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Follow the Way: From Troubled Hearts to Steady Faith

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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...
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But some doubted...

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by Bart Denny “The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted.” —Matthew 28:16–17 (CSB) I try to be faithful to Scripture when I write or preach. I want to draw out lessons and apply them to daily life without saying more than the text itself says. My goal is to dig deep into God’s Word and share what I find—without putting words in God’s mouth. But I can’t help wondering—have you ever heard someone really focus on that last phrase in Matthew 28:17? “But some doubted.” In the very presence of the risen Christ—after seeing Him crucified, buried, and now alive—the disciples worshiped. And yet… some doubted. That moment has always fascinated me. We often say, “seeing is believing.” But here were disciples looking at Jesus with their own eyes, and still, something inside them wavered. Was it too good to be true? Could it really be Him? After everything they’d seen—the horror of the cross, the...
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Stop Searching for a Silver Bullet Pastor: What Declining Churches Really Need

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Stop Searching for a Silver-Bullet Pastor: What Declining Churches Really Need by Bart Denny When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March 2020, the crisis of declining churches in America wasn’t new—it just accelerated the inevitable. Honestly, I tend to disregard 2020 – 2022 when measuring decline because of how chaotic those years were. But let’s be real: if your church had higher attendance and stronger giving in March 2020 than it does in March 2024—and we’re not talking just a slight dip—you’re in decline. If your children’s ministry was once thriving but now you’re lucky to gather a handful of kids each Sunday, you’ve declined. Your church needs revitalization. Sure, church health isn’t measured by numbers alone. Are you evangelizing? Are you making disciples? Are you reaching your community with the hope of Jesus? If the answers to those questions aren’t a resounding yes , you’re not just declining—you’re in danger. Kicking the Can… Until I...
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