Christian Unity

Christian Unity
Young and Old Can Still Worship Jesus Together
A healthy inter-generational church is one of the few places where young and old can come together and learn from each other.
Young and Old Can Still Worship Jesus Together

(This post has been updated from its initial publication. See the postscript.)

Last Sunday, a teenager named Skylar and a senior named Gene chatted in the hallway between services at our church. I secretly took this picture of them. (I got their permission to use it here.) ...

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Christian Unity
7 Bad Reasons to Leave Your Church
If you’re considering leaving the church you attend, there are a few things you may want to consider before making the leap.
7 Bad Reasons to Leave Your Church
Image: Fe Ilya | Flickr

The new year is always a time for big decisions, big hopes and big disappointments.

Churches are no exception.

For the next few weeks, gym memberships and diets will soar. Job losses and divorces will rise. Some people will decide to go back to church, while others will decide ...

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Christian Unity
Church Is Not Just Who We Are, It's Also Where We Go
We don't just go to church, we are the church. But the going helps in the being.
Church Is Not Just Who We Are, It's Also Where We Go
Image: AllStars Youth | Flickr

When people say we don't go to church, we are the church, I resonate very deeply with them.

The church is not a building or an event. It's people.

But there's a part of me that resists saying we don't go to church. Because we do.

Church is not just who ...

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Christian Unity
Stop Telling Me How Bad the Church Is – I'm Not Listening
I’m calling a moratorium on indiscriminate complaints about the church. If it’s not specific, constructive, and impartial, I’m not interested.
Stop Telling Me How Bad the Church Is – I'm Not Listening
Image: Ben Husmann | Flickr

I reached my limit last week.

It was a recent Facebook post that did it. A pastor wrote that "today’s church has turned its back on God", then went on yet another indiscriminate rant about what’s wrong with all of us – except him and his church, ...

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Christian Unity , Read These First – The Essentials
Six Church-Insider Issues I Don't Care About Any More
I used to waste a lot of time arguing over these issues. Now? Meh. On some things, apathy is the best policy.
Six Church-Insider Issues I Don't Care About Any More
Image: Brian Jeffery Beggerly | Flickr

Is it possible to be passionately apathetic?

If so, count me in.

I grew up in the church. But in recent years I've found myself caring less about many of the issues I used to think mattered so much. I’m not just apathetic about them, I’m passionately apathetic. ...

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Christian Unity , Read These First – The Essentials
Is Church Holier With the Lights On? Or Off?
Two services. On opposite ends of the country. They couldn't have worshiped more differently. Which one got it right?
Is Church Holier With the Lights On? Or Off?
Image: Portable Church | Flickr

There is no right format for worship.

This week I spoke at a ministers’ conference. In the closing commissioning service, most of the new ministers who came forward were wearing jeans and short-sleeved shirts. Those commissioning them were dressed the same.

As they ...

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Christian Unity
People Are Leaving for the Cool New Church! Now What?
Seven steps to help us rediscover our passion and stop comparing ourselves to others.
People Are Leaving for the Cool New Church! Now What?
Image: Dan Foy | Flickr

There's a disease infecting many of our churches. I call it Cool Church Cancer.

It's a progressive disease that happens in three steps:

Step 1: A cool, new church comes to town. Or a cool, new pastor. Step 2: Some people leave our church for the cool church. Step ...

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Christian Unity
Don’t Like How Your Church Is Changing? This Is For You
My tribute to those who feel left behind when you don’t recognize your own church anymore.
Don’t Like How Your Church Is Changing? This Is For You
Image: m.a.r.c | Flickr

If you’re a long-time, faithful church member who doesn’t like the way your church is changing, I have one thing to say to you.

Thank you.

For what? We’ll get to that soon. But first I want to tell you a short story.

Trying to Keep Up

“What ...

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Christian Unity
Megachurches are Not Normal - And That's OK
Small Churches are the norm. Megachurches are the exception. Neither is better. Both are needed.
Megachurches are Not Normal - And That's OK

Megachurches are awesome.

How could we not be grateful when thousands of people voluntarily gather together every week to worship Jesus? Everything about that is good.

But … (you knew there was a 'but coming, didn't you?)

But while it's wonderful ...

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Christian Unity
Dismantling Ministry Silos in the Small Church
In a small church, silos are less about separation by departments or buildings and more about personalities and emotions.
Dismantling Ministry Silos in the Small Church
Image: Matt Batchelor | Flickr

Recently I met someone who had spent many years on staff at a church of over 4,000. During his entire time at that church, he never met the pastor.

He expressed some frustration about it, because he admired the pastor and would have enjoyed learning from him over an occasional ...

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