5 Misconceptions About Dechurching in America
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“Misconception #1: People leave primarily because of negative experiences with the church….Misconception #2: Young people are leaving the church after attending secular universities.” - TGC
AI-Powered Preaching: How Much Should Silicon Valley Impact Sermon Prep?
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“Using his normal means of research, the pastor of Madison Baptist Church…had trouble narrowing down the ways the 12 apostles died. So he opened ChatGPT and asked the artificial intelligence (AI) application.” - Lifeway
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How to Care for Your Pastor, Part 7: Praying for More
Read the series.
We’ve looked at several New Testament passages that speak directly of leaders in the church, and how the members of the church should behave toward them. I think there’s material there for all of us to attend to.
I’d like to close the series by going to a passage that doesn’t mention pastors at all, but that points us to a significant step we can take for the days ahead.
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Study: Pastors, churches still struggling in throes of ‘uncertainty and unsettledness’ post-pandemic
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The Hartford Institute for Religion Research study found that “approximately one-third of the 4,809 churches in the study say their attendance has increased since the pandemic…more than half say they have suffered a slight or severe decline in attendance.” - CPost
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Making the Decision to Go to Seminary: Considerations Before Going
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“get a secular degree and a job first….Does God call some straight from high school to a Bible college and then to a church? Sure. Is it better to obtain a secular degree and begin honing relational skills in the workforce? I believe so for most people.” - Sam Rainer
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SBC Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force begins vetting process for Ministry Check website
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“That vetting process is ‘presently limited…to determining eligibility … on the basis of prior criminal convictions or civil judgements rendered against accused individuals for sex-based offenses.’” - BPNews
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The Joys and Challenges of Being a Guest Speaker (Part 2)
Read the series.
Being a guest speaker in a local church congregation is a great honor, but there can also be some very real complexities that accompany such an opportunity. How should we as preachers handle these challenges?
I shared in the first installment that I always try to ask the following questions before I go into a church to speak:
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Pastors’ Average Age Stable Over Past Decade
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“The percentage of U.S. Protestant pastors age 18-44 has increased from 23% to 26%. Additionally, the number of pastors who are 65 and older has jumped from 19% to 23%.” - Lifeway
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The Great Leadership Shortage in Churches: Five Ways to Address It
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“The caveat for any solutions to fill leadership voids is that it does not happen overnight. But we are working with a number of church leaders who are beginning to see success in finding the right kinds of leaders.” - Church Answers
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Will There Be Technology in Heaven?
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“It’s a narrow view of both God and humans to imagine that God can be pleased and glorified with a trumpet but not a desk, computer, or baseball bat. Will there be new inventions? Refinements of old inventions? Why not?” - Randy Alcorn
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