When we observe the world—the sin and disbelief and conflict surrounding the church, together with the sin and disbelief and conflict within the church—it is easy to grow weary of the “changes and chances of this life” (BCP, 60). But take heart: our Lord Jesus Christ is on his throne, his Kingdom is at hand,…
Why I Became Anglican (And You Should, Too!)
After nearly four years of prayer, discernment, and hard discussions with friends and mentors, I officially left the Southern Baptist life I had grown up in to be confirmed into the Anglican Church of North America. This was a difficult decision for me. I had grown to love the biblical commitment of the SBC and…
How to Become a Subversive Church, pt. 2: Catholics, not Church-Shoppers
As a minister, nothing makes my stomach hurt like the phrase “church-shopping” and the statements that often come with it: The list goes on and on. One could write a book about the many issues that this concept of church-shopping points to in the church and in our hearts. For the sake of time and…
John 17 Really Bugs Me: Church Unity and the Lack Thereof
Slightly edited from a sermon I recently preached at Church of the Savior in Wheaton, IL. There are just some passages of the Bible that you can’t get away from. Sometimes it’s because a passage is particularly inspiring, encouraging, or comforting. Think Psalm 23. Other times, it’s because the passage really bugs you. And I’ll…
Four Creative Constraints of the Preaching Life
This post originally appeared at LeaderWorks on January 23, 2018. Preaching may be more than art, but it is certainly not less. It is a craft and a skill. An individual may have certain gifts given by God, but those gifts are diminished if not stewarded by effort and practice. Excellence deceives us. When we…
Payment from the Pews
In trying to help leaders do their work, we are often talking about how to work smarter, not harder. When it comes to leading a church, this can often be misleading. After all, much of ministry work is only possible through careful, difficult effort. Whether it’s pastoral care or sermon prep, shortcuts or hacks would…
Five Elegant Solutions to Grow Generosity
Some of you may know the acryonm KISS. I did not when it was first whispered in my ear by an unknown man about five minutes before my first sermon many years ago. He was a robed lay reader and was seated next to me. The church was filled with the good people of my…
Interview: Kevin Miller
Kevin Miller has served as a writer, editor, and director at Christianity Today for nearly three decades. After being ordained and working as an associate at a larger Anglican church, he now serves as the rector of Church of the Savior in Wheaton, Illinois. The church had been planted a little over a decade before Kevin arrived, and…
Five Awkward Questions Your Church Needs to Answer (Part Four)
So far, we’ve talked about awkward questions that boil down to money. And surely, money can be an uncomfortable topic to tackle. Who should have access to the giving records? How much should we pay the pastor? Does the pastor need a retirement fund? Toss those questions out in your next board or Vestry meeting…
Five Awkward Questions Your Church Needs to Answer (Part Three)
The awkward questions are easy to ignore, but leaders can’t shy away from topics that have the potential to cripple ministry if left unaddressed. What goes unspoken can create divisions and spread distrust. If you haven’t caught up, here’s what we’ve discussed: Now, we turn to the future. For some, it’s a looming question that…
