Mark Dever offers encouraging advice on surviving our current “cultural crisis”: Public opinion appears to be changing about same-sex marriage, as are the nation’s laws. Of course this change is just one in a larger constellation. America’s views on family,…
Dan Phillips: Porn and Paper Pastors
Dan Phillips writes about a different sort of pornography problem: Decades ago, I read a disturbingly candid essay by a pastor about his struggles with pornography. It was in Leadership magazine. Years later, two of his realizations still stand out…
The Beauty of Leading a Flock to the Heavenly City
Can anything be more beautiful than leading the flock of God’s people towards the Heavenly City (Rev 22:1-6)? Won’t it be incredible to meet together before the throne of Christ? The central thought of our sermon on Sunday at The…
Thom Rainer: Four Simple Reasons Most Churches Aren’t Breakout Churches
Thom Rainer’s book, Breakout Churches, is recommended reading! Almost a decade ago, I led a major study on churches that had reversed negative trends and become positive breakout churches. I established the criterion that the breakout had to take place…
Thom Rainer: 8 Most Frequent Preaching Distractions
On behalf of preachers everywhere, please click through and read the list. The first point on this list is easily the first on mine. But I would put #8 far higher. Read the whole list here.
David Briggs: The Final Four, Travel Teams and Empty Pews: Who Is Winning the Competition Between Sports and Religion?
David Briggs considers the growing tension between church and sports: The Rev. Stephen Fichter understood just how dominant a role sports has assumed in the culture when a family told him they would be out of town Good Friday to…
Chuck Lawless: Eight Diagnostic Question for a Church’s Health
I’m thinking about what kind of grades the Red Brick Church would receive in the following areas. They are by Chuck Lawless who is a church consultant: I am a church consultant who loves helping God’s church. The churches I…
So That All Might Hear Christ’s Gospel and Exalt Christ’s Glory
In recent months, no preacher has challenged me more about outreach and missions than David Platt. If you haven’t watched this sermon yet – – – do so soon! Excerpts from a recent interview of Platt include these quotes: Have…
The Best Part of Being a Pastor
Love is the best part. Last week, our church gave me a birthday party as I have now sojourned this earth these 50 years . . . All the cards were great . . . notes like the one Elaine…
First Round Winners in the Bound Together Quiz!
First round winners for the Bound Together Quiz have just been providentially selected. (I use a random number generator in Excel to “draw” the winner). Megan (I won’t include her last name) won a copy of Bound Together. . .…