Sermon Text: Matthew 3:1-12 Sermon Excerpt I begin with a question that has likely never been asked in this sanctuary before during a service or worship. It isn’t the kind of rhetorical question I typically include in my preaching. It will likely surprise you and may even disturb you. Nevertheless I must ask it: has anyone ever tried to scare the hell out of you? During my years in Dallas there was an annual event focused on just such a goal. Of course, the organizers Read More …
Changing Careers, Changing Lives (#1258)
Jeff Ansorge recently made a huge life transition without changing careers when he left his job as an executive chef at a posh downtown Minneapolis restaurant to accept a position as the chef for the Salvation Army Eastside Corps Community Center in St. Paul. He exchanged a staff of 17 for a volunteer team of helpers and saw his salary decrease by 2/3. For Jeff, the change is a part of a wider spiritual awakening. After a childhood during which he contemplated the Roman Read More …
Inviting People to Church (#1257)
One of the most common reasons people visit a church is invitation. Church members and others actively involved in a given community of faith are those most likely to issue such invitations. Angela Jamene recently shared an apology to those who are on the receiving end of such invitations along with her understanding of what typically motivates the ask: On behalf of Christians everywhere, I would like you to know that we really, just whole-heartedly, love you. And, we want to share Read More …
Remembering My First Call (#1256)
My first call after graduating seminary was to serve as Associate Pastor at Central Christian Church: the longest continually meeting Protestant congregation in Dallas, Texas. This year, the congregation is celebrating its first 150 years of ministry. That celebration included numerous events. So What? Take a few minutes to remember your first experience of church - whether you were a child, a teen, or an adult. How did that congregation help you on your journey of faith? What people and Read More …
Average Marrying Age (#1255)
A Global Perspective Priceonomics recently created an image showing the average age of marriage across the world based on UN data. When comparing the age of marriage across many countries, higher income is associated with later age at marriage. The differences in average age for those nations near either extreme exceeds 10 years. Regardless of geography or income, men marry later than women. The gap, however, is wider in less developed countries. An American Read More …
Is the Clergy Housing Allowance Going Away? (#1254)
Several times each day for the last several days I have encountered people commenting on a recent ruling by a federal judge, which finds that the Internal Revenue Service exemption that allows clergy to shield a portion of their salary from federal income taxes is unconstitutional. Almost all commentators agree that the ruling will likely be appealed. Based on my own research, I think it is unlikely that the allowance will go away any time soon. I do, however, also Read More …
My new eBook: The Jesus Priorites (#1253)
The Jesus Priorities is a collection of eight sermons I preached during the months of October and November 2013. Each sermon is based on one of the eight priorities of Jesus identified by Christopher D. Maricle in The Jesus Priorities: Eight Essential Habits (2007). The priorities are heal, love, pray, spread the Word, store up treasure in heaven, seek God’s will, value children as precious, and live with humility. As you begin your Advent journey, I encourage you to Read More …
Sermon: Ready or Not (#1252)
Sermon Text: Matthew 24:36-44 Sermon Excerpt I am good at many things, but waiting isn't one of them. Once I determine I want something, I work to achieve it. Simply waiting and allowing things to happen in good time seems unthinkable. Perhaps this is why I graduated from high school at the age of 16. It may well be why I purchased my first house while still a teenager. And, I suspect it played a role getting married to Susan less than a year after we first Read More …
Church Giving Decline Continues (#1251)
In 2011 (the most recent year for which statistics are available) the percentage of a church member’s income given to the church was 2.3%. This percentage reflects a decline for the fourth consecutive year, marking the longest decline since the Great Depression. Additional research from Empty Tomb, including reports from 2011 and prior years are available online. As one might expect, the overall decline is impacting congregations affiliated with denominations all across the Read More …
Church-In-A-Pub (#1250)
Last month the regional council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America approved “Church-in-a-Pub” in Fort Worth, TX, as a synodically authorized worshiping community. Pastor Philip Heinze serves as pastor at Calvary Lutheran (Fort Worth, TX) and oversees this new venture, which is formally known as Kyrie. His approach is focused on connecting people to Jesus rather than to church: “I’m not interested, frankly, in making more church members,” Pastor Philip Heinze said. “I’m Read More …