Vertical & Horizontal Morality and the mission of the church, Part 3 My church expresses vertical and horizontal faith in a public statement we post on every email we send to our church family: “We are a congregation developing a deeper relationship with God and extending his love to our community.” Notice the twoContinue reading “How some churches are actually two companies that Jesus never asked us to form”
Tag Archives: worship
What Napster’s recent business model change got me thinking about
Vertical & Horizontal Morality and the mission of the church, Preview Take a look at this word: LoFi. Do you know what LoFi is? It’s a kind of calm instrumental music that emphasizes bass beats. LoFi is great background music. Check it out, if you’ve never heard it before. When I am in the office,Continue reading “What Napster’s recent business model change got me thinking about”
What parents can learn about worship from youth sports
Advent 2025, Week 1: Psalm 112, Part 1 My wife and I have four children who played a variety of sports through the years. We learned that school athletic departments don’t ask parents for family schedules before arranging the sports calendar. There were sports seasons where we had four kids on four different teams, andContinue reading “What parents can learn about worship from youth sports”
What Jesus’ kingdom looks like (hint: it’s not church buildings)
Trust & Obey, Week 2: Matthew 16 & 18, Part 4 Can you recite the Lord’s Prayer? Our Father who art in heaven… In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus not only teaches his disciples how to pray, but also what to pray for. What he taught us to pray for has everything to do with thisContinue reading “What Jesus’ kingdom looks like (hint: it’s not church buildings)”
What Jesus never said about church
Trust & Obey, Week 2: Matthew 16 & 18, Part 3 When you hear the word “church,” what comes to mind is likely a contemporary expression of church in your culture. For me, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA, I think of church buildings. My county has something like 700 church buildings of all shapes andContinue reading “What Jesus never said about church”
Jesus’ two surprising teachings about church
Trust & Obey, Week 2: Matthew 16 & 18, Part 2 As a pastor of twenty-three years, I’ve had some surprising experiences during worship services. For example, one time a wasp landed right on my Bible as I was preaching! People seated close to the front saw it all. I swatted at it, and itContinue reading “Jesus’ two surprising teachings about church”
Three tests we can and should use to evaluate preachers and teachers – 1 Thessalonians 5:20–22, Part 4
I observed a recent social media interaction that I think you’ll find interesting. On social media, Pastor #1 posted a video clip of Pastor #2’s sermon. On the video Pastor #2 said this, “If you call yourself a Christian and then behave in an unchristlike manner, you are misusing God’s name.” Agreed. In response toContinue reading “Three tests we can and should use to evaluate preachers and teachers – 1 Thessalonians 5:20–22, Part 4”
When you get into a family argument on the way to church – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 4
Think about how your mouth has gotten you in trouble in the past. Might have been this week. Might have been this morning. The worst is when you get into a verbal argument with a family member as you are getting ready to come to a worship service. You drive to church in silence. ThenContinue reading “When you get into a family argument on the way to church – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 4”
Christians can experience the firepower of the Holy Spirit – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 2
In the previous post, I talked about Christians have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. But in the passage we are studying this week, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Paul writes that we can quench the Spirit. Quench? Is that like Gatorade, “the thirst quencher”? Yes, to quench is to stop something. But the word that theContinue reading “Christians can experience the firepower of the Holy Spirit – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 2”
Jesus’ return might be a very bad thing for Christians – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 4
Is it possible that when Jesus shows up, it might be a very sad moment for Christians? Can’t be, right? When Jesus returns, it will be glorious celebration. Except that’s not what the Bible says. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 1–4, Paul writes, “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do notContinue reading “Jesus’ return might be a very bad thing for Christians – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 4”
Engaging Scripture 