According to many social media outlets, books, magazine articles, speeches, sermons, etc., it’s all about the millennials. How are we going to relate to them? How can they be won to Christ? How can they be integrated into the work of the local church? How may we use their talents to further the cause of Christ worldwide? Contrary to what some might think as they read that paragraph, this is not being written by some old codger who has no use for anybody younger than he is. I must plead guilty to being “of an advanced age.” I will not plead guilty, though, to harboring resentment for younger people merely because they are…

It’s on almost every congregation’s “privilege list” I’ve ever seen. Lots of people sign up to perform this weekly duty because (let’s be honest) it doesn’t take a lot of time out of our schedules during the week. It’s a relatively easy job which simply requires that you arrive at services before everyone else begins arriving.  Now don’t get me wrong…it’s a very important task which needs to be taken seriously. Meeting people at the door with a smile on your face and a warm greeting is very valuable, especially to those who may be visiting for the first time. Handing those who enter a bulletin and directing them to a class can make…

I don’t know about you, but there is a part of me that wishes I could hear about Jesus for the very first time today. Do you remember the first time you heard about Jesus helping the woman caught in adultery? Do you remember the first time you read about him weeping over Lazarus? Do you remember the first time someone preached to you about him looking out at the multitudes and having compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd? Do you remember the first time you were told about the cross, “Father forgive them…”, and “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” Something…

I am writing this on the morning after I had the privilege of baptizing a person. That experience never gets old. It is an honor to assist somebody in this way. It is also a very humbling experience for me. It is difficult for me to wrap my brain around the fact that somebody like me can take a part in something that has eternal ramifications. This particular person was not baptized on a Sunday, but on what was otherwise a normal weekday. Of course, the baptism changed all of that. There was nothing normal about that day or the rest of the week.  The decision to be baptized followed a long conversation and Bible study…

In Luke 18 (and Mark 10), we read the account of the rich young ruler who famously asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Imagine his excitement when Jesus began naming off things he had done, in his own words, “from [his] youth.” Here is where the rich young ruler and I part ways. You see, most people use this passage to talk about how Jesus can see into your heart and know what “one thing you lack.” And He can do that with ease. He knows our every thought. Of course, He knows what we lack! But here is what I am thinking … I…

I have good news and bad news. What do you want to hear first? Usually, people say the good news. That has never made a whole lot of sense to me. I want to hear the good news last. I want to end on a positive note. So let’s go against the grain and start with the bad news. The bad news is that you are not good enough for God. You are not good enough for heaven. You in many ways are not even good enough for the kingdom (church) in the sense that your example is often imperfect and your hypocrisy can at times be more of a…