What Works by Todd Buegler
I’ve been working in children, youth and family ministry for 23 years, and in that time, there is one thing I have learned: The longer I do this, th... Read more.
On Maturity by Nancy Lee Gauche
What is maturity anyway? Take a look again at the characteristics of a spiritually mature youth from the EYM study. Demonstrates a Personal Spirituality Believe... Read more.
Life Teams Part III by Jerry Watts
I thought I was just going to dinner with my wife and kids at the Chili’s by my house one night. As the hostess seated us, we walked past a table, and the... Read more.
Listening, leadership, ethnography
Dori Baker reflects on the benefits of an “ethnography of hope” at the Alban blog. She quotes Thomas E. Frank, a seasoned observer of church life, n... Read more.
First Third Dialogues: Ministering to Children of Divorce
In September 2010, Luther Seminary’s Center for First Third Ministry, hosted a First Third Dialogue on the topic of Children of Divorce. This conference w... Read more.
The political novelty of God
I can’t resist this quote from John Howard Yoder, which is cited in David Fitch’s blog on mission and ecclesiology: The political novelty that God b... Read more.
Between Two Worlds: The Inner Lives of Children of Divorce
Elizabeth Marquardt invites us into the strange and complicated experience of traveling between two homes, two parents and two families as a result of divorce. ... Read more.
Children of Divorce: The Loss of Family as the Loss of Being
The Children of Divorce is Root’s fourth and most recent publication. It is a book with great personal significance to Root and draws on his own experienc... Read more.
A powerful Bible reference tool
At EntertheBible.org, you’ll find a wealth of resources to help you grow in faith, add depth to your Bible studies and truly discover the people, places a... Read more.
T is for teaching the Bible
The Lutheran University Press has just published the lectures from last year’s Hein-Fry series, and that series included one from Mary Hess entitled L... Read more.
Leadership lessons
Every so often I run across interesting reflections from people outside of the “church world,” reflections that I think all of us who are seeking to... Read more.
The woman at the well
It’s about time that people really read this text (John 4:5-42), rather than simply projecting onto it their fears about immorality. David Lose has a grea... Read more.
Young people asking big questions
Dr. Michael Jinkins, the president of Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, notes that: “Young adults are searching for meaning that is not just of their own ... Read more.
Sin, grace and popular culture
Dr. Christian Scharen, in his book Faith as a Way of Life: A Vision for Pastoral Leadership, writes compellingly about the challenges of discerning God in the m... Read more.
The Economy of God
In this sermon, Rev. Nick Utphall (’04), a pastor serving just outside of Madison, WI, invites us to consider what God is up to in the midst of current ev... Read more.
B Is For Living Into Our Baptism
In this Jan. 2011 service celebrating the Baptism of Our Lord, Dr. Lois Malcolm powerfully unpacks what it means to live into our baptism: What makes Jesus’ b... Read more.
Why church history matters for the missional church
Here’s a very brief overview of church history, engagingly presented by Dr. Patrick Keifert, that focuses on missional church issues.... Read more.
M is for missio dei
By Mary Sue Dreier Missio Dei (Latin for “mission of God”) has become one of the catchphrases of the missional church conversation. The phrase itsel... Read more.
M is for missional church
From Craig Van Gelder’s book The Ministry of the Missional Church: A Community Led by the Spirit: The church is. The church does what it is. The church or... Read more.