Jason Locke's Blog

The Decline of the College Church of Christ (Fresno), part 2 In his book Pursuing the Full Kingdom Potential of Your Congregation , George Bullard gives a surprising definition of a mature congregation: "Maturity is that period when Relationships, Programs, and Management are dominant. Vision is no longer dominant." He goes on to explain that mature congregations are already past their prime. Previous success sustains them, and they are on the cusp of decline. Bullard’s words echo those of Robert Dale ( To Dream Again ) before him. No one at the College Church of Christ in Fresno (College Church) would likely have known this definition of a mature congregation. Church of Christ leaders tended to think they were immune to the troubles of the “denominational” world. But the description fit the College Church to a T. The College Church’s impressive size and list of high-quality accomplishments might have fooled many into believing that it could weather any storm and grow...

I'm fortunate to be in a church that values solid biblical instruction. We have adult Bible classes every Sunday following worship. About 75% of folks stay for classes. We're currently going through a three-month-long study in which my sermons and all adult classes focus on the same material. This is the second time we've tried this approach. Last spring, we went through the gospel of Luke. It met with such a positive response that we're repeating the concept. This time around, we're looking at the life of Moses. It allows us to highlight important material from the Pentateuch. We spent the first month in Exod 1-15. We've moved on into the wilderness. Over the final six weeks, we'll touch on material from Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. If not for this study, when would I ever preach from Leviticus? I've learned (and said) that this study is less about the man Moses than about the formation of God's people. How God forms a people is somethi...

I’m looking for feedback on a potential update to the College Church auditorium. A few color-savvy people have looked at some different options proposed by a local interior designer. Leadership has chimed in as well. We all like the basic aspects of this option the best.   What do you think? How might this paint color (walls & beams) change the feel of our worship space? How does this artist's rendering accentuate (or damage) our building's architectural features? Your thoughtful reflection would be most appreciated. Peace!