Why is it so difficult to get men into small group Bible studies? I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who’s tried to figure that one out. For me, the revelation came when my church decided to hold a golf tournament. No, seriously. I don’t golf—but as… Read More

¡Hola! ¡Hola! That’s a greeting I hear in my congregation every Sunday. Maybe you’re hearing it too. Hispanics (or Latinos) now make up 17 percent of the U.S. population, and that number is expected to rise dramatically in the next generation. Of course those statistics represent actual people—people you may… Read More

The Q Conference had its usual mind-altering effects, as Christians gathered in Denver this spring to consider questions of faith and culture. Numerous hot topics were on the docket, including race relations, euthanasia, marijuana use, gun ownership, gender dysphoria, and refugees. The forward-thinking Q planners even included talks… Read More

Stop scolding people! Oops. You see how hard it is to avoid giving negative feedback? Still, it’s our job, isn’t it? Doesn’t effective ministry require that we correct our people when necessary? We call people to repentance, to holy living, to right doctrine. Biblical correction Didn’t Jesus challenge the Pharisees,… Read More

It was my first day as discipleship pastor at Browncroft Community Church. A key volunteer approached me and blurted, “We are two months behind in the Read365 program. What do you want to do?” This was the stuff of nightmares. I hardly knew the program, much less the… Read More

I was young, on my own, struggling to make a living. Then a friend said, “Pssst. You wanna write some Bible lessons? You’ve been going to Sunday school all your life. Maybe you could create some curriculum and pull in some extra cash.” Those probably weren’t the exact… Read More

How are we helping people engage with the Bible in a transforming way, especially with regard to the important issues of our day? Christena Cleveland has helped me to think biblically about racial diversity within my church and broader community. It’s a valuable conversation to have, and we… Read More

The bustle of New York City always catches me off guard. “You’ll find people from every tribe and nation in New York,” my cab driver told me as we left Penn Station. Taxis, tourists, billboards, fast-paced locals—everyone seems to be meeting in this epic center of civilization. “Every language… Read More

At the start of a busy day, a college student loads her backpack with books and papers—and of course her phone. She’s off to a full day of classes, but she also has a number of relationship issues stirring in the background. She’s hoping for a call from… Read More

Most churches have a small contingent of people who faithfully read the Bible every day or two. These are the “Bible engaged.” Then there’s a larger crowd of those who never get around to it, despite their best intentions. As leaders, there’s only so much we can do. At… Read More