Category Archives: Church

Conflict Within the Church

Posted on September 12, 2022 by russellmckinney

W.B. Riley, who served as the pastor of First Baptist Church of Minneapolis, Minnesota, for some fifty years, told the following story: In my first pastorate, three of my church officials had refused for three full years to speak to … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Christian Unity, Church, Church Discipline, Confession, Deacons, Doing Good, Extending Forgiveness, Forgiveness, God's Work, Influence, Pastors | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sunday School

Posted on August 29, 2022 by russellmckinney

Most people don’t know that the Sunday Schools of today’s churches bear little resemblance to the original Sunday Schools of England’s late 1700s. Those schools were quite literally places of basic education where poor children could learn to read and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Children, Church, Discipline, God's Work, Influence, Scripture, Sunday School, Teaching, The Bible, Youth | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

You Just Never Know

Posted on July 25, 2022 by russellmckinney

Lyman Beecher was one of the most famous Presbyterian preachers of the 1800s. Early in his ministry, he once exchanged pulpits for a Sunday with the pastor of a small country church. It was in the middle of winter, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, God's Work, Obedience, Preaching, Reward, Salvation, Sowing and Reaping | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A “Bring Your Own Board” Kind of Church

Posted on July 1, 2022 by russellmckinney

A man named Squire Hughes was one of the first settlers west of the Miami River in Ohio. Being a religious man, he would ride twenty miles on horseback just to worship at the Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati. There was … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Attendance, Evangelism, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church Bulletin Humor

Posted on June 10, 2022 by russellmckinney

There’s nothing wrong with using bulletins in your church, but you’d better make sure they are done well. Otherwise, they can make your church look kind of stupid. Today’s post offers a few examples from that category. I got these … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Humor | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sin & Church Attendance

Posted on May 27, 2022 by russellmckinney

Can you imagine getting drunk Saturday night and then going to church the next morning? Can you imagine rolling out of a bed you share with your live-in lover, getting dressed, and going to church? Can you imagine having beer … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Character, Church, Church Attendance, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doing Good, Faithfulness, Holiness, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Sanctification, Sin, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Play Your Piccolo

Posted on May 2, 2022 by russellmckinney

Acts 6:1-7 gives the account of an election that was held by the early church. Not only did the apostles instruct the church members to choose seven men, the seven had to be much more than just “casual Christians.” They … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Church, Doing Good, Faithfulness, God's Work, Individuality, Pastors, Preaching, Service, Spiritual Gifts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Food Won’t Come to You

Posted on March 21, 2022 by russellmckinney

My oldest son Ryan, who was eleven years old at the time, got off a classic line one evening. He was lying on his bed watching television, and his mother had just finished her nightly chore of preparing his supper. … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Attendance, Personal, Worship | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Getting Your Toes Stepped On

Posted on March 16, 2022 by russellmckinney

A preacher had just finished a very strong sermon on the subject of sin. One of the officers of his church came to him and asked for a private word in the preacher’s study. Once there, the scolding began. The officer said, “We … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Church, Conviction, Disobedience, Forgiveness, God's Chastening, God's Holiness, God's Judgment, God's Word, Man's Freewill, Obedience, Pastors, Personal, Personal Holiness, Preaching, Rebellion, Sin, Truth | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

God Works in Mysterious Ways

Posted on December 23, 2021 by russellmckinney

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Christmas, Church, Disappointment, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Omnipotence, God's Timing, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Work, Problems, Reconciliation, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments