A Quiet Exodus
People are leaving the church at an alarming rate. Quietly. Not with grandiose actions. Just the quiet patter of feet heading out the door. They leave because they can’t find the real Jesus in that church, or no one has ever done the work to show them what being “in Christ” really means. Is your church pushing a misplaced emphasis for spiritual growth? The mission is really about people, and not anything else.
Broken
Jesus told us that it isn’t the healthy that need a doctor but the sick. Churches are filled with people that have learned, and been taught, to keep their broken areas to themselves. But the entire Gospel of Matthew is geared towards showing that Jesus sought after the broken. The despised. The “unclean.” The outcasts. That is who Matthew was. A tax collector. We still don’t really like the tax collectors. Matthew was cut off from everything in his Jewish faith. He was rejected. He was broken. But Jesus called him to follow. And he did. Time and again Jesus stopped to interact with the broken of society. They were special to Him. They should be special to us today.
Fallen
The things, the leaders, and the people of this world will fail us. If not now, eventually. Our hope rightly placed in Christ will sustain us through all of it. It isn’t that we all just want grace. Without it, we can be and do nothing in the world.
Will the NAR Churches Survive?
The growing demand for reconsideration of NAR churches, prophets, and apostles gained takeoff momentum with the well-known failings of IHOP in Kansas City, Missouri. The alleged misconduct by various apostles, leaders, and prophets throughout the NAR universe provokes two questions: (1) Can NAR churches survive? And (2) Should such churches survive?
Ashes and Affection
God’s affection burns for you, my friend! How do I know? The evidence is in the ashes!
What I Learned This Week: When Getting Better Doesn’t Make It Easier
What if the fact that your work still feels hard isn’t a failure — but evidence that you’re pushing your growth, your influence, and your impact farther than before?
Lent
A more liturgical in nature background likely means you are familiar with the history and practice of Lent. More evangelical? Maybe you are curious about adding some of the rhythmic liturgical elements into your spiritual life. Lent provides a unique and special opportunity to grow closer to the Lord spiritually.
Cover-up Culture? Can Bethel Church Learn from First Baptist Bentonville?
Both the First Baptist Church in Bentonville, Arkansas, and Bethel Church, Redding, California, face justifiable scrutiny. First Baptist Church faces a lawsuit involving claims of “willful and wanton negligence.” The suit involves multiple defendants. The case was prompted by the misbehavior of Keenan Hord, a former youth minister, who pleaded guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault.
Against this backdrop, Bethel Church now faces credible allegations that it platformed two individuals over a span of years—Shawn Bolz and Bob Hartley—who, according to witnesses, engaged in a pattern of prophetic manipulation and sexual abuse.
Should Don Lemon’s Participation in a Church Invasion Be Prosecuted Under the Ku Klux Klan Act?
On January 18, 2026, Don Lemon, Nekina Levy Armstrong, and a group of raucous protestors interrupted services at the Cities Church in Minneapolis. Ms. Armstrong and two other protestors have already been arrested for their participation in the protest, while a Magistrate judge has rejected charges against Mr. Lemon. Still, the question remains whether Don Lemon, an alleged journalist, should face criminal charges as well.
Leading Change
Change is an inevitable part of life and creation. God knit together an incredible creation that can adapt and grow throughout its life. It is amazing to see it in action. We don’t have to be afraid of change, but we should have an idea about how to handle it well.
What I Learned This Week: When Someone Else’s Success Bothers You
What if instead of critiquing from a distance, I led with curiosity? What if I assumed the best? What if I looked for what God was doing in them instead of immediately measuring it against myself?
Because when I lead with curiosity, I almost always find something worth celebrating. I discover a part of the body of Christ I needed but didn’t know I was missing. I see a different gift, a new perspective, or a unique approach that expands my own understanding.
Can Service Animals Attend Your Church?
We at Gideon Law recently received questions from several clients here in Tennessee regarding their obligations to admit service animals to their churches. Their concerns involved how to ensure their church is a welcoming place for visitors who use service animals, while also following the law and protecting all people and property involved.
We were glad to provide this guidance to our clients. If you or your church have a similar question, please contact us today. We’d love to begin working on your behalf – for the good of your church and the Church.
What I Learned This Week: What If No One’s Actually Thinking About You?
What I Learned This Week: What If No One’s Actually Thinking About You? What if we worked from the approval of God rather than for it—and for the benefit of others rather than their applause?
What I Learned This Week: The Conflict Beneath the Silence
What if you stopped trying to “keep the peace” this week, and instead, stepped into a moment of (potentially awkward) honesty and humility — at work, in your church, or even around your own dinner table — all with the goal of making peace?
What I Learned This Week: Asking the Wrong Questions
What if you slowed down this week and asked “why” one more time before you jumped to solutions — at work, in your church, or in your own home? Could you truly solve a problem rather than just addressing a symptom?
The What If Journal: Reflections from a Leader in Progress
Leadership isn’t a destination. It’s not a point on the map where you finally get to kick back and say, “I’ve made it.” It’s a constant journey of curiosity — of staying open, asking questions, and wondering, “what if?” What if there’s a better way? What if this could be clearer? What if…
Essential Accountability
Accountability is vital to the long term success of a leader and a system of accountability can help missteps from being taken and wise decisions to be made. You should willingly submit to some form of accountability, whether that is a small group of church leadership, or an individual or two that you can trust fully.
Feeling Well
Emotional intelligence will help you lead your team better and even lead yourself better, which is huge for any great leader. Here are some ways to add EQ to your IQ and better develop your toolbelt.
The Hidden Cost of Inactivity: Why Waiting Too Long to Decide Is Still a Decision
Most church leaders don’t set out to avoid decisions. In fact, we’re making them all the time — about staff, budgets, calendars, volunteers, and ministries. But there’s a particular kind of indecision that quietly drains the health and momentum of a church: the failure to act when the moment is ripe.
Part IV: Steward Yourself — The Leader’s Most Overlooked Responsibility
Your church can’t run on an empty tank — and neither can you. Healthy leadership flows from a healthy leader. If you burn out physically, emotionally, or spiritually, it will ripple through your team and congregation. So there is one more stewardship investment we can’t afford to overlook — and it’s the one leaders tend to neglect most: Steward Yourself.