The Barna Group recently published some research on technology and the church. Links to the studies can be found here and here. To engage in two good conversations on the subject click here and here. What I found intriguing were the stats on podcasts. I listen to three or four sermons a week via podcast. And I was surprised at the prevalence of Christians who listen to electronic sermons, as well as the lack of a generational divide: The study found that 38% of evangelicals and 31% of other born Read more [...]

One of the first phone calls I received when I was called as pastor at First Southern was from another local pastor in the area. He wanted to know if I was open to meeting with him and other pastors from around the community. He was the “veteran” pastor among us – he had been in our community for two years. Most of the other like-minded churches had experienced high turnover with their lead pastor positions. This pastor was calling all the new pastors in the area to begin a time of prayer Read more [...]

People who change churches don’t necessarily switch to larger, more contemporary churches according to Ellison Research as reported by the Christian Post. The research reveals some counter-intuitive findings on those who change churches: When choosing size, Americans are nearly evenly divided between a larger or smaller congregation. Forty-three percent of American Protestants have moved to a larger congregation and 45 percent switched to a smaller one. Just 11 percent switched to a place that Read more [...]

Today I graduated from Southern Seminary. Dr. Al Mohler, the president, gave a wonderful address on staying mighty in the Scriptures like the eloquent Apollos of Acts 18. But it was a prayer during the ceremony that captured my heart. My father had the honor of offering a prayer for the nations to be reached for Christ. Though the words he prayed meant much, it was the sense of urgency behind them that touched me. I doubt anyone at the graduation would downplay a go-and-tell-life. But no one outside Read more [...]

I’m in Nashvegas today working on materials for my book, Essential Church. It’s now available for pre-order – check it out!