The young man was puzzled. He heard me and other panel members cite the inherent limitations of regular lectures and sermons. After we encouraged the audience to insert some experiential elements into their teaching, he raised his hand. “But what about the biblical mandate to preach?” he asked. Now I was puzzled. First, I wondered […]
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Tag Archives: teaching
Missing the Guy in the Empty Chair
September 26, 2012 
11 Comments
We’re producing a generation of spiritual dwarfs. Many in the church are going through the motions, but their faith lacks vibrancy, exuberance, life and contagion. They may be saying the right stuff. Doing the right stuff. But missing the main thing. Yesterday I met a man who gets it. He introduced me to an empty […]
Read more The Trouble With Youth Ministry
April 25, 2012 11 Comments
Youth ministry in the American church is often diagnosed as an increasingly ill patient. Some are even suggesting the patient is terminally ill. Researchers and influential spokespeople report that a large majority of young people drop out of church after high school and rarely return. And they point out that the faith of Christian teenagers […]
Read more Those Who Find Fault with Your Innocence
February 29, 2012 18 Comments
“Christians are a bunch of judgmental witch hunters. They find a way to vilify anything that anybody enjoys.” Increasingly, that’s the reputation attached to Christian folk. And, sadly, some church leaders and teachers go out of their way to promote their holier-than-thou judgmentalism. As a publisher of Christian resources, I frequently hear from squinty-eyed conspiracy […]
Read more Dumb Questions Heard in Church
February 1, 2012 11 Comments
No wonder most people walk away from church with little to show for it. Recent Barna research revealed that most people (61 percent) cannot recall gaining any spiritual insights the last time they attended church. Part of the problem stems from uninspiring content—answering questions no one is asking. (I recently sat through a sermon about […]
Read more 6 Keys to Power Up Your Message With Video
January 26, 2012 22 Comments
You can move—or distract—your audience with video. The motion picture can help you drive home a point, or drive aimlessly into oblivion. I’ve seen churches make good use of video, and not so good use. I’ve watched the searing story of a faith-filled church member who was dying from a terminal illness. And I’ve sat […]
Read more Your Last Sermon: Memorable or Forgettable?
October 19, 2011 6 Comments
What was the point of the last sermon you heard? Over the years, I’ve interviewed church-goers on Wednesdays. I asked them what they remember from the previous weekend’s sermons. Their answers are pretty similar. I’ve seen little difference in their responses due to parishioner demographics, or church size. You can see what they said. Watch this brief […]
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Why Church Doesn’t Fit Most People
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Church Abusing Kids with Root Beer
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Why People Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore
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Acts of a Suicidal Church
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Sunday Morning Fantasies
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9 Ways to Me-Too Your Ministry Heroes
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“Life Change Happens in Circles, Not in Rows.” Are You Kidding Me?
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To Become the Best Church in Town
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How to Silence Your People
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Why the Easter Christians Won’t Be Back
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Joan: "Preachers" who wave the Bible in the air. Why do ...
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Rocky: What's up with all the "big beards" I see on youth...
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Sherry: Music that is so loud that anyone who has not alre...
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Steve-Gaitha Athans: Thanks Thom for "renting the veil" of our "Me too"...
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lindaransonjacobs: You crack me up. Spot on with this post. Couldn't ...
