(By David Richmon, The Exchange.) Our research shows that many churches struggle to get past an attendance barrier at around 200. I’ve been helping churches through this barrier for several years and I’ve been looking for a way to help more. There are no quick fixes, but there are very real solutions. We will soon…
By Ed Stetzer, The Exchange. InterVarsity is an Evangelical Christian organization, and people who work at InterVarsity are, not surprisingly, expected to hold evangelical beliefs. Or, you could state it as Elisabeth Dias of TIME Magazine did: One of the largest evangelical organizations on college campuses nationwide has told its 1,300 staff members that will…
If our churches have to be a little more uncomfortable to us insiders in order to reach even one lost soul for Christ, that’s a sacrifice we should all be willing to make. By Ed Stetzer, The Exchange. As we all know, it’s election season. This isn’t ever a rosy time for America, filled with…
The powerful, painful history of the Black Church has much to teach us as our culture continues to push the church to the margins of society. By Charles Dates, The Exchange. At dinner the other night, our family sat in earshot of a group of people discussing presidential politics. They were older, Caucasian, and rather…
By Ed Stetzer, The Exchange. The fastest shrinking category in American religion is still the largest catagory—people who self-identify as Christian, but whose religion is not a central part of their lives. We call these people nominal Christians. Where I live in Tennessee, nominal Christianity is overwhelming and easy to notice. In the places I’ve…
Churches have a mission that God has given. This is beyond dispute. But, we cannot overlook the personal mission that comes with being a follower of Christ. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us.” You want to talk about a mission? Paul says he…
What are the limits of cross-denominational partnership? By Ed Stetzer, The Exchange. In John 17, we hear the Son of God pour out His deepest heart-wrenching desires to the Father. Facing the cross, Jesus prayed some rather unexpected words. Instead of praying for Himself, for strength, for some way out, Jesus prayed that His death…
By Ed Stetzer, The Exchange. There was a time in American history when it seemed like everyone was a Christian. Now, depending on where in America you live, it can seem like no one is a Christian. In reality, in our lifetimes, there was never a time when everyone was a Christian, and there will…
Carmen Fowler LaBerge, president of The Presbyterian Lay Committee, joins Ed Stetzer on The Exchange to discuss the history of the Presbyterian church and the future of mainline denominations. Listen to the podcast here.
By Ed Stetzer, The Exchange blog Is the mission of God merely for pastors? What about ministry? When it comes to God’s Mission and the church, Is there a distinction, should there be a distinction between “lay people” and pastors? We have, I fear, adopted the view that ministers and pastors are set apart to…