Bart's Blog

by Bart Denny Central text: John 14:1–7 (NIV) There are moments when life feels steady, and there are moments when it doesn’t. In John 14, we’re listening in on Jesus’ words to His disciples in the Upper Room on the night before the cross. Judas has walked out to betray Him. Peter has just been told he will deny Him before morning. The mood has shifted. Fear is rising. Uncertainty is thick in the air. And right into that moment Jesus says: “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1, NIV). That’s not a sentimental quote for calm days. That’s Jesus forming disciples for what’s coming. When You Can’t See What’s Next If I’m honest, I like knowing what’s next. Don’t you? I like plans and timelines. Clarity. I like to look at a situation and say, “Here’s the problem—and here’s how we get from point A to point B.” That probably comes from the many years I spent in the Navy. In the armed forces, you don’t just wing it. You brief the plan. You run the checklist. You tal...

by Bart Denny Central text: John 13:12–17 (NIV) Over the years, in church settings, I’ve done a lot of dishes. I’ve raked a lot of leaves. I’ve painted plenty of church walls. I’ve plunged more than a few clogged toilets. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. But if I’m honest, at this age, with this many years in church, there’s a part of me that wants to say, “I’ve done my time.” I don’t usually say it out loud. I dress it up. I call it wisdom. Focus. Stewarding my time well. But the feeling sneaks up on me. It shows up when another need pops up. When the same few people carry the same load. When I feel tired. It shows up when I think, “Shouldn’t somebody else take a turn now?” And I’ll confess something else: I don’t mind serving. I just want to choose the terms. And if I’m not careful, I start thinking and acting like the low places belong to somebody else. Now let me be even more honest: I don’t struggle with getting my hands dirty. I struggle to keep my ego in check....

by Bart Denny Central text: John 13:1-11 Most of us know what it feels like to live under evaluation. We get measured at work. Compared at school. Judged online. And yes, sometimes even in church. Over time, that constant scrutiny does something to us. It quietly trains us to build our identity on performance: Am I succeeding? Am I respected? Am I keeping up? Am I right? And when our identity feels fragile, we get defensive. We push back. We justify ourselves. We posture. We react. Because when identity isn’t secure, disagreement feels dangerous. But Jesus offers something better than a better performance. He offers a deeper anchor. That’s why we launched a series called The Upper Room Way —because on the night before the cross, Jesus didn’t simply give His disciples information. He formed them. In a room heavy with tension and sorrow, Jesus shaped a people who could live faithfully in a hostile world—not through outrage, not through dominance, but through love, cleansing, an...

How Churches Drift Toward Death—and How to Turn Towards Life by Bart Denny I heard a story today that reminded me of too many I have heard before. It saddens me. It bothers me. The church I heard about seems to think they have it nailed, so I’m sure they won’t be seeking my consulting services—or anyone else’s. Not that a consultant’s report would make it beyond a file cabinet—stuffed away, never to be read. While I admit it may take many years—and that bad decisions will likely outlive most of the decision-makers—I remain less than optimistic about the church's future. There Are Patterns I’ll be the first to admit: I don’t know everything there is to know about church health, vitality, growth, and renewal. And I praise God that He still does what only He can do. I never want to box in the Holy Spirit. After all, we worship a God who parted the sea, turned water into wine, and reversed a crucifixion with a glorious resurrection. So no, I would never say that God can’t revive a chur...