Why Observe Lent?
If you told me ten years ago that I’d be leading my church in the observance of Lent, I would have laughed. We come from a church tradition that associates Lent with stuffy, liturgical churches—and since many o...
5 Reasons to Give up Something for Lent
Still on the fence about whether to give something up? Here are 5 quick reasons you should go for it:
1. Discipleship. At its core, discipleship means following and becoming more like Jesus. Early in his mi...
7 Ways to Choose the Best Songs for Worship
What is the worship like at your church? As worship leaders, it is a question that we are often asked, and a question that others in the community are asking about us.
So how do you answer that question? Wh...
Creating Church at Home
Ever since I can remember, church has been my second home. I am the daughter of two incredible parents who have been Worship Leaders and Music Ministers for hundreds of years (okay…that was dramatic, but it fee...
6 Ways to Combat Anxiety in a Chaotic World
Shootings, terrorism, and political mayhem. It's no wonder the American Psychological Association reported that 24 percent of American adults say they are overwhelmed by anxiety. Thanks to cell phones, bad news...
John Calvin: Learning from the Life and Work of a Preaching Theologian
Introduction
John Calvin is known historically for his theological beliefs and teachings. As the Church continues to move forward, Calvin is still found in the middle of conversations and is still being writ...
What’s in a Name: Creating Compelling Sermon Titles
Introduction
Calvin Miller likens the naming of a sermon to the naming of a baby. In an article devoted to sermon titles, he writes:
In times past, I have fallen in love with next Sunday’s sermon as early...
The Three Wise Men: Facts or Fairy Tale?
The following is an excerpt taken from Dwight Longnecker's newest release, Mystery of the Magi: The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men.
It’s the night of the Christmas play, and everyone has arrived in his...
Common Grace: A Most Practical Doctrine
It is a doctrine that preachers might make an offhand remark about. They might toss out the phrase in a sermon, leaving it to the congregants to already understand. And for good reason: they received little tea...
4 Tips for Understanding Any Passage of the Bible
If you open up a dictionary or encyclopedia to any random page, you’ll have no trouble understanding the entry you stumble across. These books are designed to give you snapshots of information, and not much mor...