Here are some articles, blogs, and podcasts from this past week that you may find helpful as you work with young adults in your church and community. “10 Practical Ways to Read the Bible More” by Chuck Lawless Young adults in our group may have the intention of reading the Bible more, but aren't in the discipline of making daily Bible reading a part of their day. Dr. Lawless gives some practical suggestions we can share with young adults (and ourselves) to make daily Bible reading a priority. “The Attitude Jesus Wants From … [Read more...]
How to Tie a Tie
This past week a man that I’ve known since I was a kid went to be with the Lord. Mr. Jim was my neighbor when I was growing up and our family went to church with him. More importantly, Mr. Jim taught me how to tie a tie. When I was in middle school I was involved with school activities that required me to wear a tie. My dad never wore a tie so he encouraged me to go to Mr. Jim to see if he could teach me how to tie the perfect knot. One afternoon, I went to Mr. Jim’s house. After pulling out two ties for us to practice with, he … [Read more...]
3 Things To Consider “As We Go”
Have you ever wondered how your dentist really learned how to fill a cavity? Or how about the guy that roofed your house last summer? How did he learn how to perfectly align the shingles so that your roof would not leak? Likely, these practitioners learned by watching someone. Sure, they took some classes, watched a video, and maybe took some tests, but the real learning came from watching a real-life practitioner do the job. They watched them do it perfectly. And they watched them mess up and start over again. It was on-the-job … [Read more...]
3 Lessons Learned From Eavesdropping
I have a confession to make: I was eavesdropping on one of my recent flights. But let me explain… I situated myself in my aisle seat for a short hour and a half flight. I was prepared. I had some work tucked away in my backpack. I had some conversation with the businessman seated next to me. I also had a package of my favorite airline cookies to snack on. That’s when I heard three people break out into a loud laughter who were having a fun conversation. In the row behind me and across the aisle was a twenty-something with … [Read more...]
When “I Don’t Know” Is A Good Start
When I was younger I had a fear of being asked a question and not knowing the answer. It was a genuine fear that covered a wide range of life aspects--from not knowing the correct pronunciation of a word to not being able to answer deep theological questions. I felt like I always needed a prepared answer for every question. Honestly, it was pretty ridiculous and prideful. And if we're completely honest, I'd venture to say that most of us fear not having an answer for questions we might be asked. This fear keeps many people from … [Read more...]
3 Ways Churches Can Better Connect with Millennials
Every church looks different when it gathers to worship. I’m not talking about whether a church uses pews or folding chairs; whether the lead instrument is an organ or a bass guitar ; or whether it’s casual dress or suit and tie. I’m talking about the vast difference in the ages represented in church congregations. Over the past few weeks, I've been interacting with the question of where are the college students and young adults in modern-day churches? Recent reports have indicated a steady decline in Millennials being present in … [Read more...]
3 Ways Churches Can Reverse the Absence of Millennials
There’s been much buzz on the Internet recently about the absence of young adults in churches. Numerous blogs, research statistics, and denominational reports point toward this significant decline. There have been countless comments and conversations about the reasons Millennials are not connecting to church. But I’m not quite ready to say "the sky is falling" just yet. Why? Because I believe the Lord is going to use this generation significantly to proclaim the kingdom of God in a world that’s seeking for hope in something. There … [Read more...]
Why Should Leaders Proceed With Caution?
There's major road construction happening near my home. While driving along this obstacle course of a road recently, a sign caught my attention. It was flashing the warning, “Proceed with caution!” every few seconds. I thought to myself, Has that sign been there for the past few days or is it new? Had I completely looked past the sign and proceeded with no caution on this path that seems to change every day? For those of us leading college students and young adults, these "proceed with caution" warnings have several important … [Read more...]