Douglas Adams quotes to his readers from the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe’s entry on Galactic Civilizations. According to the Guide civilization pass through three stages before their demise. The stages are: Survival, Inquiry, and Sophistication otherwise known as How, Why, and Where. Adams explains it in terms similar to this: Survival - “How are … Continue reading Hitchhiker’s Church History
church restoration
Why are they leaving? What can we do?
Yesterday we looked at four reasons that people are leaving churches. Now the question remains; What can churches do? First churches must return to the basics. When the church at Ephesus became mis-focused after a few years, Jesus encourages them through the Apostle to “return to your first love.” This concept needs proclaiming from the … Continue reading Why are they leaving? What can we do?
Why People Leave Churches
The question of why members are leaving churches is weighing heavy on my mind this morning. This is a discussion I have with church leaders on a regular basis. I believe that there are four reasons why people leave churches. I also have four suggestions on how those of us in church leadership and as … Continue reading Why People Leave Churches
Why Do We Fight Each Other?
Many years ago, even before men like Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, or any other American Restoration Movement leader said it; and even before the "Paulicans" in Britain and France circa A.D. 500-1200, there were men calling those who would follow Christ to follow only the Scriptures as their guide for life, congregational … Continue reading Why Do We Fight Each Other?
God’s Concept of the Church
Last night - Wednesday - in our Bible class time, I shared a lesson that I have marked in all my Bibles, even in Olive Tree on my iPad. This lesson is "God's Concept of the Church." It is a good lesson for a personal Bible Study or a one on one study. I wanted … Continue reading God’s Concept of the Church
Thirteen Questions and Answers
Thirteen Questions: Someone designed these questions to trap members of the Lord’s Church to second guess their allegiance to the church as the Body of Christ. The author of the questions challenges "Campbellite" preachers and elders to not talk around them but answer them directly. These questions are online and I first saw them about … Continue reading Thirteen Questions and Answers
Lost?
Three weeks ago, Andrew (age 12) and I changed the oil on my truck as well as the fuel filter. There is a trick to changing the filter so that you do not spray fuel over yourself and your son. That trick to relieve the pressure is in the "repair manual" I keep in the … Continue reading Lost?
Ten Years and Counting
Ten years ago a young preacher, his wife, and 23 month old son left a good congregation in Niceville, Florida where he had served as Youth Minister and then Preaching Minister and head for a smaller, rural congregation in the Alabama Foothills of the Appalachians. Ten years ago they drove up the the building on … Continue reading Ten Years and Counting
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Church History
Douglas Adams quotes to his readers from the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe’s entry on Galactic Civilizations. According to the Guide civilization pass through three stages before their demise. The stages are: Survival, Inquiry, and Sophistication otherwise known as How, Why, and Where. Adams explains it in terms similar to this: Survival - “How are … Continue reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Church History
Why Members are Exiting Churches
A good walk and quiet commute this morning. The question of why members are leaving is weighing heavy on my mind this morning and for the last couple of days. This morning I give you four reasons why I think this is so and four suggestions on how those of us in church leadership and … Continue reading Why Members are Exiting Churches
Driving Thought 