That Stat That Says Pastors Are All Miserable and Want to Quit
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“Stop spreading statistics that, if they were right in the first place, are over 20 years old—even the man who did the study agrees!”
Discussion
SBC IMF Missionaries offered "early retirement"
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Cash-Strapped Missionaries Get a New Calling: Home
“The International Mission Board, an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention with 4,800 missionaries and 450 support staff, plans to cut 600 to 800 people from its workforce, a 15% reduction.
Discussion
9 Essentials for Guest-Friendly Church Bulletins
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“[T]he church bulletin to be first for guests. While church members can benefit from it, the most effective use comes from those who are new to your church.” CPost
Discussion
10 Mistakes We Make With the Gospel
1. Referring Rather than Declaring
It’s one thing to say “the gospel is central to all we do.” It’s another thing to declare that Jesus Christ died for sinners and rose again. It’s yet another thing to integrate the gospel into how we look at every part of ministry. Note the difference between these statements:
Statement 1: We have a children’s ministry to further the gospel in the lives of children
Statement 2: We have a children’s ministry because we all come into this world as sinners in need of rescue by a living, sinless Savior. It’s never too soon to start learning this freeing truth (Matt. 19:14, John 8:32).
Discussion
The Problem of "Church Hopping" in My Community (Part 1)
I realize this practice is not unique to my community, but I think it happens in the Greenville, South Carolina area at an unusual level. Too much, in fact.
According to City-Data, there are 473 Evangelical Protestant churches in Greenville County. This does not include mainline denominational churches. Recently a visitor to our church told me she was looking for a church and had attended over 50 so far! (She was not church-hopping, she was church-shopping. There’s a difference.) There are many, many church options with varying degrees and shades of distinction. If a church member becomes disenchanted with his current church, he can most likely find another one that promises to match his preferences in a particular element of church life.
Discussion
What is your view of church mergers?
According to a number of sources, evangelical (and fundamental) Christianity is quickly shrinking in the US while expanding in many other nations. As younger people typically leave the church in droves (2 out of 3, only in this case not coming back as in the past), many churches are just now beginning to notice the problem. In some regions, the problem is not as obvious as in others.
Discussion
Principles of Teaching - Effective Illustrating
Every good craftsman has a toolbox—perhaps more than one. When there is a job to be done, a skilled craftsman does not assess the job primarily based on what tools can be used to get the job done. Instead, the focus is on what tools are needed in order to get the job done.
Discussion
How Then Shall We Preach?
Should students be taught a single approach to expositional preaching?
For almost two thousand years, expositors have been answering the clarion call of Paul to “Preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2). Even a cursory review of history demonstrates that God has gifted his church (Eph. 4:11–13) with a host of faithful expositors. Men like Tertullian, Justin Martyr, Augustine, John Chrysotom, John Wyclif, Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin each proclaimed the Word to their generation. Puritans like Richard Baxter, John Owen, Thomas Manton and John Bunyan are also noteworthy.
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