Mike Glenn argues that the American church has accumulated too many programs and traditions that distract from its essential mission. Using disaster relief as a metaphor, he suggests the church needs to be stripped "back to the studs," removing everything that isn't truly necessary. Reflecting on what people actually missed during the pandemic, he identifies three essentials: worship that keeps God at the center of life, small groups that foster discipleship and authentic community, and mission that brings Christ's hope and healing into a broken world. His central point is that a simpler, more focused church would better form disciples, giving believers more time to be the church rather than constantly attending church activities.

Mike Glenn argues that most people already know the next right thing they should do but fail to act on it. Rather than waiting for a dramatic revelation of God's will, he encourages believers to faithfully obey the small opportunities already in front of them, whether serving a neighbor, showing kindness, or meeting a practical need. Drawing on Jesus' teaching and the parable of the talents, he explains that God typically entrusts people with small responsibilities before giving them greater ones. His central point is that discovering God's will begins with simple obedience: do the next thing you know Jesus is calling you to do, and He will reveal the next step in time.

Mike Glenn argues that people who have been deeply hurt by churches don't have to abandon their faith simply because they can't return to a traditional congregation. While acknowledging the real harm caused by abuse and unhealthy leadership, he suggests returning to the New Testament model: gather a small group of believers in a home, study Scripture, pray, care for one another, and serve the community. His central point is that the Church is ultimately God's people, not a building, and wherever believers gather in Jesus' name, authentic Christian community can flourish.

Mike Glenn argues that many pastors are living under unsustainable emotional pressure, comparing their inner lives to a pressure cooker ready to explode. He believes the growing demands of ministry, cultural polarization, and the lingering effects of the pandemic have pushed many pastors toward burnout. Drawing from his own 32 years in ministry, he offers practical habits for long-term health: protect your time by saying no to unnecessary commitments, prioritize rest and Sabbath, keep a handwritten journal to process thoughts and emotions, cultivate a trusted group of friends who provide honest support, and regularly meet with a counselor or therapist. His central message is that pastors must intentionally care for their own mental, emotional, and spiritual health because unresolved struggles will eventually affect their families, congregations, and ministries. Healthy leadership begins with dealing with your own "stuff" before it begins dealing with you and those you serve.

Mike Glenn argues that modern discipleship often emphasizes knowing about Jesus rather than actually following Him. Churches inspire people to pray, read Scripture, love their neighbors, and live differently, but rarely teach them how to practice those disciplines. He compares this to asking a child to do something they have never been shown how to do. True discipleship, he says, is not measured by biblical knowledge or memorization but by obedience and transformed living. Just as parents model life skills for their children, mature believers must intentionally demonstrate how to pray, study Scripture, love others, and apply Christ's teachings in everyday life. Discipleship is learned through patient coaching and imitation, with every disciple helping someone else learn to live "the Way," because genuine belief is proven by action, not merely by knowledge.

Mike Glenn argues that Christians are held to a higher standard because they bear the name of Christ. Drawing from his father's insistence that the Glenn family name carried honor and responsibility, he says the title "Christian" should shape both character and conduct. He laments that too many believers damage Christ's reputation through selfishness, hypocrisy, and a consumer mindset, causing others to reject Jesus because of His followers. True Christians recognize their own brokenness, extend grace to others, and live with humility, love, patience, and integrity. Since the world often judges Jesus by the lives of those who claim His name, believers are called to live in a way that adds honor to that name, remembering that they are "bearers of the Name" and that their lives should reflect the character of Christ.

Mike Glenn reflects on retirement and the first season of his adult life when he was no longer required to attend church because of his job, leading him to ask a question he had never seriously considered: Why do I go to church? After much reflection, he concludes that he attends because Jesus has invited him into His presence, because the sanctuary offers a place of peace and worship, because he needs to express gratitude, because he needs the fellowship of other believers, and because the mission of bringing hope to the world continues long after retirement. Church is no longer an obligation for him but a joyful response to God's invitation and a reminder that following Christ is a lifelong calling.

Mike Glenn reflects on how pastors spend countless hours searching for memorable sermon illustrations because stories often leave a deeper impression than sermons themselves. He points out that Jesus rarely had to search for illustrations because transformed people stood beside Him as living evidence of God's power. Glenn argues that today's church doesn't primarily need better sermons, but better sermon illustrations: Christians whose lives visibly reflect forgiveness, hope, compassion, and the transforming work of Christ. When believers genuinely live differently, their lives become compelling stories that point others to Jesus far more powerfully than words alone.

Mike Glenn challenges the common evangelical idea of a brief daily "quiet time," arguing that prayer is not merely preparation for ministry but the central work of the Christian life. Drawing from Jesus' all-night prayers and His surrender in Gethsemane, he explains that real prayer is where God reshapes our hearts, aligns our desires with His, and prepares us to faithfully face life's challenges. Just as a builder uses a plumb line to straighten a wall, prayer measures our lives against the character of Christ, exposing and correcting what is out of alignment. True prayer requires time, silence, and surrender, producing a life increasingly formed into the likeness of Jesus.

Mike Glenn reflects on discovering the Advent tradition later in life and explains why the first Sunday of Advent focuses on Christ's Second Coming rather than His birth. He argues that the connection between the two is readiness. Just as most people missed Jesus' first coming because they were distracted by everyday life, many believers risk living as though His return is always far away. Advent reminds Christians that the best way to prepare for Christ's return is to take seriously what He taught during His first coming, living in faithful obedience, loving others, and serving faithfully today rather than assuming there will always be more time tomorrow.

