4 ways new-ish parents win by simply making it to church (Part 2)
It’s a common experience for new parents or parents of young kids to feel like their experience of God has taken a dramatic turn. In this post, I make a case for why the simple discipline of going to church will make all the difference for you and your family.
“Help! Something Has Shifted Spiritually Since Having a Kid”(Part 1)
In the last few weeks, I’ve had multiple conversations with Jesus-loving parents of young kids who have expressed a spiritual wrestle and frustration in the new season of parenting. What do we make of the new season of parenting? This piece serves to encourage those who find themselves there.
Are You Falling For a New Counterfeit Gospel?
Jesus-believing individuals can turn away to a “different gospel.” This turning away can occur rapidly and quickly according to the Bible. In this post, I want to share four versions of “different gospels” that I believe followers of Jesus ought to be aware of in our current moment and the antidote.
There’s a Better Solution to Uncertainty Than Control
Control is comforting because it puts “me” in the driver’s seat. But control is illusive and elusive. And this makes control draining. It is exhausting to bear the weight of an untrue reality, with all of its daily implications. In this post, I share a better way to navigate the uncertainties of life than control.
Two Views on Church Gatherings on Christmas Day
Is your church having service on Christmas Day? In a few weeks, you may find yourself in a growing heated discussion between followers of Jesus throwing judgmental glances at one another. So who’s right? The person who attends church on Christmas Day? Or the person who doesn’t attend on Christmas Day?
Could “dragging the kids to church” be a good thing?
Who wants to go to church with kids who don’t want to be there? What kid wants a church experience where they have to go? We should just let kids be, right? Let them do their own thing? Parents can enjoy church on their own and we don’t want or kids to grow up hating the church. But while this line of thinking may appear right, there’s data that paints a different picture. Consistent church-attendance for our kids may be better for their future.
Why THAT Church Is Still More Than Its Failures
In the last few years, we’ve seen leadership implosions and scandals from churches large and small. There’s a real temptation to reduce the whole of a church down to its failure. And while I understand the kneejerk impulse, here’s an unpopular opinion: That’s only partially true. THAT church is still more than its failures.
Why I’ve Started Meeting With a Spiritual Director
It is easy for a pastor to guide everyone else to God while walking around in circles, personally. It is easy for a pastor to smile on stage, but lose sensitivity to the ways of Jesus. These are just a few reasons why I began meeting with a spiritual director.
The Odd Reason Why Your Bible Reading Plan Fails (And What To Do About It)
Why is it so hard to stick with a reading plan? How come it seems like some people are able to find a Bible reading plan and stick it out while the rest of us struggle in reading plan mediocrity? There may be a surprising answer.
Reflections from The Mars Hill Podcast
“The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” podcast series has come to an end. Some have loved the series. Others have wondered if we’re just soaking in the failure of others. But wherever you stand on the validity of the podcast series, we can all agree that there is much to reflect on and learn from the Mars Hill story itself. In this post, I share a few of my reflections.
And the science says? Practice gratitude to experience it
The Bible says we should be grateful. But there's some science that backs up what the Bible has been saying all along. This post lays out the good news that gratitude is not just something that happens to us, it’s something we can trigger and generate as well.
Why Physical Church Attendance Is A “New" Spiritual Discipline
The Covid-era has changed how God’s people engage with the local church. In this post, I share why we should no longer assume that people view the physical gathering as being essential, but help people to understand why it is so. Churches have to associate physical church gathering as one of the spiritual disciplines alongside Bible reading, prayer, community life, generosity, etc.
Is My Church Healthy? Here’s An Indicator We Don’t Often Think About
There is more to a healthy church than theological literacy, emphasis on spiritual practices, robust small group systems, or engaged volunteer teams (as important and as essential as these are). In this post, I share why I believe there's a correlation between the handling of staff departure and the health of a church.
Do We Hurt Young Leaders When We Platform Them Too Quickly?
How quickly should young leaders be platformed? Do we set up young leaders for failure when we empower them too much, too quickly? How do we wisely unleash the gifts of younger leaders so it looks beautiful 20 years later? Is there a way to make it fall-proof? This post explores these questions.
My 2 Pastoral Crises and What They Taught Me
Every pastor has seasons of crises. They can arise from external circumstances or internal challenges. There were two times in my life when I went through a pastoral crisis. In this post, I share what the crises were and what I learned through them.
5 Reminders For Those Listening to “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill”
I told myself I would not write a blog regarding this podcast series. But here’s why I’ve changed my mind: More and more church members (not just church leaders) are listening in. So out of the burden of what God’s people are hearing, here are a few words of encouragement for those listening to the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.
I became a lead pastor 10 years later than I wanted. Here’s why I’m glad for it.
I wanted to be a lead pastor at 25. But instead of giving me what I thought I wanted, God used the next 10 years to bring me to a place where I wasn’t sure it was something I even wanted. But to my surprise, a decade later, I find myself stepping into a lead pastor role. And I could not be more grateful it’s happening now, and not then.
Church Ministry is Important, But Not Everything. There’s a Difference
I have an obsessive personality. While this trait helps me to do things with passion and focus, there’s a downside: I can quickly lose perspective and treat one thing as everything. But it’s important for church leaders and pastors to put church ministry in perspective: Church ministry is significant, but it should not be the singular thing.
My Stress, My Smartphone, and My Soul - Learnings From Being Phoneless For a Few Days
According to a 2017 research study, those who always check their smartphones reported higher levels of stress compared to those who spent less time interacting with their devices. In this post, I share about being phoneless for a few days and the things I was reminded of.
Why We Moved to a New City During a Pandemic (After Having Our 4th Child) - Believing in the Role of Proximity to the Local Church
It wasn’t a haphazard or emotional decision. My wife and I had known it was a possibility for over a year, had multiple key discussions along the way, and had prayed through it for months. But in September of 2020, less than 4 months after having our 4th child, we packed our bags and moved to a new city. This post is about the growing conviction that drove that decision.