“Your ministry (teaching, preaching, Bible studies, curriculum, small group, etc.) isn’t deep enough.” It’s a critique I hear from time to time. Not usually from participants. But from onlooking ministry leaders. I’ve wondered, what do they mean by “deep”? When I’ve probed, “deep” seems to mean dense information, lots of historical detail, many Bible verses, [...]

This week in America, most people won’t step foot in a church. What are they thinking? I mean, really. What are they thinking? Where are they and why aren’t they in church? I’ve heard a lot of church leaders and members opine about these people and try to speak on their behalf. Then it dawned [...]

For years people have told me the church is one of the most change-averse entities on the planet. Ministry people sometimes leave in frustration when their congregations beat down any proposed change. And lay people often flee from churches when they tire of the pastoral staff’s intransigence. It doesn’t seem to matter if the change [...]

I love creativity. And today’s church needs all the creativity we can muster. But for some, creativity has become a frilly idol. It has degenerated into a form of exhibitionism, elitism and cosmetic distraction. Ministry celebrities promote their creative philosophies and practices in conferences, books and speeches. “The church should be the most creative entity [...]

The physical environment of your church says more about your ministry than you may realize. Smart people in the business world recognize the importance of “place.” Apple gets it. Starbucks get it. And McDonald’s is currently going through a billion-dollar makeover to attract and keep more customers. They’re nixing the garish colors, the steel seats [...]

Where are the young adults? Well, they’re not in church. Today’s 18- to 29-year-olds are less inclined to attend church than earlier generations at this stage of life. But their views of the existence of God, life after death, and prayer closely resemble previous generations, according to the Pew Forum and other researchers. “Church is [...]