Tag Archives: church

Boomer relied on a gut feeling when he turned into a large parking lot, which looked like it had been an auto dealership before that day. Maria and Jose followed him past smoldering autos to the rear of the property. … Continue reading →

“What church  do you attend?” This question is usually at the top of the list when Christians first meet each other. For most believers, the answer is a straightforward one, but for Carol and me, the answer is a little … Continue reading →

The Easter Sunday crowd packed the seats in the school gymnasium where the young Four Square Church held its service. The worship team led off with fantastic worship music. One song, Hungry, captured the assembly’s attention, especially its chorus: “So, … Continue reading →

Fifth, today’s sermon is often impractical. Countless preachers speak as experts on that which they have never experienced. Whether it be abstract/theoretical, devotional/inspirational, demanding/compelling, or entertaining/amusing, the sermon fails to put the hearers into a direct, practical experience of what … Continue reading →

Though revered for five centuries, the conventional sermon has negatively impacted the church in a number of ways. First, the sermon makes the preacher the virtuoso performer of the regular gathering. As a result, congregational participation is hampered at best … Continue reading →

The earliest recorded Christian source for regular sermonizing is found during the late second century. Clement of Alexandria lamented the fact that sermons did so little to change Christians. Yet, despite its recognized failure, the sermon becomes a standard practice … Continue reading →

“People preached all throughout the Bible. Of course the sermon is scriptural!” Granted, the Scriptures do record men and women preaching. However, there is a world of difference between the Spirit-inspired preaching and teaching described in the Bible and the … Continue reading →