July 1, 2024
Climbing the Mountain Together
As the church heads into the future, we may be overlooking one of our greatest resources: senior adults. . . .
Church Life
Church Life explores the shared rhythms, relationships, and practices that shape a healthy congregation. Discover Bible-based articles on worship gatherings, fellowship, unity, hospitality, discipleship in community, and caring for one another through life’s joys and challenges. You’ll find guidance for building a welcoming church culture, strengthening membership and belonging, handling conflict with grace, and encouraging spiritual growth across the body. Whether you’re a church leader or a committed member, these resources help you cultivate congregational life that reflects the love of Christ and supports faithful discipleship.
May 1, 2024
2023 Church Stats and Charts
Each year, Christian Standard collects data from hundreds of churches about their average worship attendance, number of baptisms, minister’s name, website, etc., and compiles this into charts based on church size. Columnist Kent Fillinger uses this information as the basis for several articles during the year. This data in this link, collected in early 2024, is based on statistics from 2023. DOWNLOAD THE 2023 CS CHURCH ATTENDANCE CHARTS
May 1, 2024
2023 Annual Survey Fast Facts
AVERAGE WEEKLY IN-PERSON-ONLY WORSHIP ATTENDANCE Megachurches: 4,499 (37 churches) Emerging Megachurches: 1,088 (43 churches) Large Churches: 591 (38 churches) Medium Churches: 320 (54 churches) Small Churches: 137 (74 churches) Very Small Churches: 49 (68 churches) _ _ _ AVERAGE WEEKLY IN-PERSON + ONLINE WORSHIP ATTENDANCE Megachurches: 6,424 (37 churches) Emerging Megachurches: 1,430 (43 churches) Large Churches: 712 (38 churches) Medium Churches: 370 (54 churches) Small Churches: 162 (74 churches) Very Small Churches: 55 (68 churches) 76% of the churches reported online worship attendance numbers _ _ _ TOTAL ATTENDANCE GROWTH RATES (2022 TO 2023) Megachurches: 12.0% Emerging Megachurches: 25.2% Large:
May 1, 2024
The Christian Standard Church Report for 2023: The New Normal?
The pandemic caused some churches to refocus or redefine their ministry practices. . . .
March 28, 2024
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘Easter Church Attendance’ (1949)
"This Lord’s Day will find nearly all the churches having the largest crowds of the year," editor Burris Butler wrote in 1949. "It has become almost proverbial that many people attend church on Easter Sunday who never come at any other time" . . .
March 1, 2024
Traders Point Christian Church: 190 Years of Kingdom-Centered Service
Many people assume TPCC is younger than it really is . . .
March 1, 2024
The ‘Only God’ Story of Mountain Christian Church
A 200-year-old church in the Northeast bursting with life, vibrancy, growth, and impact!
November 6, 2023
First Christian Tower Refurbishment Nearly Complete
Refurbishing of the iconic, 166-foot, brick First Christian Church tower in Columbus, Ind., is expected to be completed Dec. 4 . . . and the project is coming in under budget. . . .
September 1, 2023
Hooked on Hope!
How Are Our Churches—and Our Movement—Doing Today? An Honest Evaluation.
September 1, 2023
Is It Time for a New Restoration Movement? (Part 1)
By Jim Putman Though I grew up a preacher’s kid—and maybe because of it—I ended up in college as an unbeliever with a drinking problem. I had rejected my parents, but they were waiting to journey with me back to Jesus. Back then, I would have said there is no God . . . that God had been “educated” out of me. I was no victim, however—I was rebellious. My father sent me research that affirmed that some scientists believed in God, even though professors had told me no reputable scientist could. Over time, I moved from “there is no
May 1, 2023
The Need for Unity
By Jerry Harris Unity is central to the biblical message. Something special rises up when people from different circles get to know each other by learning, sharing, playing, and worshiping together. Sociologists call it “emergence.” It’s when a group becomes more than the sum of its parts. The Holy Spirit works in that unity, that oneness. We are called to be one. The church is the hope of the world, and we can do far more together than we can apart. God has repeatedly shown us how unity can empower us to accomplish things that seemingly are impossible for individuals.
