Maranatha Faith Center

Why we will no longer be a welcoming church

We’ve decided to quit being a welcoming church. No kidding. We’re giving it up. Like so many congregations, we’ve sunk an amazing amount of time and energy into becoming a welcoming church. We changed worship styles, trained greeters and ushers, wore name tags, brewed coffee, went to workshops on hospitality and put our friendliest people …

What does Jesus think about Homosexuality?

Is homosexuality a sin? It’s an age-old question, and there are people on both sides of the debate, each quoting their Bibles. How do we know who’s right? What would Jesus do if he were…

Shut down the bus tours: What older church members should really be doing

So how do you engage older church attendees… say people over age 50? The question’s been around a long time. And, as most church leaders could tell you, it’s a bit of a loaded question. It’s also a question I’m...Read More→

How To Reach Unchurched People Who Don't Think They Need God

I read a survey the other day that made me literally sit up straight as I took notice. The number of people in Canada (my country) who profess “no religion” is now at 24%, up from 16.5% a decade earlier. That’s a massive shift in a mere ten years. As I reflect on it all,…

4 Ways to Balance Leading the Church and Loving the Community

How do we both lead our church and love our community well? And how does this calling inform a church leader's priorities and daily schedule?

Who Will Give My Head Waters? Seven Reasons to Pray for Holy Tears

Tears, crying, and weeping are all a proper response to the God-ordained sorrow and pain we face. Just because God is sovereign doesn’t mean we ignore our pain.

5 Benefits to Praying the (W)holy Rosary

And as soon as I put my inhibitions aside and prayed the entire rosary in one day, my entire life changed. And now I want to share with you five benefits that I’ve discovered from praying the entire rosary every day.

What It Means to Pray in Faith

Praying in faith means making God, not ourselves, the focus of our supplication.

Who Me, Pray?…With Her?

How many times have you heard the suggestion to pray together as a couple? But how do you actually going about doing something that can seem strange and awkward, at least at first? Here are some practical tips. More →

Do You Pray and Wait…or Wait and Pray?

How do you make decisions? Are you a shoot from the hip sort of person, or do you have more of the slow and methodical mindset? Our lives are full of moments where we are given the opportunity to a…

What is the difference between praying alone and praying with a group?

What am I to Pray For?

As a young boy I was taught the importance of praying to God at meal time as well as before I would go to bed. My prayers were often qui...

How To Become Holy — Grace Church of DuPage

Selected Texts I. Holiness On Our Own is Impossible II. God Makes Our Holiness Possible III. God Establishes Our Holiness IV. God Increases Our Holiness V. God Consummates Our Holiness

How is your relationship with the Holy Spirit?

The feast of Pentecost gives us a unique opportunity to reflect on our own relationship with the Holy Spirit. Of the three persons of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit is often the least understood…

build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit

If God is Sovereign, Why Pray?

Prayer and evangelism are both part of God's plan.

How to Pray?

Are you wondering how to pray or what to pray for? You are not alone! Disciples asked Jesus the same question. Prayer is communication between the Father and His children. Just as communication can’t exist without a relationship, so can’t prayer. Something we can learn is that to have effective prayer, we need to improve our communication. According to Matthew 7:7, prayer ... Read More