In a recent Washington Post article Lisa Miller argues that technology is good for religion. Building her argument primarily on the views of adherents rather than experts, she focuses on the value of apps to support rather than replace religious practices. In short, she believes: Technology can greatly enhance religious practice. Groups that restrict and fear it participate in their own demise. So What? Religion involves connection with the divine and with other people following Read More …
Discipleship
It’s Always Pentecost (#0766)
While Pentecost appears on the liturgical calendar just once a year, it is something we can (perhaps even must) experience daily. Watch my Pentecost sermon below and consider your experience of the Life-Giving Wind. So What? Wherever the Life-Giving Wind blows, the church is about unity not uniformity change not constancy renewal not repetition The Holy Spirit's activity is something worth pondering every day. Which of these is the most challenging for you? for your Read More …
Exploring God’s Activity (#0765)
J. Bennett Guess has served in the national setting of the United Church of Christ since 2000. He was the Director of Communications for the denomination from 2007-2011. In 2011 Guess was elected to his current position: Executive Minister of the United Church of Christ's Local Church Ministries and a member of the UCC's five-person Collegium of Officers. In the Spring/Summer edition of the Still Speaking magazine, Guess concluded his article about the denomination's Read More …
Review of Still (#0764)
Meet the Author Lauren. F. Winner is Assistant Professor of Christian Spirituality at Duke Divinity School. She is the author of numerous books, including Mudhouse Sabbath (2003 - read my review here). Additionally, a number of her shorter pieces have been published, including a chapter in A Spiritual Life: Perspectives from Poets, Prophets, and Preachers (2011 - read my review here). Winner has appeared on PBS’s Religion & Ethics Read More …
Stop Doing That! (#0760)
Many ministries that are highly effective and growing during a given season of a congregation's life eventually wane significantly. LeeAnne Watkins, rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church (St. Paul, MN), considers how best to respond to these difficult situations in her article in the June 13, 2012 edition of the Christian Century (p.10-11). In her parish, the once popular adult education offerings and midweek services stopped drawing significant crowds. Along with a Read More …
Beatitudes v2012 (#0756)
Richard Beck, Professor and Department Chair of Psychology at Abilene Christian University, recently posted his "study guide" on the Sermon on the Mount on his blog. Beck's notes on the Beatitudes showcase his approach: Do not be egoistical or self-absorbed. (5.3) Weep over the pain in this world. (5.4) Be gentle, tender and kind. (5.5) Wake up wanting to be a better person. (5.6) Show mercy to others. (5.7) Be sincere, genuine and real. (5.8) Work for the cause of Read More …
Facebook Bible/Book Study? (#0755)
Many congregations offer fewer opportunities for adult discipleship during the summer months. With more and more adult learning and growth opportunities moving from an on campus (church building, someone's home, or a coffee shop) to either a blended (part on campus and part online) or online format, perhaps summer is the ideal time for your congregation to try something new online (or expand its existing efforts). There are so many possible ways to begin that many people get hung up Read More …
The Table is . . . (#0753)
Jeremy John, coordinator of the Crabgrass Christians Initiative and one of the founders of the Occupy Church, recently blogged about his understanding of the Eucharist. He suggests: The Eucharist gathers us at a particular place, with a particular people, to eat particular food(s) together. While we believe theologically that Christ is present at the table with us, the Eucharist is more about what you do than what you believe. So What? While the Read More …
Missing Adult Sunday School (#0752)
Jon Acuff, author of Stuff Christians Like (2010) and Quitter (2011), recently blogged about missing Sunday School. More specifically, he shared about his 15 year absence from adult Sunday School. Despite a positive experience with small groups, Acuff misses "having the double feature of Sunday School and Church." So What? For many years Sunday School for all ages was a given in Protestant congregations. In recent decades the increased Read More …
Spong on Building the Church (#0749)
Bishop John "Jack" Shelby Spong was a recent guest on Chris Yaw's ChurchNext. In this one hour interview, Spong shares how humility and acceptance are key foundations for building the church. Since "the mainline churches are in a statistical free-fall" continuing on the same course is not a realistic option. Going forward, church leaders must repackage the faith in ways that make sense for their context. More specifically, Spong says Part of our job in the Read More …