May 1, 2023
Humility, Unity . . . Revival
By Michael C. Mack “Jesus loves this. He loves humility. He loves unity.” A leader at Asbury University spoke these words amid what some have called revival. I visited Asbury in February and witnessed what I would call a gentle moving of God’s Spirit among people both young and old—but led by the young (Gen Z). Several things were noticeably missing at the college, however. Not once did I hear anyone refer to the denomination or tribe they belonged to or the name of the preacher at their church. I heard no arguments about worship style, Bible versions, or any
May 1, 2023
Gradations of Unity
By Tyler McKenzie A recent Love Thy Neighborhood podcast detailed how fake news spreads in the church. They told a story from the 2016 election as a case study. On November 5, 2016, just three days before the presidential election, the Denver Guardian ran this headline: “FBI Agent Suspected in Hillary Email Leaks Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide.” The article stated that FBI agent Michael Brown and his wife were found dead in their home. The web article looked legit. It included quotes from the local police chief, comments from neighbors, and links to online sources claiming it was a
May 1, 2023
Divide and Conquer
By Megan Rawlings I have a problem. My husband has confronted me about it numerous times. It is beginning to affect our everyday lives. Frankly, I am on the verge of addiction. I cannot resist the temptation when it appears. My toxic trait is that I cannot stop clicking on clickbait. There, I said it. The first step to fixing a problem is admitting it, right? Clickbait is a nuisance that potentially infects your computer with viruses. But I find it tough to resist because it’s a portal through which I gain access to one of my favorite things on
May 1, 2023
A Homecoming of the Heart: The Secret in Our Search for Unity
By Drew Baker The unfortunate consensus in the United States demands that our leaders come across as having all the answers. Whether politicians or preachers, we expect them to have perfect wisdom even if we know it’s an impossible ask. I can’t imagine a politician getting elected on a platform of humility and a willingness to learn even from political opponents. When it comes to preaching, we tend to expect more answers than questions from our pulpits. “Give us this day our daily truth, lead us not into contemplation, and deliver us from mystery.” In such a culture, it is
May 1, 2023
A Movement Away from Denominationalism: What’s It Mean for Us?
By Ben Cachiaras When asked about the key to his success, Dick Clark, of American Bandstand fame, replied, “I don’t set trends. I just find out what they are and exploit them.” Worrying about trends can get you into trouble. So can ignoring them. At the least, it seems wise for church leaders to strive to be like the men of Issachar “who understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32). In this spirit, I was asked to consider how we might understand and respond to the rising trends noted in “A ‘Postdenominational’ Era: Inside the
May 1, 2023
The Rise of the Nons and the Nearly Gones (and What We Can Do About It)
By Billy Strother Congregations need one another more than ever. They need a sense of unity for mission in community. As congregational leaders, pursuing a sense of unity in community will strengthen us all and increase our kingdom fruit. Jesus proclaimed, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will stand” (Matthew 12:25, New American Standard Bible). Ministering to the Nons Christianity is in retreat in our culture. We are familiar with the rise of the “nones” (30 percent of U.S. adults now claim no religious affiliation). But despite the challenges, strategic opportunities
May 1, 2023
10 Personal Practices That Will Lead to Greater Unity
By Rubel Shelly How can you and I “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3)? Here are 10 practices each of us should consider: • Pray for the unity of the church. If Jesus prayed for the unity of all who would believe in him through the apostles’ message (John 17:20-26), how dare we not pray for it as well? Pray for Christians you know from various backgrounds. Pray for the “tribes” other than your own. Don’t pray for them to change but for God to let you love them.
May 1, 2023
Distinct Views on Christian Unity
3 Christian Leaders Share Their Perspectives on a Crucial Topic for Today’s Church
May 1, 2023
Can Divergent Streams Flow Back Together?
By Daryl Reed I saw a cartoon that pictures a church membership class. The teacher is showing a diagram titled “Churches and Christian Movements Throughout History.” On the left side of the chart a dot is labeled “30 AD,” representing the first church. To the right of that is a large tree of many successive generations of Christian movements. The teacher is pointing to a place further out on the tree and says, “So this is where our movement came along and got the Bible right.” A student responds, “Jesus is so lucky to have us.” I’m embarrassed to say
