Resources by Topic: Church

Randy Alcorn spoke to the elders of his home church in Boring, Oregon, Good Shepherd Community Church on the subject of the role of women in church. In this clip, he talks about the two dominant positions that are taken: Complementarian and Egalitarian.

God is the creator of diversity. Separation is separation, and it hurts us and our Father who wants His children to know each other and love each other and enjoy each other’s company. Sadly, I’ve heard it said that eleven o’clock on Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America.  

I think showing respect to the Lord involves different things for different people in different places.

I would encourage you to remind yourself of what I’ve had to say to myself when I’ve been disillusioned with church: “It’s not about me.” 

In Fall 2013, Randy Alcorn was interviewed by the Lighthouse Report about his Eternity Graphic Novel. 

In part two of this two part video interview, I sit down with Jason, a young pastor I just met, and we discuss some questions he has about ministry, including how to jump in now and serve the Lord while also setting aside time to grow in wisdom and understanding.

In part one of this two part video interview, I sit down with Jason, a young pastor I just met, and we discuss some questions he has about ministry.

I love this passage from J.I. Packer, one of my favorite writers, about the true gospel and its purpose. This is from A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life.

I came to Christ at an uncool church (not the one in the photo, but built in the same era).

We all know that sometimes things can be difficult in churches. I’ve gone through it, and so have most of you. I experienced it when I was a pastor for fourteen years, and I’ve experienced it in the twenty-two years since.

Twenty-three years ago when I was going to jail for civil disobedience, a pastor told me he believed Christians shouldn’t go to jail. I told him I thought the day would come when he would go to jail, not for refusing to go along with abortion, but for refusing to go along with homosexuality.

I love and wholeheartedly agree with this blog post from pastor and author Ray Ortlund. 

In his excellent (though unlikely titled) book Hot Tub Religion, J. I. Packer asks “What would a work of divine reformation in our churches today look like?” Great question, and I loved the six answers Packer—one of my all- time favorite people—offers.

In this 8-1/2 minute video from last year's Clarus Conference, my friend Wayne Grudem and I share about what is encouraging and what is discouraging about the American church.