Rethink. Rebuild. Reform.
For years, I have prayed for, studied, and preached about revival. When I became a pastor in the institutional church system, my sole desire was to bring revival to the church and transformation to the city where the church was located. Sadly, after 17 years, that was not the result.…
I recently saw a Facebook post asking, “Why do you go to church?” My immediate thought was to answer, “I don’t.” But I quickly realized that answer was too abrupt, especially for the religious mind that might quickly write me off as a heathen sinner on his way to hell.…
What should a church gathering look like? Should it look like a classroom? Should it be a lecture hall? What about a huge concert stage? Do the scriptures give us any directions as to how to gather? What then is the right course, believers? When you meet together, each one has…
So what is the difference between churched, unchurched and dechurched and why does it matter? I have been thinking a lot about the dechurched people in my region lately. I researched and discovered that approximately 40 million people in America have left the church system over the last 25 years.…
When was the last time 1 Corinthians 14:26 was fulfilled in your church? If most were to answer this question honestly, the answer would be, “In a very long time, if ever.” I have been in church since I was a few days old—55+ years. I do not recall this…
One of the biggest issues with the institutional church is the hierarchical system that is in place. Jesus never instructed, nor intended, there to be a hierarchical system of leaders. Hundreds of years ago, however, men in the church who wanted to gain power and then retain that power copied…
As a pastor for years, I knew the church’s purpose was to empower or equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. I knew that was the goal and tried to do that as a leader. I don’t know how successful I was because most of those who…
In his book, “Draw The Circle,” Mark Batterson wrote, “Every generation needs a reformation. For years, I prayed for, preached, studied about, and expectantly waited for revival to come to our local congregation, hoping that genuine revival would drastically change the community. After more than 17 years, it never happened.…
Over the years, a profound realization has dawned upon me – that thirst for truth does not primarily drive many Christians but rather a deep-seated desire to uphold what they believe to be true. The church teaches people what they are to believe and how to defend their position; however,…