Church Matters
Reclaiming the Table

Reclaiming the Table

Following Jesus Together Around the Table Every Sunday evening in Seattle’s Lake Union neighborhood, about thirty to forty people gather in a community room. No pulpits, no pews anywhere to be found. Instead, people sit around tables featuring plates brimming with...

Can I Trust You?: Cultivating Character That Isn’t Performative

Can I Trust You?: Cultivating Character That Isn’t Performative

I stood beside him in the church choir. Months later, he was arrested for murder. Back then, he seemed like the kind of man no one would ever question—steady, respected, a pillar of our community. Sure, he seemed a little aloof during choir practice, but I was just a...

Life Together at Jesus’ Table: Discipleship as Sacramental Living

Life Together at Jesus’ Table: Discipleship as Sacramental Living

Discipleship as Sacramental Living and Table Fellowship Discipleship is sacramental because disciples are the living temple of the triune God, together. Years earlier, Paul’s letter to the Galatians erupted with urgency because Judaizers similarly weaponized table...

Overcoming Church Hurt with the Good Shepherd

Overcoming Church Hurt with the Good Shepherd

Church Hurt Can Wound Pastors and Ministry Leaders Too The large church my friend’s family had helped build abruptly dismissed her son, their associate pastor. This honorable young father suddenly found himself with no income and lots of confusion. My friend asked,...

Creating Safer Ministry Environments

Creating Safer Ministry Environments

Why safety in a church is built quietly, over time, long before anyone needs it Safer Ministry Environments Begin With Watchful Leadership Most of us who lead in ministry never set out to build a safe church. We set out to build a faithful one. We wanted to preach...

How Pastors Can Use AI in Ministry Without Losing the Soul of Ministry

How Pastors Can Use AI in Ministry Without Losing the Soul of Ministry

Pastors and Christian leaders are uniquely positioned to benefit from AI tools — and uniquely vulnerable to misusing them. Ministry is deeply human work. It involves souls, stories, suffering, repentance, celebration, and presence. Artificial intelligence can support...

Healthy Roots for Faithful Leadership

Healthy Roots for Faithful Leadership

Healthy Roots for Leaders Matter More Than Visible Success When a tree topples, typically no one is harmed, but a toppling leader brings damage to everyone surrounding the leader: a family, a company, a congregation. Trust is broken. Dreams and goals seem to be...

Christian Peacemakers Reflect the Love of Jesus

Christian Peacemakers Reflect the Love of Jesus

Why Christian Peacemakers Matter Today In December 2022, the first Jesus Now Summit was held in Dallas, Texas. Hosted by the Barna Group in partnership with several other influential organizations, about one hundred ministry leaders gathered to consider the why, how,...

Practice Solitude for Spiritual Renewal

Practice Solitude for Spiritual Renewal

Why Leaders Must Practice Solitude When we look at the life of Jesus, we see a busy man. He’s healing the sick, he’s feeding the poor, he’s preaching the good news to the world, he’s developing the leaders around him, and he’s fulfilling his mission on earth. However,...

Reclaiming the Table

Reclaiming the Table

Following Jesus Together Around the Table Every Sunday evening in Seattle’s Lake Union neighborhood, about thirty to forty people gather in a community room. No pulpits, no pews anywhere to be found. Instead, people sit around tables featuring plates brimming with...

Can I Trust You?: Cultivating Character That Isn’t Performative

Can I Trust You?: Cultivating Character That Isn’t Performative

I stood beside him in the church choir. Months later, he was arrested for murder. Back then, he seemed like the kind of man no one would ever question—steady, respected, a pillar of our community. Sure, he seemed a little aloof during choir practice, but I was just a...

Life Together at Jesus’ Table: Discipleship as Sacramental Living

Life Together at Jesus’ Table: Discipleship as Sacramental Living

Discipleship as Sacramental Living and Table Fellowship Discipleship is sacramental because disciples are the living temple of the triune God, together. Years earlier, Paul’s letter to the Galatians erupted with urgency because Judaizers similarly weaponized table...

Overcoming Church Hurt with the Good Shepherd

Overcoming Church Hurt with the Good Shepherd

Church Hurt Can Wound Pastors and Ministry Leaders Too The large church my friend’s family had helped build abruptly dismissed her son, their associate pastor. This honorable young father suddenly found himself with no income and lots of confusion. My friend asked,...

Creating Safer Ministry Environments

Creating Safer Ministry Environments

Why safety in a church is built quietly, over time, long before anyone needs it Safer Ministry Environments Begin With Watchful Leadership Most of us who lead in ministry never set out to build a safe church. We set out to build a faithful one. We wanted to preach...

How Pastors Can Use AI in Ministry Without Losing the Soul of Ministry

How Pastors Can Use AI in Ministry Without Losing the Soul of Ministry

Pastors and Christian leaders are uniquely positioned to benefit from AI tools — and uniquely vulnerable to misusing them. Ministry is deeply human work. It involves souls, stories, suffering, repentance, celebration, and presence. Artificial intelligence can support...

Healthy Roots for Faithful Leadership

Healthy Roots for Faithful Leadership

Healthy Roots for Leaders Matter More Than Visible Success When a tree topples, typically no one is harmed, but a toppling leader brings damage to everyone surrounding the leader: a family, a company, a congregation. Trust is broken. Dreams and goals seem to be...

Christian Peacemakers Reflect the Love of Jesus

Christian Peacemakers Reflect the Love of Jesus

Why Christian Peacemakers Matter Today In December 2022, the first Jesus Now Summit was held in Dallas, Texas. Hosted by the Barna Group in partnership with several other influential organizations, about one hundred ministry leaders gathered to consider the why, how,...

Practice Solitude for Spiritual Renewal

Practice Solitude for Spiritual Renewal

Why Leaders Must Practice Solitude When we look at the life of Jesus, we see a busy man. He’s healing the sick, he’s feeding the poor, he’s preaching the good news to the world, he’s developing the leaders around him, and he’s fulfilling his mission on earth. However,...

Helping Your Small Group Thrive

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