Recently, I led a collegiate conference at a local church. Every time I speak to college students, I’m reminded of two things: (1) they bring enthusiasm and potential to a local church, and (2) many, if not most churches—unlike the church where I did the conference—do a poor job of reaching these students. In fact, many churches lose their high school graduates when they go to college and don’t regain them (if they do) until they get married and have children.
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“Lord, teach us to pray.” That appeal, in itself, is one of the greatest prayer requests in the New Testament (Luke 11:1). The request is also a powerful reminder that prayer can be taught. Preaching on prayer, therefore, is a practice which follows in the ministerial footsteps of the Lord, who frequently preached on prayer (Matthew6:6-15;Mark 11:24-26; Luke 11:9-13; John 14:13-14; etc.).
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Lifeway Research’s State of Ministry to Women report highlights some interesting findings. The data shows more than 3 in 5 (63%) female churchgoers attend a church that has an organized women’s ministry. Lifeway Research then asked these women about the value and help that women’s ministry provides.
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Most of us have entered the twilight zone of worship announcements at some point. A person approaches you with awkward determination three minutes before the start of a worship service. A piece of paper unfolds multiple times.
For hundreds of thousands of churches, the tradition stood the test of time. The majority of churches passed the offering plate (or some type of receptacle) during a designated time of the worship service typically called “the offertory.”
The metaphor has changed. For most of my ministry, we often referred to the up and down of pastoral ministry as a roller coaster. It made sense. One day the pastor will celebrate five new believers in Christ. The next day the pastor is met by a long-term church member who is leaving the church because she is not getting fed (I really loathe that excuse to leave.).
There is no shortage of pundits who are providing to us the gloomy and dismal state of American congregations, and, indeed, of many churches around the world. For sure, I am among the guilty. While personal evangelism is ultimately a heart issue between Christians and God, we do see ways this disobedience to the Great Commission is manifesting itself.
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (BP) -- It is one of the most common questions we get from church leaders: When will all the church members return to in-person services?
Thom Rainer marvels at the positive use of social media for God's glory during the disappearance of Christian author Henry Blackaby.
Churches can learn lessons from the cover-up of child abuse at Penn State, says columnist and LifeWay President Thom Rainer.
With the goal of helping other parents, columnist and Southern Baptist leader Thom Rainier lists four mistakes he made as a father.
The movie "Courageous" could be the beginning of a movement that would have a tremendous impact on families, says columnist Thom Rainer.
When I am asked to describe LifeWay in a phrase, I encapsulate it in this way: “We are a ministry built on a business model.” These two components—ministry and business—are essential to what we do. The business aspect of LifeWay helps us provide ministry resources to churches and individuals around the world. Our vision statement captures this idea well: As God works through us ... We will help people and churches know Jesus Christ and seek His Kingdom by providing biblical solutions that spiritually transform individuals and cultures.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--I know. Pastors aren't perfect. But they do have one of the toughest jobs in the world.
