7 Reasons Why Halloween Judgment Houses Often Miss the Mark

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October 23, 2023

Editor’s Note: We invite you to share your thoughts in the comment section below. Do you believe Judgment Houses can be effective, or is Moore onto something with his seven reasons?

7 Reasons Why Halloween Judgment Houses Often Miss the Mark

1. They’re not scary enough.

To speak of hell, Jesus used the imagery of a garbage dump overrun with worms, a place where babies were once sacrificed to demons (Mark 9:43-48). Teenagers in plastic red devil masks and Styrofoam pitchforks usually don’t convey what it means to “fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb 10:31) The answer isn’t better technology, though, since nothing we could conjure up can convey the anguish of the damned walled off from relationship with God.

2. They assume people’s problem is that they don’t know about judgment.

But the Bible says they do. All of us have embedded within us a conscience that points us to the Day of Judgment (Rom 2:15-16). We have a “fearful expectation of judgment.” (Heb 10:27) The problem is we block it out of our minds, diverting ourselves with other things. The problem isn’t that lost people don’t hate hell enough. It’s that they don’t love Christ. Hell is the Abyss they run into in their flight from him.

3. They abstract judgment from the love of God.

I know most Judgment Houses present the gospel at the end. But in the Bible, the good news doesn’t come at the end. The prodigal son leaves the father’s house, but the father is eager to receive him back (Luke 16:11-31). The awful news of God’s judgment is always intertwined in Scripture with the message of the gospel of a loving, merciful God. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17)

6 Preaching Mistakes You Can Make in the First 5 Minutes

By

Gavin Adams

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October 23, 2023

If you’re a speaker, preacher, or communicator of any kind, it really doesn’t matter how great your content — if you can’t connect, you can’t communicate. And these six common preaching mistakes work directly against your connection.

Sure, great content is essential. It needs to be true and helpful. But true and helpful isn’t enough, especially when you’re in front of a new crowd. Our temptation is to assume people will listen because we are talking. You’re the one with the mic, right? That’s a flawed assumption. Anyone who has children knows that’s not true.

If we hope to engage people with our content, we must first establish a connection. The audience must buy into the messenger before they’ll accept the message. So how can we connect? Or better yet, what should we avoid preaching mistakes that create a disconnection?

6 Preaching Mistakes You Can Make in the First 5 Minutes

1. Apologizing for being on the stage

I see this preaching mistake all the time, especially from “guest speakers.” It sounds something like this, “I know you were expecting [fill in the senior pastor’s name] but you got me today, so…” Or perhaps following an introduction, you were tempted to say, “Now I’m not nearly as good as you were just told, but…”

Never apologize for being on the platform. NEVER. You are there because you belong there. You are there because God has something he wants to say through you. People aren’t listening despite your presence. They are listening because they believe it will be worth their time. So never apologize.

2. Wasting the first 15 seconds

The first 15 seconds matter – a lot.

“How’s everybody doing” is not a great use of your first sentence. Most people are skeptical of a new communicator. Don’t throw away your first sentence on “how’s everybody doing.” Or “thank you for having me here today.” The audience most likely didn’t agree for you to be on the stage today.

Use your first sentence strategically. Ask a good question that begins to move people emotionally toward the topic. Tell a joke (only if you handle humor well) or a personal story. Just make sure you use that first sentence strategically. And say it with a big smile. Make sure you look like you’re having fun, even if you’re a bit nervous or anxious. Smile!

3. Assuming the content will create the connection

This is important to acknowledge: Your presentation will determine if people hear and apply the content. Presentation matters. Aren’t sure. Consider a comedian. They “present” for two hours and rarely, if ever, lose the audience’s attention. They have nothing helpful or useful to say. They can’t help your marriage, parenting, or job. But they can certainly present. And that’s why you laughed for two hours.

Presentation trumps information. Always does. When you need to connect with a crowd, start a conversation by being conversational. Here’s a great question to ask yourself (than my friend Land Jones asked me a decade ago): “How would you say this if you were at a coffee shop with a friend?” That question is clarifying. You would have a conversation. You wouldn’t use “preacher voice.” You’d just talk. That’s what we should do to connect better.

4. Skipping over finding emotional common ground

Odds are you’ll want to engage emotionally later in the message. If that’s true, you need to engage emotionally upfront. Remember, there are lots and lots of positive emotions, like humor and joy. Use these in the first couple of minutes to connect with the crowd while preparing them to access their deeper emotional world later.

5. Not leveraging an introduction

When I guest preach, the pastor typically introduces me. The pastor always asks me how I’d like to be introduced, expecting I’ll provide some sort of bio, but that’s not what I want. I ask them to introduce me in a way that creates a jumping pad to an emotional connection. Then I give them an option. Maybe an example would be helpful.

