Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near (Hebrews 10:25, NLT). As a pastor of one church for 49 years, I heard the statement, “I’m leaving the church,” hundreds of times. Honestly, I liked “I’m joining the […]
I’m Leaving the Church Read More »
As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:15, ESV) The purpose of the church — ultimately — is to preach the gospel to those who are lost. Jesus didn’t leave the church in the world, empowered by the Spirit, with a commission to go into all the
A Church or a Club? Read More »
C. S. Lewis writes. . . There exists in every church something that sooner or later works against the very purpose for which it came into existence. So, we must strive very hard, by the grace of God, to keep the church focused on the mission that Christ originally gave to it. An insightful and
The Purpose of the Church and The Buckeyes! Read More »
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them (Romans 12:6, ESV). While traveling outside the U.S.A. over 80 times and visiting churches in many countries around the world, I noticed one thing: an unusual “sameness.” In the U.S.A., Italy, Mexico, Cambodia, Russia, Belarus, the Philippines, and other countries,
The Releasing Church ~ Part Two Read More »
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift (Ephesians 4:7, ESV). During the past year, I’ve had dozens of conversations like this: OG*: “Where do you go to church?” Dozens**: “We’ve been drifting; sometimes we attend, but often we don’t. We’re having trouble feeling a purpose in our lives with
The Releasing Church ~ Part One Read More »
Jesus makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work (Ephesians 4:16, NLT). Ephesians chapter 4 is an amazing chapter. If you read it carefully, you will note most of the modern business practices used today were first discussed in this chapter of Ephesians and employed by the early
Modern Organizations Began In The Bible ~ Part One Read More »
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1, ESV). The Gallup Poll began tracking U.S. adult confidence in the church as an institution in 1973. According to their numbers, the church suffered a five percent
The Trust Recession With The Church Read More »
…praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:47 ESV Coming out of the COVID crisis every pastor in the country was thinking, “Wow, I’m looking forward to all the people coming back to church.” They didn’t all come back. A few
Stop Going To Church? Read More »
An ambitious topic today. How to become a perfect local church? Or how to become a perfect Christian? Perhaps a bit theologically inept because our sins are forgiven in Christ, but Christians and churches are, in a sense, perfect. We just don’t act like it! The book of Revelation lists seven churches and their particular
The Seven Steps To A Perfect Church: Revelation 2 and 3 Read More »