Across more than 40 years of preaching, I always struggled with the question of the Thanksgiving sermon–especially which Sunday to consider “Thanksgiving Sunday” It may seem obvious to think of the Sunday after Thanksgiving (concluding the Thanksgiving weekend) as “Thanksgiving Sunday”, but at least two problems arise. First, attendance is often lower due to holiday …
Monthly Archives: November 2011
Thanksgiving: The Satisfying Life
The days around the Thanksgiving holiday traditionally give cause for counting blessings–they are also good days for rethinking priorities. Some research suggests that the great American search for prosperity and wealth is giving way to measuring life by other standards. Definitions of what makes life satisfying are changing. Satisfaction by consumption is giving way to …
Thanksgiving 2011
Happy Thanksgiving! I like Thanksgiving. For many years, it was one of the “purer” U.S. holidays–a time to be thankful and spend time with family. Only in recent years has Christmas commercialism invaded. Today I will be thankful. I do not plan to make a list, but I resolve to see the blessings of my …
It’s Sunday Again: The Lord’s Day (?)
It’s Sunday. Even though the number of regular churchgoers in our nation has dwindled drastically, millions of people in the US will attend church somewhere today. (If the surveys are correct, reflecting an attendance of only 15-25% of the population nationwide, 50-75 million people in the US will attend church today.) When the church attendance …
Evangelism
Note: I am writing to add to the conversation on Missional Outreach Network (www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com). The conversation to this point includes a blog by M. Scott Boren, “What Missional Evangelism is Not,” a blog by James Nored, “What Missional Evangelism is NOT—and what it should be”, and a blog by Miguel Labrador, “The Gospel ‘Presented’ in …
The Funeral: to an unknown “god” or “God”
The friends and relatives assemble, the hushed whispers tell a story of layers of grief unexpressed, a thick fog that often envelops the valley of death. We need words of comfort, so we call a minister whom no one knows, least of all the deceased who was by all accounts never much of a church-goer …
Continue reading “The Funeral: to an unknown “god” or “God””
Church Leaders: Answer These Questions
I sat down to make a list of some things church leaders ought to know and be able to answer. Today’s blog is only a beginning point. What would you add? What is your plan for personal spiritual growth? Describe how you personally walk with God. Both individually and in the church you lead, what …
The Place of Professionalism in Ministry
Last week I sat down to write about some of the things on my heart. I was thinking about the general subject of church leadership and ministry. I thought my ideas and reflections could be used for upcoming blogs. But…the “blogs” got longer and longer, eventually becoming articles. Today I share another link to an …
Becoming More Like Jesus
I have been rereading the Gospels. I want to understand Jesus. I want to know about him. Even more I want to know him well enough that I can imitate him. Jesus came teaching, preaching, and healing (Matthew 4:12; 9:35). Jesus came seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus came for the ill, not …
Spiritual Leaders Have One Primary Job!
Today’s blog is another link–again the “blog” ended up being longer than I intended, so I turned the “blog” into an article. Again filed under blog category “Leadership”. Here is the link: Spiritual Leaders Have One Primary Job.