In Part Five of his Small Catechism, Martin Luther (1483-1546) teaches us about the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Luther repeats some of the same concepts he taught in Part Four on the Sacrament of Baptism. He asks of each, ‘what benefits do we receive,’ and in both he replies, ‘the forgiveness of […]
180) Martin Luther on Holy Communion Read More »
From a blog entitled Why Millennials are Leaving the Church by Rachel Held Evans. To see the full article and more by Rachel Evans, go to http://www.rachelheldevans.com …The assumption among Christian leaders, and evangelical leaders in particular, is that the key to drawing twenty-somethings back to church is simply to make a few
176) Give These Young Folks What They Want Read More »
Published on the Joe McKeever website on August 27, 2013 (adapted). Dr. McKeever is the Director of Missions (retired) for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. “Pastor, the minute you decide church must always be exciting is the moment you begin turning the worship services into pep rallies. After that, it all
164) Getting Excited About Church (?) Read More »
THE CHURCH NEEDS GRACE, TOO By Karen S. Prior, August 22, 2013, posted on Her.menuetics ( http://www.Christianitytoday.com ) I’ve talked to a lot of young (and not so young) Christians about their disappointment in the church. Many have been hurt by the church. Many more hurt for others who have borne the brunt of
136) Called to Love the Whore Read More »
This story went viral a while back, and though it is not true, it can challenge us to consider how welcoming we are of outsiders visiting our congregations. Pastor Jeremiah Steepek let his beard grow for a few days, dressed shabbily like a homeless person, and then went to the 10,000 member church
108) A Welcoming Congregation? Read More »
“We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place… –II Peter 1:19 There is a world of difference between the strict, monastic life of Thomas a Kempis, a monk in the
83) Pay Attention (part two) Read More »
“We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place… –II Peter 1:19 If someone believes in God at all, it would be only logical for that person to wonder what it is God
82) Pay Attention (part one) Read More »
In our post-Christian society we hear much about the failures of Christianity. The late Christopher Hitchens even wrote a book entitled How Religion Poisons Everything. I am a pastor, I have studied Church history, I have for four decades followed closely the news of the church in the world today, I have served
27) Has Christianity Failed? Read More »
