Browsing Culture
5 Cultural Norms that Threaten the Church
What if the biggest threats to the church weren’t the things we thought they were? We may find that we’ve been blind to more subtle and subversive influences that are having a greater impact on the church than the issues that consume us.Here are just five overlooked cultural norms that are contrary to the Kingdom and are sinful within the Kingdom, unknowingly supported by many of us. ( Photo by Ignorant Walking, used by Creative Commons license)
‘I Have Enough:’ Confessions of a Spiritual Renegade
Among the most revolutionary actions a person could take in a society like ours is really no action at all. Just stop. Don’t buy any more stuff. Don’t even want to buy stuff. Just be content. A Buddhist’s observations in Utne Reader can teach Christians a lot. (Photo by Leland Francisco, used by Creative Commons […]
Take Time to De-Clutter Your Life
Spring is here, and many people put spring cleaning high on their priority list. Along with dusting, washing and vacuuming, why not take the time to sort through your possessions and get rid of the stuff you don’t really need? Lifeway writer Jason Hayes shares his family’s experience. (Photo by Karl Sinfield, used by Creative […]
Do You See Them? A New Paradigm of Family
Here’s the church. Here’s the steeple. Open the door and, wait . . . Where are all the people? Unfortunately, churches all across America are closing their doors. “Where are all the people?†The biggest factors are well known, but there is another reason, a hidden and almost secret reason, churches are not growing. That reason is congregations not being fully aware of the kinds of families living in their communities and surrounding their churches. (Article from Circuit Rider) (Photo © Cienpiesnf – Fotolia.com)
Is the Internet Hurting Religion?
A new paper draws an intriguing conclusion to a question scholars have wrestled with for several decades: Why are Americans dropping out of church? One reason? They’re logging on to the Internet, Religion News Service reports. What are the implications for your congregation?
10 Reasons for Online Giving
Churches are jumping on the online giving trend in record numbers. Most find it a safe and efficient way to help their members with consistent stewardship. Has your church started offering it yet? From Lifeway.com. (Photo by Jhaymesisviphotography, used by Creative Commons license
Holy Humor and the Stewardship of 1/2 Price Easter Candy
Wondering what to do with leftover Easter candy? Want to take advantage of the “day after” candy sales AND express sound theology? Consider an Easter Monday party to celebrate God’s last laugh. It’s a fun tradition and good stewardship, too. (Photo: audrey, Creative Commons)
What if Everybody Tithed?
As a whole, American Christians give about 2.5 percent of their income to churches — lower than even during the Great Depression, when they gave 3.3 percent. And yet churches are still able to teach the ignorant, feed the hungry and care for the least among us. Imagine what we could do if every churchgoer […]
The Scary Truth about Christian Giving
The Bible gives a two-sided portrayal of wealth: It is good, but it can seduce us into sin. The solution, according to New Testament scholar Craig L. Blomberg, is to freely share it. In Christians in an Age of Wealth: A Biblical Theology of Stewardship (Zondervan), Blomberg, who teaches at Denver Seminary, argues that sacrificial giving is an essential part of good stewardship. He spoke with CT editor at large Rob Moll about our spending patterns and whether Christians are required to tithe. (Photo (c) Luke Peterson, used by Creative Commons license)
Promoting Healthy Congregations
Health is a process, not a thing or state. It is ongoing, dynamic, and ever changing. Health is a direction, not a destination, a once-and-for-all property. Congregational leaders are the key stewards of the congregation as a unit in itself. (Photo by Antti Nissinen, used by Creative Commons license)
