If I preach only to the right or only to the left... I have lost some

My goal as a preacher should not be to use the local flavor and custom to make my message more palatable

Rather, my goal is to preach that the diversity of those within the local flavor can hear the message.

It is not about red meat for the faithful, but a healthy diet to build faithfulness.

What if churches worked together?

Not as a merger, but in ways in which human resources were shared.

Perhaps a pulpit swap, using a "best of" sermon, so prep time was minimized.
Perhaps a joint youth venture, fostering the faith of young people who are so often isolated from Christian peers when they go to church.

I wonder.

What if Jesus was relevant to people in Iola Kansas?

What would that look like in
...a church?

... in restaurants?

...in stores?

...in the way business was conducted?

...in the courtrooms?

...in the academy?

I still believe that the church is the hope of the world.

I still believe that the message of Jesus Christ has the power to transform people, families, and communities.

I still believe that God mends that which is broken.

But what does that look like?