The Spiritual Openness of the Younger Unchurched
What's the status of the church and how might we share the gospel in this time? By Ed Stetzer There's an idea that Christianity in America is dying. No serious researcher—not one—thinks that. However, I still am surprised that some people think this. (For a quick...
Mission, Self and, God’s Glory
How can pastors lead their congregations to embrace a missional lifestyle? By Ed Stetzer Mission is the opposite of self. That sounds simple and obvious, yet the sad truth is that we revert to non-mission—or self-centered life—very simply and very obviously. One way...
Top Ten Ways Churches Drive Away First-time Guests
By Thom S. Rainer If you attend a church regularly, you’ve probably noticed the phenomenon. A guest shows up for a worship service, but he or she never returns. It is, unfortunately, a common issue in many churches. I did a Twitter poll to ask these first-time guests...
The Most Common Factor in Declining Churches
By Thom S. Rainer I am honored and humbled to be in a place where I get to hear from and study about thousands of churches. The leaders and congregants in those churches provide me with incredible information and data. I am grateful, because I’m not smart enough to...
Eight Things I’m Praying Will Happen in Churches in 2015
By Thom S. Rainer I want to share with you readers my specific prayers for congregations as we enter a new year. Obviously my prayer requests and trends are not the same. The latter is my assessment of where churches are headed. The former is my heartfelt desire where...
The Church and Mental Illness Part 3: Pastors’ Struggles and Churches’ Support
By Ed Stetzer In our final part of this series, we look at pastors' struggles with mental illness and the supportiveness of churches. In my first post, I began discussing the results of some recent research conducted byLifeWay Research (in partnership with Focus on...
Missionary kid shares about ‘the girl in the story’
by Bethani Thomas RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- People say everyone has a story, but I think every person is a story: a living, breathing, walking, heart-beating book. Some people create their own stories, while others are forced into them. My story falls into the latter...
10 New Year’s Commitments for Healthy Church Growth Leaders
By Chuck Lawless I understand that “church growth” has been associated with pragmatism and a watered-down gospel, but properly understood historical church growth is rooted in Bible-based, strategic evangelism and discipleship. It is, in Thom Rainer’s definition,...
Looking back, moving forward
By Tim Lubinus Before forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead in 2015 (Phil. 3:13) let’s take two looks back at 2014: Do you have brokenness in relationships? Among people? Before God? Remember, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and...
Christmas Courage
By Todd Stiles Each Christmas I find myself drawn to a contrast rooted in the life of Joseph: males versus men. And make no mistake—You have both in every situation life throws at you. Consider 9-11. Lots of males were running away from the building, but only men ran...
