Seven Signs of Hope for American Churches in 2011: The First Three Signs

The critics are relentless. American churches are in trouble. Biblical preaching and teaching are shallow and superficial. Conversion rates are down. Local churches have become self-centered instead of outwardly focused. Indeed the critics are right. I have been among those self-declared pundits who have found numerous faults with churches across America, and I have not been shy to write and speak about them. While the problems are real, many people like me have magnified them. As a consequence, church leaders are often left demoralized and with little hope. The fact of the matter is that Christ's Church has survived 2,000...