Return to Book Series?

In a recent post on his blog, Pastor Brady Boyd observed: "About a year ago, I underwent a philosophical shift in the way I preach each week. For years, I was a part of a world that primarily taught sermon series on various topics for four to six weeks, each series complete with a cool logo, title and sermon bumper (the trendy video that plays right before the pastor magically appears on stage)...

Change Agent

One of the major (and most challenging) tasks of an effective church leader is to guide a congregation through change, but what about the equally demanding calling to change the culture? That latter issue is the focus of author Os Hillman in his new book Change Agent (Charisma House).

Illustration: Mothers and Sons

Three mothers were sitting on a park bench talking about how much their sons love them. Sadie said, "You know the Chagall painting hanging in my living room? My son, Arnold, bought that for me for my 75th birthday. What a good boy he is and how much he loves his mother."

Illustration: Marriage

Forty-four percent of Americans ages 20 to 69 believe marriage is not necessary in order to have a committed, fulfilling, life-long relationship, reports a Zogby/AOL poll. Marriage Savers' president Mike McManus finds the number shocking. He says, "People who are married live longer, they're healthier, they're happier; they're wealthier. A man who's single, for whatever reason, will live 10 years less than a married man; a woman, about four years less."

The 100 Largest Churches

Outreach has released its annual list of the 100 largest churches in America, and it includes 39 churches with 10,000 or more in weekly attendance. The smallest of the 100 churches averages just under 6,000 a week. (Seven of the churches have pastors who are on the Preaching Board of Contributing Editors. Just sayin'...)