Mike Glenn argues that while it is natural to grieve the decline of churches, not every congregation is meant to last forever. Some churches close because communities change or ministries become obsolete, but many decline because they lose sight of their true mission. Rather than existing to serve the comfort of their members, churches exist to make disciples, care for their communities, and fulfill the Great Commission. His central point is that a church's life is found in its mission. When it abandons that mission, it loses its reason to exist, and God will raise up other faithful churches to carry His work forward.

Mike Glenn reflects on his retirement after 32 years as senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church and explains that his next calling is to mentor and encourage pastors serving in an increasingly difficult ministry landscape. He points to declining trust in institutions, the lingering effects of COVID-19, and a growing shortage of pastors as major challenges facing the church. While many pastors focus on leadership strategies, budgets, and organizational management, Glenn argues they have overlooked their primary calling: to love and care for God's people. Drawing from Jesus' charge to Peter to "feed my sheep," he insists that the defining characteristic of a faithful pastor is not preaching ability or administrative skill, but a sacrificial love for the congregation they serve.

Mike Glenn argues that the traditional model for training pastors is no longer sufficient for the modern church. While affirming the value of seminary education, he believes future pastors need to be formed through apprenticeships with experienced local church leaders, much like Paul trained Timothy and Titus. As technology reshapes education and Christianity becomes more like a minority movement, he envisions seminaries providing academic instruction while churches take primary responsibility for practical ministry training. His central point is that pastoring is an art learned through mentorship and real ministry experience, not just classroom education.

Mike Glenn argues that the first step toward solving any problem is honestly admitting that it exists. Using the story of Apollo 13's famous "Houston, we have a problem" moment, he illustrates how naming a crisis mobilizes the resources needed to address it. He contrasts this with people's tendency to hide struggles behind words like "fine" or softer euphemisms that avoid reality. His central point is that growth, healing, and change begin with honest self-awareness. Once we clearly identify a problem, we can begin working toward a solution, but we cannot fix what we refuse to acknowledge.

Mike Glenn argues that despite repeated predictions of its demise, preaching remains essential because people ultimately need truth spoken by a trustworthy witness, not just information delivered by technology. While acknowledging that AI, the internet, and changing attention spans have transformed how people consume content, he insists that technology cannot replace the need for embodied community or faithful proclamation. Drawing lessons from the pandemic and the rise of online church, he contends that people still need one another, and in a world increasingly filled with misinformation, they need someone to point them to what is true. His central point is that preaching endures because it is more than communication. It is the living witness of the gospel shared within the community of Christ.

Mike Glenn argues that while the reasons people leave church are complex, the path back is often surprisingly simple: genuine friendship. Reflecting on research about the "dechurching" of America, he notes that many former churchgoers would return if someone took the time to know them, listen to their story, and personally invite them back. The challenge is not that this solution is complicated, but that it requires intentional effort, time, and patience. His central point is that rebuilding the church begins one relationship at a time, as believers make space in their lives to love people well without giving up on them.

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 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.