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This edition is sponsored by Aspen Group |
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Most of us are sheep, not shepherds. “This is a theological truth but also a mathematical one,” writes Nadya Williams. “Even a large church may only have one senior pastor and maybe a few more elders and shepherding members of the staff.” |
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So how do we go about being good members of the flock? Commit. Offer support to leaders and each other. And even (counterculturally) give groupthink a try. |
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One subject of our collective thinking should be heaven. Dwelling on eternity isn’t escapist, a new book argues. Remembering the “eternal glory to come” actually “equip[s] us now for the life that is,” including the practical care that living as the body of Christ requires. |
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How could artificial intelligence help advance God’s kingdom? That’s the question at the heart of the third and final episode of this Bulletin miniseries, featuring case studies on doctors, musicians, and Bible translators. |
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“For teams that have reached a point where they have a New Testament complete, we can take that and train a model about how to translate text into that language.” | Listen here. |
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Your church building should be as unique as your ministry—and when designed with purpose, it can become a catalyst for spiritual growth. |
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Aspen Group combines the insights of Barna research with deep local expertise to help churches create spaces that reflect their mission and serve their communities. Their regional teams understand your climate, culture, and context—ensuring designs that are both beautiful and functional. |
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Want to explore how your space can shape spiritual formation? Download the free guide: 10 Key Takeaways About Church Spaces from Barna Research—packed with insights and practical ideas to reimagine your facility. |
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Mia Staub, editorial project manager, online: If you’re in LA this September, go watch La La Land with a live orchestra and Justin Hurwitz conducting. I went last year, and it was amazing! Another great movie to watch outside that I saw at the Hollywood Bowl last summer: Singin’ in the Rain. |
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Kate Shellnutt, editorial director, news: @tabletopfamily is a great follow on Instagram for board game recs, but I’ve loved learning their “paper and pen games,” alternatives to tic-tac-toe that you can play with a kid while waiting at a restaurant. |
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Bonnie Kristian, editorial director, ideas & books: Poppi sodas are the best of the “new soda” class: not overly sweet and cloying or blatantly vinegary, despite having some apple cider vinegar in the mix. They’re sweetened with stevia, the leaf-based, low-calorie sweetener that doesn’t give you cancer. The cola, cherry-lime, and orange flavors are particularly good. |
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August Is Make-A-Will Month!
Need to create or update your will but not sure where to start? Christianity Today has a trusted partnership with PhilanthroCorp, a Christian charitable will and estate planning firm, to provide you with free, no obligation, and confidential help based on your needs, values, and financial situation. |
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1. A representative contacts you to arrange a phone appointment. |
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2. On your first call, you answer basic questions for the estate planning specialist to learn how to best serve you. Additional calls are scheduled as needed. |
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3. You are given a plan for your attorney to draft final legal documents or PhilanthroCorp can refer you to an attorney in their network at reduced rates. |
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Michelle Stephens of Silicon Valley evangelism organization ACTS 17 talks caviar bumps, Peter Thiel, and Christianity.
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Reformers like Elizabeth Rous Comstock were not animated by conquest, but earnest—and complicated—charity towards Black migrants.
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Church isn’t a place for forced smiles and pat assurances.
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Labubu, ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Demon Slayer’: We humanize these otherworldly creatures because we’re spiritually ambivalent.
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As developments in artificial intelligence change daily, we’re increasingly asking what makes humanity different from the machines we use. In this issue, Emily Belz introduces us to tech workers on the frontlines of AI development, Harvest Prude explains how algorithms affect Christian courtship, and Miroslav Volf writes on the transhumanist question. Several writers call our attention to the gifts of being human: Haejin and Makoto Fujimura point us to beauty and justice, Kelly Kapic reminds us God’s highest purpose isn’t efficiency, and Jen Pollock Michel writes on the effects of Alzheimer’s . We bring together futurists, theologians, artists, practitioners, and professors to consider how technology shapes us even as we use it. |
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