matt tullos: writer
We often categorize our churches with fancy titles: Relevant, emergent, classic, reformed, fundamentalist, traditional, contemporary, liturgical, purpose-driven etc… The list is really endless and the subtleties of each model vary. But what kind of church are we? Really… Some churches are more like a country club, complete with secret handshakes, special membership privileges, and perks for […]
Have you ever had that dream where all of the sudden someone from school calls and says that you missed that one class and you have to go back to school? It’s a serial nightmare for me–usually after a Sunday of preaching. Still, if you feel called to pastor the average church (if there is such […]
Theological elitists, keep moving along. There’s nothing that will interest you here. Jacked-up sinners, like me, pay careful attention. We all need a few easy-to-remember axioms that get us through the day. As a man of habit who has struggled with self- condemnation through the years, I’ve white-knuckled these truths in the middle of my […]
There are many universal sayings that all mothers end up reciting at least once if not a thousand times. Wash your hands before eating. Play fair. Don’t follow the crowd. Be yourself. Trust me. Get some rest. Pull those weeds in the back or they’ll kill the tulips! Listen to your father. Don’t go out […]
I was having coffee with a friend the other day. He’s one of my favorite people in the universe and I love his take on the Bible and church. Our church models are very different. Still, we marveled that even though our churches are about as different as Switchfoot and Lecrae, we’ve both experienced the same […]
I’m always amazed how the church as a whole is so quick to throw rocks at the sheep in the fold. We question each other’s theology, spar over worship philosophy. We’ve got more fusses than one tongue can tell while outside the world is going to hell. We are driven by creeds, and motions, and […]
You and I came to the game late but we are invited to stay for eternity and as we worship God begins to teach us new concepts, new subtleties, new songs… What is God teaching you as you worship.? Here are a few things He’s been teaching me. When we worship, life becomes a festival rather […]
In the eighties, church job titles were pretty simple. We even had decision cards that you could fill out if you felt “called” to “special service.” You might feel called to be a _____ Pastor _____ Music Minister _____ Youth Minister _____ Minister of Education _____ Foreign Missionary (Check one.) That’s it. Check the nature of […]
I have more days behind me than I do in front of me so I am in a hurry. I can’t afford to be cynical, satisfied or slow. I don’t want to do anything halfway for You. I don’t want to be pulled away by self interest, pride, or opposition. I don’t have the time to live […]
It’s Saturday. The tomb is sealed. The guards are in position. The sheep are scattered. The light is gone. There is nothing more than silence on the other end. These are the times when we look back and replay all our errors and missed opportunities. The words we should have said… The swords we should […]