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Why We Don’t Have a Formal Greeting Time
“Greet one another with a holy kiss…” –2 Corinthians 13:12 That encouragement from 2 Corinthians is now obeyed in the form of “Stand and greet one another…” And we fulfill the obligations of Holy Writ...
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Why Are Some Of The Meanest People Devoted Christians?
I finally have a bit of an answer (at least for now) to one of the questions that has stuck in my craw for well over a decade. Why have some of the most dedicated “Christians” been the ones who have...
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What Is The Difference Between Tradition and Traditionalism?
Guy: “I hate tradition!” Same Guy: “I want to leave a legacy.” Tradition often gets a bad wrap. And sometimes deservedly so. But tradition can actually have a positive impact on our well-being....
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One Way Spiritual Abuse Happens
“But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.” –Mark 12:42 Jesus goes on to tell us that she gave “out of her poverty”. She put in her last two cents. Yes, he...
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A Simple Discipleship Plan
One of my favorite stories to tell when I’m trying to inspire a congregation to engage the work of children is this one. L.R. Scarborough tells a story from the ministry of D.L. Moody: “Mr. Moody tells...
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The Difference Between a Prophet and a Narcissist
The days of Jeremiah were perilous days where there was a competition on who was speaking the word of God. Jeremiah claimed to be speaking God’s Word. They were not welcome words. They were words of...
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What Does Narcissism Look Like in a Church?
Yesterday, we looked at a few characteristics of a narcissist and also outlined a narcissist cycle of abuse. What happens when someone who is fixated on themselves enters your community or becomes your...
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10 Characteristics of a Narcissist
One of the most helpful books I’ve read in the past 5 years is When Narcissism Comes to the Church by Chuck DeGroat. Much of the emotional and spiritual abuse that happens comes from the hands of those...
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What If Our Church Building Was a Field?
“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have...
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Why You Feel the Way You Do Right Now
There is such a thing as collective trauma. And we’re smack dab in the middle of experiencing this. A pandemic, civic unrest, increasing polarization. We have had a difficult couple of years. And it’s...
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The Necessity of Giving The Benefit of the Doubt
A few months ago we were shocked by news of another pastor who had committed suicide. More than one article/reflection began with these words: “Another pastor has taken his life…” Another. Those words...
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Churches Shouldn’t Have a Fourth Wall
It’s the late 70s and you’re an up and coming television host with a new morning show. You’ve booked an icon in Judy Collins. She comes on the stage, takes a deep breath, sings into the...
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What Does It Mean That People Want Deeper Bible Study?
“We want deeper Bible study.” Ever hear that one? If you have ever surveyed your church about Bible study and small group options I almost guarantee you have heard those words. While community is still...
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Would I Be Gathering If I Weren’t the Pastor?
Most churches across the US (which are open) are running anywhere from 40-60% of the Sunday AM attendance that they were six months ago. We’ve been gutted. What has surprised us pastors the most, I...
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How I Hope My Easter 2021 Journal Doesn’t Read
Sunday, April 4, 2021. If one were placing a pin to chart what led to our demise, there would be several points within our history where a pin could be dropped. But in our more recent history one could...
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There Is a Reason Your ‘Worship At Home’ Doesn’t Feel the Same
We’ve held “online services” for a month now. I am still not adjusted. And I’m not growing to enjoy it. Yes, there are things that I’m learning. There are ways in which I believe this season has the...
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Are We Disobeying Hebrews 10:25 by Canceling Services Because of COVID-19?
Many churches across the globe will not gather together this Sunday. And it’s possible that here in the US this will be the case for Easter Sunday. The government has not yet mandated that we not...
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Mourning What You Cannot Replace, Longing For What Cannot Be Taken Away
And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. –Matthew 24:31 I don’t think I’ve ever felt this...
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Why We Welcome Noisy Kids in Our Sunday Service
There is discussion on the interwebs these days about a pastor who stopped his sermon to rebuke a lady and her noisy baby. The video that was posted is pretty cringeworthy. For the record, I don’t...
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Churches Always Hire the Wrong Pastor
My wife is married to a different man than she was 15 years ago. This isn’t scandalous. Her husband has the same DNA-makeup as 15 years ago, but he has changed dramatically. Hopefully the changes have...
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