What True Church Should Be (Visiting Church #3) “This won’t be a typical service” cautions a friend who greets us when we arrive. The church suffered a tragedy, just three days before and not all the members yet know. The service will communicate...
When it Comes to God, Should We “Fake it Till We Make It?” Though David Tells God That He Is “My Refuge,” I Doubt David Feels It Psalm 142 is a prayer of lament. David’s hiding in a cave, likely fearing for his life. He feels alone with no one...
What is the Kingdom of God? Eternal Life Begins Today (Not When We Die) Jesus often talks about the kingdom of God (the kingdom of heaven). He talks about how close the kingdom of God is, saying that it’s near and even that it’s here. How do we...
Growing Deeper (Visiting Church #2) This Sunday we visit a nondenominational church. It’s three years old and I know a bit about it and its pastor, who I perceive as a mostly postmodern guy possessing a modern theology. I suspect the church will...
When Is the Right Time to Close a Church? Churches Close for Tangible Problems, But Maybe Some Should Close for Spiritual Reasons In the book of Malachi, God laments about his people. Specifically he’s down on the priests because they show...
Is It Okay to Question God? God Won’t Strike Us Dead If We Question Him; He May Even Like It Many people in the Bible question God. These aren’t fringe malcontents. They’re some of our favorite Bible characters and, I suspect, some of God’s...
A Friendly Church with a Homey Feel (Visiting Church #1) The first of fifty-two churches is a small Baptist-affiliated assembly. With forty or so normally in attendance, this Sunday has only seventeen. The service is not unlike churches my wife...
What’s Next for 52 Churches? Our experience of visiting fifty-two churches in a year is over. I’ve shared the journey, as well as my recap and reflections on our pilgrimage. It was a great experience. What’s next? Quite a bit, actually. 52...
How Often Do You Have Meaningful Spiritual Conversations? We Must Be Intentional about Discussing Our Faith and Avoid Superficial Chatter After Jesus’s death and him overcoming death, he appears on the street headed to the city of Emmaus...
King Solomon’s Wives: A Subtle Source of Distraction Consider the foreign wives of King Solomon King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wasn’t so wise with his love life. In all he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Even worse, many of King...
