Here’s an interesting article on the lack of racial diversity in American congregations. While racial diversity is still desired by the vast majority of pastors, it is by and large aspirational given they do not know how to achieve this goal. According to the study, a congregation is racially diverse when the predominant ethnicity is…
Category: Missional Church
NEXT: Embracing Your Sentness
Graduation season has reminded me of how much fun I had during my senior year of high school. I had more than enough credits to graduate and had one block to fill. A friend of mine and I decided we should volunteer the last hour of the school day as office aides. (It wasn’t like…
The 7 Last Words of the Church
Years ago I heard a speaker remark that the seven last words of the church were, “We’ve never done it this way before.” I thought it was catchy, and to be confessional I even used it a time or three. After nearly three decades in ministry I think I would modify the seven last words…
10 Signs Its Time to Stop Doing Big Events at Church
One of the blogs I follow is Tony Morgan Live. This week he posted some thought provoking comments about how healthy churches think about big events versus how unhealthy churches think about them. Check it out HERE.
The Parable of the Fishless Fishermen
I came across this dated piece last week. I don’t know the original author, but thought it was good and wanted to share it. Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. In fact, the whole area was surrounded…
Lessons for Churches from the US Postal Service
One of the blogs I’ve recently been following is Her.meneutics, a blog by Christian women hosted by Christianity Today. This recent post by Amy Simpson suggests some practical lessons that churches can take from the US Postal Service Crisis. Its a worthwhile read.
Our Identity
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer…
Wait for the Promise:: 1
Over the past several weeks I’ve been posting reflections from a sermon series I did titled, “The Seven NEXT Words of Christ.” Each sermon dealt with the first post resurrection statements made by the risen Lord. This week I’ll cover the final post resurrection saying, found in Luke 24:49. “I am going to send you…
It’s About Time!
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” He rolled…
Embracing Your Sentness:: 4
Each of the four gospels and the book of Acts contain a version of the Great Commission. John articulated it in 20:21 by writing, “As the Father has sent me, so send I you.” This simple phrase goes a long way toward our understanding of what it means to be missional. From it we learn…