Mark Sandlin, co-founder of The Christian Left and owner of TheGodArticle.com, recently suggested that the fandom of God is slowly killing the church. More specifically, he argues When we are fans of Jesus rather than followers of Jesus, our focus is inward turned, like in fandoms, concerned with and finding full satisfaction in what we think and feel and believe. We are more interested in who gets to be labeled insiders, who are "real/true" fans of God, than we are with Read More …
Monday Morning Sermon Quarterbacking (#1442)
Monday morning quarterbacking happens around the brunch/lunch table on Sunday, at the watercooler on Monday, and in so many other social gatherings throughout the week. Many sports fans engage in conversation about how they, in hindsight, would have done things differently in the big game (assuming they had been the coach). Likewise, many worship participants like to critique their minister's sermons in some form of post-worship conversation that often suggests a different preaching Read More …
Megachurch Attendees (#1441)
Much is written about megachurches, including here on this blog (US Megachurches, Megachurches Shaping American Protestantism, Mega Megachurches, Megachurch Bubble, Megachurches Offer a Religious High, Church Size and Growth Potential, and even Mega-Interest in Megachurches). One man, however, is behind as much or more research on megachurches than any other: Warren Bird. Bird, research director at Leadership Network, is the co-author of a report entitled "Not Who You Read More …
Tech Required for Church Growth (#1440)
Bill Tenny-Brittian, managing partner for 21st Century Strategies and editor in chief of Net Results Magazine, recently stated that churches that ignore technology cannot grow. More specifically, he wrote Having and using the latest and greatest tech tools won’t grow a church. But not using today’s technology to effectively communicate the gospel will ensure that a church won’t experience significant and sustainable conversion growth . . . So What? Tenny-Brittian's remark Read More …
How We Read the Bible (#1439)
According to recent research conducted by the Barna Group commissioned by the American Bible Society, American Bible readers strongly prefer reading the Bible in an old fashioned printed edition of the Bible. The preferred formats are print - 84%, digital - 10%, audio - 5%, and all others - 1%. So What? A few months ago I blogged about the tremendous rise in e-reading. While the report does note a shift toward digital reading the shift is far slower when it comes to the Read More …
Religious Discrimination for Job Applicants (#1438)
Sociologists Bradley R. E. Wright (author of Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites . . . and Other Lies You’ve Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media - my review and Upside: Surprising Good News About the State of Our World - my review) and Michael Wallace published an article in the June 2014 edition of Christianity Today that overviews their recent research on religious discrimination in the job application process in the United Read More …
Spiritual Prodigies (#1437)
Vince Amlin, associate minister at the United Church of Gainesville (Gainesville, FL), recently suggested that we need more spiritual prodigies. More specifically, he wrote The Church could use a generation of spiritual prodigies. The UCC needs them. The world needs them – kids hungry for a second helping of soul. So What? I agree wholeheartedly with Amlin that the church is ready to benefit from a new generation of spiritual prodigies. I wonder, however, what it is that your local Read More …
Learning from Trader Joe’s (#1436)
Becca Messman, associate pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church (Herndon, VA), recently wrote about how the church could learn from her favorite grocery store: Trader Joe's. Her piece, published in the Presbyterian Outlook, considers how Presbyterians would do well to study this "quirky, small-by-design chain of grocery stores that is clearly not trying to be any of its competitors." Her suggestions, of course, transcend her denominational affiliation. Messman recommends that Read More …
Recent Reading – June (#1435)
This is the final installment of my monthly posts sharing my ratings of some of the books I have recently read. I plan to resume my normal routine of providing reviews next month. (5) Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most by Marcus Borg (2014) (4) The Twilight of the American Enlightenment: the 1950s and the Crisis of Liberal Belief by George Marsden (2014) (3.5) Pastoral Work: Engagements with the Work of Eugene Peterson edited by Jason Byassee (2014) Read More …
Sermon: An Open Invitation (#1434)
Sermon Text: I Corinthians 11:17-34a (The Message) Sermon Excerpt What is it about kitchens that turn them into places for memorable conversations? Before I share what is perhaps my most memorable kitchen encounter, let me give you a little context. I had traveled with a rather large church group to another state to do mission work. We were quite a diverse bunch. The teenagers and college students represented many different Christian traditions, and also included a good Read More …