Staff Disharmony: The Giant Killer
In the world of church, there are many different kinds of giants. Some are the kind we need to get our slings out to slay. But there are other giants who have earned our respect. For instance, there are giants of the faith: women and men who have already died to self and live for […]
Ministry Is Distractions
I made a comment at a recent seminar that the only way pastors can reach the unreached is to get out of the office. Seemed to me like a no-brainer, but I repeatedly heard comments like, “Get out of the office and do what?!” The answer is to “Get out of the office and get distracted!” […]
Snapshot of Your Neighbor
It’s Easter Monday as I sit to write this article. I had the luxury of having two viewpoints at two different churches yesterday. One of the churches was a 400 member church with three services and the other was a 200 member church with two services. Both churches’ staff knew that this would probably be […]
Evangelism for the Rest of Us
Evangelism for the Rest of Us Excerpted from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Evangelism by Bill Tenny-Brittian (Chalice Press, fall 2008) Over the years, especially with the rise of the Enlightenment and Modernity, an understanding crept into the church that mimicked our scientific culture. In science, if it can’t be measured and examined in some way, then […]
The Advent of Christmas
It used to be that Christmas began when Santa Claus passed the reviewing stand in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. It used to be that the first strains of Christmas carols played on the Muzak on the following Friday morning. It used to be. However, for most churches, Advent will begin this year on December […]
Parabolic Preaching
I had an opportunity to visit a local mega church (about 2,500 AWA*) recently on one of their “special event” Sundays. The service was touted as an “Arts” event and they had four worship services at one campus and one more at their satellite service. The service was one of excellence, as one would expect […]