A closer look at the local church

Posted on Aug 4, 2015

This August, the WHITE HORSE INN (Sun 800, Tue 1430) continues to examine what Scripture says about the church.

The latest statistics show that almost half of pastors, at least in the West, do not make it to their fifth year. What are the causes of pastoral burn-out, and what is a more sustainable vision of Christian ministry? Joining the program the week of August 9 is Clay Werner, author of On the Brink: Grace for the Burned-Out Pastor.

As churches conform more and more to the values of the marketplace, true and lasting community is getting harder to find. In megachurches everywhere, most of us don’t even know the person we’ll sit next to on Sunday morning, and few of us care. What are the essential ingredients of an authentic Christian community? Joining Michael Horton the week of August 16 to discuss this issue is Christine Pohl, author of Living Into Community: Cultivating Practices That Sustain Us.

As churches have downplayed doctrines like the holiness of God, the message of the gospel has become warped and distorted. As a result, many think of Jesus more as a best friend or life coach than they do as a divine redeemer who rescues them from sin and hell. On this special conference edition of the program, the week of August 23, Michael Horton challenges us to get reacquainted with Christ’s original message and mission.

The month closes with another special edition, recorded with a live audience. Michael Horton and Rod Rosendbladt unpack the relationship between faith and experience.