Church Matters
Moses on 4 Elements of Successful Fundraising

Moses on 4 Elements of Successful Fundraising

Moses, that great…fundraiser? You bet. If you need to raise money for ministry expansion, Moses provides an excellent example in his capital campaign to build the Tabernacle. Element #1: The Leader Proclaims God's Commands for the People to Give Willingly. God could...

3 Mistakes Churches Make in Prayer Ministries

3 Mistakes Churches Make in Prayer Ministries

Okay, you’ve read and heard this verse many times. But let’s read it closely and carefully one more time: “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer” (Acts...

The Megachurch Down the Road Is . . . Fading?

The Megachurch Down the Road Is . . . Fading?

This topic surfaces in almost every church consultation or interview we do. People in smaller churches believe that megachurches have taken—or “stolen” as they often say—their families. The matriarch in one interview certainly thought so. She named almost a dozen...

Ministering to Married Couples in Crisis

Ministering to Married Couples in Crisis

Practically everywhere we turn today, we find someone we care about experiencing some sort of marital crisis. And the fallout does not just impact the couple themselves. Children, extended family, church community, and overall cultural health are all negatively...

Engaging God through All Things

Engaging God through All Things

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made. John 1:1–3 I’ve never been much of an empirical thinker. While I was growing up, the languages of physics, chemistry,...

A Way of Life Developed in God’s Freedom

A Way of Life Developed in God’s Freedom

There are moments when a single truth seems to cry out for focused proclamation. For me one of these moments came in the early 1980s; freedom in Christ seemed the truth in need of focus. When I looked at the people I was living with as pastor—fairly affluent, well...

Discovering Your Inherent Worth

Discovering Your Inherent Worth

As I’ve wrestled with understanding my own worth, I’ve heard a lot of self-positivity messages reminding me no matter my body type, job, parenting style, or social status, I’m valuable and “worth it.” In many ways, it’s refreshing. We see posts on social media or even...

Understanding the Process of Recovery

Understanding the Process of Recovery

Recovery isn’t a fixed state; it’s a process. Recovery isn’t a destination. If you’re “in recovery,” you’re on a journey whose direction of travel is toward self-direction, health and well-being, and the fulfillment of your potential. In recovery, we develop the...

Unlocking Joy through Brain Science

Unlocking Joy through Brain Science

A few years ago, I (Chris) wrote a book with neuroscience specialist Dr. Jim Wilder, addiction recovery specialist Ed Khouri, and educator Sheila Sutton called Joy Starts Here. In our book we describe joy this way. Joy is the twinkle in someone’s eyes, the smile from...

Moses on 4 Elements of Successful Fundraising

Moses on 4 Elements of Successful Fundraising

Moses, that great…fundraiser? You bet. If you need to raise money for ministry expansion, Moses provides an excellent example in his capital campaign to build the Tabernacle. Element #1: The Leader Proclaims God's Commands for the People to Give Willingly. God could...

3 Mistakes Churches Make in Prayer Ministries

3 Mistakes Churches Make in Prayer Ministries

Okay, you’ve read and heard this verse many times. But let’s read it closely and carefully one more time: “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer” (Acts...

The Megachurch Down the Road Is . . . Fading?

The Megachurch Down the Road Is . . . Fading?

This topic surfaces in almost every church consultation or interview we do. People in smaller churches believe that megachurches have taken—or “stolen” as they often say—their families. The matriarch in one interview certainly thought so. She named almost a dozen...

Ministering to Married Couples in Crisis

Ministering to Married Couples in Crisis

Practically everywhere we turn today, we find someone we care about experiencing some sort of marital crisis. And the fallout does not just impact the couple themselves. Children, extended family, church community, and overall cultural health are all negatively...

Engaging God through All Things

Engaging God through All Things

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made. John 1:1–3 I’ve never been much of an empirical thinker. While I was growing up, the languages of physics, chemistry,...

A Way of Life Developed in God’s Freedom

A Way of Life Developed in God’s Freedom

There are moments when a single truth seems to cry out for focused proclamation. For me one of these moments came in the early 1980s; freedom in Christ seemed the truth in need of focus. When I looked at the people I was living with as pastor—fairly affluent, well...

Discovering Your Inherent Worth

Discovering Your Inherent Worth

As I’ve wrestled with understanding my own worth, I’ve heard a lot of self-positivity messages reminding me no matter my body type, job, parenting style, or social status, I’m valuable and “worth it.” In many ways, it’s refreshing. We see posts on social media or even...

Understanding the Process of Recovery

Understanding the Process of Recovery

Recovery isn’t a fixed state; it’s a process. Recovery isn’t a destination. If you’re “in recovery,” you’re on a journey whose direction of travel is toward self-direction, health and well-being, and the fulfillment of your potential. In recovery, we develop the...

Unlocking Joy through Brain Science

Unlocking Joy through Brain Science

A few years ago, I (Chris) wrote a book with neuroscience specialist Dr. Jim Wilder, addiction recovery specialist Ed Khouri, and educator Sheila Sutton called Joy Starts Here. In our book we describe joy this way. Joy is the twinkle in someone’s eyes, the smile from...

Helping Your Small Group Thrive

*By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214 USA) providing information about products and services of HCCP and its affiliates. You may unsubscribe from these email communications at any time. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at yourprivacy@harpercollins.com.