“Dr. Caines often taught that the Bible is not filled with mega-heroes of super faith, but actually real people in a real time and place facing real issues and serving God in their weakness. His sermons helped listeners identify with the individuals of Scripture, whether Moses or Peter, across the anonymity of history.”   Dr.... Continue Reading

“In the New Testament, there is–by way of good and necessary consequence–the example of parents having their children in the gathered assembly. The Epistles were written by the Apostles to churches to be read before the entire congregation. In the epistle to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul directly addresses the children in the congregation.”   At... Continue Reading

“According to missional authors, in order for worship to be authentic for believers and understandable for unbelievers, churches must evaluate their cultural context and contextualize worship to that culture. Since the West is post-Christendom culturally, churches must avoid allowing their worship to be shaped by forms nurtured during Christendom and instead shape their worship according to the... Continue Reading

“It was a real bomb, I saw all the parts,” said Cavalry Baptist member Dennis Llewellyn, who said he was outside the church when the explosive went off. Llewellyn said he was a former special forces member with the Marines and recognized bomb parts that included an Eveready battery. He and fellow church member Mike... Continue Reading

Anyone can be tempted to gossip. But we can avoid it if we slow down and evaluate whether we are the right person, with the right motivation, talking to the right audience with the right information. A good prayer request comes from the good stored up in a good heart, and one day, we’ll all... Continue Reading

We may not be able to turn the tide in the rest of our culture, but with intentionality over the next generations, we can change the culture of singing in the church. This is not a non-essential of faith. This is not adiaphora. This is important stuff. If the ancient principal of lex orandi, lex credendi is true, if... Continue Reading

“Hasty, who has said he was neutral on the issue, resigned as senior pastor of First Presbyterian in Columbus, Ga., in May. At the time, he wrote an email to members of First Presbyterian saying: “My heart, like all of yours, is broken in the wake of the fractured vote for gracious dismissal and the... Continue Reading

But returning to the thought experiment, my question is not really about the specific individual here except to the extent that based on his history we know that he has been confirmed in a predecessor denomination and he self-identifies as a Presbyterian. But we also know that he is outspoken and has views not in... Continue Reading

“Surfacey” interactions/artificial relationships.  …. people might feel more connected, but they can really be more distant, at least from who they really are. In contrast, true Christian fellowship requires that we engage with people as we really are, so that we can honestly face our sin and grow together in Christ.   One of my... Continue Reading

Many don’t want the church to be like a sceney bar or a stylish boutique. They want the church to be the church: an institution that embraces awkward people, confronts sin, transforms lives, subverts the sovereignty of self, serves others and provides meaning more substantial than the ephemera of fickle fads.   Do people want... Continue Reading