Category: Church Practices
When You’re Called On to Read the Bible Publicly
Have you ever been asked to read Scripture during the main church meeting on Sunday? Have you been asked to read Scripture in a Sunday School class or other Bible study? How did it go? How should it go? How should a person read the Bible...
Sing to One Another at the Church Meeting?
What do these verses tell us about singing in the church? “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with...
Sheep on Offense
The video showed three sheep walking down a grass-lined country road. Suddenly a wolf came toward them out of the woods. Rather than panicking and scattering like sheep tend to do, these three stayed together and stood their ground. In fact, they advanced toward the wolf...
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...
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...
Does Your Teaching Make People Sleepy?
Glazed over eyes. Wide, tear-producing yawns. Bobbing heads. If you are a pastor, Sunday school teacher, or Bible study leader, you’ve seen them all while you were speaking, and you may be to blame. Is there anything we can do to help people stay connected while...
A Revival of the Public Reading of Scripture
I’m risking sounding old-fashioned, uninventive, or the promoter of something that “just won’t work these days,” but here’s my conviction: We should read even large sections of Scripture when the church meets. A Concise Biblical History Throughout the Bible, God expected His people to hear His...
May I Participate in the Lord’s Supper?
Who should participate in Lord’s Supper when it is offered in the church meeting? Though there are some differences between churches on this question, many leaders agree on the following statements as requirements from the Bible on this important practice. Is not the cup of blessing...
