIs Once-a-Week Church Too Much?
The habit of weekly worship attendance has already taken a hit among American churchgoers. Now a move is afoot to offer the Sunday morning routine just once per month. Even people who describe...
View Article2 True Tests for a ‘Relational’ Ministry
Many declare, “We do relational ministry.” That’s good. But some who declare it don’t really do it. When people claim to do relational ministry they often explain that their ministry is based on...
View ArticleChurch Planting: Just to Get Big?
What makes a successful church? Today it’s all about the numbers. Attendance, or rate of attendance growth–that’s the measurement of success. Or so you’d assume. But is the crowd-based model of church...
View ArticleWho Will Staff Your Church Tomorrow?
As the speed of change heats up, what kinds of people will staff the churches of tomorrow? We posed that question at Group’s recent Future of the Church summit. Panelists gave some surprising answers:...
View ArticleThe Lurking Drain Under Sunday Attendance
It’s no secret. Weekly church attendance is down. Where did everybody go? A local pastor gave me two simple answers to the question. He said his “regular attendees” may show up just once every six...
View ArticleLonely Kids and the Church
What’s wrong with young people today? We’ve all heard about the symptomatic things that may characterize today’s teenagers, such as lower church attendance. But what’s underneath these trends? For many...
View ArticleWhat COVID-19 Unveils About Today’s Youth Ministry
One age group is hit particularly hard with the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s teenagers. The virus spread just as their long-anticipated milestones were set to unfold–sports championships, prom, spring...
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