It’s pretty sad, really. Most people these days think that churches are answering all the questions NO ONE is asking.

Is that true or are they just complaining to justify their absence from church? Well, it could be either, but from conversations I’ve had with people, it seems like the former is true in a lot of the time.

But why? Why would a church dodge the issues that people are begging to hear a biblical perspective on?

Is it embarrassment? Is it fear? Is it that they’re out of touch? Is it that they don’t care?

I have no idea, but it needs to change.

I’m not preaching to you, I’m preaching to me. I need to continue addressing the questions people are asking regardless of how uncomfortable it makes me feel!

We must remember that this is what Jesus did. People came to him with questions & he answered them. He didn’t dodge them or shy away from them or change the subject. He spoke truth into their situations.

Churches, we must do the same! For the sake of our cities, we must do the same!

Challenge to Preachers: Preach a series each year where you answer people’s questions.

I’m afraid if churches continue to be known for being irrelevant, church attendance will continue to decline at a rapid rate.

We all know that the Bible is relevant, so if the church seems irrelevant, we’re probably not engaging people like Jesus did.

Guest Blogger: Rebecca Eaton, Communications Director

“They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” John 10:5

Flocks of sheep get from place to place only by following their own shepherd’s voice. They stop when he stops and walk when he walks, using only the sound of his voice as a guide. As our shepherd, Jesus’ voice should be the only voice to which we respond. The more we read his Word and the more we pray, the more we begin to recognize his voice and the way he speaks to us. We learn to stop when he stops and walk when he walks, following only the sound of his voice and hearing only him. When the devil calls out to us or the world tries to get our attention, we will recognize it instantly as a stranger’s voice and run back to our shepherd.

We need to be so focused on hearing Jesus that any other voices send us running back to him.

2 Corinthians 8:3 – “For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more.”

I must say, every time I read this verse, it wrecks me.

I mean… it begs the question, doesn’t it? Would an objective person think I’m giving more than I can afford? Meaning, are we giving sacrificially… like, are we making sacrifices to give?

The implication is, if not, we might not be following Jesus closely enough.

The reason that bothers me is because I usually feel like I’m not giving more than I can afford but everything in me wants to be.

I’m praying that Jesus would make me radically generous like he was and that each year I could increase the amount I give away!

Principle: If we are not giving more than we can afford, we aren’t following Jesus closely enough!