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I’m at the point of life where I’m both planning for the future and reflecting on the past. As I think back on 40+ years of ministry, including 14 years of lead pastoring, here is one of my biggest regrets: I did not invest in college students well. We gave a great deal of attention…
The post One of My Biggest Regrets in Ministry appeared first on Church Answers.
Nearly seven out of ten (69%, Cultural Research Center) of American adults self-identify as a Christian. With an adult population (18 years and older) of 259 million people (census.gov), that means there are 179 million people in the U. S. who self-identify as a Christian. 179 million. That’s a lot of people. But how many…
The post The CHRINO: Christian in Name Only appeared first on Church Answers.
It’s a phrase I often hear when discussing denominational membership data in the United States. “Liberal churches are declining, while conservative ones are holding steady or growing.” This narrative has become deeply embedded in the vernacu…
As I grow older, I’ve been thinking a lot about my pastoral heroes—both those still living and those now with the Lord. Here are some thoughts that come to mind: These men are some of the most prayerful men I know. Prayer is in their DNA. These prayerful men are also most committed to Scripture…
The post Just Some Thoughts about My Pastoral Heroes appeared first on Church Answers.
More than one study has shown that few believers share the gospel with non-believers. Over the years as I have taught pastors, interviewed church members and staff, and worked with church consultations, I’ve recognized these obstacles to doing evang…
We’ve done extensive research and provided a number of resources on churches that have died. The reason we’ve conducted these “autopsies” on deceased churches is to learn from them. Why did they die? What warning signs did they have? What intervention might have proved fruitful? We have extended our research on autopsies to moribund churches….
The post The Moribund Church appeared first on Church Answers.
Over more than forty years of ministry, I’ve learned that not many Christians share their faith on a regular basis. In fact, I know few pastors who evangelize, either. So, I agree with Thom Rainer that “evangelism is dead or dying in most American churches.” I also strongly affirm Thom’s statement that “an evangelistic church…
The post A Surprising First Step, Pastors, toward Strengthening Your Evangelism appeared first on Church Answers.
Our team member, Ryan Burge, wrote a fascinating article about which denominations are graying the most. You can see his article in our premier content at Church Answers on February 1. I continue the theme of the graying of the church today to address how congregations can become younger. Senior adults are a blessing in…
The post More on the Graying of the Church: Find Ways for Your Congregation to Become Younger appeared first on Church Answers.
I’ve recently taken on the role of teaching a cultural theology and biblical worldview class for high school juniors at a private school in my new hometown. Surprisingly, I’ve found that I’m learning just as much from them during our discussions, whether in class sessions or through our private conversations. When it comes to discussing…
The post Where Gen Z Gets It Right And What We Should Learn From Them appeared first on Church Answers.
Demographics is destiny. And when it comes to American Protestant Christianity, the future looks a lot grayer. Over the last few years, I’ve been invited to speak and present data about American religion to various religious organizations and church…