I was recently speaking at a church in Tampa, Florida. Tampa recently won the Super Bowl. I live in Atlanta, where we refuse to win Super Bowls. As an Atlanta Falcons fan, I am very much against the Tampa Bay Bucs. In the intro, my only request of the pastor was to say, “The only thing about Gavin you might not like is he’s from Atlanta and likes the Falcons. So show him a little grace.”

How to EQ an Acoustic Guitar

By

Chris Huff

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October 23, 2023

I’m behind the mixer and the pastor starts strumming a familiar sound. He starts singing, and I KNOW I’ve heard the song before. I can’t place it but I KNOW it’s not a church song. Then it hits me: He’s re-written the words to “Come on Baby Light My Fire” by The Doors. That, my friend, was the first time I mixed an acoustic guitar EQ.

Properly EQ’ing an acoustic guitar follows a four-step process similar to mixing any instrument. I’m focusing the details on getting you a good baseline mix as quick as possible. I’m all for learning the nuances of proper mixing, but let’s face it—some days you just want things to be simple.

4 Quick Steps to EQ an Acoustic Guitar

1. Trim the excess

Mixing consoles have a channel-level control labeled “HPF.” This stands for high pass filter. The HPF will allow only high frequencies to pass through the filter. In analog mixers, the HPF has a set frequency point, such as 100 Hz or it has a knob for controlling the range. If you see a label by a button that reads “/100” then that’s the HPF label indicating a 100 Hz set point.

Engage the HPF so that all frequencies below the set point are cut out. These frequencies can muddy the sound of the guitar. There are other instruments on the stage which are better suited for producing these low-end sounds, such as the bass and kick drum.

In the case of a HPF with a controllable frequency point, start it around 100Hz and increase it as you see fit. I’ve run them as high as 230Hz because for that instance, for that guitar, a 230Hz HPF was needed to get the sound I wanted.

Before you read further…There is a significant difference in the control you get with an analog mixer compared to a digital mixer. Apply these recommendations accordingly. You know how your mixer works and its limitations—no use in telling you what you already know.

2. Control the guitar’s bottom-end

Now with the lowest of low’s out of the way, let’s look at the guitar channel’s EQ. You’ve already cleared out the unnecessary low-end frequencies but there is still more work to do down there.

Slowly cut the low-frequency knob, for the guitar channel, until you get a better sound. While the guitar does have a large octave range, it’s just not a bass-heavy instrument and decreasing the bass in the 250 Hz area can help.

If cutting the low’s doesn’t help and you feel the guitar is missing something, you can boost a little of the low end. Because the sixth and fifth strings are bass-ier than the other strings, you can boost the low-end EQ. If you are running a digital mixer, look to the 150 Hz range for a little boost. Test this yourself to find the sound you like.

3. Clean it up and make it good

The following list breaks frequencies into EQ ranges. Digital consoles can work within the different frequencies. However, the basic analog channel EQ’ing with only three-to-four knobs will not give the same level of control. Check out this article for exploring how to improve mixing on an analog mixer (it’s great for digital mixing, too). Therefore, apply these as they fit best to your situation:

• 150-300 Hz range: Use to beef-up the tone of the guitar, but as mentioned, it’s easy to get muddy again so only boost frequencies in this area if it CLEARLY improves the sound.

• 300-600 Hz range: Can be boosted if you have a thin sounding guitar.

• 600-800 Hz range: Your meaty mid-range sound. Cut this to give better tone and better distinguish the guitar from other instruments (more on cross mixing in a moment).

• 1,000-3,500 Hz range: These frequencies can push the guitar to the front of the mix and affect note definition. Boost these frequencies when looking at fingerpicking-style guitar and lead (not rhythm) guitar.

• 3,500-12,000 Hz range: It’s all about the sparkle. This range adds brilliance and can make the guitar jump out. This range can be further broken down into 3.5-5 kHz, 5-8 kHz and 8-12 kHz. Start at the 3.5-to-5 kHz range for adding that sparkle to the acoustic guitar. If you want more, jump to the next range and boost a little there.

4. Mixing the guitar with other instruments (cross mixing)

The guitar is an instrument that produces a wide range of frequencies. Its tonal characteristics are dependent on properties such as brand of strings, brand of guitar and type of wood used in the guitar. You can create a great acoustic guitar mix for (most) any guitar but you have to remember that when you place that same instrument in a realm with other instruments such as the piano, bass and violin, equalization is very important for blending and contrasting among the instruments. Two excellently mixed instruments can sound terrible when merged together.

While cross-mixing is a bit more complicated that what I want to tackle here, there is a big tip that will help you a lot. You are likely mixing against other instruments that can have their foundational frequencies (the frequencies that define the instrument) in one of the above bullet-pointed frequency ranges. You can either boost or cut one instrument’s range over the other’s range so the two instruments sound distinctly different instead of stepping on each other. It’s best to cut the key frequencies of one instrument instead of boosting the one you want to stand out. Less is more.

