Among a new generation of Reformed pastors and churchgoers, there seems to be little awareness that the project they are pursuing, and the shifts they are pushing, have already been tried and have ended with catastrophic consequences in the life of a major Reformed denomination. I write this out of sincere love and concern for... Continue Reading

God says hospitality can and should be shown to Christians we already know and love. If you are practicing this currently without grumbling, you should be encouraged to know that God is pleased with your hospitable heart and practice.   In recent years, I’ve heard several well-meaning Christian leaders assert that there is a sharp... Continue Reading

The couple didn’t return to church the following weekend, and the pastor told me that although he was saddened, he wasn’t surprised they didn’t come back. A few months later, though, the lesbian couple began attending his church again. The pastor asked why they came back, and they said they loved his church and felt... Continue Reading

The dinners provide all kinds of opportunities to serve. Families with children set up tables and chairs and put out tableware. Food and drinks are served restaurant-style by local youth groups, allowing the teens to interact with those whom they serve. Our guests sense that something is different about our church and this ministry, and... Continue Reading

Historically, the church orally instructed children and new converts in the Bible’s teaching and its doctrines; therefore most catechisms have a question-and-answer format. One of the earliest catechisms is the Didache, or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles.   The Importance of Catechesis During my childhood, my friends and I used to run home after school and... Continue Reading

Robinson says it’s not unusual for him to roll into church service wearing the same clothes from a gig the night before, but playing Sunday mornings typically discourages him from being “too reckless” on Saturday evenings. There are always exceptions.   Musicians take gigs from almost anywhere. Want them to play in a dirty old... Continue Reading

We will need to put more energy into building systems, including systems that account for the temptations of power, that will last for generations. We will need to somehow quell our lust to feel close to people who can charm the camera and hold the spotlight—recognizing that the half-life of such leadership has always been... Continue Reading

The church, founded in the Willow Creek Theater in Barrington, Illinois, also remains an evangelical powerhouse—and a model for churches around the country. It boasts a worship attendance of more than 25,000, making it the sixth-largest church in Outreach Magazine’s list of America’s 100 largest churches.   When the #MeToo movement arose this past fall, Willow... Continue Reading

Woodson’s story reignited the conversation over how church leaders can better address abuse allegations by alerting the police and/or allowing outside firms to investigate. “When people see churches trying to handle investigations of their own leaders internally, it leads many to doubt whether the church really desires to bring the truth to light,” wrote researcher... Continue Reading

Reflecting on that covenant it dawned on me how it might be a way to balance the expectations church members have of their pastor (and elders) with biblical expectations of the church folks.  Church members often feel free to voice, even demand, their expectations of pastors, elders, leadership and deacons with little regard for the impact... Continue Reading