Notable Voices and the Week in Review: April 6, 2019

Nine Thoughts on Church Splits – Rain... Pray for Stonington Baptist Church

Notable Voices and the Week in Review: April 6, 2019

From Around the Web:

8 Things That Happened the Last Time You Gave to Your Church — Art Rainer

Sometimes, giving to a church can feel like you are placing money in a black hole—clueless as to how it is being used. As a former church staffer and current church volunteer, I can pretty much assure you—God is using your generosity in amazing, eternity-changing ways. Whatever you give, God is multiplying it like he multiplied the bread and fish on earth.

6 Strategies for Moving Worship Service Attendees to Small Groups — Facts & Trends

Forget what you call your Bible study ministry—Sunday school, small groups, community groups, connect groups, or something else—it is the place your church has chosen as a primary means of making disciples. Growth happens in groups, so we must be intentional about creating a pathway for people to become involved in the church’s most important ministry.

5 Mistakes to Avoid in Ministering to the Sexually Abused — Diane Langberg

When individuals tell you that they were sexually abused or raped, often those victims are terrified, full of shame, and sure that you are going to think less of them. However, they have also given you great honor and privilege because they have decided that you may be a safe person in their most unsafe place. But ministering to men and women who are victims of sexual abuse can be tricky; there are several common mistakes that people in the Church make. By being aware of these pitfalls, you can be better prepared the next time an incident arises within your church.

4 Reasons Why What You Wear when You Preach Does Matter — Chuck Lawless

I may be wrong, but I suspect that some of my readers won’t like today’s post. It’s about pulpit attire—a topic that many of us have had to face as churches try to reach younger generations. Here are some of my thoughts on why clothing matters when we’re preaching.

This Week at ThomRainer.com:

Six Challenges New Pastors Did Not See Coming

To be clear, not all of the experiences of new pastors are negatives. Not all expectations are unmet. But a number are. These are six of the most common…READ MORE

Ten Reasons the Formerly Churched Left Their Churches

Why did you leave the church? Why did you decide not to go back to a church, any church? These and other questions are among those we have been asking for many years through a variety of research projects…READ MORE