Peter Beck
Assistant Professor of Religion, Charleston Southern University
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Concrete Christianity
Like the driveway across the street, or the one under my cars, Christians who overlook the study of the Word, who substitute spiritual shortcuts that look good on the surface for a lasting maturity...Tuesday, March 31, 2009
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And the Real Winner Is ...
I can smell it now. The smell of fresh cut grass lingers in the air. The smell of popcorn wafts down the aisle. Then the aroma of hot dogs and pretzels float past. Even the smell of the freshly...Monday, March 30, 2009
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Saving Sunday School
So, let’s not throw out Sunday School. Let’s promote it. Let’s not kill Sunday School. Let’s grow it. Let’s recruit teachers who can teach. Let’s enable members to minister to each other. Let’s...Friday, March 27, 2009
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Negative Church Growth
Look around many churches and this is a huge problem. We’ve got overweight members. We’ve got rotund children. We’ve got pastors in the pulpit who are wider than the pulpit. Many have gotten so...Thursday, March 26, 2009
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Ignorance = Bliss?
That last one was one of the hardest lessons to learn. I went through my early life, like all teenagers, thinking I knew everything. I struggled through the early years of adulthood thinking that I...Wednesday, March 25, 2009
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The Ecclesiastical Unemployment List
Imagine where the church would be if God had been as quick to reject these men, and myriads of others just like them, just because they don’t fit “our” mold.Monday, March 23, 2009
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For The Love Of A Great Sermon
We were looking for a preacher who rightly handles the word of truth. We were looking for an expository preacher who teaches what the Bible teaches, no more, no less, chapter-by-chapter,...Friday, March 20, 2009
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Trainwrecks
As Christians we are not called to compare ourselves against other mere mortals anyway. Christ is our example and his holiness our standard. Against such lofty ideals, we all fail. Every one of our...Thursday, March 19, 2009
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Bring Worship Home
The next time you go to church, see if you find yourself in David’s shoes, jubilant and full of the desire to share that joy with others. If so, do so. Tell others about your worship experience....Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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Shepherds Lead, Butchers Drive
Too many churches suffer today not from a lack of leadership but from leadership of the wrong kind.Tuesday, March 17, 2009
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The Tyranny of a Label
Stereotypes, caricatures, and labels have long been used to wound and corner our enemies. For the “greatest generation” the labels of Nazi, Fascist, and communist carry great weight. Today’s...Monday, March 16, 2009
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How To Listen To A Sermon
Going to church is an easy thing. You get up. You get dressed. You get down the road. You get out of the car. You get into the sanctuary (or whatever less offensive name you want to call it). Then,...Friday, March 13, 2009
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The Church United
The church, however, is more than a simple gathering of people. Any social club can fit that description. In fact, many American churches are little more than a social club, a group of people who...Thursday, March 12, 2009
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What Are We So Afraid Of?
Fear comes easy. Ask any soldier or sailor who’s done some combat time. When bullets start to fly, fear is a natural reaction. But, a time comes when one has to decide if he’s going to continue to...Wednesday, March 11, 2009
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It's Time for Confession
Today’s church needs to rediscover its confession of faith. Let me give you three reasons why Christians have written and used confessions of faith and why we should today.Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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A Prayer Warning
The problem isn’t that many Christians aren’t praying. The problem is that they’re praying in the wrong way. They take God too lightly and themselves too seriously. They give God lip service and...Monday, March 9, 2009
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Open and Closed Doors
Today, when I go in and out of various churches, I look at their doors. Are they utilitarian? Are the attractive? Are they welcoming? Or, are they forboding? Doors matter.Friday, March 6, 2009
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Precious Memories
Even today, the echoes of our churches’ storied pasts still walk the halls. They’re unavoidable. They are not the enemy. We are their legacy. Therefore, we must learn from them. And, we must learn...Thursday, March 5, 2009