One last note on EQ’ing acoustic guitars

The information in this post is meant to get you a good acoustic guitar mix in a short period of time. That being said, getting a great mix takes a bit more work.

If you want to take the quality of your mixes up a few notches, check out my detailed guide, Audio Essentials for Church Sound. It covers EQ’ing all your standard instruments and vocals. You’ll learn how to create a great song mix by properly mixing all of your channels together. The best part? It’s a step-by-step guide so you know WHAT you need to do, WHY you need to do it and WHEN you need to do it. Check it out!

Is Your Use of ‘Christian Lingo’ Keeping People From Understanding You?

By

Phil Cooke

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October 22, 2023

In my books, I write frequently about making sure that in our scripts and programming, we stop the “Christian Lingo” and speak in a language and style the culture understands. As an example, a few years ago, I received this email from a media executive that brilliantly illustrates the point:

Phil:

This month, in your newsletter, you mentioned how sometimes we, as Christians, don’t communicate very well with non-believers. Several years ago, my wife and I bought a radio station in a small market in rural Indiana. We decided on a positive country format and included select Christian artists that fit that format. One DJ was given a Christian CD and told to listen to a particular song. In a few minutes, he came out of the studio and announced that it was a gross and disgusting song. We were surprised and asked him why. His statement was, “That song talks about being washed in the blood.”

For us, being active in church all of our lives, that was common church language, but to an unchurched person who took the literal meaning, it was gross. My wife had the chance to explain it to him, but we have used this example many times, trying to get “church” people to see how our familiar use of words is not understood by the world.

Thanks for all you do. We appreciate you and your forward thinking. You do good stuff!!!!!!!!!

It’s a perfect example. Drop the lingo. Let’s write scripts, speak, and share our story in a language and style the audience understands. Have you discovered any other good examples?

This article about Christian lingo originally appeared here and is used by permission.

4 Reasons I Hate Church Policies

By

Ron Edmondson

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October 22, 2023

I’ll be honest. I’m not a huge fan of most policies, especially church policies. It may be because I’m not a very good rule follower, but I honestly don’t think many policies work as well as they are intended.

Policies are defined as a course, plan or principle of action. They are designed, by definition, to offer a sense of control. In theory, policies are to make things better and, I will admit, they are a necessary part of dealing with people in an organizational setting. Without policies we would have chaos.

I realize even the title of this post has some people already objecting. I will have some of my rule following friends who disagree with my wording or maybe even that I would seem against policies. And, maybe the title is too strong. I probably should say I hate bad policies, because that’s more the reality. I love good policies. Okay, love is too strong a word also, but I don’t hate them. But, it’s my firm conviction many organizations (especially churches) have too many policies. And, especially too many bad policies.

My problem with church polices is they often interrupt progress rather than enhance it. If not careful, a policy may control the success you want to see as a leader. I personally would rather have chaos with no policies than a bunch of really bad policies.

When I got to one job church we had a church policy – voted on by the church in a business meeting at some point – on folded chairs. True story. It told the procedures to do if someone borrowed folding chairs from the church. It should be noted we probably no longer even had the chairs of which the policy spoke, but just in case we ever did again there was already a policy in place.

Granted, church policies may make sense when they are created, but as we look at the issue from a bigger picture they can even appear comical over time. Obviously, we can figure out what led to a folding chair policy. Someone borrowed chairs. They didn’t bring them back or treat them as they should. Therefore, to prevent this from ever occurring again people wrote a new policy. (Not to be over-dramatic, but it almost sounds like what the religious rulers were doing when Jesus began His ministry.)

4 Reasons I Hate Church Policies

Policies eliminate a sense of freedom

Church policies, by nature, are methods of control. Even for those who love rules and want everything spelled out for them, policies can add a sense of burden as you attempt (or don’t attempt) to live up to their demands. Show me an environment with a bunch of policies and you can almost always find some stressed out people.

Policies limit ability to think outside the box

Church policies can limit thoughts to a pre-determined outcome, which keeps the random and potentially explosive thoughts from developing. They can limit people’s ability to dream, explore, redesign and imagine. If everything is spelled out for people they have no reason to actually think for themselves.

Policies stall attempts at excellence

The parameters of a policy often produce an atmosphere of mediocrity. Everything is clear. Planned. Written. Solved. No need for improvement here until someone finds another way to mess up, of course, then we need to add another policy.

Policies curtail the pursuit of progress

The weight of meeting the demands of policies can take valuable energy from pursuing things, which have the opportunity of producing greater progress.

And my suggestions?

In Lieu of a Church Policy for Everything, I suggest

Handle individual problems individually

Ask yourself if the church policy is needed for everyone or just a few people. Is it needed for everyone to keep us organized, effective or legal? When the answer is it’s only for a few people, rather than create a new policy to control an issue, deal directly with the individuals who need more control. For example, in the case of the chair policy I mentioned above, rather than write a policy – go get the chairs! (They are likely in the garage.)

