What It Means To Hold Ourselves Accountable

As a church, we must be willing to consistently and honestly examine ourselves when we encounter a problem or an issue. [Click title to read more.]

I’m Conflicted About Sermons Focused On Books and Movies

I worry that we're walking into the dangerous habit of assuming that reading/watching something "Christian" is the same thing as learning what is actually in the Bible, or dwelling on Christ's teachings, or developing our own critical thinking abilities. [Click title to read more.]

The Dangers of Being Easily Influenced (By Really Good People)

When we let ourselves be too easily influenced by other Christians - even the really, super-good ones! - we run the temptation of idolizing them. And then we're crushed and brokenhearted when it turns out that they're not perfect after all. [Click title to read more.]

Making Room For Discomfort In Church

We as believers need to make it possible for people to express, to discuss, and to interrogate their discomfort without punishing, ostracizing, or condemning them for doing so. [Click title to read more.]

Speaking With Christian Authority Requires Special Consideration

When people with authority speak, their words carry a lot of weight. An insult or a slight can crush. A discouragement can stop a growing ministry in its tracks. A baseless criticism can wound a tender soul. [Click title to read more.]

On That Whole “Don’t Criticize The Pastor” Thing

The key is to understand what "criticism" really means before we tell people not to do it to the pastor. Because when we simply toss out "don't criticize the pastor" as some unquestioning edict without thinking through the nuances of what it actually means, we create a space where corruption, sin, darkness, false knowledge, and destruction can grow unchecked. [Click title to read more.]

Sometimes It’s Good To Let A Trend Go By

Churches have personalities, just like people do. They can be reflective or extroverted, friendly or cheerful, shy or quiet. They vary in size and in demographic makeup. Because of that, it stands to reason that it doesn't make sense for every church to jump on every bandwagon - and yet, all too often, that's what happens. [Click title to read more.]

The Cult of the Pastor

The danger...is when devotion to a pastor supersedes devotion to a church.

An Introvert’s Confession Pt. 2: How To Fix The Problems In Church “Small Groups”

Small groups propose to be different from "Sunday School" in that they are about experiencing life together, about Christians banding together in tiny tribes to work with and love each other. And if that is so, then small group life needs to extend beyond the once-a-week commitment many are willing to give to it - either that, or we need to stop pretending it's something more noble or life-enhancing than a once-a-week-study. [Click title to read more.]

An Introvert’s Confession: I Don’t Like The “Small Groups” Church Trend

In theory, at least, small groups are meant to resemble the New Testament churches. The problem, however, is that small groups have the potential to fall short of that ideal: to place an emphasis on fellowship rather than study, to cultivate shallow relationships that masquerade as serious ones, and to alienate introverted believers who prefer one-on-one time or dedicated study to group discussions and open sharing. [Click title to read more]