If you want to get a better grasp on what seems to be a tectonic-like shift in our culture’s thinking about religion, you should pick up a copy of The Rise of the Nones: Understanding and Reaching the Religiously Unaffiliated by James Emery White. I’m about a third of the way through this book now, and it’s definitely worth a preacher’s time. We’ve always fretted over kids who grow up in our churches who leave the Lord in their 20s, but if White’s analysis of the data is right, it’s wider and deeper than what we’ve experienced in the past. Many young adults aren’t simply turning away from the Church of Christ, and it’s not so much that they’re becoming atheists. It’s that they simply stop caring; they’re not really thinking about God much at all. Pretty scary stuff, and those of us in positions of church leadership need to think more seriously about how we present the gospel, how we do outreach, how we assimilate new members, etc.

Philip Yancey also has some helpful things to say along these lines as well, emphasizing the church’s role as a conduit of grace to a society that doesn’t think too highly of Christianity anymore. Nearly all of his books are worth reading, and especially this one: Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News?

Articles from the last week or two that you might want to read:

“Tips On Reading Better While Retaining More” by Trevin Wax

I can tell a difference in my preaching between times that I’m reading consistently and times that I’m not. But, of course, there’s always time pressure, and it’s easy to procrastinate with reading that isn’t required. With that in mind, Wax’s comments helped me. Also, notice his link to a video explaining how to read faster, better, and wider – it’s only four and a half minutes long.

“4 Fake Grammar Rules You Don’t Need to Worry About” by Arika Okrent

If you’re a grammar nazi, you won’t agree with these four rules, but it’ll at least give you an idea of what people are saying about some of the principles we’ve always been taught.

“The Importance of Meditation for Sermon Preparation” by John McKinley

I definitely don’t do this enough, but this article makes me want to do better.

“Eve” – a book review by Tim Challies

Remember The Shack by William Paul Young? It sold tons of copies when it came out in 2008, and it had all kinds of questionable theology. Well, you probably shouldn’t be thrilled that Young has come out with a new one, this time addressing gender roles. Challies’ review is good, and you might file this one under “Stuff I need to be aware of because someone in my congregation will ask me about it.”