Tag: Church
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A Case for Institutional Church
No doubt an “Organic” church is much more appealing than an Institution. Yet even Brian McLaren, in his book Church on the Other Side, recognizes that any church that includes more than a handful of people needs some level of organization, and the larger a church gets the more organization it requires. While the notion…
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No Need to Reinvent the Church
Let me just say it straight, up front: I see no need to reinvent the church. What I do see is the need for God’s People to act more faithfully as Christ’s Church. I like what Kevin DeYoung has to say in the Introduction to his book, The Good News We Almost Forgot: No doubt the church…
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The Calling of the Church
The calling of the church in every culture is to be mission. That is, the work of the church is not to be an agent or servant of the culture. The churches’ business is not to maintain freedom or to promote wealth or to help a political party or to serve as the moral guide…
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Are We One?
The church I pastor, Walnut Hill Church, has a problem. While not uncomon, it is an unusual problem in a day when 85% of all American Churches are stagnant or in serious decline. But it is not a problem I expect will generate a lot of sympathy from the pastors or members of most other…
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10 Dumbest Things Christians Do
There is a book out there with the title: The 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do. I feel compelled to pick up a book with a title like that. I want to see how many of these 10 dumb things I am guilty of doing. I don’t know if the list the author, Mark Atteberry, compiled is right…
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Practical Difference Makers
One of the vows folks are required to affirm if they are to become a member of our church – or a member of any church in the PCA, for that matter – is: Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of you ability? This seems simple enough.…
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Community is Identity
From Tim Chester: The church is not a building you enter. Nor is it a meeting your attend. It is not what you do on a Sunday. To be a Christian is to be part of God’s people and to express that in your life through belonging to a local Christian community. Our Belonging We…
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To Speak or Not to Speak
I am torn. According to a recent article by the Florida Baptist Witness, a group of concerned citizens are recruiting pastors to challenge a 55 year old law that prohibits non-profit organizations, including churches, from endorsing specific political candidates. Practically speaking this law empowers the IRS to censor the content that is offered from church pulpits. …
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Unchurched Next Door
According to Thom Rainer, your unchurched neighbors are not all alike. At least that is what the research from Rainer Group indicates. In his book, The Unchurched Next Door, Rainer puts the unchurched in our lives into five distinct categories: U1 – Highly receptive to the Gospel. In fact this group includes some who may well…
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The Baker’s Dirty Dozen Stagnant Church Types
At a time when potential epidemics may be on the horizon the wise person is on the lookout for the signs of disease. The hope is that early detection will enable more effective and less severe treatment. Such a time surrounds the American church. It is widely reported that 85% of all churches are in a…
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Characteristics of a Missional Church
As our church begins to explore what it means to be a missional church, it might be helpful to hear the insights of one of the most effective practitioners and proponents of the missional approach to ministry. In the above video Tim Keller, of Redeemer Church in Manhattan, explains some of the key characteristics of…
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Core Values of Walnut Hill Church
I recently finished a series unveiling the Core Values of Walnut Hill Presbyterian Church. The Elders of our church worked on these for several months, as we tried to discern the characteristics that define and drive our church. Leadership expert Aubrey Malphurs calls Core Values “the qualities that make up and establish an organizations character,…
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Maundy Thursday Matters
Today is Maundy Thursday. It is a special day on the Christian calendar. But many Christians don’t know what maundy means. I imagine for some this day could easily fall just after Manic Monday, Ruby Tuesday… You get the idea. So if the term Maundy Thursday sounds foreign to you, relax, you are far from alone. The term…
