Church Life Archives - Page 6 of 10 - The Artios Center for Vibrant Leadership

What is Real Worship?

Brian Franks2022-07-20T13:40:23-06:00

By Esther Winchell In the life of a Christian, worship is a necessary discipline in developing a relationship with our Maker and Savior. HOW DID I LEARN ABOUT REAL WORSHIP? There were times before taking classes through Artios Christian College (formerly, LifeSpring School of Ministry) when I believed that worship was only what happened at church with the song service and corporate prayers. Boy, was I wrong! In addition to those thoughts, worship songs were slow and praise songs were upbeat because that was what I was taught. Wrong again! When I first began my studies, I could sense that I needed to [...]

What is Real Worship?Brian Franks2022-07-20T13:40:23-06:00

6 Reasons I’m Excited to be a Millennial Christian

Brian Franks2022-07-20T13:37:58-06:00

By Amber Riggs The millennium had barely turned when I first became acquainted with the labels that would define my generational identity. As researchers looked at the culture that had shaped us and hypothesized about how we would collectively respond to and shape our environments as we grew into adulthood, I found myself both fascinated and enthralled by what I read. We were called Gen-Y, Millennials, Echoboomers, and my favorite, the Bridger Generation. However, as we looked at the promises of a new (at the time pre-9-11) millennium, what they all seemed to have in common in the perception of this Millennial was a [...]

6 Reasons I’m Excited to be a Millennial ChristianBrian Franks2022-07-20T13:37:58-06:00

It’s All About Equipping

Brian Franks2022-07-20T13:36:26-06:00

By Whaid Rose God designed the Church to remain alive and vibrant despite the passing of time and amidst our rapidly changing culture. Here’s how: The British Monarch and the Christian Church have more in common than we often recognize. Both are age-old institutions struggling to survive in a rapidly changing culture; both struggle to retain and empower its next generation. This welcome perspective comes from Krish Kandiah, a UK-based author; he writes in response to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s unprecedented move away from the Royal family. (See Megxit and the Church: Harry and Meghan Reflect Our Lost Youth; Christianity [...]

It’s All About EquippingBrian Franks2022-07-20T13:36:26-06:00

5 Simple Ways to Increase Sabbath School Attendance

Brian Franks2022-07-20T13:34:11-06:00

By Israel Steinmetz Most Sabbath School teachers share a common frustration: low attendance. They feel like their congregation would benefit from Sabbath School class, but fewer than half of those who attend the worship service show up for class. Here are five tips for attracting more people to class: 1. LET TEACHERS TEACH Many church classrooms consist of a discussion facilitator lobbing questions at a large group (10 or more people) who then “discuss” the topic. Oftentimes, this discussion consists of people repeating their favorite sayings, affirming their pre-conceived ideas, and trading half-quoted Scriptures. While the “round table” approach might work well [...]

5 Simple Ways to Increase Sabbath School AttendanceBrian Franks2022-07-20T13:34:11-06:00

Church Administration: From Fluff to Function

Brian Franks2022-07-20T13:31:14-06:00

By Andrea Slawson Administration. The sight of that word either makes you cringe or giddy with anticipation to get stuff done. Me? I cringe a little. Over the past few years I have begun to realize that “church” is not just a place where people come to meet once or twice a week and then go home. It is so much more. The body, the believers of Jesus Christ, are the church – yes. But the administration within the body are the gears that make the body operate with efficiency toward God’s mission of all being saved. Yet knowing this, I still think, “I [...]

Church Administration: From Fluff to FunctionBrian Franks2022-07-20T13:31:14-06:00

5 Things Churches Need to Know About Mental Health

Brian Franks2022-07-20T09:52:20-06:00

By Israel Steinmetz One area in which churches could be more informed and proactive is relating to individuals who have mental health concerns. Oftentimes, people who feel isolated and hopeless because of mental health issues don’t find the support and care they need from the church. It doesn’t have to be this way. Churches—particularly small churches—can serve as healing communities for people with mental health concerns. In order to do this, some basics need to be understood. Let’s look at five things small churches need to know about mental health in order to be a healing community: Mental health problems are [...]

5 Things Churches Need to Know About Mental HealthBrian Franks2022-07-20T09:52:20-06:00

Respecting Friends with Mental Health Concerns: Insights for the Church

Brian Franks2022-07-20T09:50:31-06:00

By Lark Braten Having a mental illness makes it challenging for one to maintain the respect of others. It might draw sympathy, curiosity, suspicion, or disdain; but, rarely does it cause anything but a downward trend in respect. This happens for a variety of reasons but regardless of the cause, it comes at a point in a person’s life when they’re greatly in need of social support and confirmation of their value to help them heal. Learning how to respect those dealing with mental health issues through word, action, and attitude is a skill we as Christians would do well to develop. The following are [...]

Respecting Friends with Mental Health Concerns: Insights for the ChurchBrian Franks2022-07-20T09:50:31-06:00

How My Struggle with Anxiety Proves My Victory

Brian Franks2022-07-20T09:49:00-06:00

By Caitlin Meadows “When a person struggles with anxiety, that person is not living in the victory of Christ.” That’s what I was told by someone with spiritual clout. During our first conversation, he picked up on the fact that I deal with anxiety. In an attempt to encourage me with the reminder of the victory I have in Christ, I ended up leaving feeling condemned. “If I’m struggling with anxiety and thus, not living in Christ’s victory,” I surmised, “then I must not have Christ.” With that thought, my anxiety quickly flared with hopelessness. For the Christian who deals with mental illnesses [...]

How My Struggle with Anxiety Proves My VictoryBrian Franks2022-07-20T09:49:00-06:00

ACT: Guidance for Relating to Friends with Mental Health Concerns

Brian Franks2022-07-20T09:47:09-06:00

By Israel Steinmetz “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness of empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” 1 This passage forms the basis for the acronym ACT which summarizes basic guidelines for [...]

ACT: Guidance for Relating to Friends with Mental Health ConcernsBrian Franks2022-07-20T09:47:09-06:00

From Veggie Tales to What’s in the Bible: Following Phil Vischer’s Lead

Brian Franks2022-07-20T09:42:53-06:00

By Israel Steinmetz The first time I saw Veggie Tales I was a high school sophomore in a room full of guys from around the country and we couldn’t stop laughing at Larry the Cucumber’s hairbrush song. Veggie Tales was funny stuff. Every half-hour episode was packed with witty cultural references, silly vegetables and a nice moral lesson, always ending with the affirmation, “God made you special, and He loves you very much.” Almost twenty years later, I still watch Veggie Tales with my kids as they’re introduced to Veggie-tized versions of classic characters from Indiana Jones to George Müller and classic literature from Hamlet to Huckleberry Finn. [...]

From Veggie Tales to What’s in the Bible: Following Phil Vischer’s LeadBrian Franks2022-07-20T09:42:53-06:00

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