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Is violence at churches a call for more security?
Sunday’s violence at New Life Church in Colorado Springs and at the Youth With a Mission center in Arvada, Colo., have left a silence that is difficult to fill. Police have found what appears …- Rebecca Barnes -
Rebellion against tithing: lashing out at legalism?
Is there a backlash against tithing? The Wall Street Journal recently reported on that, chronicling members rebelling against the idea and leaders teaching that instead of a set 10 percent, the …- Ken Walker -
Churches need security plans in place
Most of us took Thanksgiving Day to enjoy turkey and family gatherings and give thanks for our blessings. But in Dallas, a pair of armed robbers tied up three security guards at First Baptist Church …- Ken Walker -
Should saints be out shopping?
Like about 147 million other Americans I hit the stores over Thanksgiving weekend to start my Christmas shopping. I wasn’t doing my part to boost the economy, just getting a head start on a …- Rebecca Barnes -
Positive vision can make a difference
Reports in recent years have indicated a shifting of Christianity’s growth from the West to other areas of the world, particularly Philip Jenkins’ 2002 book, "The Next Christendom: The …- Ken Walker -
Seeker sensitivity not necessarily a bad idea
Much is being made of the fact that trend-setting Willow Creek Community Church has admitted it needs to rethink its approach to seeker-sensitive ministry. The findings are detailed in a new book …- Ken Walker -
5 types of Christians: Study shows 3 types as unchurched
New findings from a study commissioned by Leadership Journal have identified five types of Christians. Based on a sampling of answers about church attendance, Bible reading and basic Christian …- Rebecca Barnes -
If God is alive, bad news can be good
Gasoline shot above the $3 per gallon level again this week, not exactly a surprise after recent headlines about oil zooming into the $90-plus a barrel range. That isn’t the only bad news of …- Ken Walker -
Can we change the church's image problem?
The Church has an image problem among the young. That word comes not from the vociferous critics of Christianity, but from two leading evangelical researchers. David Kinnaman, president of The Barna …- Ken Walker -
Are violent video games effective youth outreach?
More about effective church youth outreach today from Monday Morning Insight, which indicates that some churches have taken the lead in offering gaming in order to reach that all-too-elusive …- Rebecca Barnes -
Church worship draws more teens than faith online
Most teens who attend church come for worship. The latest Barna Research report shows that of the 48 percent of American teenagers who attend worship services, 45 percent are interested in connecting …- Rebecca Barnes -
Petitions: Churches should weigh signing carefully
Coming soon to a church near you: petition drives concerning war, school funding or outrageous remarks at this year’s Emmy Awards. I wrote about the latter this week—a wire service …- Ken Walker -
Will Episcopal bishops' 'no' to more gay bishops be enough to unify church?
The U.S. Episcopal Church now has promised to "exercise restraint" over the issue of homosexuality, according to the Christian Science Monitor, which reported on the meeting of bishops held in New …- Rebecca Barnes -
How to avoid lawsuits by knowing the law and remembering Christian teaching
News of a contentious dispute surfaced this week from Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn., where several dozen members filed a lawsuit seeking to remove Pastor Jerry Sutton. As a former …- Ken Walker -
Man shares depths of faith on Nightline
I rarely do this, but last night was watching Nightline and caught the story of Stephen Dziemian's liver transplant. This real-life drama captivated me not because of Dziemian, but because of the …- Rebecca Barnes -
Controversial church vote swells worship attendance
Peters Creek Presbyterian Church elder Ray Peterson raved over the large turnout for a controversial event at the Pittsburgh-area congregation last Sunday. The church voted 273-86 to leave the …- Rebecca Barnes -
Kennedy legacy of evangelism may last longer than conservatism
The Rev. Dr. D. James Kennedy, a Christian broadcaster and the pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., died this week at his home in Fort Lauderdale. He was 76. His life …- Rebecca Barnes -
Mega money scandals should push churches toward better policies
Megachurches mean big offerings. So when something goes awry financially in a large church, it translates into a huge scandal. Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Chandler, Ariz., lost its accountant …- Rebecca Barnes -
Are church conflicts institutionalizing hypocrisy?
I just finished editing a feature on church conflict that Church Central will post next week, so I have had conflict on my mind. Sometimes church conflict is small—a matter of carpet colors or …- Rebecca Barnes -
Pastor as church consultant: Training benefits home churches and others
Being a church consultant sometimes means consulting with the church where you are the pastor as well. For leaders of smaller congregations (200-300 members or less), wearing more than one hat is …- Rebecca Barnes
| Bob Russell tells the church to take a stand against culture | |
 | "Young leaders, the world and your peers will pressure you to soften your message. We need you to be loving, but we need you to be bolder." (From NACC 2012) |
| The power of consensus decision-making | |
| Aubrey Malphurs explains how group decisions can cause breakthroughs in a declining church. (From church consultant training taught by Aubrey Malphurs - www.churchconsultation.org) |
| A fired-up new vision for the church | |
| "It will not be stylish worship services. It will not be innovative programs." Jerry Taylor brings it home in this fiery climax to his message! (courtesy of NACC 2012) |
| The dynamics of church patriarchs and matriarchs | |
| In just about every church, someone other than the pastor holds the keys to change. (From church consultant training taught by Aubrey Malphurs - www.churchconsultation.org) |
| Are you letting fear derail your ministry? | |
| "How do you know when fear is motivating you?" asks Rick Warren. "You have an intense desire to run." (Courtesy of NACC 2012) |
| What is missional discipleship? | |
| We've confused evangelism with discipleship, says Alan Hirsch. "Every disciple is an agent of the king and ought to be released as such." (From NACC 2012) |
| Ignite your church with fresh thinking at Turnaround 20/20 | |
| Last year's inaugural 20/20 conference exceeded all our expectations, both in number of attendees (more than 200) and the quality of the speakers. The format is the same this year - 20 speakers, 20 minutes each, giving their best advice on how … |
| Save your sanity (and your ministry) by saying no | |
| "If you try to care about everything," says Pastor Todd Clark, "you'll soon find out you don't have the bandwidth to care about anything." (Courtesy of NACC) |
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