John Piper Uses Twitter, has a dynamic website and is obviously with us in the 21st century.

But when it comes to preaching, his views on technology are surprising. . .or not.

Take a look at this short interview video clip where he discusses his thoughts on when pastors use videos and movie clips and moving graphics during church services.

I love how he ends the response by addressing the age old new question:

Will the pastor go to hell for using movie clips during their sermon?

What are your own thoughts on this?

Do you have any examples of specific sermons or pastors that utilize video or movie clips in a way that completely elevates the herald’s message on Sunday morning?  Messages that could not be accomplished without the A/V and media team?

One way to look at this question is, is there a difference between required and preferred?  If you were in a media-heavy church and the pastor came out this coming sunday with NO monitors, no screens, no technology except a mic on a stand (not even the wireless behind the ear or lapel mic!).    Would if still fly?  Would everyone be in just utter shock?

Please share a comment (and links to any sermons on the web) below.   While we all know the default techno-embracing answers, I’m quite curious to see what your reaction is!

Creation Festivals are annual events that have become the Nation’s Largest Christian Music Festivals.

The Creation Experience includes four jam-packed days of music, teaching, baptism, camping and fellowship.

Creation Festival is giving away 11 free songs from some of the top Christian Contemporary Music bands: (more…)

When engaging the world in our now post-Christian times, I really feel that the Church needs to perk up its ears to the message that atheists are pushing against the existence of God. The campaigns are getting more sophisticated, media savvy and loud.

This video is fast and fluid and you’ll feel the persuasiveness as the message proceeds:

Aside from the petty, but gross misunderstanding shown in the portrayal of Christian’s imposition upon others, how do you respond to this type of bold argument?

For me, I see that if you take a moment to think about the path of this argument, you’ll understand that some basic epistemological criteria are ignored in dealing with supernatural issues. One area I think those that want to pursue atheistic positions should consider further is the assumption that subjective experiences cannot be used as evidence for assessing objective reality. Or whether logic and reason can be relied upon solely in determining God does NOT exist. The Christian claim is supernatural. It ain’t logical at all.

If we are to be called heralds for God, we seriously need to understand the campaign against God and the Church. Listening to their pitch is the first step.

How do you respond to this specific video? How do you respond to the atheist of today?

Why doesn’t Jesus show up in person on a TV screen, on a nice blank piece of paper, or someplace else that seems a little bit more reasonable than where people reportedly see him these days?

Our faith pushes us to expect the unexpected of God, especially during Advent, but in the residual grease of a frying pan where you just fried a cheeseburger?

Perhaps your faith is stronger than mine. . . .

Today’s guest post is from Atlanta’s Rev. Joel Hug.  He has been meditating on Psalm 23 and shares with us what he has discovered about our God of Increase.

Psalm 23:1 – The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.

This verse, I believe, has been twisted by Satan himself to force a crowbar into our lives and slowly dismantle our future.

If you look up the word “want” in history, the common definition today is “to desire”, which didn’t come into existence until the early 1700′s. Prior to this, (more…)

A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service:

‘And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?’

One bright little girl raised her hand eagerly because she knew the answer.

After the teacher acknowledged her enthusiasm, she simply replied. . . (more…)

Whenever discussions steer toward the ministries of mega churches (approx. 2000 or more attenders weekly) I find myself waiting for the inevitable slams against “the machine” or the lack of individual attention found in these large congregations or how seeker-friendly focused they are or something to do with consumeristic approaches to programming.

Over time, I started to think about whether or not these are really the right measures for judging these large operations in the name of Christ.

Lo and behold, I came across some research that revealed religious beliefs of church goers based on what size church they attend.

So do smaller church settings produce better discipleship environments?  And by smaller churches, let’s say with the average Presbyterian church worship attendance of 100 or so.

Do these church members come out as Christians that are more involved in serving and using their gifts?  Where do they fall regarding works righteousness?  What do they think about Jesus…like, was he supernatural and sinless or just a teacher’s pet type-better than average Joe?  How important is the Great Commission regarding their own responsibility as a Christian?

I was surprised to see the results so consistent across all factors measured between the small congregations with under 100 attenders, all the way up to churches with 1000+ attenders.    Perhaps it’s time to let the numbers speak and stop making arguments without real tangible back-up on these issues?

Here’s the data so that you can decide for yourself: (more…)

You’ve probably heard of the challenge to always preach as if it’s the last message you’ll ever share.  But I realized recently that this same frame of mind can be applied to everything I am doing in ministry.

Just how much of our daily work is just passing the bar?  Especially things that belong to the daily routine.

Even the most mundane tasks can be done with excellence or with such dynamic creativity that it leaves people breathless.

I saw this video clip and was reminded that even the most mundane handful of sand can be used to witness to God’s glory in the world he created for you and me.  All you need is some movement, rearrangement and creativity.

“We all leave footprints in the sand, the question is, will we be a big heal, or a great soul.”

So are there any parts of your ministry that can use some movement or rearrangement so that you can be a beacon of light to everyone that watches?

The Gospel message is about relationships, right?

And I think you’ll agree that our world is undergoing a fundamental shift in how we relate to each other due to the undeniable impact of technology (Internet) and the social media that has evolved out of it.

The Google generation doesn’t email, they Facebook.  It is just a fact now that people check Facebook first and more often each day than their email.  People are learning the ins and out of syndicating their lives through FB status updates, Twitter and other social media platforms.

But note that I recently sat in a mandatory seminary workshop for the graduate program at Princeton Theological Seminary where the facilitator actually proposed that pastors NOT get involved with Facebook, Twitter, etc in their methods of communicating with their congregation 24/7 – specifically with youth.

But if the ways in which we (meaning humans in the 21st century and beyond) now meet, connect and relate to each other is changing in seismic ways, why isn’t the Church following suit?

If you’re not convinced that social networking / social media is changing our lives, check this video out:

This is not about pushing Twittering during worship services.

What I’m talking about is for the Church to be visible and available in the places where the people are already.  Today’s that’s online and on social networking platforms.

It’s also about creating volumes of first class content that is able to be shared and given exposure where millions and millions of people are already tuning in.

What is your church doing with social media / social networking?

Robert Wright (meaningoflife.tv) wrote The Evolution of God, which considers what brings out the best or worst in religions based on a view that understands a moral growth of the Abrahamic God.

He is interested in the circumstances that brought out the best in religion in ancient times so that we can extrapolate to modern times to see what we need to get the best out of our religious landscape today.

Wright and and Tyler Cowen (George Mason Univ) duke it out in an interesting video interview.  Watch it and let me know what you think.

Does Wright’s non-zero sum God allow scenarios for peace and expanding horizons of hope for Christians today?  Please leave some comments below of anything that hit you while watching these two blogging heads discussing these issues.