Gethsemane Church

Why we will no longer be a welcoming church

We’ve decided to quit being a welcoming church. No kidding. We’re giving it up. Like so many congregations, we’ve sunk an amazing amount of time and energy into becoming a welcoming church. We changed worship styles, trained greeters and ushers, wore name tags, brewed coffee, went to workshops on hospitality and put our friendliest people …

What does Jesus think about Homosexuality?

Is homosexuality a sin? It’s an age-old question, and there are people on both sides of the debate, each quoting their Bibles. How do we know who’s right? What would Jesus do if he were…

Shut down the bus tours: What older church members should really be doing

So how do you engage older church attendees… say people over age 50? The question’s been around a long time. And, as most church leaders could tell you, it’s a bit of a loaded question. It’s also a question I’m...Read More→

What alcoholics can teach churches

Daybreak Fellowship blends language of addiction recovery with Christian worship

How Long Should You Stay at Your Church?

With sweat pouring down my cheek, my father said to me: “Put your head down; focus on the path before you. Don’t look to the right or the left. Take your time. Don’t finish quick but finish well.” This is how my dad taught me to mow the lawn. His advice is also relevant to …

8 Concerns That Church Members Seldom Tell Pastors

There are some concerns that are harder to bring up than others. Things like: We're concerned about your marriage.

Being Church: Reflections on How to Live as the People of God

What modern church doesn’t call itself a “community”? Yet for how many is it real? How many churches form disciples intimately connected enough to call themselves Christ’s “body”? How many churches form disciples who know the relational arts that create a robust unity? How many form disciples practiced in the ways of sacrificial love?

Is God Really Good?

I once overheard a conversation between two moms in a church parking lot. One asked the other about her son who had been seriously ill. The mother of the boy r

The Church: A Dwelling Place for God

If you’ve ever traveled crossculturally, you likely know what it’s like to feel displaced—to not speak the language, to be confused by the cultural norms.

Does God Want Your Church to Grow? Yes, But...

Does God desire for your church to grow? The short and simple answer is “yes.” We can make this deduction from the fact that God has called us to make disc

They Tried to Start a Church Without God. For a While, It Worked.

Secular organizers started their own congregations. But to succeed, they need to do a better job of imitating religion.

Does God Care if I Don't Go to Church?

While failing to attend church will not send a Christian to hell, it is not what God intended for His people.

3 Signs God Is on the Move in Your Church

How Do I Engage God in Worship Daily?

When asked how to engage God in worship, two words come to mind. Attention and Intention. Giving God our attention and setting our intentions on Him in all that we do. The question is what is the object of our worship?

What names can we use for God?

Why should the kids at my church care about pursuing God?

I don’t have all the answers, but I have a few ideas.

Is Your Church Helping People Experience God Through Worship?

Our pastors and worship leaders need to remember that the people they are leading and teaching do not necessarily experience God the same way they do. This is such an obvious point but really made me consider if as leaders we think through this when we plan out our services and worship experiences.

Why Does God Test Us?

Why does God test us? We cannot give an answer to this particular question without each of us personally answering a few other questions first. So, let's explore this commonly asked question together by looking at some Biblical examples.

How God Gives You His Vision for Your Church

You start with leadership. Everything rises and falls on leadership. I see churches in great locations that struggle because of bad leadership.