This article, “Health of Congregations: A View from Christian Churchgoers,” summarizes the third section of a recent report by the PRRI’s 2022 American Values Atlas titled “Religion and Congregations in a Time of Social and Political Upheaval” (you can access the full report here https://www.prri.org/research/religion-and-congregations-in-a-time-of-social-and-political-upheaval/). American churches are facing challenges amid social and political upheaval…
One of the pervasive themes in the Bible is the importance of encouraging others. Encouragement, in biblical terms, is more than just expressing kind words. It entails uplifting the spirit, fostering hope, and nurturing spiritual growth in others, reflecting God’s love and compassion. The New Testament particularly underscores the importance of mutual encouragement. Paul, in…
This article, “The Diversifying American Religious Landscape”, summarizes the first section of a recent report by the PRRI’s 2022 American Values Atlas titled “Religion and Congregations in a Time of Social and Political Upheaval” (you can access the full report here https://www.prri.org/research/religion-and-congregations-in-a-time-of-social-and-political-upheaval/) This report reveals intriguing insights into the evolving religious landscape of the United…
“Lead Like It Matters: 7 Leadership Principles for a Church That Lasts” by Craig Groeschel is a compelling and insightful book that offers practical guidance for church leaders hoping to create a lasting impact within their congregations. Groeschel capitalizes on his experience as a pastor and the founder of LifeChurch, one of the largest and…
A church, a sacred gathering point for believers, serves a purpose far beyond just Sunday sermons and hymn sessions. It’s a cornerstone of community, a stronghold of shared values and faith, and a hub for social service. But like any organization, churches are not immune to hurdles and challenges, and it is here that the…
We are wrapping up our series called the Questions Jesus Asked this week by looking at a question Jesus asks in Mark 10:36, “What do you want me to do for you?” Mark 10:35-45 (NIV)35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for…
This week in our Questions Jesus Asked series we are looking at a question Jesus asks in Mark Chapter 4:13, “Don’t you understand this parable?” about the parable of the sower. Let’s start with the parable and then the explanation. Mark 4:1-9 (NIV)1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered…
This week in our Questions Jesus Asked series we are looking at a question Jesus asks in Mark Chapter 3, “Which is lawful on the sabbath….”? We are going to talk about living out this life in Christ. The question we need to ask ourselves is. “will we be relationship people or rule followers”? Mark…
This week in our Questions Jesus Asked series we are looking at a question Jesus asks in Matthew 26, “could you not keep watch with me for one hour?” and we will be talking about prayer. You may have heard me say this before, but I believe we are most like Jesus when we are…
This week in our Questions Jesus Asked series we are looking at a question Jesus asks in Matthew 16:15, “who do you say I am”. We are also celebrating Palm Sunday and we are going to tie in the events of the first Palm Sunday with our question today. Matthew 21:1-11 (NIV)1 As they approached…
This week in our Questions Jesus asked series we are looking at an awesome question in Matthew 13:51 “Have you understood all these things?” Matthew 13:44-51 (NIV)44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold…
This week in our Questions Jesus asked series we are looking at a pair of questions in Matthew 7:9-10, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?” Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV)9 “Which of you, if his son…