The word "politics" often has a negative connotation. It conjures up images of manipulation, brazen self-interest, hunger for power, and outright contempt for any who might disagree or get in the way. Even if you think it's necessary in certain circumstances, if your soul has not been damaged beyond repair you can't help but regard … Continue reading The Politics of Ministry (Review)
Category: Church
What I Learned from Eugene Peterson
Like many people, I was saddened to hear last month of the passing of Eugene Peterson. I first became aware of him in college, when his book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society was recommended to me by our InterVarsity staff worker. Later, when I began my studies at Regent College, it was … Continue reading What I Learned from Eugene Peterson
Disappearing Church (Review)
I had heard the name "Mark Sayers" here and there over the past few years, but I never really paid attention until Sayers, a pastor in Melbourne, Australia, got together with Portland pastor John Mark Comer and started recording a podcast, "This Cultural Moment." In brief episodes, Sayers and Comer explain culture through the lens … Continue reading Disappearing Church (Review)
All Together Different (Review)
Jesus desired that those in his church "may be one," but it is all too evident that this is often not the case. And it isn't just denominational differences; it's hard for individuals to get along in a single church. How do church leaders begin to address the problem of disunity? J. Brian Tucker and … Continue reading All Together Different (Review)
Seeing Singles as People (Review)
When I first heard about One by One: Welcoming the Singles in Your Church by Gina Dalfonzo, I thought it would be a book with a "how-to" bent. I know that in many churches, the response to the sexual revolution over the last several decades has been to focus on the nuclear family to the neglect … Continue reading Seeing Singles as People (Review)
Character Is King (Review)
Education in general, and education in leadership in particular, has increasingly become focused on the acquisition of skills. Since we as a society cannot agree on what is good or true or beautiful, when we want to teach something the only definition of success we can agree on is that we should become, as the title of … Continue reading Character Is King (Review)
As Kingfishers Catch Fire (Review)
Eugene Peterson has long been one of my heroes. As I was studying to be a pastor, I would sometimes become anxious, thinking that I would have to become an über-extroverted CEO to keep up with contemporary expectations for what a pastor should be. I would be filled with dread and second-guessing until I went back … Continue reading As Kingfishers Catch Fire (Review)
The Life of the Church (Review)
Moody Publishers has recently published three books on the church from Joe Thorn: The Heart of the Church: The Gospel's History, Message, and Meaning, The Character of the Church: The Marks of God's Obedient People, and The Life of the Church: The Table, Pulpit, and Square. They are intended, respectively, to answer the questions: What does the … Continue reading The Life of the Church (Review)
What Draws Young People to Churches: A Review
It happens all across America: churches start out doing well, but they stop paying attention and pretty soon everyone is over 40. Or 50. Or 60. The congregation decides they need to do something to draw young people, but they don't know what to do. So they look for some kind of silver bullet like … Continue reading What Draws Young People to Churches: A Review
The Church as Salad Bowl: A Review
What is the church supposed to look like? Is it the club of similar people that many of us know, or is it an outpost of God's kingdom that consists of a group of people who would never get along if it weren't for God's grace? Prolific New Testament scholar Scot McKnight has written a book exploring … Continue reading The Church as Salad Bowl: A Review
Elliot Ritzema 