Anxiety is Far Too Common in Ministry. Here is Why and What Can be Done About it
Over half of ministers report suffering from significant anxiety as a result of their ministry. Churches are anxious places. They are anxious places because we are supposed to get everything right and to do something not how it is always done or said creates uncomfortable questions and anxiety that is then, often, transferred to leadership […]
Preserving Our Good DNA in Churches of Christ & Six Adjustments For Revival
Are we prime for revival or are we hopelessly stuck in the past? I don’t think God is done with us yet. Even though we are seeing decline pretty much across the board, I am hopeful that God is still going to use Churches of Christ in some meaningful and powerful ways. Not all DNA […]
Churches of Christ Need an Aerosmith/Run DMC “Walk This Way” Moment
The iconic “Walk This Way” music video is a parable for a conversation that must go mainstream and I am determined to make that happen. We have to start chipping away at the wall and poking our heads through to hear what is being said on the other side. On one side – mainstream, programmatic […]
Here is Why Churches of Christ Should be Leading the Way in Disciple Making Movements
I grew up with a real affinity for scripture. I heard over and over again that the Bible is the inspired word of God. I heard it is our example. Even our pattern. I heard it informs our practice and doctrine. Flowing out of all of that was the idea that we were restoring the […]
What Kind of Worship Pleases God? Our Usual Answer Will Not Suffice
It was 2011. I received my first invitation to speak at the Pepperdine Bible lectures from Jerry Rushford. Jerry had been at the Spiritual Growth Workshop that year in Orlando and thought some of the things that were said there needed to be said at the Pepperdine Lectures. Along with that I was invited to […]
Here is What is Happening Next Month at ACU’s Summit 2019
I always want to make sure you know the best events going on around the country and encourage you to attend. Here is one of the premiere Church of Christ events. I hope you will consider going, praying for this event, and/or catching the audio and video when it is posted. Here is what you […]
We Value What We Count and Count What We Value. So Count the Right Things
We typically count two things in church – attendance and contribution. That’s okay. That probably should be done. But there is so much more we need to pay attention to and there is nothing like counting things to give accountability to what is going on. Some things we cannot quantify. They are qualitative things. But […]
Church – Something is Missing and it’s a Bigger Problem Than I Thought
We got all five acts of worship going but something is missing. We got church autonomy but something is missing. We got qualified elders but something is missing. We sing acappella but something is missing. We teach the Bible but something is missing. We meet on the first day of the week but something is […]
Uncomfortability
We are some of the only people in the history of the world to live a semi-comfortable life without having to try that hard. Until the last few generations people had to work for their food. By the sweat of their own brow and the work of their own hands food came from the ground. […]
The Root of Church Division is NOT Primarily Theological
Church split for two reasons that have theological spin but not theological roots. We say that church split over instruments or over women’s roles. That is what brought tension to the system but the system wasn’t robust enough to handle the tension. What is the root? The first root, that I have been discussing relentlessly […]