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Perspectives
Don’t Preach a Sermon on Giving!

Don’t Preach a Sermon on Giving!

Preach a series of sermons on giving. In my twenty years as a senior pastor, I learned that a stand-alone sermon on stewardship, even if preached twice a year, had little impact on people's giving. But the first year I preached a four-week series on the biblical...

Three Key Things to Know About Deconstruction

Three Key Things to Know About Deconstruction

If you are convinced that deconstructing faith is dangerous, and you are annoyed by the “trend,” this article is an attempt to help you see things a little differently. It’s an article that’s trying to deconstruct your view of deconstruction. Let me guess. You’re...

Show Countercultural Compassion in the World

Show Countercultural Compassion in the World

As I examine my own life, I think about the temptation we all face to brandish God’s Word like it’s a weapon in our cultural battles. What is our posture toward those who may not be Christians or may hold opinions very different from ours? Many people have had...

Radical Theology

Radical Theology

My friend Annabelle grew up in Uganda in a Muslim home. One night, her stepbrother abused her, and to her horror, Annabelle realized her father would do nothing to protect her. Things only got worse as Annabelle (only thirteen at the time) discovered there was a plan...

Cultures of Belonging

Cultures of Belonging

Organizational cultures are born in the intersections of shared relationships. If the quality of those relationships is healthy and constructive, that’s the kind of culture we’ll experience. If those relationships are toxic and fear-filled, well, that’s exactly the...

The Dangers of Preaching a Partial Gospel

The Dangers of Preaching a Partial Gospel

Our popular reading of Ephesians 2 is only a partial recognition of the gospel. We use Ephesians 2 to teach the doctrine of justification or eternal salvation—though even that language may be uncareful. The first half of the chapter has fallen prey to American...

When Churches Close, Who’s to Blame

When Churches Close, Who’s to Blame

America is experiencing a religious transformation, a de-Christianizing of the nation. The result is foreseeable. Thousands upon thousands of churches will close this year and next. This sad reality is affecting an ever-increasing population of Christians as they...

The New Taboo in Christianity?

The New Taboo in Christianity?

We Christians have always had our taboos; there are things we just don’t discuss. As a member of Generation X, I remember bans on drinking, dancing, and tattoos since each of these would absolutely lead to other things that would terminate your relationship with God....

Three Reasons to Help Churches Die

Three Reasons to Help Churches Die

Researchers agree the American Church is shrinking rapidly. People are leaving the church in droves. There are few exceptions to this cultural phenomenon impacting every aspect of the Christian life. The tsunami of change is decimating institutions, including...

Bible Or Theology: Which Is Infallible?

Bible Or Theology: Which Is Infallible?

Infallibility. Does the word feel dense and tired and kind of irrelevant to you, like a library book that’s sat on the shelf too long? It does to me. But it speaks of that which cannot fail us. Literally, it means “the inability to fail.” It speaks of that which can...

Don’t Preach a Sermon on Giving!

Don’t Preach a Sermon on Giving!

Preach a series of sermons on giving. In my twenty years as a senior pastor, I learned that a stand-alone sermon on stewardship, even if preached twice a year, had little impact on people's giving. But the first year I preached a four-week series on the biblical...

Three Key Things to Know About Deconstruction

Three Key Things to Know About Deconstruction

If you are convinced that deconstructing faith is dangerous, and you are annoyed by the “trend,” this article is an attempt to help you see things a little differently. It’s an article that’s trying to deconstruct your view of deconstruction. Let me guess. You’re...

Show Countercultural Compassion in the World

Show Countercultural Compassion in the World

As I examine my own life, I think about the temptation we all face to brandish God’s Word like it’s a weapon in our cultural battles. What is our posture toward those who may not be Christians or may hold opinions very different from ours? Many people have had...

Radical Theology

Radical Theology

My friend Annabelle grew up in Uganda in a Muslim home. One night, her stepbrother abused her, and to her horror, Annabelle realized her father would do nothing to protect her. Things only got worse as Annabelle (only thirteen at the time) discovered there was a plan...

Cultures of Belonging

Cultures of Belonging

Organizational cultures are born in the intersections of shared relationships. If the quality of those relationships is healthy and constructive, that’s the kind of culture we’ll experience. If those relationships are toxic and fear-filled, well, that’s exactly the...

The Dangers of Preaching a Partial Gospel

The Dangers of Preaching a Partial Gospel

Our popular reading of Ephesians 2 is only a partial recognition of the gospel. We use Ephesians 2 to teach the doctrine of justification or eternal salvation—though even that language may be uncareful. The first half of the chapter has fallen prey to American...

When Churches Close, Who’s to Blame

When Churches Close, Who’s to Blame

America is experiencing a religious transformation, a de-Christianizing of the nation. The result is foreseeable. Thousands upon thousands of churches will close this year and next. This sad reality is affecting an ever-increasing population of Christians as they...

The New Taboo in Christianity?

The New Taboo in Christianity?

We Christians have always had our taboos; there are things we just don’t discuss. As a member of Generation X, I remember bans on drinking, dancing, and tattoos since each of these would absolutely lead to other things that would terminate your relationship with God....

Three Reasons to Help Churches Die

Three Reasons to Help Churches Die

Researchers agree the American Church is shrinking rapidly. People are leaving the church in droves. There are few exceptions to this cultural phenomenon impacting every aspect of the Christian life. The tsunami of change is decimating institutions, including...

Bible Or Theology: Which Is Infallible?

Bible Or Theology: Which Is Infallible?

Infallibility. Does the word feel dense and tired and kind of irrelevant to you, like a library book that’s sat on the shelf too long? It does to me. But it speaks of that which cannot fail us. Literally, it means “the inability to fail.” It speaks of that which can...

Helping Your Small Group Thrive

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