So many people participate in forms of online community much more than they do in their church community. What are today’s churches missing?
It’s 11 am Sunday morning, and the pastor is preaching. Around the congregation, people are following along in the Biblical text, several with beautiful, leather-bound books, but many are reading the Scripture through their devices – phones mostly, with a few tablets scattered about.
Five years ago, that would only be the scene in the most affluent of
The tension is rising at The Potter’s House church in Dallas, Texas, and former church member David Lee Richardson is at the center of it all.
His new book entitled “The Sunday Morning Stickup: What Your Pastor Doesn’t Want You to Know About Tithes” has caused qu
Should people engaged in premarital sex be allowed to lead ministries in a church?
Occasionally church leaders email me, asking for my opinion on various personal or church problems. This spring, I received a note from a church leader in another city. The location isn’t important, because the situation he outlined is common across the nation.
He wrote of how a number of members ages 25 to 35 had reached the conclusion that premarital sex is “OK.” Some even play on the praise team, teach in t
Erica Campbell at Essence Fest
As she headed out to the Essence Festival last week, one-half of the Gospel duo, Mary Mary, posted three photos on her Facebook page with the message: “I’ve been styled by Goo! #essencefest.”
Erica Campbell on her way to Essence Fest
Some of Erica Campbell’s Facebook fans immediately took issue with her choice of clothing, leaving comments such as the following:
Nichole Farve: Idk…I know that the body of Christ is changing into a more modern look… And I also re
Following Lebron James’ announcement on Friday that he would be taking his talents from South Beach back to Cleveland, “the biggest Miami Heat fan in the world among pastors” expressed his surprise, grief — and admiration.
Tullian Tchividjian, who pastors at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, never dreamed that his team’s best player would be leaving the squad following their defeat in the NBA finals last month.
“I was devastated. Literally. I’m a grown 41-year-old m
Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, executive director and CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition in Washington, D.C., appears in a still from the documentary, “The New Black.” (PHOTO: THE NEW BLACK)
A documentary being broadcast by PBS titled, “The New Black,” examines how the Christian right capitalizes on “homophobia in the black community’s institutional pillar — the black church” in order to “pursue an anti-gay political agenda.”
“The New Black” aims to portray how the African-American communi
Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, executive director and CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition in Washington, D.C., appears in a still from the documentary, “The New Black.” (PHOTO: THE NEW BLACK)
A documentary being broadcast by PBS titled, “The New Black,” examines how the Christian right capitalizes on “homophobia in the black community’s institutional pillar — the black church” in order to “pursue an anti-gay political agenda.”
“The New Black” aims to portray how the African-American communi
Paul warned Timothy that the “time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
That warning proved true in Timothy’s day, and it has proved true many times since, especially today, when we have a multitude of ea
The Bible command for preachers is “Preach the Word.” Naturally the same verse says, “Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (II Timothy 4:2). One cannot preach all the Word without reproving and rebuking.
Second Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” That verse says that all Scripture is given by inspiration, yes; but it says much more than that. It
Most recently, popular Oklahoma City-based megachurch pastor Craig Groeschel, pictured here, has been accused of plagiarizing writer and comedian Danny Murphy. Photo courtesy of Lifechurch.tv
Thou shalt not steal another pastor’s sermon?
Recent cases of high-profile pastors who have been accused of lifting others’ material are raising questions about whether pulpit plagiarism is on the rise — and whether it has become a more forgivable sin.
Seattle megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll was accused
(Pastor Charles Jenkins is one of the most talented young preachers we have seen come along in a long time. It is our prayer that he and his family get healed and get the help that they need. Unfo
Roger.Brown@jacksonville.com Vernon Washington, an ordained minister and clinical counselor for Family Foundations of Jacksonville. spoke at a conference on mental health in the African-American community at Edward Waters College recently. Black ministers need to partner with counseling services.
Too often, silence and apathy keep Jacksonville’s black community from fully confronting issues of mental health.
Many black residents are reluctant to tell anyone they’re dealing with mental health
Consider these statistics of Christianity in America: Eighty-four percent of the inhabitants of this nation say they believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, according to Barna Group, and 45 percent claim to be born-again Christians. Other studies show it is closer to 33 percent.
Either way, these numbers are high. Seventy-seven percent believe their chances of going to heaven are excellent. Thirty-three percent believe one day everyone will go to heaven. Yet America has the highest percentage o
When a man of God who preaches the word sends another man a picture of his penis — this could almost make a person want to say the lord’s name in vain.
The “Maybe I Deserve” crooner, Tank, accepted a private message from a fan on Instagram — only to find out it was a picture of the man’s penis.
Tank became more furious when he found out the man who sent the d*** pic is a pastor!
He blasted the pastor (@TheBookOf_COGIC93) on social media for his actions.
Just to be clear, Tank doesn’t have a p
 Jamie Coots, pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name Church of Middlesboro, Ky., died Saturday of a snake bite. (SHELLEY MAYS/THE TENNESSEAN/AP) Coots, the star of National Geographic’s ‘Snake Salvation’ refused medical attention for the snake bite, dying in his Kentucky home. The pastor was praised for his ‘devout religious convictions’ despite the danger.
A snake-handling TV preacher died on Saturday of a snake bite. Pastor Jamie Coots, the star of “Snake Salvation,” was bitten |
 The church always has played a pivotal role in the black community, especially during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, when it was seen as a place of hope, restoration and revitalization.
Church was a place for worship and a place where civil rights leaders such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy and Medgar Evers spoke.
However, there are some who believe that role has changed and that the church is becoming a place to be entertained rather than a place to worship.
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New Year's Eve most often is associated with revelry and partying, but for some Christians, it marks a chance to come together for special worship services.
Thirty-five years after lifting a ban on blacks entering the priesthood, the Mormon church has offered an explanation for a practice that was in place for more than 100 years, saying it was rooted in the racism of the times.
