top of page
PUBLISHEDARTICLES
6 ways pastors can lead to a more Gospel-focused church culture
A pastor recently called me seeking advice on how to create a culture of evangelism in his church. This young man was concerned about the lack of Gospel outreach among his congregants, and though he has extensive knowledge of the Bible and pastoral training, he wasn’t sure how to activate his church members to share the Gospel. This pastor is not alone. A 2023 Barna study revealed that only 12% of pastors reported they felt their church’s evangelism was “very effective,” whi
Jay Lowder
May 30
How God Saved This Man From Suicide And Transformed His Life
“Because I was battling an alcohol addiction, my life had really just got put into quicksand,” he said on an episode of the “Jesus Calling”
Movieguide Contributor
Mar 21
I am fascinated by a compelling true story.
There are many ways to communicate information, but I have found that some truths are most easily grasped in the context of a parable.
Jun 6, 2024
May 9, 2024
Apr 10, 2024
BLOGPOSTS
Jay Lowder
Jun 6, 2024
Search
The power of prayer
I believe in the power of prayer because I have seen God move in a mighty way because of the prayers of his people. I’ve seen men who...
May 2, 2012
Different country, same message
It is always amazing to me how the message of the Gospel combined with the Holy Spirit meet people right where they are in life. I...
Apr 17, 2012
Hope for the hopeless
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to take the message of Christ to a prison in Pensacola, Florida. I have spoken in numerous prisons...
Mar 19, 2012
This Lenten season
Last week many around the world began participating in the Lenten season. This is a time when individuals give up something to reflect on...
Mar 2, 2012
A colorblind God
This week the news has been abuzz with a new study, released from Pew Research Center, showing mixed marriages hit an all-time high with...
Feb 21, 2012
Praying for the best
It is that time again, when all media, activities and conversations seem to become political. I was thinking about this last night before...
Feb 13, 2012
Religion vs. Jesus. You tell me!
I watched a YouTube video this past week that was very powerful. It talked about the difference between false religion and a relationship with Jesus. One part that really stood out to me was related to this discussion of religion: “They can’t fix their problems so they just mask it not realizing that religion is like spraying perfume on a casket. See, the problem with religion is it never gets to the core. It’s just behavior modification like a long list of chores. Like, let’
Jan 24, 2012
New Year's Resolution (New Year, New Goals)
I know it’s already a few weeks after the New Year, but I thought the timing was perfect for this post. Some have already broken their...
Jan 19, 2012
Start a tradition
Christmas is a crazy time of year. If you are like me, it's easy to get swept into the hustle and bustle of the holidays. I usually wake...
Dec 21, 2011
The Perfect Gift
What’s in a gift? Does it represent the person giving it or the depth of his or her feelings toward the person to whom it is being given? While we all have our own opinion, there is one thing on which we can agree – the season of giving and receiving gifts is upon us. Like many, I have received both great and strange, well-intentioned gifts over the years. I have been given 99-cent flashlights, sweaters with reindeer on the chest, disgusting fruit cakes and even b
Dec 16, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving
As you remember God's goodness, during this special time of the year, I want you to know that the Harvest team and I are grateful for...
Nov 23, 2011
True Beauty
Television today includes numerous reality shows revolving around wedding nuptials, which stress importance in physical appearance and...
Nov 8, 2011
Don't give up
"I will remember always that marriage, like life, is a journey - not a destination - and that its treasures are found not just at the end but all along the way." - anonymous I was once told that marriage was made to make you holy not happy, and when you begin to reach holiness is when you find true happiness. God created marriage to make us more like Him, but that doesn't mean it is easy. When I first met Missy I was attracted to her beauty. I loved talking with her because w
Nov 1, 2011
Stepping out of your comfort zone
I've learned that sometimes my plans aren't always God's plans. Through many years of ministry, He has shown me that He works in mysterious ways, and often He wants me to step out of my comfort zone in order to do His will. Last Sunday was one of those times. I traveled to Oklahoma to preach at First Baptist Church of Broken Arrow . As with anytime before I preach, I was praying for God to reveal the message He would have me to give. At 1 a.m., I felt God calling me to preach
Oct 24, 2011
Nothing new under the sun
"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." - Ecclesiastes 1:9 Last...
Oct 19, 2011
Creativity + Biblical truth
In my years of parenting, I have learned that it is essential to teach children spiritual Truths at home. Sure, they will learn things from Sunday School, VBS or even Christian schooling, but it is our responsibility as parents not to let the spiritual development of our children lie in the hands of others. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." I have tried to practice this with my own children. I believe it
Oct 17, 2011
Questioning God
Sometimes life is hard. Matter of fact, sometimes life just stinks. The question, "why do bad things happen to good people?" is one that...
Oct 12, 2011
Step up and be a man
I recently read an article that discussed a new Hartford Seminary study. The study claimed that "American congregations have grown less...
Oct 10, 2011
How to survive parenting a teen
School has started, schedules have begun to get busy and you're dealing with a difficult teenager. You may sit there asking yourself, "How am I going to make it through the year?" As much as teens can be difficult to live with it, it is important to remember that your job is to engage in their lives and help parent them through these vital years. I like to call it the sacred seven to parenting teens. Be engaged. The first step of alleviating future problems or solving current
Oct 5, 2011
The most important meal of the day
You may not be aware that eating a meal together as a family could change your children's lives. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA Columbia) at Columbia University found that teenagers who never sit down for family dinners are four times more likely to use tobacco, twice as likely to drink alcohol and two and a half times as likely to smoke marijuana. Those are some pretty scary statistics for parents like myself. I know with today's busy schedules i
Oct 3, 2011
bottom of page