Category Archives: Churches of Christ

Should I Change Congregations? I Get Emails

I get emails. Sometimes nearly the same email from two different people the same day. Both have been edited to preserve anonymity — Email 1 I am unsure if this goes straight to Jay Guin, or if it is read … Continue reading

Posted in Churches of Christ, Uncategorized | 15 Comments

The Gospel Advocate Creed: The March 2016 Issue

As I’ve often said, Gregory Alan Tidwell, editor of the Gospel Advocate, is my favorite conservative Church of Christ preacher. One reason for this is that the Gospel Advocate under his editorship had stopped routinely publishing pieces that damn those … Continue reading

Posted in Gospel Advocate, Uncategorized | 44 Comments

Article in Wineskins Reviewing the Gospel Advocate Issue on Unity

The February issue of the Gospel Advocate is dedicated to the theme “Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” the same theme as February’s issue of Wineskins. And so I’ve posted an article at Wineskins reviewing the Gospel Advocate‘s … Continue reading

Posted in Gospel Advocate, Uncategorized | 11 Comments

The Future of the Churches of Christ: More Statistics from Ed Stetzer

There’s a lot of false teaching going on within the evangelical church regarding statistics. Authors sell more books when they persuade their audience that sky is falling, the evangelical church is collapsing, and their book offers the solution. Preachers more … Continue reading

Posted in The Future of the Churches of Christ, The Future of the Progressive Churches of Christ, Uncategorized | 14 Comments

Direct Hit: A Follow Up Question from a Reader

I get emails (and insomnia) — Jay…I ran across your thoughts on church leadership. If one wants to be trained in how to lead a church to grow, especially a CoC preacher like myself, where would you recommend? Preferably, I … Continue reading

Posted in Church Growth, Direct Hit, The Future of the Churches of Christ, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

The Future of the Churches of Christ: Direct Hit, Part 5 (Developing Resources; Bringing in a Consultant)

We’re studying through Paul D. Borden’s Direct Hit: Aiming Real Leaders at the Mission Field. Developing Resources The pastor must develop three teams to help him as change agent — 1. A prayer team to bathe the process in continuous prayer. … Continue reading

Posted in Church Growth, Direct Hit, The Future of the Churches of Christ, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

The Future of the Churches of Christ: Direct Hit, Part 4 (Urgency)

We’re studying through Paul D. Borden’s Direct Hit: Aiming Real Leaders at the Mission Field. Urgency The missional vision of the church must be seen as urgent, or else the church will always find a different priority to pursue. And the … Continue reading

Posted in Church Growth, Direct Hit, The Future of the Churches of Christ, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The Future of the Churches of Christ: Direct Hit, Part 3 (Wisdom, Exegeting the Community)

We’re studying through Paul D. Borden’s Direct Hit: Aiming Real Leaders at the Mission Field. Wisdom Wise leaders guide but do not overrun sheep. They never ask more of their sheep than they are willing to do as leaders. However, they … Continue reading

Posted in Church Growth, Direct Hit, The Future of the Churches of Christ, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The Future of the Churches of Christ: Direct Hit, Part 2 (Communications, Courage)

We’re studying through Paul D. Borden’s Direct Hit: Aiming Real Leaders at the Mission Field. Communications Borden recognizes how very important communications are to church change and growth. He sounds a little extreme, but I think he’s exactly right. Every spoken … Continue reading

Posted in Church Growth, Direct Hit, The Future of the Churches of Christ, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

The Future of the Churches of Christ: Direct Hit, Part 1 (Leadership, Barriers)

I’ve stumbled across a book by Paul D. Borden, Direct Hit: Aiming Real Leaders at the Mission Field. Paul led the American Baptist Churches in the northwestern US to be revitalized and to grow. Now, the American Baptists are considered mainline churches, … Continue reading

Posted in Church Growth, Direct Hit, The Future of the Churches of Christ, Uncategorized | 7 Comments