In the first post in this series I spent some time discussing the dangers of Bible-lite, that phenomenon when Christians substitute secondhand study of God's word for actual Bible study. In the second, I talked about some of the consequences of Bible-lite. Today, however, I'll be putting on my professor hat to offer some solutions to the problem. If you struggle with studying the Bible (or even with wanting to study the Bible!), there is both help and hope. [Click title to read more].
Tag: church
7 Things Seekers Want To See On Your Church Website
My husband and I have recently started church-hunting. As a part of that process, we - like so many others of our generation - turned to the Internet first. We used Google maps to identify the churches nearby, and then to narrow down the prospects we started visiting websites: some good, some bad, some incomprehensible. In light of that, I thought it might be useful to offer up a list of things I, and most seekers (believers or otherwise), might be searching for when we find your church on the web. [Click title to read more.]
The Cult of the Pastor
The danger...is when devotion to a pastor supersedes devotion to a church.
Faith Marked By Culture
My approach to God's word and to His grace has been influenced by the world around me - and the same is true for those who live in other countries and cultures. [Click title to read more].
It’s Okay For Us To Be Wrong
We want to have the "right" answers all the time. We want to look like we know what we're doing. We hate the idea of "looking bad" in front of the world. We like to focus on the positive. But we're human. [Click title to read more.]
Breaking Up With A Church
It's easy to go in idealistic and hopeful, to be attracted by a church's best qualities and to ignore what might be potential problems down the road. A shiny exterior seduces and attracts, and churches these days market themselves like candidates on The Bachelor. [Click title to read more.]
Roundtable Discussion: Have You Ever Switched Denominations?
Let's gather around and share some thoughts and ideas - I'd love to hear your comments and opinions on switching denominations.
One Reason Children Raised In The Church Leave It Behind
Few young Christians are prepared in a rigorous, individual way, to continue to choose Christianity for themselves beyond the walls of their church or an "inherited" faith. Not many have the tools to, as the Bible puts it, "work out" their salvation - to go beyond the commitment of a moment to the commitment of a lifetime. [Click title to read more.]
How We Talk About Sin
I worry sometimes that in my own life I fall into the trap of believing there are "acceptable" Christian sins like pride and arrogance and envy. That there are sins that are shameful and sins that are, somehow, not - sins that should be hidden from the world and from others, and sin that it's okay to admit. God has been convicting me about this lately. [Click title to read more.]
Drive-By Evangelism Helps No One
You can't make a disciple with a pamphlet. You can't condense God's love into two paragraphs. Most of all, you cannot treat evangelism - the holy duty of sharing God's word and love with others - as a marketing ploy by indiscriminately blanketing the streets with a generic version of "the Good News." [Click title to read more.]
Samaritan's Song 