Tag: church

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.]

Churches: Don’t Work The Body To Death

When the next opportunity for service or ministry comes around, don't cave in to the easy temptation to call the same old people (who are really so dependable and who will do it on such short notice!) and ask them to serve, or minister, or help, or provide in some way. Find other people to do it. Let it be known loudly that it's time for that core group of workers to have a rest and that everyone else is going to have to start showing up. [Click title to read more.]

When “Take Responsibility” Becomes “Why Should I…?”

What I want to focus on is that very often exhortations for other believers to "take responsibility" for their church experience aren't our way of honestly trying to work out a difficult situation or to solve a problem together. Rather, too often, that question is a sly version of "Why should I...?" [Click title to read more.]

Serving Outside The Church

I do fear that as increasing activities encourage us to spend more and more time in the church building, our time in the world is shrinking. And that is a dangerous thing. Out in the world is where we will meet most non-believers; out in the world is where we can serve most non-believers. [Click title to read more.]

The Blessing of Not Belonging

Christians aren't exempt from peer pressure, and adult Christians aren't either. Every day we face a thousand subtle influences that can determine how we behave in church, what kind of Christians we permit ourselves to be, how we spend our money, and how we relate to other believers and non-believers. [Click title to read more.]

Leaving A Legacy Through Relationship

It's important that Christians not neglect the joys of a mentoring relationship, but it's equally important that we recognize those relationships when we enter our lives - or where they might be present already. [Click title to read more.]

What Does Christian Disagreement Look Like?

I'm the sort of person who apologizes even without having done anything wrong, just to smooth over an argument; I hesitate before taking a stance that might cause conflict. And yet the more I study, the more I realize that Christian disagreement both with believers and nonbelievers can be a beautiful, productive thing: we just have to learn the skill and then hone it over time. [Click title to read more.]

Why The Church Must Make An Effort To Value Solitude With God

It's true that the Christian life is not always meant to be a solo affair. Teachers, pastors, fellow believers, even small groups: all of those things are a part of our faith community, and they can help us and grow us. But in elevating these, I fear that we dismiss what I perceive to be the fundamental necessity of individual solitude with God. [Click title to read more.]