There is some errant thinking today that church should be all about love, and unity. That everyone should be confirmed in their current thinking and all lifestyles are to be accepted. That the mission of the church is to unify everyone in love. This is actually the opposite of what Scripture calls us to in… Continue reading Church Should Call You to Christ, Not Confirm Your Religious Ideas
We tend to think that disagreements of how a worship service should look are modern debates. But worship styles and practices have changed throughout the history of Christianity and Israelite services. In fact, there was a worship war as far back as the days of King David, which can be found in II Samuel 6.… Continue reading Basic Guardrails for Worshipping God
There is a question of what a sermon should entail. Should a sermon be focused on doctrine, the Gospel, or practical application? Your answer may differ depending on the type of church you grew up in or attend now. Those who grew up in what are considered liturgical churches most likely grew up in Gospel-heavy… Continue reading Should Sermons Teach the Gospel, Doctrine, or Practical Application?
Complaints to me regarding church fall into two categories, which contradict each other and are usually proposed by the same people. First, people say they don’t go to church or believe in God because it is not relevant to their lives. Second, they don’t want to hear “politics” talked about in church. My contention would… Continue reading Irrelevant Church or Political Church
Over the last year, the global pandemic forced decisions by churches to worship in-person or online. I do not want to debate what individuals should be doing right now. I do, however, want to discuss the blessings of in-person worship, which we can’t experience online. 1. Proclamation of Salvation through Communion Communion is a corporate… Continue reading 4 Blessings of In-Person Worship
To those who take time to read through a blog post asking this question, I believe we are probably already on the same page. Let me encourage you to continue reading so that you can both check your heart, and be able to correctly contend with others. The question is, whether church is for worship… Continue reading Is Church for Worship or a Show – About God or You?
I am blessed to pastor a small church in the hills of Northeastern Pennsylvania for more than 12 years. This church has been a blessing to me in many ways. I want to share one important way they have supported me, hoping to inspire other churches to do the same: continued theological study. I will… Continue reading Three Ways to Support Your Pastor’s Theology
For centuries many have thought that the church building was the church. We even use phrases today like, “Let’s go to church.” We know by that we mean, “Let’s go to the church service at the building where Christians meet.” We are moving (in some areas) into a proper understanding of the true definition of… Continue reading Christianity Without the Church?
Over the years I’ve run into people who have moved from the pew to the pillow when it comes to church. They have gone from attending a local church in a physical building, to becoming part of an online church. Their “online church” is where they listen for spiritual guidance, give their time, money, and… Continue reading From the Pew to the Pillow: 3 Things Online Church Cannot Do For You
You may not be aware that my wife and I currently homeschool. Now, we are not one of “those” families whose children don’t see the light of day until they turn 18. Our kids also are involved in dance, library programs, and other community activities. I want to give a short disclaimer here. Let me… Continue reading How Classical Education Changed My Preaching or “Let’s Define our Terms”