Treat people differently

If a team has more than one person, then there will be more than one type of person on the team. Do you follow me? Policies tend to treat everyone the same, which ignores individuality and personality differences. Some people may need to be in the office to get things done, for example. They may need help disciplining their time. Others may work best when the schedule and work environment is more flexible. Put me in a coffee shop and my productivity grows.

Lead as much (or more) than manage

Management is more about implementing policies and seeing they are adhered to completely. And, we need good management. I’m a huge advocate for good management. Leadership, however, sets a vision and guides people towards it. Less policies are needed in that process.

Purposely allow for mistakes

Policies are easier to measure. They often have a pass/fail assessment attached to them. The less policies you have the more you have to allow for grace and forgiveness. But, people learn from their failures best when they know they can explore and create without the repercussions and fear of breaking a policy.

My bottom line on policies:

I’m not suggesting we can do without policies, or that we should try, but I am suggesting they should not be the “go to” solution to a problem. Most problems in an organization don’t need a new policy. Policies can weigh down progress. Granted, leading is more difficult without policies – even a little messy, but with less policies you’ll almost always have opportunities for greater success.

Here’s a challenge: Look through your policies and rules to see which were created to control people as a reaction to a problem, which should have been handled individually, and which is a policy no longer needed.

The real challenge is to lead towards an environment which empowers more than it controls.

This article on church policies originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

2 Counter-Cultural Keys To Staying Married

By

James Emery White

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October 22, 2023

When it comes to having a successful, long-lasting marriage, there are two bits of conventional wisdom that are almost universally espoused: Don’t marry young and live together first.

And it seems to make sense on the surface of things, doesn’t it? Let’s bracket off the moral dynamics of living together and just play it out.

If you marry young, you are marrying when you have the least amount of money and the least amount of life-experience. That can’t be good, right? A lack of money and a lack of maturity must increase the odds of divorce.

There’s even more stacked against the idea of marrying young. Many see their 20s as the time to play and party. Once you get married, things become dull and dreary. So, you want to delay it until you at least “sow your oats” as they say. Also, there are careers to think about. Marriage and potentially children come after professional success, right? The idea is that marrying before reaching your professional goals would simply hinder things.

And then there’s living together on the front end. Isn’t that like taking a car for a test drive? Who wants to buy a car they’ve never sat behind the wheel of? It seems to make sense you would want to live together for a season first to see whether you could live together for life. If you find out during the first week of marriage that you can’t stand living together, then again, that has to hasten the likelihood of divorce. As a result, more than 70% of those who marry live together before marriage.

But according to new research from the Institute for Family Studies, conventional wisdom is false. Their analyses indicate that “religious men and women who married in their 20s without cohabiting first… have the lowest odds of divorce in America today.”

The researchers gave several ideas as to why this counterintuitive discovery bore out. They write: “We suspect one advantage that religious singles in their 20s have over their secular peers is that they are more likely to have access to a pool of men and women who are ready to tie the knot and share their vision of a family-focused life. [Also,] shared faith is linked to more sexual fidelity, greater commitment and higher relationship quality.”

One Harvard study revealed that women who were regular church attenders were approximately 40% less likely to divorce. The “norms and networks” found in churches provide a pillar for marriage.

And why does cohabitation have the opposite effect those who engage it desire? One reason is that “most young adults today who cohabit do so with someone besides their future spouse.” This establishes a mindset of “leaving as an option.” Once married, that mindset doesn’t vanish.

Let’s ‘Uncomplicate’ Discipleship at Home

By

Christina Embree

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October 21, 2023

When it comes to discipleship at home, engaging in conversations that create space for faith talks and God moments, it can be tempting to formalize it, following the step-by-step guide of a book or instituting certain practices to ensure that faith gets talked about at home. But sometimes those things can bring more frustration than they do formation.

So, where should we start? It’s not as mysterious as you might think—we start where God told us to. I hope the article below, even if you’ve read it before, is an encouragement and a reminder that discipleship at home isn’t a complicated thing—we don’t have to add more to our already full lives; rather, we get to welcome Jesus into the things we are already doing!

The other day I had someone say to me, “I love reading your blog and I like your thoughts on discipleship at home but I don’t even know how to get started. I don’t think of those things like you do. Where do I start?”

It’s a good question and one that I have heard expressed many times before. Understanding of the need for faith formation at home is often overshadowed by fears of implementation. Combining a heart that desires to grow faith at home with intentional actions created to draw children into the “mystery” of the faith is a dynamic duo for discipleship at home.

In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, God tells the community of Israel to “impress” His commands on the children and provides four times in which to do that: When you sit at home, when you walk along the road, when you rise, and when you lie down. These everyday and honestly, quite mundane, moments are when the Lord invites us to have faith-forming moments with the younger generations. In fact, it’s these simple and uncomplicated moments that offer the most powerful and effective opportunities to connect with Christ and grow our faith.