Mike Glenn challenges the familiar image of the nativity scene by noting that the wise men likely visited Jesus later in a house, not at the stable, using this observation to make a larger theological point: God is never confined to the places where we expect Him to remain. Throughout Scripture, God is always moving, pursuing His people rather than waiting for them to find Him. In the same way, believers often try to freeze Jesus in a meaningful past experience, forgetting that He continues to work in the present. Christmas, he argues, is not about returning to Bethlehem to relive a moment in history, but celebrating that Emmanuel, "God with us," is still actively seeking and walking with His people today.

Mike Glenn uses a personal Christmas memory about giving his mother the "wrong" gift to illustrate the heart of the gospel. As a teenager, he was devastated when his carefully chosen robe was overshadowed by a far more beautiful gift, leaving him feeling like what he brought wasn't enough. He connects that feeling to the shepherds at Jesus' birth, arguing that when they encountered the true Lamb of God, they realized no sacrifice they could offer would ever compare to God's gift of His Son. His central point is that Christmas is not primarily about giving to God but about humbly receiving what we could never earn or repay. Before the manger, we come with empty hands, acknowledging our need and gratefully accepting the grace offered in Christ.

Mike Glenn reflects on how easily the true meaning of Christmas is crowded out by the demands of the holiday season. Drawing on the idea that culture doesn't attack Christianity as much as absorb and redirect it, he argues that shopping, travel, decorating, and gift-giving can consume so much of our attention that we miss Christ altogether. He encourages believers to resist the pressure to stay busy and instead make room for worship, gratitude, quiet, and prayer. Christmas is ultimately not about presents or even family, but about God entering the world in Jesus, bringing hope, peace, and salvation.

Mike Glenn reflects on the hidden burden of grief that pastors carry, noting that while they lead countless funerals and comfort grieving families, they rarely have space to grieve their own losses. He shares his practice of holding a private "funeral service" for himself, where he prays, sings hymns, remembers those he has lost, acknowledges broken dreams and regrets, and releases his sorrow to God. He encourages everyone to do the same, arguing that healing begins by honestly grieving what has been lost before entrusting it to God. Only by letting go of yesterday's pain can we receive God's new mercies and move into the future with hope.

Mike Glenn argues that the church is facing a growing leadership crisis because there are far too few qualified pastors to lead existing and future congregations. While many blame declining interest in ministry or recent leadership failures, he believes the deeper problem is that pastors have stopped seeing the training of future pastors as a central part of their calling. Pointing to Jesus' investment in the disciples and Paul's mentoring of Timothy and Titus, he contends that every pastor should intentionally identify, mentor, and send out the next generation of leaders. The future health of the church depends not only on preaching to today's congregation but on preparing tomorrow's pastors.

Mike Glenn argues that just as no two children are exactly alike, no two churches are alike either. Using stories from raising his twin sons, he explains that effective leadership requires understanding each person's or congregation's unique identity rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach. Churches cannot simply copy another church's model or vision because every congregation has its own history, culture, gifts, and calling. The role of a pastor is not to import a vision but to listen carefully, discern what God is already doing, and help the church embrace the unique purpose God has given it.

Mike Glenn reflects on remaining at Brentwood Baptist Church after stepping down as senior pastor, arguing that retirement from ministry doesn't mean stepping away from serving. Because of the church's history of former pastors supporting their successors, his love for the congregation, his family's involvement, and his trust in the new pastor, he believes staying has strengthened rather than hindered the church. His central message is that ministry is bigger than any one leader. Faithful pastors should celebrate the success of those who follow them, continue supporting the church's mission, and model humility by serving from a different seat rather than holding onto the spotlight.

Mike Glenn reflects on the challenges of remaining in his church after stepping down as senior pastor, explaining that healthy leadership transitions require humility, clear boundaries, and a shared commitment to the church's mission. Rather than holding onto influence, he is learning what it means to be a faithful church member by refusing to engage in gossip, avoiding criticism of current leadership, respecting the authority of the new pastor, and serving only when invited. His central point is that the church is never about one leader. Good leadership also requires knowing how to follow. By embracing a new role with humility, he demonstrates that serving Christ faithfully sometimes means stepping out of the spotlight so others can lead well.

Mike Glenn argues that one of the church's greatest responsibilities is to steward people's time wisely. Too often, churches overload families with meetings, programs, and events that compete with family life while offering little lasting value. In a culture where people are already stretched thin, every unnecessary demand dulls trust and engagement. Instead of filling calendars, churches should focus on the three essentials of Christian life: worship, discipleship, and service. By eliminating busywork and prioritizing what truly helps people follow Jesus, the church can strengthen families rather than burden them, remembering that when we waste time, we're ultimately wasting life.

Mike Glenn observes that while life has become increasingly complicated, the questions people ask remain the same: How do we build healthy families, find purpose, overcome disappointment, and make life meaningful? Amid modern challenges, he argues that Jesus remains the most trustworthy guide because He understood human life perfectly. Christ's answer begins with forgiveness, releasing us from the burden of our past, and continues with purpose, calling us into the work God created us to do. Rather than offering quick fixes, Jesus provides the foundation for a life marked by peace, meaning, and hope. If we want to live well, the wisest place to begin is by following Him.