Author Archives: rthenderson

8.9.12 BLOG: “DESCRIBE A CONGREGATION GETTING IT RIGHT.” One of my wonderfully provocative friends sent along this comment to my last blog: “I’m eager to hear you describe a congregation getting it right.” Bingo! This comment nails, quite precisely, the … Continue reading →

8/6/12. (CONTINUED): “WHO EFFECTIVELY INTERPRETS THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE TO THE WORLD AROUND US?” I would not be surprised but what there were a few raised eyebrows, or unconvinced snorts, at my last Blog about a church without clergy. Understandable. But … Continue reading →

8/2/12 BLOG: “A CHURCH WITHOUT CLERGY?” … NOW THERE’S A THOUGHT” Imagine a church without “clergy,” or church professionals, or those personable institution-keepers who preach sermons (and who tend to be formed by, and captive to, the clergy-seminary sub-culture). What … Continue reading →

BLOG: 7/30/12. “NOT CHURCH MEMBERS, … BUT DISCIPLES” Did you ever notice that in the New Testament there is never any mention of church members? Never. Or, that there is never any invitation to join the church? (Nor is there … Continue reading →

7/26/12. “THE CULTURE MOVED, THE CHURCH DIDN’T” One of the most devastating subversions ever perpetrated upon Christ’s church was in that (circa) 4th century decision (assisted by its new enthusiast, the Emperor Constantine) that it needed temples, priesthood, liturgical performances, … Continue reading →

7/23/12 BLOG: QUESTION, LANGUAGE, PLUS A REQUEST The Question: “Who is the target audience for your blog, Bob: clergy or laity?” That question came from a guy who is both a respondent to what I have been blogging, and also … Continue reading →

7/19/12. “WHERE IS THE CHURCH ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON?” I’ve been reading David Kinnaman’s provocative book: You Lost Me. It is a well-researched study about how the church is losing the twenty-something generation (variously called: Mosaics, Millennials, or GenY). Kinnaman is … Continue reading →

7/16/12 “EMPTY LIES THE [CHURCH] WITHOUT MEANING” Isaiah looked at the city of Jerusalem (8th century B.C.) and lamented: “Empty lies the city without meaning” (Isaiah 24:10). The buildings were all there. The temple was there. The liturgical rites were … Continue reading →

7/12/12. “ … THE PLAN OF THE MYSTERY HIDDEN FOR AGES …” A few weeks ago the world’s scientific community was all agog abut the confirmation of the long suspected reality of Higgs boson, that invisible particle that is responsible … Continue reading →

HOW IN THE WORLD COULD THAT BE: A CONTAGIOUS CHURCH IN A HOSTILE SOCIETY? On our North American scene, one hardly mentions the word “church” in conversation with one’s ‘sojourning’ (as defined by someone: “spiritually confused god-seekers”) and often suspicious … Continue reading →