Sermon Text: Psalm 51:1-17 Sermon Manuscript It doesn't come as a surprise to me that those gathered here this evening are far fewer in number than those who worshiped in this sacred space on Sunday morning. Ash Wednesday has a way of thinning the crowd – especially the Protestant crowd. It is a day some have called “the most uncomfortable day of the year.” Ash Wednesday is an unusual sort of service for those of us who are not accustomed to the high church world of smells and Read More …
Ask the “Why” Questions (#1345)
Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi - director of the United Church of Christ's Center for Analytics, Research and Data - recently wrote about the importance of asking "why" questions. She reminds us that Jesus was the master of using just the right why question at just the right time, and offers several examples including: Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Why do you break the command of God for the Read More …
Angry Men with Fearful Minds (#1344)
Philip Gulley, popular Christian author and pastor of the Fairfield Friends Meeting (near Indianapolis, IN), used his most recent "Back Home Again" essay in Indianapolis Monthly to consider the prevalence of griping in our country - especially griping done by white men. The words he uses to conclude his essay captured my attention and led me to return to his article on multiple occasions as I pondered just what this might mean for me: . . . for reasons I do not fully Read More …
Sermon: I’m That Kind of Christian (#1343)
Sermon Text: Matthew 5:13-16 Sermon Excerpt Over the last few years, I have heard one man preach more than any other. Ron Patterson, Senior Minister of Naples United Church of Christ, has a saying that I have come to appreciate. While he uses many variations, it usually sounds something like this: “You may be the only Jesus some people ever see.” Let me repeat that before we begin unpacking what it means . . . “You may be the only Jesus some people ever see.” At its Read More …
Key Marketing Question (#1342)
Seth Godin, a one of a kind marketing genius who was inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame in 2013, recently shared the most important question any person or entity marketing a product or service to a potential new customer must address: "Do they trust me enough to believe my promises?" So What? When churches engage in marketing they must not ignore this question. Think about how your congregation markets itself to potential newcomers as well as how individual ministries Read More …
Pastor: Best Job Ever (#1341)
Carol Howard Merritt, a Presbyterian pastor and the author of Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation (2007 – read my review here) and Reframing Hope: Vital Ministry in a New Generation (2010 – read my review here), recently shared her list of 10 reasons why being a pastor is the best job ever. It included relating to anyone, writing, and variety. So What? Pastoral ministry is one of the more diverse professional pursuits. Read More …
Goodbye Student Loan Debt (#1340)
For several years my wife and I belonged to a group 10.6 million strong: Americans in their 30s with student loan debt. Earlier this month, we waved goodbye to our membership when we paid off our final student loan. While we both earned undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees, we never amassed overwhelming debt because we were intentional about borrowing the least amount possible to continue on toward our ultimate educational goals. So What? As someone who works in higher Read More …
The Age of the Selfie (#1339)
Galen Guengerich, senior minister of All Souls Unitarian Church (New York City, NY) and of author of God Revised (one of my top books of 2013), recently wrote about the "selfie culture" on the occasion of the Oxford Dictionary adding this word to their 2013 edition. Selfies are pictures people take of themselves then share via social media. They are doing far more than merely cluttering social media feeds. Guengerich writes: This moment in dictionary history may Read More …
Academic Teaching (in Church) (#1338)
Stephen Mattson recently proposed a list of seven things churches have largely stopped doing that he believes they should still be doing: discipline, testimonials, corporate prayer, challenge, academically teach, sacrifice, and practical ministry. Academically Teach While each item on his list is worth considering, I found myself most intrigued by #4: academically teach. Mattson writes: Churches used to be innovative leaders in education, but now all “higher level” Read More …
Which Disciple Are You? (#1337)
A few days ago I finally gave in and submitted my answers to a rather unusual (ok, I will admit it: somewhat bizarre) quiz making the rounds on social media. If you have a sense of humor and enough patience to answer ten questions, then you can learn which one of Jesus' disciples you are most like. It turns out that, according to my responses to this quiz, my New Testament alter ego is Saint Jude. So What? While being asked to choose a color and choose a month as a part of the Read More …