Interdisciplinary

Isaac Wardell on Rethinking Calling and Vocation

Not everyone feels called to their job or experiences it as way to use their gifts to accomplish great things for God. There is a more satisfying way to think about how God calls each of us.

April 18, 2018 | 4 min read
Isaac Wardell on Bringing Work into Worship

Daily work, paid and unpaid, consumes our lives, energy, and minds—even when we are in church. Here are ways to plan worship so people see themselves and their work as instruments of God.

April 18, 2018 | 5 min read
Reggie Smith on Churches Called to Become Multicultural

Considering the “Joseph question” and the “Jonah question” can help congregations overcome fear of talking about race, culture, and how God might be calling them to change

March 8, 2018 | 5 min read

Four Learning Practices for Sermon Engagement

Learning practices have rich application for sermon engagement. Here are four easy-to-implement strategies to allow each sermon to be more formative in our daily lives.

February 14, 2018 | 4 min read
Warren Kinghorn on Mental Illness and Our Deepest Identity

We hear a lot about using person-first language. Yet it is still common to label people with their mental health diagnosis. Christians and churches can offer another way to describe our common human identity.

February 6, 2018 | 4 min read
Warren Kinghorn on Mental Health and Christian Worship

It is far more common to hear about physical ailments than mental ones in congregational prayers and worship. Psychiatrist Warren Kinghorn explains why mental health issues and people with mental illness should be acknowledged in Christian worship.

February 6, 2018 | 4 min read

Mark Mulder on Debunking “the Culture of Poverty”

It is important for financially stable churches and Christians to build relationships with those in poverty. But the reason may be different than what you might assume.

December 14, 2017 | 7 min read
Congregations and Persons with Dementia: A Story and Ideas to Try

TOGETHER is a new Bible study curriculum designed to include, appeal to, and challenge adults of varying abilities. The new curriculum is building community in ways that enrich worship in congregations and congregation members with dementia.

December 8, 2017 | 8 min read
The Geography of Worship

An annotated research guide from the field of geography, exploring the relevance of place, space, and human/environment interactions for the study of worship practices.

December 5, 2017 | 1 min read

Does Church Location Make Any Difference?

Because human beings are embodied creatures, the shape of the material world—in particular, the shape of the built environment—will affect their spiritual lives, both in relation to God and to each other.

October 24, 2017 | 10 min read
Mika Edmondson on MLK’s Theology of Unearned Suffering

Jesus’s example of laying down his life for others inspired Martin Luther King Jr. and the U.S. civil rights movement. This theology of how to engage undeserved suffering can help congregations deal with pain.

October 10, 2017 | 7 min read
Barbara J. Newman on Adult Inclusive Small Group Bible Studies

TOGETHER is a new Bible study curriculum designed to include, appeal to, and challenge adults of varying abilities. It aims to build community in ways that may enrich congregational worship.

September 29, 2017 | 8 min read