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Showing posts from March, 2024

Give Us This Day — Trusting God with Our Needs

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  by Bart Denny Have you ever noticed how the Lord’s Prayer shifts gears? It begins with God — Our Father… hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. It’s all about His holiness, His priorities, His will. But then, without skipping a beat, Jesus invites us to pray something incredibly down-to-earth: “Give us today our daily bread.” — Matthew 6:11 That’s not just a request for food. It’s an invitation to trust. 1. Trust God Daily — He Knows What You Need Jesus could have said, “Give us a year’s worth of provisions,” or “Fill my retirement account now.” But He didn’t. He taught us to ask for daily bread. It’s a reminder of how God fed Israel with manna in the wilderness — just enough for each day, no stockpiling. Why? Because God was teaching them to depend on Him one day at a time. We like to plan ahead. We want the five-year blueprint. But Jesus says, “Live in the now. Trust Me for today.” Practical step: Each morning this week, pause before you check your pho...

Stop Searching for a Silver Bullet Pastor: What Declining Churches Really Need

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...