Thom S. Rainer in his book, Breakout Churches, explores patterns which are characteristic of churches which had been good in their past, went through a period of decline or plateau and struggle, before they turned around. Rainer noticed that Breakout churches often had a clear compelling vision, however he also noticed that “comparative” churches also […]
Mere-Exposure Effect
In Psychology there is a phenomenon known as the “mere-exposure effect.” It relates to the correlation between our familiarity with something and our preference for them. There is something in the human psyche where we find that which we are familiar with more likeable, and we are more likely to believe something which we have […]
What Used to Be VS What Can Be
I had a discussion with a man who was visiting. I had a great conversation with him, but after we finished I felt a little deflated. He had noticed that we had a large building and that we had obviously been a larger church at some point in our past. It’s only human nature to […]
The Approachable God
Christmas is that time of year when we look at God, not as someone all powerful, all knowing, all present; but as a baby. He is approachable and available. That for many seems like a bizarre way to describe God. In Israel that first Christmas these were not normally words that we would associate with […]
The Promised Land
As Israel prepared to go into the promised land, Moses looked back at the journey the people of God had been on and how God had been fashioning them into a people who were learning to trust God. After 40 years of wandering, after forty years of going in circles, it was now time for […]
