Nov 21, 2018
Given what I know about Lottie Moon from reading her missionary letters and seeing her through the eyes of historians, it’s safe to say she wouldn’t like being the focus of this article, but I think she would agree with what it says. Hopefully…
Lottie Moon is most famously associated with the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® (LMCO), an offering that she helped start by sending letters from China to her constituents in the States. Her challenging words and inspiring message paved the way for a special offering collected in December that funded the appointment of new missionaries.
Nov 19, 2018
Are you leveraging your first-time guest gifts effectively enough to move people from being guests to fully connected members of your church?
I hope so, because this is an important piece of the connection timeframe; in fact, it’s a critical point in the eight phases of moving anonymous guests towards full community.
Nov 16, 2018
For the past 2,000 years, Christians have been praying for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
And we’re still not there yet. But it’s within sight. We’re closer than ever before.
Nov 14, 2018
“Use your words.”
All of us as parents (with children older than 2 or 3) know the phrase well. Small children just learning to talk sometimes get frustrated or excited or whatever and they use grunts, groans, screams, whimpers or hand motions to try to tell us something.
Nov 12, 2018
Each season, the StartUp podcast tells the stories of people who are stepping out of their comfort zones and trying something new.
Through narrative storytelling techniques, interviews, and natural sound, the podcast introduces its listeners to passionate, entrepreneurial types who are working to launch new businesses or build brands from scratch.
Nov 9, 2018
As we move deeper into the 21st century, the front door of the church in America will shift from the auditorium to the home (or third place).
First, I am more and more convinced that as we move deeper into the 21st century, it will become more and more likely that the front door of the church in America will shift from the auditorium to the home.
Nov 7, 2018
We need more churches. To be more specific: we need more gospel-centered churches in more areas of missional need. In general, church planting is the most effective form of evangelism and more churches reach more people.
What we don’t need, however, are more churches planted for wrong reasons. What might some of those reasons be? Here are just five:
Nov 5, 2018
Janet and I recently spoke at a marriage retreat on the Oregon coast. We were rendered breathless by its rugged coastline, enormous fir trees, and flowing waterfalls.
In 1805, the great explorers Lewis and Clark discovered many of these same riches. However, they missed out on what may be Oregon’s best-kept secret, the Marionberry.
Nov 2, 2018
No one said representing Christ was going to be easy.
In fact, the Gospel writers all record Jesus forecasting quite the contrary. Every New Testament writer warns Christ followers of opposition to the good news of Jesus’ reality, resurrection, and reign.
And yet, Christians are compelled to engage. We can’t do otherwise. But why?
Oct 31, 2018
Have you received the annual Christmas letter from The Perfect Family? You know, the one with the kids who captain the lacrosse team, jump horses, make the dean’s list, play violin, serve at the homeless shelter, and learn Greek and Latin, all while mentoring other children? By the time you finish reading the letter and set it down with trembling hands, your Christmas spirit has evaporated. You have a panicky fear that maybe you haven’t provided enough opportunities for your kids.
