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Treating Symptoms: The Gospel of Sin Management

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During my junior year of college, I started having chest pains. I didn't think much of it at first. I was 21 years old and healthy by all standards. The pain went on for several weeks until I decided to google my symptoms (something you should never do). Of course, this resulted in me being WebMD’d into a frenzy. I went to the emergency room and was immediately admitted because they thought I was having heart problems. I spent a day or so in the hospital and had every conceivable test run on me, only to be told there was nothing wrong with me. I was sent home. The problem went away for a while, but a couple of years later it returned. This time, instead of paying the insane amount of money the ER would ask for, I decided to find a doctor. I went to several doctors over the next few years. One thought it might be a heart condition, others believed I had ulcers, still, others thought it was something else. I received several different medications trying to relieve the symptoms...
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We Did It To Ourselves - Individualism

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The American church is in a state of crisis. Many Churches are closing their doors and according to recent statistics, people are walking away from the church in large numbers. Everyone seems to have an opinion on the problem and the way to fix it.  I’m writing as a product of the church. Who I am was shaped by the (mostly) white, Pentecostal, American evangelicalism of the 80’s and 90’s. As I’ve grown older I have reflected back on my experience growing up in this subculture. It’s a subculture that left me many wonderful gifts. It led me to many experiences with God that shaped and formed the deepest parts of who I am. But it is also a subculture with many problems and issues. As I reflect on the current state of the American church, I can’t help but ask this question — how much did we contribute to our own demise?  Any movement that cannot self-reflect and ask this question is a movement that, in my opinion, is doomed. If we don’t see the problems, how can we f...
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Evaluating Church

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Each week I have the privilege of teaching a Bible study to a group of amazing young adults and college students. During a recent teaching time, I asked my students: "What makes a church successful in 21st-century America?" Their responses were typical: A large crowd, enough money, plenty of programs, excitement, and energy. I then posed a second question: "What makes a business successful in 21st-century America?" They paused momentarily and then replied, "The same things." I know churches need a sound organizational structure to operate well. I also know many sound business principles can be applied to the church setting. I know God cares about people, and numbers represent people. I know that churches need money to do ministry. I also know that we should hold these measurements loosely. We can have plenty of money and people and still miss out on God's plan for His Church. We can also have no money and few people and be in the center of God'...
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Living in a Changing World

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As Christians in the United States, we are living in a time of transition. Everything around us seems to be changing. The Church, once the center of the culture, has now been pushed and continues to be pushed, to the margins. We once assumed that the wider culture held to a certain set of beliefs and values, that even if you didn’t attend church you believed in “God” and that most people were “good.” Times, as they say, are a-changing. What should we do as Christians in this changing landscape? I have given much thought to this over the last few years and would like to make a few suggestions.  1. Stop Whining  God is in control. The culture you currently live in does not surprise him. Don’t despair and please stop whining. Things are changing, we get it, but whining about it helps no one. How do you think the world view us when, at one point we say, “God is in control and we trust in Him” and out of the other side of our mouths we are whining and liv...
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10 Things I've Learned Over the Last 10 Years

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A few weeks ago, I celebrated 10 years of student ministry at my current Church. Spending 10 years in one spot brings a certain perspective to life and ministry. Over the next few days, I want to share 10 lessons I've learned. If I could go back to my younger self, 10 years ago, here are some of the things I would tell myself: 1. Relationships trump everything    You know what students remember? Not your sermon. Not your cool illustration. Not the nights you got the lights or the music just right. They remember when you were present. They remember when you showed up. They remember when you have fun with them. Above all else, build relationships. A few of my leaders (Who were middle school students when I began 10 years ago) put together a short video for me to celebrate 10 years. You know what they talked about most? I wish I could say it was my sermon or that really spiritual moment that one time, but they didn't talk much about those moments. They talked more a...
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Rooted In Love

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In Ephesians 3 the Apostle Paul writes a beautiful prayer for his readers regarding their spiritual growth. It is one of my favorite passages in all of Paul's writings. I am struck as much by what isn't here as what is here. In our western, "Do it yourself" "Work hard" culture, one often gets the idea that if you want to grow you've got to put your hand to the plow and make it happen. Paul though doesn't pray that the Ephesians will be better church attendees, better Bible readers, or more powerful prayer warriors.  Instead of praying for them to BE or DO better, Paul prays that they would SEE and UNDERSTAND better.  Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT) 14  When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,  15  the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.   16  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.   17  Then Christ will make his home in your...
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10 Things I've Learned From 10 Years in Ministry - Part 5

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A few weeks ago, I celebrated 10 years of student ministry at my current Church. Spending 10 years in one spot brings a certain perspective to life and ministry. Over the next few days, I want to share 10 lessons I've learned. If I could go back to my younger self, 10 years ago, here are some of the things I would tell myself: 5. You can't do it alone  In ministry, we can be tempted to think that the world revolves around us. We begin to think that if we aren't physically present all the time, things will fall apart. This has a way of feeding our ego and making us feel "important" and "needed." We think we have to do everything. Our mantra becomes, "If you want it done right, you've got to do it yourself." I've been there before and it's a horrible place to be. The better way? Realize you need a team. The effort it takes to build a team is worth it in the long run. If you try and do everything yourself your impact will be li...
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