Author: Administrador

photo credit: Sigfrid Lundberg via photopin cc By Aaron Earls In “6 Reasons Millennials Aren’t at Your Church,” we looked at the statistical data behind why an individual church may not be effective in reaching young adults. Lifeway Research found 70 percent of young adults who indicated they attended church regularly for at least one year in … Continue reading “7 Ways to Draw Millennials to Your Church”

By Aaron Earls Apparently, there is more than one way to prepare a sermon. Just ask Scott Parkison and Jeremy Rose. Parkison, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Manchester, Tennessee, takes a traditional route to sermon preparation. He tries to spend time alone with the text and prays through what God would have him say … Continue reading “Sermon Help for Busy Pastors”

By Christine A. Scheller Would it surprise you to learn that every fourth person you meet struggles with a mental health challenge? Twenty-six percent of American adults experience a diagnosable mental disorder each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Mental illness affects people of all ages, races, and walks of life. But … Continue reading “Hope for the Afflicted: The Church and Mental Illness”

By Aaron Earls While the decline of biblical literacy has been well documented (less than half of American Protestant churchgoers read the Bible more than once a week), the Bible still has extraordinary staying power in our everyday conversations. Committed Christian or ardent atheist, we all use phrases or words from the Bible, particularly the … Continue reading “11 Common Phrases You Didn't Know Were From the Bible”

Sunchild57 Photography – photopin By Aaron Earls While our nation’s biblical illiteracy shows up in our inability to recognize phrases that come from the Bible (see 11 Common Phrases You Didn’t Know Were in the Bible), many struggle with phrases that “sound biblical” but come from somewhere else. Sometimes these ideas are fairly innocuous, but others … Continue reading “11 Things You Think Are in the Bible, but Really Aren’t”

By Bob Smietana Go to bed angry. Always keep score. And remember, honesty is not always the best policy. Those are some of the unexpected tips for wedded bliss from best-selling author and social researcher Shaunti Feldhahn in her recent book, The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages.  Feldhahn interviewed and surveyed more than 1,000 … Continue reading “State of the Union: Real Secrets of a Happy Marriage”

By Aaron Earls For many parents, the first time they held their newborn child in their arms they felt an incredible sense of love. For me, love came with another overwhelming thought: I have no idea what I’m doing. The root of many fears we face as parents or any adult of influence in the … Continue reading “What’s Your Greatest Fear as a Parent?”

By Amy Simpson “I met your mom on Sunday. My best friend’s mom smiled as she dried her hands on a kitchen towel. “I’ve seen her in church, but I had no idea she was your mom. She always sits so quietly, with her hands folded in her lap. She seems very nice.” I smiled politely … Continue reading “Breaking the Silence: How Your Church Can Respond to Mental Illness”

by Aaron Earls Thanks to some clarification from the NFL, most church Super Bowl events are OK. But there are some guidelines of which churches need to be aware. In 2007, Fall Creek Baptist Church received a letter from the NFL informing them their planned Super Bowl party violated copyright laws. The league, wanting more fans to … Continue reading “Is Your Church Super Bowl Party Illegal?”

Dangben photo – Getty By Rob Hurtgen I have a confession. I am a poor participator in Valentine’s Day. I’m not a fan of the made up holiday or paying three times the normal rate for flowers. But I have come to know—often by grave mistake—how important it is to celebrate Valentines Day, especially in … Continue reading “A Pastor’s Valentine’s Day Confession”