The February 2023 revival at Asbury University aroused anew a hunger for God in the hearts of many Christians. It began when students lingered to pray after a regularly scheduled chapel service. The weeks-long eruption of continuous, student-led prayer and … Continue reading A Praying Church | Book Review
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central claim of Christian theology. As the apostle Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” But is belief in … Continue reading Did Jesus’ Resurrection Really Happen? | Influence Podcast
In 2018, Outreach magazine named LifePoint Church (AG) in Clarksville, Tennessee, the fastest-growing church in America. Church leaders around the nation began calling Pastor Mike Burnette for advice. “What three or four things did you do to experience such fast … Continue reading Parable Church | Book Review
“Jesus never told us how to ‘do church’,” writes Mike Burnette. Instead, Christ talked about “how to be his church,” and He did that through parables. Burnette examines what three of those parables say about the organizational culture of a … Continue reading Jesus’ Parables and Your Church’s Culture | Influence Podcast
A 2019 survey by Barna Group reported the startling statistic that 47% of Millennial Christians think evangelizing others is wrong. Craig Springer cites this statistic in the introduction to his new book, How to Revive Evangelism, and writes, “In the … Continue reading Evangelism for the Next Generation | Influence Podcast
Using worldly means to accomplish heavenly ends is a persistent temptation for pastors. Today, it takes the form of corporate business models. In Paul’s day, especially at Corinth, it was professional rhetoric models that emphasized “wisdom” and “power.” Church members … Continue reading Power in Weakness | Book Review
This past year was an unsettling one. I like to think of it as the Year of Three Ps: pandemic, protests, and politics. Each one fomented conflict, but taken together, they were a conflict force multiplier. And that doesn’t even … Continue reading How to Settle Your Soul After an Unsettling Year | Influence Podcast
In the 1920s and 30s, European archaeologists excavated the Roman colony of Dura-Europos in eastern Syria. Sassanid Persians laid siege to the city in 256 A.D., so residents prepared its defense by stuffing soil and debris into the houses and … Continue reading Jesus the Great Philosopher | Book Review
In late 2014, Slate magazine published a series of articles under the title, “The Year of Outrage.” If anything, the outrage in America has only worsened since then. Even Christians have jumped onto the outrage train. The results haven’t been … Continue reading Outrage Culture vs. Gentle Jesus | Influence Podcast
John Mark Comer lived many pastors’ dream. He led a growing congregation (adding 1,000 adherents annually for seven years running) in the Pacific Northwest (one of the nation’s most secular regions). You’d think he’d be happy, but he wasn’t. He … Continue reading How to Ruthlessly Eliminate Hurry from Your Life and Ministry | Influence Podcast
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