Church & Ministry equips leaders and everyday believers to build healthy, gospel-centered congregations. Explore biblically grounded articles on church leadership, preaching and teaching, eldership, staff and volunteer development, discipleship systems, small groups, church planting, church growth, and ministry strategy. You’ll also find practical guidance for navigating transitions, cultivating congregational health, and serving your community with wisdom and compassion. Whether you’re a pastor, elder, ministry staff member, volunteer leader, or church member who wants to help your church thrive, this hub brings together resources to strengthen the local church and advance Christ’s mission.
July 31, 2023
Jonah prophesied around 760 BC for the people of Nineveh to repent. They repented. The city was spared from the justice of God for 100 years. But later Nahum came along (663–612 BC) and had to prophesy against Nineveh again. . . .
July 31, 2023
The Minor Prophets are short in length but large in significance. Here are four benefits of reading these books . . .
July 31, 2023
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Power for Justice” (Nahum 1:1-15), by Mark Scott.
July 24, 2023
Jeremiah 33 is about God’s promise to restore his people to their land and their prominence. The alternating pattern of judgment and blessing continues in this chapter. God’s faithfulness is one thing on which his people can consistently count.
July 24, 2023
Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled this messianic prophecy about “a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely” (Jeremiah 23:5). Isn’t it interesting that Jesus, the Righteous Branch, called his disciples branches, too? . . .
July 24, 2023
Questions for group discussion for use with this week's lesson titled “Hope in God's Faithfulness” (Jeremiah 33:1-11, 15-26).
July 19, 2023
Fern Creek Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., plans to repurpose 100 percent of their office space to ministry space for children. We contacted more than a dozen ministers and church construction experts to ask about their thoughts on "going officeless." . . .
July 17, 2023
God promised to bring his people back from Babylon to the Promised Land, and he did. Against all odds, Jeremiah was calling on his people to believe.
July 17, 2023
Jeremiah 32 describes a real estate transaction a Bible commentator calls “one of the most remarkable examples of personal faith found in the Bible.” . . .
July 17, 2023
Questions for group discussion for use with this week’s lesson titled “Hope in God's Promise” (Jeremiah 32:2, 6-9, 16-27, 36-41).
July 10, 2023
Jeremiah 31 is clearly one of the high-water marks of the Old Testament. The new covenant is announced toward the end of the chapter; its text is quoted at length in Hebrews 8:7-13. But a bit earlier in the chapter is a messianic verse . . .
July 10, 2023
Jeremiah predicted dire consequences for the Jews. Because of their unfaithfulness, they would endure decades of Babylonian exile—an extended period of mourning. But God’s loving-kindness would never give up on them. . . .
July 10, 2023
Questions for group discussion for use with this week’s lesson titled “Hope in God's Loving-Kindness” (Jeremiah 31:1-17, 31-34).
July 3, 2023
Speaking on behalf of God, Jeremiah outlined nine duties for the exiles who had been carried away to Babylon.
July 3, 2023
What should you do when your circumstances don’t match your dreams and aspirations? Jeremiah’s message to the exiles can help any of us who find ourselves in uncomfortable situations.
July 3, 2023
Questions for group discussion for use with this week’s lesson titled “Hope in God's Plans” (Jeremiah 29:1-23).
July 1, 2023
By Ben Cachiaras The surge in the number of celebrity pastors is a growing concern for the church. Multiple documentaries, articles, and podcasts (including “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill”) have exposed this problem. And with so many high-profile pastors disqualifying themselves, one naturally wonders how much of their downfall was connected to the celebrity status that had become part of their identity. The terms Christian and celebrity have not meshed well historically. Over time, popularity has taken out more pastors than persecution. The church has been negatively impacted by this syndrome. A celebrity pastor is not easily replicable,
By Brandon Guindon Our living room buzzed with conversation. Most of it focused around a new couple, James and Sara, who came to visit our small group. My wife, Amber, and I have led small groups for 20 years, and this was one of those evenings that will always stick with me. Before I called everyone together to begin our Bible lesson, I stood back and observed. I could not help but wonder what this new couple was thinking. What were they feeling as people greeted them, shook hands, even hugged? The room was filled with a relational warmth, and
July 1, 2023
By Kent E. Fillinger The number of unaffiliated, nondenominational Christian churches in the United States grew by almost 5,000 congregations and nearly 9 million people from 2010 to 2020, thus making it America’s largest Protestant “denomination,” according to the U.S. Religion Census. In 2010, unaffiliated, nondenominational Christian churches had an estimated 12,241,329 adherents in 35,496 congregations, which represented 4 percent of the overall population. By 2020, the number of people worshipping in those churches grew to 21,095,641, and their share of America’s religious population increased to 13.1 percent, representing 6.4 percent of the nation’s population. How Many Churches Do We
By Jeff Faull What makes a good leader? Shouldn’t we who are followers of Jesus and leaders for Jesus want to know? A simple internet search brings up thousands of articles on leadership. Titles like “Five Qualities of a Good Leader,” “The Top Ten Characteristics of a Good Leader,” “Twenty Requirements for an Effective Leader,” and a myriad of similar options appear. Many of those articles lay out the essential components of great leadership. The suggestions are endless. Characteristics like vision, strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, creativity, communication skills, decisiveness, empathy, charisma, and others top the lists. All these are
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June 3, 2026
David Faust
June 3, 2026
Kent Fillinger
June 2, 2026
Erick Riddle