Renewal leaders spend a lot of time thinking about church. In his book Kingdom Come, Reggie McNeal suggests we should spend a little less time thinking about church and a lot more time thinking about …
Fresh Ideas From The 1860’s
Those who know U.S. history know that the 1860s was a time of great turmoil, not only in the United States’ politics, but also in its churches. These years provide useful lessons for our churches today. …
Five Election Day Prayers
If you live in the United States, today is election day. Today’s election is, perhaps, the most fraught of any election in a half century or more. No matter where a person stands on the …
Election Season Sanity At Church
As election season heats up in the US, church leaders face the daunting task of guiding their congregations through an increasingly hostile and divisive landscape. Our mailboxes, inboxes, TV screens, and social media feeds are littered with …
Navigating Our WEIRDER World
Andrew Wilson’s book, Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West, takes the reader on a journey to show how the happenings of 1776 changed the way we perceive life today. Wilson reminds us …
Renewing a Culture of Service
“I just have bad people.” Over my years of ministry there have been times of discouragement when this thought goes through my head. It typically follows a conversation where my fellow leaders are trying to …
Finding a Sustainable Pace In Church Renewal
Last week, I compared leading church to running on a treadmill. The pace of change in today’s world is relentless. We feel like we have to run faster and faster just to stay in the same …
The Death of Hope
Hope is draining away for many in America. One recent analysis found that that 44 percent of American 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students reported feeling that their lives are “not useful.” Almost half added, “I do not …
Leading at an Unsustainable Pace
Leading a church can feel like running on a treadmill. You have to run faster and faster just to stay in the same place, and if you stop for a second, it feels like you’ll …
Forming a Strategy for Church Renewal
One aim of church renewal is to help congregations regain a sense of purpose and calling. However, many churches struggle to form and implement a compelling vision for the future. Why do so many churches …