If this is a new arena for your family or families in your church, I encourage us to start with these four small but powerful “baby steps” that begin to shift the focus of the home towards Christ.

1. Morning Prayer/Blessing

One of the everyday moments mentioned in Deuteronomy is “when you rise.” Mornings can often be rushed, crazy times as everyone is trying to get shoes tied, hair brushed, coffee guzzled and breakfast consumed. In the middle of it all, take just 30 seconds to stop with each child and pray a simple blessing like, “Lord, be with Grace today. May she know that you are with her, that you love her and that you have called her by name and may she return home full of joy and wisdom.” We will be setting the tone for the day with those simple words and reminding our children just how much they are loved by us and by God.

2. Dinner Discussions

Another time God encourages us to engage with our faith is “when you sit at home.” It’s rare to have families in a place where they all sit down together, but sometimes dinner still gives us that opportunity. To center our conversation during those nights, our family asked four questions: What was your high today? What was your low? What mistake did you make? Where did you see God today?

We had more “teachable moments” at dinner than we could have ever imagined. Sometimes we only get two questions in before we begin discussing something related to our faith, God, family or church. And what’s great is that everyone gets to participate.

3. Drive Time

God tells parents to share with their kids as they “walk along the road.” This doesn’t happen as much as it did but we do drive along the road an awful lot. If you have to travel frequently, might I suggest downloading or purchasing some Adventures in Odessey programs from Focus on the Family? These radio dramas provide a great platform for discussion with kids and they will love listening to them. (You will too—they’re pretty great!)

The Role, Duty, and Expectation of a Coach

By

Brian Dodd

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October 21, 2023

Billy Graham once said, “A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime.” If this statement is true, and I believe it is, then it is important to understand what the role, duty, and expectation of coaches are.

Long-time readers of this site know I participate in a weekly Zoom Bible study with approximately 70 high school, college, and professional baseball scouts and coaches. This past week Chicago White Sox scout Kevin Burrell taught a lesson on the subject of baptism. Kevin pointed out that baptism is an outward sign you are playing for a new team (Christianity) and have a new coach (Jesus Christ).

To connect the dots for this very unique audience, he asked, “What is the role, duty, and expectation of a coach.” The following are the answers from some of the top scouts and coaches in baseball:

A Coach Is a Model

Lee Seras, Scouting Supervisor for the Cincinnati Reds said, “Become a model and a leader.”

Coaches Train and Develop Players

Luke Wrenn, retired scout from the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks, said, “To develop the players to be the best that they can be.”

Coaches Imparts Knowledge

Wrenn added that coaches are “to be an example to them and to impart knowledge.”

Coaches Meets You Where You Are At

Kevin Wilson, one of the most sought after hitting consultants in the game and is currently working with Minor and Major League players from 20 different MLB organizations, said, “Meet them where they’re at.”

Coaches Create a Path for You and Guides You in It

Kevin added that coaches will “guide them in a path you want them to go in.”

Coaches Are Mentors

Rich Sparks, scout for the Oakland A’s, said, “Be a mentor.”

Coaches Teach You to Take Responsibility

Rick Robinson, former college baseball coach for over 20 years and currently a missionary with SCORE International said, “Teach them to take responsibility.”

Coaches Teach You to Operate Within the Context of a Team

Rick concluded by saying coaches also teach you “how to participate and operate as a team player.”

Conclusion

Kevin then summarized by tying these traits back to the Holy Spirit’s work in a person’s life after salvation. He said, “The message of baptism is I have a new coach and this new coach is going to help. He’s going to model for me. He’s going to help train me. He’s going to help me reach my abilities as a new follower of Christ. He’s going to mentor me. All the above. He’s going to care for me. He’s going to discipline me…That new coach is the Holy Spirit that abides within you and he’s going to walk with you and he’s going to talk with you, and he’s going to train you, and he’s going to teach you, and he’s going to lead you every day.”

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

8 Traits I See in Good Worship Leaders

By

Chuck Lawless

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October 21, 2023

As I visit churches in my various roles, I’m privileged to worship with many different congregations. The styles aren’t always the same, but I can tell you some of the common traits I find in worship leaders who catch my attention. I know these thoughts are just my opinion, but here are some of those things:

The worship leader enjoys what he’s doing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched as a worship leader drudged his way through the task. When the leader loves to worship, on the other hand, I love worshiping along with him.
He smiles. This trait goes along with the previous one. When you love honoring God, your face shows it.
He makes the Word of God central in worship. Perhaps he reads the Word, or maybe he quotes it as a transition. The songs themselves also echo the Word of God, and the leader helps me prepare to hear the Word.
He leads well, but without show. I’m not even sure how to describe this trait, but I know it when I don’t see it. Showmanship and God-centered worship are contradictory.
He chooses songs that are singable. I’m not a musician, so I tread softly here—but I think that some songs that work well for a praise team don’t always work well for a congregation.
He teaches me songs I might not know. He’s aware that some in the congregation don’t know every song he chooses, so he helps us hear them and sing them. This one’s especially important to me when I can see the lyrics on a screen but don’t know the melody.
He builds prayer into the worship time. The combination of singing God’s praises and speaking to Him in prayer is a powerful one for me.
He leads with excellence. You can usually tell when the preparation for leading others to worship is lacking.

