When Pastors Are Abused by Their Congregations
By Donavon Riley
10/01/25
13mins

When Pastors Are Abused by Their Congregations

This article is the first part of a two-part series. The second part will take a look at when pastors abuse their congregations.
An Excerpt from Untamed Prayers: Psalm 123 and Psalm 136
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
09/30/25

An Excerpt from Untamed Prayers: Psalm 123 and Psalm 136

The following entries are excerpts from Chad Bird’s new book, Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of the Psalms (1517 Publishing, 2025), pgs. 311 and 335
St. Michael, Defender of God’s People
Amy Mantravadi
Amy Mantravadi
09/29/25

St. Michael, Defender of God’s People

Why did the church dedicate a day to St. Michael anyway? Who is he, and what does he do?

All Articles

Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/24/19

The iChisel: Defaced Images and the Human-Faced God

It’s no wonder we’re so attached to images; we are one. We are human hyphens between the celestial and the terrestrial.
Dan van Voorhis
Dan van Voorhis
07/24/19

Happy Birthday, John Newton! Hymn Writer and Slave Trader (Or, what to do when our heroes turn out to be scoundrels)

John Newton was a scoundrel, a pirate, and a slave trader.
Bruce Hillman
Bruce Hillman
07/19/19

Anxiety, Depression, and the God Who Treats You Better Than You Can Imagine

God is always better than your imaginings. God is greater than your thoughts about God!
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/15/19

Can the Church Save Singing? Three Simple Recommendations

Imagine yourself at an advanced age. What do you want to remember when you’ve forgotten virtually everything else? Sing that.
Scott Davis
Scott Davis
07/11/19

The Church is a Homeless Shelter

Begin thinking of your church as a homeless shelter. See how it changes the way you see the weary pilgrim sitting in the pew next to you.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
07/09/19

God the Father

All God's fatherly goodness and mercy is concrete and real, born of a virgin, crucified for our trespasses, raised for our justification.
Dan van Voorhis
Dan van Voorhis
07/03/19

On Reading Broadly

We can’t all afford to travel the world, but the more we read from outside our own context, the bigger we see the world.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
06/01/19

The Bible and Your Blessedly Fat Waistline

In the biblical world, having a few extra inches on your waistline was not a reason for dieting but dancing.
David Rufner
David Rufner
05/14/19

The American Story in Light of the Gospel

In these two stories - one ending and the other beginning just a day apart - we find many ingredients that are uniquely American. We find grit, determination, and conquest.
Valerie Thur
Valerie Thur
05/07/19

Speak His Name

The wizard stares into Billy Batson’s eyes. “Speak my name so my powers may flow through you.”
Bror Erickson
Bror Erickson
05/02/19

Not Today

One of the great themes of the Game of Thrones is the personification of Death, most concretely in the form of the Night King, supreme commander of the blue-eyed nightwalkers.
Grant Klembara
Grant Klembara
05/01/19

Moving Beyond Your Personality Type

The truth is that no amount of self-awareness will ever be enough; in fact, the more we seek after ourselves, the more inwardly bent we become.
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