Church Life
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The Church is Not a Community Service or Social Club–and We All Need to be Clear on That
Social clubs are great. Community service organizations are indispensable. But the church is neither of those things. Not as conceived by Christ, our Founder. Does the church offer social opportunities? […]
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Are You Committed to the “Bond of Peace”?
In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul exhorts the Ephesian Christians to “walk worthy” of their calling and to commit themselves to the “bond of peace.” We should […]
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Why Do We Do “Church”?
This weekend, Olney Baptist Church celebrates our 47th anniversary. When the church started in 1977, it was a mission – not a fully chartered church – made possible by the […]
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Why Should I Go to Church?
One of the books I’m reading (I usually have several books-in-progress simultaneously) is The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them […]
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“I Don’t Agree With You” — What to Do If You Hear a Sermon You Don’t Like?
Have you ever sat through a sermon that you absolutely, positively didn’t like or agree with? Chances are, if you’ve been in church for any length of time, the answer […]
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When Sin Rocks the Church – My Thoughts on Pastors Falling to Scandal and Disgrace
It breaks my heart when I read about a pastor falling into sin and disgrace. And it has happened a lot over the last several years. At the time of […]
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The SBC Annual Meeting is About to Get Underway — and I’m Glad I’m Not There
For the last fifteen years, I’ve had the privilege of pastoring a Southern Baptist congregation in Montgomery County, Maryland. During that time, I’ve developed close relationships with our local association […]
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Greet One Another With a Holy Handshake
“Greet one another with a holy handshake.” That’s probably what Paul would say in closing were he alive today and writing a letter to the church in the United States. […]
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Is It Wrong to Sing “God Bless America” in Church?
There are many Christians today who believe that any patriotic celebration of the United States of America during a church service or gathering is (at best) inappropriate or (at worst) […]
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How Many Hours Should a Pastor Work Each Week?
This is a question I’ve wrestled with since I became a senior pastor for the first time. That was in 2006. Yes, I’ve wrestled with this question for that long. […]
