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Why the big-box church works for the over 35 but not the under 25.

Last year the church that kicked off the California suburban-megachurch movement, the Crystal Cathedral, was sold to the local Catholic Diocese. The decline is being seen in an attendance drop off...

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Case Study: PhoenixOne. Bursting at the seams with young adults.

How do we engage the post-modern 25 year old? Certainly it isn’t easy. They are very conflicted. On one hand they distrust large events. On the other, they flock to things with momentum -in Phoenix...

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Why Blog? Because ideas engaged can catalyze change.

I received this email yesterday from a friend in Indiana… Thanks to the encouragement of your latest blogs I sensed God leading me to talk to our pastor about a gap in our church: The gap post-high...

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Life After “Cool Church?” A New Vision for Youth Ministry, Part 2.

If you have been following this conversation feel free to scroll down and begin reading at “What we could do instead?” In case you are just joining the conversation, this post begins with an...

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“Cool Church” post radio interview today

I am interviewed by Pilgrim Radio’s Bill Feltner today on “Why young adults left the church.” It airs@ 12:30 & 9:30 pst. http://bit.ly/OENBhv I’m right after Os Guinness. Pilgrim radio is a...

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Life After “Cool Church?” Ancient-Future Youth Ministry, Part 3.

His name is Iliya. He was an atheist. At least he had been two weeks earlier when he had first come to youth group and (somewhat politely) mocked it. This night he stands up and passionately describes...

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How we worship…and does it matter? (Pt. 1)

When the subject of worship “style” comes up, people generally start getting antsy. We stop listening and begin forming our objections. The young among us say, “I can worship any way I like.” The more...

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How we worship…and does it matter. (Pt. 2)

Ordination. All Saints, Phoenix St. Jude’s Outdoor Easter Vigil Modern worship, the early church and tradition. In many ways, liturgy is the opposite of modern worship forms. Let me describe modern...

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The Church is Christ’s Bride, Not His Baby Mama.

In case you are not up to speed on the last decade’s slang, a baby mama is someone with whom you made a baby, but have no commitment to and little contact with.  In other words, someone objectified,...

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Glimmers of Hope: Does going to church even matter?

Someone recently told me, “The gathering of Christians in worship doesn’t begin to matter in light of the endless string of calamities, tragedies and bad news in the world.” I think it does. And I say...

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Will we go with Jesus to the Cross?

If you are in Phoenix and want a more transformative Holy Week experience, come to “Tenebrae Re-imagined. Tenebrae is a monastic tradition from the 8th Century and uses the extinguishing of candles to...

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Why are young people leaving the church?

In February a blog I read, Marc5solas, posted “Top 10 Reasons Our Kids Leave Church.” It has half a million hits. Since it addresses themes discussed on this blog, people are asking what I think of...

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Solving the “Millennial Catastrophe”

Along with the hand wringing over the now undeniable Millennial Bailout on the church comes a sense of desperation among ministry types. Over the last four years the tenor has gone from denial “We have...

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“O Yeah!” And other things I wish I would have said on “Cool Church.”

Years ago a friend of mine went into a bar. He was a young hotshot stockbroker coming from work in an expensive tie and tailored shirt. He was trying to buy a drink for an attractive young lady when an...

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You Don’t Seriously Think… What we do in church matters?

This is the first in a series I am calling “You Don’t Seriously Think…” about ecclesiology – how we should do church. Feel free to join the conversation. You can agree, disagree or file ideas away for...

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When did evangelicals get popes?

The big trend in American evangelicalism: the multi-site video-venue church. It promises to leverage the teaching acumen (not to mention star power) of big name preachers to extend the Kingdom of God....

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I’ve been found out! Retraction issued on “evangelical popes” post

My blog post of three days ago “When did evangelicals get popes” (http://wp.me/p2Gq9e-kb) has generated more hits in less time than any post I have put up before now. Apparently, however, I don’t...

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Hey hateful hater, big churches can be beautiful too.

Or: Some churches I like and why megachurch pastors should be reading the cultural tea-leaves. Even friends are beginning to ask, “Why are you so anti-mega church?” I would like to say once and for all...

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David Kinnaman is wrong: How the church really lost the millennials & what we...

(A letter to youth pastors, senior pastors, parents, and church boards) David Kinnaman is really smart. He writes good books too. However, I question the title and premise of his book, You Lost Me. Did...

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The church isn’t a restaurant. It’s culinary school.

Last week’s “The church doesn’t exist to feed you” post pushed lots of people’s buttons…mainly because I put myself in the awkward position appearing to argue against the Bible. Let me morph the...

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