by Allan Bevere Now that the special Senate election in Alabama is over, it is time for some Christians on both sides of the political aisle to repent of selling their souls in exchange for temporal political power. Conservative Christians who supported Roy Moore in spite of the fact that there were numerous credible women … More It Needed to be Said
A letter to my church: “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” (Phil. 1:3). Tomorrow most of us will be gathered around a big family table sharing not only food but also the full array of emotions that come with being together with extended family and relatives. If you had the … More A Thanksgiving Reflection
Tomorrow morning we send off our firstborn, Peter, to his first day of kindergarten. And he wants to ride the bus. [Cue the tears.] So, as we all behold those yellow buses on the move, shuttling precious loads of anxious, squirmy, hyperactive, pimple-faced, (hopefully!) potty-trained rug rats, let us pause and ponder their place in our … More Jesus on the Ancient School Bus
My heart breaks for our country and world today. Racial inequality, deep seated mistrust, increasing violence and boiling hatred fill our headlines daily. I write this in the aftermath of the horrific white nationalist rally and car crash in Charlottesville. Followers of Jesus must denounce such evils clearly and in the strongest terms. (Read statement from … More Ekklesia: A Radical Social Experiment
I’ve been reflecting again on the community life of the first Christians described in Acts 2:42-47. We now stand 2,000 years removed from this first glimpse into the radical social experiment called ‘church’, and we marvel at the quality of their koinonia, or life together. I wonder what Christians 2,000 years in the future (if … More Acts 2:42-47 Rewritten for Today
Here are some foundational leadership principles passed on to me related to ongoing congregational health and mission. How have these manifested themselves in your personal ministry? In your lay leaders? In your congregation? Leadership definition: “Leadership is the process by which a man or a woman, guided by the Holy Spirit, influences a group of … More Leadership Axioms for Healthy Congregations
I preached this sermon in the summer of 2012 to rally the congregation of to make a deeper commitment to MainStreet and invest financially in our building campaign to move into our own space at Stonegate Plaza. A ROAD TRIP TO REMEMBER It was spring break of 1998—my senior year of high school. Several of my … More SERMON: Church Road Trip
Martin Luff, the Deliberate Disciple (a great blog I recommend!), pointed out this great article by David Fitch about finding space in our busy lives to meet with God. This is especially timely for this season of Advent: Recently, I was meeting in the corner booth (of the local McDonald’s) with the men in my … More Bore the Hell out of ’em this Christmas
Reposted from summer 2013. -JB [The church]…is [Christ’s] body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:23). “God’s plan for the world is in the hands of the church….God’s intention is that all alien forces, all estranged persons, all warring elements are to be brought to unity. Christ is the center around … More The Greatest Cause on Earth
“Many go to church looking for a spiritual carwash to give our exterior life a little shine for the next 7 days. And, sadly, many churches are all too happy to provide just that. But what we really need is a spiritual repair shop where we can open the hood, take an honest look at … More QUOTABLES: Carwash or Autoshop?
This excerpt from Tozer made my heart burn as I read it today. Lord, may MainStreet become a church that makes disciples such as these! -JB “Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for … More QUOTABLES: Tozer on Bold Leadership
What adjectives do many associate with the word ‘church’ or ‘faith’? Solemn, holy, boring, stained glass, choir, pew, robe, potluck, etc. Reading (and trying to preach) through the Book of Acts paints a far more exciting scene. Just skimming through the first 4 chapters we read the following adjectives and phrases that paint anything but … More Wonder and Amazement in Acts
Enjoy this growing collage of news headlines from our past years of local ministry in Mound. I’m very proud of these articles — not because I want my own name lifted up but because far too many churches are irrelevant to the broader community today. MainStreet’s burning passion is to bring the life-transforming message and … More Making Local Headlines for Jesus
A great reminder — and the idea behind MainStreet Merge Forums. -JB by Cathleen Falsani 05-31-2012 Ah, the life of the church. So many arguments, so little time. The list of subjects about which the saints disagree is seemingly endless, encompassing both the profound and the woefully mundane. The ordination of women. The proper role of religion … More Delivery Us From Smugness (by Cathleen Falsani)
Scot McKnight hits the nail on the head today. One of the best reminders I’ve had in a long time. Everywhere I go and nearly everyone I read has a theme, whether central or peripheral, and I think the theme is getting too much attention and it’s getting too much play and it’s setting us … More The Cracked Fellowship of Cracked Pots
What do you think of Dr. Scot McKnight’s perspective on the place of politics in the pulpit from Jesus Creed? It is commonly asserted that we should keep politics out of the pulpit, but what most people mean by that is that we shouldn’t endorse a specific candidate — and who’s kidding whom on that … More Politics and the Pulpit (Jesus Creed)
James 2:14-18, 24 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well … More On the Sideline (by Mike Fox)
“In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centered on the living Christ. Then the church move to Greece, where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome, where it became and institution. Next, it moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America, where … More QUOTABLES: On Consumer Christianity
Jesus is quite clear about the purpose his disciples are supposed to serve as they follow Jesus’ unique way of life together as described in the Sermon on the Mount. They are supposed to be salt and light to those around them. The task becomes all that much clearer and challenging when we personalize this … More ‘Ye are the Light of Mound’
From Barna: Do you agree with these six themes? What do you think? What can we do? Change usually happens slowly in the Church. But a review of the past year’s research conducted by the Barna Group provides a time-lapse portrayal of how the religious environment in the U.S. is morphing into something new. Analyzing … More 2010 Barna Report – “Megathemes”
Jeremy Berg 