Preaching in the smartphone age can have its challenges. As advancements in technology, communications and instant connectivity continue, preachers will need to counter such distractions to relay the gospel message effectively. In light of diminished attention spans and the reality of the presence of smartphones in our sanctuaries, I would like to share seven practical strategies that preachers can utilize to maximize the effectiveness of their sermons in the smartphone age.
We have already seen the two steps a pastor must take to help the congregation get stronger – self-growth and build a team . But there are also two steps the people of the church must take to contribute to the same health journey. Many congregants know the frustration of a revolving door of pastors with their unique visions, ideas, and strategies. A frequent change in pastors can lead the congregation to forget that they, too, have some responsibility for what their church is becoming.
I once chuckled at a guest preacher when he began a sermon’s scripture reading by saying, “Turn with me in your iPhones to James chapter 2.” Of course, the congregation chuckled as well, but he was right — many churchgoers in the 21st century do not bring their bibles to church anymore instead, they utilize their smart phones — and for much more than just reading scripture during sermons. This article will assess the challenges and the advantages of preaching in the smartphone age.
With thousands of churches plateaued or in decline, many of which are aging with the future growing more ominous each day, I’ve been searching for simple and powerful steps in a new direction. Many struggling churches are overwhelmed by a culture of “can’t.” They hear the ideas that turn around other congregations, but find most of these beyond their current abilities, resources, and people. There has to be a “can” out there with every church’s name on it.
Offense. We have all been there. The time your boss joked about your proposal. The time your good friend spoke truth about your new haircut. The time your in-laws commented on your parenting efforts. We take offense. It’s a verbal phrase. Take. Because it is an action, we make a choice. To take or not to take?
Sunday is a day like no other, for many of us. On this first day of the week, we do things quite differently than on other days. We start our day, not at work, play, or with a honey-do list, but gathering with others we don’t see all week to worship. Then it’s off to lunch and perhaps an afternoon nap. The day’s events look nothing like what is awaiting us on Monday.
How do we disciple millennials? This is the second part of our 2 part series dedicated to answering this question. Millennials have much to offer the kingdom of God, but just like all of us, they need discipleship. In Part 2, I give 4 more tips to help church leaders and other Christians as they attempt to disciple the millennial generation. Make sure to check out Part 1 .
One of the most powerful aspects of warfare is that of psychological manipulation. But, what makes this form of warfare so effective? The power of psychological warfare is the inability to defend yourself against its effect. In this vlog, Dr. Jeff Logue shares how WWII was a vivid example of psychological warfare in the way it was employed by the Axis and Allied Powers to target the moral sentiment of soldiers.
“Will millennials be the death of the church as we know it?” This was a question I saw someone ask online. No generation is going to kill the church. Jesus promises that. But the question itself suggests that millennials may arguably be the most criticized generation to date. Ministering to a younger generation can always be challenging, but I believe the future is bright not in spite of millennials but because of them. Let’s talk about how to disciple the millennial generation.
February 3, 1945 dawned with the sounds of machine guns all around the city of Manila. Bombers flew overhead as American troops converged on the city. For an entire month, the US squeezed the Japanese Empire from the capital city of the Philippines. On March 3rd, the Battle of Manila ended. It was the end of three years of Japanese occupation of the Island of Luzon, the main Island of the Philippines. As he fled the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, General Douglas MacArthur declared that he would return and he did.