Category: CHURCH & MINISTRY

Now that Vacation Bible School is Over . . .

Once VBS is over for the year, what strategies characterize your church’s follow-up with the children who attended? Methodologies abound, but let’s evaluate two of the most common. “Our job is done. It’s up to their parents now.” Perhaps this strategy will not be verbalized, but...

Nothing To Do in the Church?

Several years ago a well-known sports announcer was asked to explain the game of American football. Among other things, he said, “Football is 22 men down on a field desperately in need of rest, while 22,000 people sit in the stands desperately in need of exercise.”...

Me Fight?

“Fight earnestly for the faith given to the holy ones once for all” (Jude 3, MLV) Do you like to fight? I hope not. God’s word speaks of our attitude toward others as peaceful and our demeanor as loving. Jesus said that in conflict we should...

Making Church Meetings with Small Crowds Better

Try to imagine that you have never walked into the sanctuary of a church building. One Sunday afternoon, as you drive by the brick structure that your neighbors frequent two times Sunday and once Wednesday, you see on the church sign that there is a Sunday...

Is Your Church Doctrinally Sound?

There’s a push in some circles these days to be doctrinally sound. Churches use terminology like, “that’s a pretty sound (or solid) church,” or “they’re not too sound, doctrinally.” Perhaps you have even found yourself at one point or another on a search for a “doctrinally...

Is It Really Important to Attend Church Meetings?

More evangelicals skip church meetings than attend them. That’s a fact . . . an embarrassing one. One leader claims even the FBI could not find many of them. Some churches have decided to take action to recover the inactive only to find that their church...

If You Want to be a Leader

It is in the heart of many of us to lead. There is something inside of us that longs to help people move forward. If our motivations are right and this is not just for selfish gain or human recognition, it is usually a desire that...

Looking in From the Outside

Have you met the Jones family? They’re fairly new to the church. In fact, they are always new to one church or another. They just can’t seem to find a place where they fit in. The churches always seem welcoming enough, and the doctrine and preaching...

Looking For a Church? Here’s What to Look For

My list doesn’t include a gymnasium or a youth group that does a lot of fun things, since the Bible doesn’t require a church to have these amenities. Here are a few items, however, that are absolutely critical for your consideration: A resolve on the part...

I Wish You Hadn’t Said That! : Guidelines for Speaking Correctly in Small Groups

I know you’ve been there. It’s prayer request time in your small group meeting and someone says something that makes you squirm. “I think we should all be praying for Jane. She’s been on my heart lately. She told me confidentially . . . “ “We...