One Sunday my wife and I witnessed an act of courage. Our pastor, a man who loves his flock, trespassed with his text (Galatians 6:7-9). That is, he brought it inescapably to our attention. “Here, this is about you.” We walked home thoughtful. While I may have caught his point otherwise, I could not escape it thanks to […]
Category: church
The role of a Christian publisher
Erik Peterson, a wise man and good friend, handed me this quote from Of God and Men, by A. W. Tozer. Although Tozer was writing about pastors, Erik adapted this excerpt to describe Christian publishers . . . The Church is God’s witness to each generation, and her publishers are her voice. Through them she becomes vocal. By […]
Seven Things I’ve Learned About Sermons
(1) Interest and time are inversely proportional. The greater my interest, the shorter the sermon. (2) Interest and investment are directly proportional. The more you put in, the more I take out. (3) If it’s where I live, my attention is yours to lose. (4) The more you care about me, the more I’ll hear. […]
Seven Things I’ve Learned About Leading a Worship Team
(1) Joy and energy are infectious. If you have a great time, others will too. (2) The point is effectiveness, not efficiency. Less than smooth is okay. Worship is human, not mechanical. (3) Let people operate in their giftedness. A world-class pianist shouldn’t be put on the bass. The effect is better when the expression is […]
What kind of church attracts students?
The most recent edition of Immerse, a bimonthly journal for youthworkers, features a thoughtful piece* on churches that attract and retain students. The author, Christy Lang, cites several research papers and presents findings both surprising and useful. Here are three samples from her article: Drawing on developmental theory, Lytch notes that adolescents have particular needs […]