Again, these thoughts are only mine, often based on only one experience in any given church. But, sometimes we get only one opportunity to lead others to worship God. What other traits would you add to this list?

‘The Domino Revival,’ Featuring Mark Driscoll, Mike Signorelli, and Greg Locke, To Debut in Theaters

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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October 20, 2023

“The Domino Revival,” featuring V1 Church founding pastors Mike and Julie Signorelli, Global Vision Bible Church founder and pastor Greg Locke, Trinity Church founder and pastor Mark Driscoll, Jenny and Stephen Weaver, Isaiah Saldivar, Jessi and Parker Green, Alexander Pagani, Jeremiah Johnson, Andy Byrd, and many others, will premiere in theaters for one night on Oct. 24.

The film explores how faith leaders have witnessed a spiritual awakening during what they describe as “America’s darkest hour.”

At the red carpet premiere in New York City early this month, Signorelli told ChurchLeaders that the goal of “The Domino Revival” is to make the “real Jesus” known to everyone around us. “Do you see the real Jesus in our midst? The one that walked the Galilee, who died and three days later was resurrected, and now his Holy Spirit is here on the earth,” Signorelli said. “That’s what this film is really about.”

ChurchLeaders reached out to Driscoll, who wasn’t able to attend the premiere due to the birth of his grandson, and asked why he believes “The Domino Revival” is an important film.

“The difference between a biography and a testimony is who the hero is,” Driscoll said. “The world tells stories in terms of biography: how someone overcame odds, slayed their dragon, or climbed their mountain. The church tells stories in terms of testimony: how our God is faithful, powerful, and is still showing up and showing off.”

“This movie is a testimony about the power of the Holy Spirit unleashed through the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he added. “God is the hero!”

Driscoll shared that he is concerned for the American Church today because “the world is run by the controlling, seducing, and castrating rainbow flag-waving Jezebel spirit. The church is run by the tolerating, enabling, and compromising soft-woke Ahab spirit.”

The controversial pastor said that “we desperately need Elijah’s with the Holy Spirit making trouble, picking battles, and setting things on fire,” encouraging believers to “stop being pathetic. Start being prophetic. Call the shots. Take the shots. Stop making excuses. And to start making plans.”

“To be a Christian, you must give God your sin. To be a Christian leader, you must give God your reputation,” he concluded. “Close your ears, open your Bible, tell the truth, and get used to being punched in the face by the world and anointed in the pulpit by the Lord.”

Notably, Driscoll resigned in disgrace as pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle in 2014 following allegations that he was an abusive leader. Similar allegations have been made against Driscoll during his time as current pastor of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.

What Others Are Saying About the Film

Parker Green said that “movies are modern day parables, and if we’re going to tell a story, we need to make sure we’re doing it viscerally, we’re doing it visually, and we’re engaging people.” This is something “The Domino Revival” accomplishes and “I’m excited about it,” he said.

Ex-Porn Star Powerfully Dismantles Arguments Porn Is ‘Harmless,’ Issues Warning for Married Couples

By

Billy Hallowell

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October 20, 2023

Ex-porn star Brittni De La Mora is now on a mission to spread the Gospel and point people toward truth. She recently posed a poignant question: “Is it OK to watch porn when you’re married?”

De La Mora and her husband, Richard, often tackle tough questions surrounding sex, marriage, and relationships, venturing into queries like this on their popular podcast, “Let’s Talk Purity.”

Brittni said this question about porn and marriage is one the couple is asked frequently, with some pondering whether pornography is a feasible alternative to adultery. Before getting into that question, though, Richard said it’s necessary to back up and look at porn itself.

“Let’s first talk about porn,” he said. “Is it just OK in general to watch pornography?”

Richard and Brittni proceeded to dismantle the argument porn is harmless and doesn’t hurt anyone — views expressed by some proponents and others who seek to dismiss any dangers.

Brittni, who was an adult film star for seven years and knows the horrors and travesties raging within the industry, offered a candid and blatant rebuke of porn consumption.

“No, it’s not OK to watch porn,” she said. “Just because something’s available to you doesn’t mean you should utilize it.”

Hear Brittni and Richard explain:

Brittni continued, “Porn is…a gateway. It triggers in your brain…the same dopamine receptors as cocaine. So, it’s been proven to be addictive.”

She said porn can become a fixation and a drug of sorts, drawing people deeper and deeper into the abyss and harming them along the way. Brittni said a realization this content is deeply damaging to souls, families, and marriages can open people’s eyes enough to empower them to “stop watching it.”

