Bart's Blog

Praying, "Your kingdom come" realigns everything! by Bart Denny When was the last time you had a moment that silenced the noise and clarified what really matters? Maybe it came during a health scare, a late-night heart-to-heart, or a snowy Michigan road. In those moments, the trivial fades and the essential stands tall. And if we’re honest, we need those moments—not just in life but in our prayer life too. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6 to begin prayer not with ourselves, but with God: “Our Father… hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” Let’s focus on just those three powerful words: “Your kingdom come.” It’s more than a phrase. It’s a spiritual posture. It’s a dangerous prayer. Praying “Your Kingdom Come” Means Yielding to God’s Rule In Us We often pray for the world to change, but Jesus starts by calling for change within. Luke 17:21 reminds us: “The kingdom of God is in your midst.” That means the kingdom begins when we surrender our hearts t...

By Bart L. Denny, Ph.D., Th.M. How does your community view your church? Do you even know? Here’s how to find out: go to the nearest grocery store and ask the cashier. Visit a local coffee shop, gas station, or hardware store and strike up a conversation. Ask, “What do you know about [your church’s name]?” You’ll get answers—maybe not what you were hoping for, but honest ones. Chances are, your church has either a good reputation, a bad one… or none at all. Let me be blunt: whatever your church’s reputation—good, bad, or nonexistent—you’ve earned it. You might think some of it is unfair, and you may even be right. But the community has formed a perception, and that’s what you’ve got to work with. I remember talking with the chairman of the deacons at a church that had a poor reputation in town. He seemed to think the community had judged them unfairly. But here’s the reality: fair or not, perception is reality in terms of community witness. That’s the soil you’re planting ...

by Bart L. Denny, Ph.D., Th.M. One of the most difficult things I’ve ever done in ministry happened during my time as a hospital chaplain resident, learning the ropes of clinical pastoral care. It was a weekend shift (always a busy time) when I was dispatched to a “code” in the pediatric intensive care unit. My heart sank. My stomach knotted up. The patient was a baby—just a few weeks old—who had recently undergone surgery to correct a heart defect. For what must have been forty agonizing minutes, I stood by helplessly as the medical team fought with every ounce of strength and skill to save that child’s life. Despite their herculean efforts, the baby didn’t make it. Eventually, the tearful staff left the room and turned it over to me, the chaplain. As I stepped in, I saw the young parents, shattered, holding the lifeless body of their child. The baby’s distraught grandparents stood nearby. I have three children of my own, now grown, but I remember loving each of them fiercely...

By Bart L. Denny, Ph.D. The genius of the U.S. Constitution lies not only in its checks and balances but also in its brilliant design of federalism—a system intended to distribute power between the national and state governments. However, in 1913, the ratification of the 17th Amendment fundamentally altered that balance. By providing for the direct election of U.S. Senators by the people rather than their appointment by state legislatures, the amendment weakened the states' role in national governance and eroded a key structural safeguard against federal overreach. Though well-intentioned, the 17th Amendment has led to unintended consequences that now demand a sober reconsideration. If we are serious about restoring the vision of the Framers and strengthening the voice of the states within our federal union, it is time to repeal the 17th Amendment. The Founders’ Design and the Purpose of the Senate The original Constitution crafted two houses of Congress to represent two di...

by Bart Denny “I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” — Revelation 3:8 (NIV) I have wrestled with a quiet burden that many pastors know all too well—even if they rarely say it out loud. If I’m doing this right… shouldn’t the church be exploding in growth? I’ve poured myself into small congregations with love, prayer, and the Word—only to measure progress in single digits, not surging crowds. For a long time, I wondered if that meant I was failing. But slowly, God has reoriented my heart. He’s shown me that the small churches I’ve pastored aren’t signs of weakness—they’re signs of His unique calling on my life. The roles I’ve held, the communities I’ve served, the saints I’ve shepherded—they aren’t consolation prizes. They’re my assignment from God Himself. And if you’re serving or worshiping in a small church, you need to hear this clearly: You are not less-than. You are not broken. You are not abnormal. You are ess...

by Bart Denny Let’s be honest—prayer can sometimes feel like following bad GPS directions. You start with good intentions, maybe even a few familiar phrases. But somewhere along the way, it gets repetitive, dry, or just awkward. Like winding up in a cornfield when you were supposed to be on Elm Street, you’re left wondering, “How did I end up here?” If that’s you, you’re not alone. And you’re not without a roadmap. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He didn’t give them a lecture. He gave them a model. What we now call The Lord’s Prayer isn’t just something to recite—it’s a pattern that leads us from routine to relationship, and from ritual to revival. In Matthew 6:5–13, Jesus doesn’t just teach us what to say. He shows us how to pray—with reverence , with relationship , and with purpose . Pray with Reverence — Honor God’s Presence Jesus begins with a warning—not against public prayer, but against performative prayer. The kind that’s more about impressi...