Top level publication for "Church" channel. Copyright https://www.crosswalk.com 2026, Crosswalk.com Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:23:47 -0500 https://www.crosswalk.com/church/4-ways-to-get-back-into-the-routine-of-going-to-church-regularly-after-the-summer.html https://www.crosswalk.com/church/4-ways-to-get-back-into-the-routine-of-going-to-church-regularly-after-the-summer.html Amanda Idleman https://www.crosswalk.com/author/amanda-idleman/ Routine is on its way back into our lives after the free summer months full of exploration, vacation, and long, lazy days. As we assemble our fall calendars and make space for our many obligations, let’s not neglect the routine of going to church regularly. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”Church is our chance to meet together with other believers. It’s the place we form bonds that unify and support us as we go out into the world throughout the week. Our fellow believers are those who pray alongside us when we have a need. They encourage us with scriptures and kind words when our souls are weary. They offer wise counsel when we are unsure how to move forward in our lives. They grieve with us when we experience loss. We need other believers in our lives, as this Christian life was never meant to be lived out alone. Here are some easy ways to prioritize church attendance after the Summer: Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Karl Fredrickson Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:45:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:23:47-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/church/where-do-we-see-the-gospel-in-these-popular-sunday-school-songs.html https://www.crosswalk.com/church/where-do-we-see-the-gospel-in-these-popular-sunday-school-songs.html Lisa Loraine Baker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/lisa-loraine-baker/ When parents drop their little ones off at Sunday school, they trust the people teaching the lessons will make sure the curriculum is pure and points to God. It’s a given that the Sunday school teachers will lead the littles in songs because youngsters love to sing and it’s a great way to keep them occupied. But what’s included in the popular songs they sing as their parents are worshiping in the sanctuary? Do the songs often sung in this environment speak the Gospel to the children?We’re going to take a look at ten time-honored Sunday school songs, and then we’ll view five purely Gospel-oriented songs.Photo credit: ©Getty Images/PeopleImages Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:23:47-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/4-ways-trendy-church-culture-is-making-you-spiritually-weak.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/4-ways-trendy-church-culture-is-making-you-spiritually-weak.html John Stange https://www.crosswalk.com/author/john-stange/ During the past several decades of serving in pastoral ministry, I have observed a variety of trends in church ministry come and go. Admittedly, it can be easy for a local church to become stubbornly set in its ways, never adapting its approach to ministry and never stepping out of its comfort zone. That is certainly an issue I have observed in multiple church contexts, but at present, there's a concern that I think is possibly even more prevalent. At present, I'm observing a pattern among some pastors and churches of "chasing trends." Instead of remaining focused on key areas like worship, prayer, the study of God's word, discipleship, and evangelism, I see a greater focus on gimmicks, entertainment, production, and cultural relevance at the expense of truth. The end result, in some contexts, appears to be people who call themselves Christians but can't articulate the gospel, can't speak intelligently about Scripture, and aren't demonstrating the fruit of Spirit-empowered godliness in their lifestyle choices. This isn't a new phenomenon. It's an issue that those who call themselves God's people have wrestled with throughout history. It's an issue that I believe spiritual leaders should be particularly attuned to because spiritually shallow leaders contribute to and often influence the shallowness of faith among those they lead. The fourth chapter of the book of Hosea addresses these issues as they cropped up in the lives of the people of Israel living during Hosea's day.Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/David Nieto Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:40:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:23:47-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/10-things-to-think-about-when-finding-a-new-church.html https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/10-things-to-think-about-when-finding-a-new-church.html Mary Oelerich-Meyer https://www.crosswalk.com/author/mary-oelerich-meyer/ Is it time to find a new church? Maybe you recently began to follow Christ and are looking for your first church. Perhaps your family has moved to a new area so you need a church in your new location. Or maybe you realize that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to make a change from where you are currently attending. For these and other reasons, individuals and families seek out a new church where they will grow in faith, worship, and service.Yet before you look for a new church, consider what it is that God would lead you to find. Make a list of what the Bible says about various issues related to church (using the references here as well), and let it help you create your list of needs/wants. In prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what honors the Lord about your participation in a local church body and to lead you where God is loved, glorified, and celebrated above everything else.Whether you are looking for a denominational (e.g. Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopal, etc.) or non-denominational church, here are 10 suggested considerations when seeking a new church home. (Please note that when I say “new,” I don’t mean the age of the church, just that it is new to you.) “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Kadirdemir Mon, 24 Feb 2025 09:45:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:47-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/10-things-to-consider-when-choosing-a-church-for-your-family.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/10-things-to-consider-when-choosing-a-church-for-your-family.html Carrie Lowrance https://www.crosswalk.com/author/carrie-lowrance/ Finding a church home that is a good fit for your family can be difficult. There are so many factors that go into choosing a church that there is never a one-size-fits-all solution.Each person in your family is looking for different things in a church, although your children should never have the last say in choosing a place of worship. If this decision seems a little overwhelming, here are some areas to help you evaluate the churches in your area and find a great place of worship to attend.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/PixelCatchers Fri, 16 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:23:47-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/7-valuable-perspectives-singles-bring-to-the-church.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/7-valuable-perspectives-singles-bring-to-the-church.html Liz Lampkin https://www.crosswalk.com/author/liz-lampkin/ Single, unmarried, widowed, divorced, single parent. These are a few ways to define singles in the church. As multifaceted members of the body of Christ, singles play an intricate role in the church. They are Sunday School teachers, Bible students, choir members, and so much more. Single congregants serve the Body of Christ inside and outside the church walls to continue to build the Kingdom of God for His glory. Singles play an intricate part in the Body of Christ; however, they are often overlooked and undervalued simply because of their relationship status. While the oversight of singles may not be intentional in houses of worship, it is evident that the needs and perspectives of singles often fall by the wayside. This narrative must change. As people of God, it is crucial to understand that God gifts everyone in different ways. Each way that someone is gifted is important, and each individual use of their gifts builds God's Kingdom in a different manner that will bless someone's walk in discipleship. When it comes to being single in the church, it can be difficult to focus on the work of Christ when you're constantly being reminded of your relationship status rather than being uplifted for who you are in the Lord. What many churches often fail to realize is that single congregants have so much to offer their church communities. Their ideas, work ethic, time, and relationship status should be valued more than it is. If you're wondering what perspectives singles bring to the church's growth and how you can honor them, look at the list below.Let's begin with community fellowship. Fellowship is defined as friendly, shared interactions or associations with people with the same interests or beliefs. Community life within the church is vital to singles' walk in discipleship. It helps them remain healthy in the spirit, draw nearer to God, and become strong in their faith. Unmarried members of the Body of Christ can benefit and contribute to the work of God in many ways. They can actively participate in small groups. They can lead small groups that are specifically designed for singles. They can lead and organize ministry activities and so much more. While singles can contribute their time and talents to the church community, it's also important to recognize that singles deserve to be properly nurtured by their church communities. Church leaders, teachers, and even married couples should ask singles how they can help them with their walk in discipleship, rather than attempting to find ways to alleviate their singleness. They should also ask singles what their needs are for growing in the Body of Christ and implement them accordingly. Church communities are families for believers. Everyone needs each other to survive and thrive, and everyone's perspectives should be heard and honored.Reaching the masses and spreading the good news is important. It encourages people and brings individuals to Christ. Singles can help the church reach a broader audience because they have diverse experiences and interact with people from different walks of life. For example, many singles are dating, divorced, widowed, single parents. Many are a part of travel groups, cooking clubs, or different social groups outside of the church. As singles play a part in each of these communities, they can invite them to church for service, influence the unsaved to accept Christ, or encourage wayward members to reconnect with Christ. Singles are active individuals who grasp life to the fullest beyond the walls of the church and can bring a more diverse group of people to the Body of Christ.How to Include Single Perspectives in the ChurchIf you're wondering how to include the perspective of singles in the work of the church, here are a few ways to do so.Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Thomas Barwick Tue, 14 May 2024 08:30:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:23:47-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/7-ways-to-be-fully-present-in-church-worship.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/7-ways-to-be-fully-present-in-church-worship.html Britt Mooney https://www.crosswalk.com/author/britt-mooney/ The Bible instructs us about the need to gather as the family of God (Hebrews 10:25). When we do, we encourage one another through the Word of God (1 Timothy 4:13) and teach one another through praise and worship—hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19).We know we should prioritize this, yet in our busy lives, it can be difficult to engage fully. Jobs keep us busy and overwhelmed, and families bring drama and crises. Engaging in corporate worship seems boring compared to other entertainment or "fun" events.As with any part of walking with God, we must be intentional and disciplined about the things that are important. God acts with purpose from truth, and he leads us to do the same. We go to church not because it's fun in the immediate but because of the good it does us in the long term, both in this life and the next.Here are seven ways to be fully present in church worship.Photo credit: ©Getty Images/People Images Mon, 15 Apr 2024 12:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:23:47-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/great-and-5-terrible-reasons-to-attend-church-weekly.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/great-and-5-terrible-reasons-to-attend-church-weekly.html Britt Mooney https://www.crosswalk.com/author/britt-mooney/ Being Christians, we hear it all the time: go to church. And we should. But there are great and terrible reasons to attend church weekly.Motive matters to God. Yes, he wants us to obey him for our good, but he also wants us to take right actions with the correct motives. As Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 9, God doesn’t want us to give money from obligation or force. He desires a cheerful heart that understands sowing and reaping.Looking at God’s character, he makes intentional choices based on his identity. He is love, so his plans and choices are loving. He is perfect, so what he does is righteous. As we are his children, he requires the same integrity and whole-heartedness from us.Therefore, we can do religious acts that count for nothing. We can do all the charity in the world, but it profits us nothing if we do not have the right motivation.Regarding church, the same principles apply. Here are five great and five terrible reasons to attend church weekly.Photo Credit:©Getty Images/Rawpixel Fri, 23 Feb 2024 20:35:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:47-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/questions-to-ask-before-you-leave-a-church.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/questions-to-ask-before-you-leave-a-church.html Britt Mooney https://www.crosswalk.com/author/britt-mooney/ Being a Christian for any length of time, we have all changed churches. What are the questions to ask before you leave a church?People leave a church for all kinds of reasons. Some are good reasons. Perhaps individuals are called to another ministry position. Or perhaps a family moves to another state.Others are unhealthy reasons. Perhaps people leave because of an offense or conflict. Maybe there’s been betrayal or other serious issues within the leadership. Churches are full of human beings, and we are all still learning to be more Christ-like in our thoughts and actions. We’re not perfect yet, and people can be challenging.If you’re about to exit a local fellowship, here are seven questions to ask before you leave the church.Photo Credit:©GettyImages/People Images Fri, 23 Feb 2024 19:05:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:47-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/church/10-ways-to-be-more-actively-involved-in-your-church.html https://www.crosswalk.com/church/10-ways-to-be-more-actively-involved-in-your-church.html Blair Parke https://www.crosswalk.com/author/blair-parke/ “Well, I go to church,” is a common phrase we might say when asked what we do outside of work and family obligations. Some people may detail several ways they are active in their churches, but most would say they are primarily faithful attendants on Sundays, and maybe even Wednesday nights.Do you want to be more active at church? Is this is the year you really want to put your servant heart to work for the Lord, the church, and the community? There are several ways you can become more involved, whether you are an introvert or extrovert, physically able or disabled, man or woman, young or old.Following are 10 ways to become a more active participant in your church, and you can embrace them all or start small with one or two activities. Just remember that God delights in whatever service you do for Him and His children.“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Wirestock Tue, 23 Jan 2024 10:15:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:47-05:00