Beyond that, Richard said there’s another factor at play: the dehumanization of God’s creation.

“When you watch porn…you’re objectifying a woman, or you’re objectifying a man,” he said, noting these images, over time, can distort people’s minds and have them diminishing the real-life people they encounter. “Now, you’re in taking these images, and these images now are creating false fantasies, especially in your marriage, false fantasies just in general.”

In addition to these topics, they hit on the fact porn creates isolation and can lead to erectile dysfunction amid other personal woes.

“It not only affects your soul, but it also affects your body,” Richard said.

Chick-fil-A Paradox: Tops in Customer Service Despite Slowest Drive-Thrus

By

Stephanie Martin

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October 20, 2023

Chick-fil-A drive-thru — Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

For industry insiders, Chick-fil-A remains a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigmatic sandwich bun. The Atlanta-based chain with Christian roots continually tops customer-satisfaction surveys despite its Sunday closures and occasional calls for boycotts. And despite controversies about its founder’s beliefs, Chick-fil-A has been labeled “one of the most socially advanced companies in terms of treatment of employees and its role in the community.”

Now a new report reveals that the chicken-sandwich giant ranks last in drive-thru service time (10^th out of 10 fast-food chains) yet first in customer service, order accuracy, and overall satisfaction. The 2023 QSR Drive-Thru Report calls the phenomenon the “Chick-fil-A” paradox, saying despite longer wait times, the chain “blew out the competition” in other key categories.

The ‘Magic of Chick-fil-A’s Drive-Thru Experience’

In its annual report, QSR evaluated experiences at America’s top quick-service restaurants. Chick-fil-A came in last in both “speed of service” (312 seconds) and “average wait time” (124 seconds), with an average total time of 436 seconds. By comparison, Taco Bell, which came in first, had an average total time of 279 seconds.

Chick-fil-A’s personalized focus prevents customers from heading to shorter lines elsewhere, according to the report. “This is where the magic of Chick-fil-A’s drive-thru experience ignites,” it stated. “It’s become a common sight to see [Chick-fil-A] at the bottom of QSR’s total time ranking. But it’s hardly a negative truth. Chick-fil-A’s drive-thru is a long-running amalgam of perception, execution, and customer experience delivered at unrivaled volumes.”

Several “levers” play into that phenomenon, the report noted. Employees with tablets greet guests at their vehicles, take their orders, and check in with them along the way. “So from a perception standpoint, customers don’t feel unattended to or like they’re stagnating, despite how lengthy the line might get.”

In terms of customer service, Chick-fil-A came in first with a “friendly” rating of 91%. The two competitors tied at second, Taco Bell and Hardee’s, came in at 79%. For order accuracy, Chick-fil-A also topped the chart, at 92%. Burger King came in second at 90%.

Overall, 97% of customers said they were satisfied with their order and visit. “You generally can’t achieve speed or accuracy at the drive-thru without having employees who care about the guest experience,” the report concluded.

‘Constantly Evolving’ to Meet Guests’ Needs

The increase in mobile-app orders is affecting how Americans buy fast-food and where they eat it. Senior director of service and hospitality, Matt Abercrombie, said the company is “constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of our guests.”

Pastor Defends Innocence of Man Allegedly Found in Possession of 9,900 Child Sex Abuse Images, Calls Him ‘A Man of Integrity’

By

Dale Chamberlain

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October 20, 2023

Cameron Cotrill, a 67-year-old computer software developer and active church volunteer, is being held without bond after he was allegedly found in possession of 9,900 child sex abuse images across three computer hard drives.

While Cotrill vehemently maintains his innocence, he has been denied bond by U.S. District Judge Robert Myers, who said that the evidence against Cotrill is substantial and his wealth and connections to family members outside the U.S. make him a flight risk, according to SunHerald.

Myers also said that in addition to the large number of abusive images found in his possession, Cotrill allegedly used his extensive computer knowledge to restrict his wife’s access to and knowledge of the files.

Cotrill claims he is the victim of malware.

Cotrill’s family and other community members have rallied around Cotrill. Included among them is Peter Meakins, pastor of senior adults at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where Cotrill had served as a volunteer in the media ministry.

In a letter to Myers obtained by The Messenger, Meakins characterized Cotrill as “a man of integrity” and urged the judge to reconsider his decision to deny bail.

“His appearance has always been beyond reproach, and he has a very optimistic attitude about life,” he said. “In his Christian walk, I believe you would find him solid in his beliefs. He is a man of integrity and good leadership skills, which are virtues we need today.”

Meakin also said that Cotrill had “consistently demonstrated conscientiousness to his ministry responsibilities” at Center Pointe Church.

Cotrill’s family has likewise pleaded with Myers to allow Cotrill to be released on bond pending his trial in January, citing medical issues, as well as his presence in the community and at Center Pointe Church.

