Category Archives: Church Theory

Isn’t She Beautiful?: Final Thoughts

Isn’t She Beautiful?: Final Thoughts By Ryan

There will be a lot of letters of resignation turned in after that conference. Pastors, worship leaders, and even children’s ministers will leave churches they have poured themselves into for years. They will leave to follow their true passions, their true calling - something which has been nipping at their heels without a name for [...]

Isn’t She Beautiful?: Q&A Session

Isn’t She Beautiful?: Q&A Session By Ryan

I asked for questions the other night. I had a couple humorous replies. I laughed. But this is what was actually asked and (paraphrased) what was answered.

Isn’t She Beautiful?: Journey Theology

Isn’t She Beautiful?: Journey Theology By Ryan

Is the purpose of all of this God business strictly to get to heaven? Most churches will use this language when preaching the gospel, this reasoning for having faith.

Isn’t She Beautiful?: Arts and Creativity

Isn’t She Beautiful?: Arts and Creativity By Ryan

Tonight I looked at my friends, the ones who came with me, and we all said the same thing. We didn’t even have to speak it. We are simply euphoric.
Bell was giving us gold tonight. Pure gold.
Oh, and I have 25 pages of notes. 25.

Isn’t She Beautiful?: The Living Eucharist

Isn’t She Beautiful?: The Living Eucharist By Ryan

Bell opened his 9:00 session briskly - I think this is the best way to describe it - efficiently saying “open your Bibles to Colossians 2.” He’s very direct and challenging - I love it. Oh, and Bibles are handed out while scripture verses are referred to on the screens (see right) and it’s up [...]

Isn’t She Beautiful?: Sunday Service

Isn’t She Beautiful?: Sunday Service By Ryan

Tonight I sit on a hotel room couch in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Two friends are in the room nearby - one likewise on his laptop, the other one crashed in bed already. I can’t really blame him though, it has been a great day already - one full of lots of driving in the snow [...]

Innovative Churches in America

Innovative Churches in America By Ryan

My lovely RSS picked up an interesting feed from ChurchRelevance.com tonight. They have listed their Top 25 Most Innovative Churches in America and I found a couple things noteworthy. There are certain listings which I am not all too familiar with - such as LifeChurch.tv, the number one spot - but I am aware of [...]

Church - Should We Sell It?

Church - Should We Sell It? By Ryan

This was originally published in Issue 3 of The Huntingtonian on November 9, 2006.
What is the purpose of church, and how important is it to bring people in and keep them around?

Women in Ministry

Women in Ministry By Ryan

At a recent group discussion of the topic “Should Women Serve in Ministry” I was struck by something (which I consider to be) odd. When the question was proposed, near the end of the discussion, ”Who of you would be comfortable listening to a woman preacher/pastor/whatever at your church?” My hand went up, as did many [...]

An Evening with Donald Miller

An Evening with Donald Miller By Ryan

Don’t worry - he was gentle.

On Institutions

On Institutions By Ryan

Interesting philosophical idea presented to me (and others) today by a very smart man: institutions, no matter what goal(s) they are founded on, will ultimately turn and make self preservation their primary goal.

Church Visiting

Church Visiting By Ryan

Over the summer I discovered I would have the opportunity to work at Aboite Lutheran Church with my main focus being in marketing. I took this opportunity (as an excuse, really) to visit larger churces in the area - most of whom I have admired in some way or another for some time.