The family also launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Cotrill’s legal expenses, though the account has since been deactivated after GoFundMe determined that it violated its terms of service.

Ukrainian Parliament Moves To Bar Russian-Linked Church From Operating in the Country

By

David I. Klein

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October 20, 2023

(RNS) — The Ukrainian Parliament passed a preliminary vote on Thursday (Oct. 19) for a bill that could ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has close ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, from operating within Ukraine’s borders.

Draft law 8371 would give Ukrainian authorities power to examine the connection of religious groups in Ukraine to the Russian Federation and to ban those whose leadership is outside of Ukraine. The draft law, under Ukraine’s parliamentary rules, still needs to undergo a second vote, where it may be amended, before moving to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his approval before it becomes law.

Since the outbreak of full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine, Russian Orthodox priests in Ukraine and around the world have faced accusations of spying and otherwise working to advance Russia’s political interests. Moscow’s Patriarch Kirill, a close ally of the Putin regime, has provided religious justification for the conflict in sermons and public appearances.

“The Russian Orthodox Church’s connection to the Russian Special Services has a very long history,” Oleksandr Kyrylenko, a scholar of religion and Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine, told Religion News Service.

Last month, Bulgaria expelled three of the highest-ranking Russian Orthodox priests in the country. At the same time, the FBI warned Orthodox communities in the U.S. that Russian intelligence services may be using their churches to recruit assets.

Shortly after the vote on the bill, Ukraine’s state security service, the SBU, accused the Russian Orthodox Church of training mercenaries.

“The Security Service has exposed the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church for creating its own private military companies on the territory of the Russian Federation,” the SBU said in a statement released on Telegram. “One such private military company called St. Andrew’s Cross is documented to operate out of the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral in St. Petersburg.”

Since the 10th century, Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox Christians had been part of one church. The Moscow Patriarchate itself began as the metropolitan of Kyiv and all Rus, the people who formed the first Russian nation. The relationship between the Russian church and Ukrainian Orthodox Christians began to sour almost a decade ago after Russia’s support for separatist insurgents in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region and Russia’s occupation of Crimea in 2014.

In 2019, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, considered “first among equals” in the Orthodox Christian world and a customary mediator among its many patriarchates, granted a “Tomos of Autocephaly” to Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, allowing them to come under the authority of the patriarch of Constantinople, rather than Kirill.

The move caused the Russian church to break communion with Constantinople and patriarchates that recognized the ruling. In Ukraine, the Orthodox community also divided, with those who embraced autocephaly and styled themselves as the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and those who kept the name Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The latter, while not accepting Constantinople’s declaration, says it is independent of the Russian Orthodox Church and has publicly criticized Russia, and Patriarch Kiril’s support of the invasion.

The OCU has formally adopted Ukrainian as its liturgical language, ditching Old Church Slavonic, still used by the Russian Church. This summer, the OCU also dropped the Julian calendar and adopted a newly revised one, which, among other changes, moved the date of Christmas from Jan. 7, as it is celebrated in Russia, to Dec. 25.

Effective Prayers for Evangelism

1. Empty Chair Prayer

2. Prayer Walking

3. Prayer Lists

5 Negative Signs of Spiritual Maturity

1. Pride in How Much Bible You Know

7 Reasons Why Halloween Judgment Houses Often Miss the Mark

1. They’re not scary enough.

2. They assume people’s problem is that they don’t know about judgment.

3. They abstract judgment from the love of God.

6 Preaching Mistakes You Can Make in the First 5 Minutes

1. Apologizing for being on the stage

2. Wasting the first 15 seconds

3. Assuming the content will create the connection

4. Skipping over finding emotional common ground

5. Not leveraging an introduction

4 Quick Steps to EQ an Acoustic Guitar

1. Trim the excess

2. Control the guitar’s bottom-end

3. Clean it up and make it good

4. Mixing the guitar with other instruments (cross mixing)

One last note on EQ’ing acoustic guitars

4 Reasons I Hate Church Policies

Policies eliminate a sense of freedom

Policies limit ability to think outside the box

Policies stall attempts at excellence

Policies curtail the pursuit of progress

And my suggestions?

In Lieu of a Church Policy for Everything, I suggest

Handle individual problems individually

Treat people differently

Lead as much (or more) than manage

Purposely allow for mistakes

1. Morning Prayer/Blessing

2. Dinner Discussions

3. Drive Time

A Coach Is a Model

Coaches Train and Develop Players

Coaches Imparts Knowledge

Coaches Meets You Where You Are At

Coaches Create a Path for You and Guides You in It

Coaches Are Mentors

Coaches Teach You to Take Responsibility

Coaches Teach You to Operate Within the Context of a Team

Conclusion

What Others Are Saying About the Film

The ‘Magic of Chick-fil-A’s Drive-Thru Experience’

‘Constantly Evolving’ to Meet Guests’ Needs

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