The New Church Normal

August 19, 2020

Now that we have made it through the first half of 2020, people are constantly asking – when will we get back to normal? I hate to break it to you, but I don’t think we are going to return to it, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing for your life, family, or church. It’s time to go the 2nd mile in the new church normal.

More Episodes

MORE EPISODES

Your phone is shaping you. Every buzz, swipe, and scroll forms habits, cravings, and even your identity. Technology promises godlike power, but it always falls short. Discipleship involves refusing to be shaped by our screens and instead renewing our minds by God’s Word.

Phones promise connection, but often they steal presence. Our kids don’t just need us to give them boundaries—they need us to model them. By creating phone-free zones in daily life, you give your family the gift of attention in an always-on world.

A phone doesn’t disciple your child—you do. That’s why boundaries matter. A covenant transforms a phone from a device of distraction into a tool of discipleship. Without one, you’re leaving your child’s heart and habits unguarded.

A phone isn’t just a gadget; it’s a gateway. It can connect your child to truth and community, or it can drag them into temptation and isolation. That’s why waiting matters; you’re giving them the ability to succeed.

Sometimes the hardest part of preaching isn’t what to say, but how to pace it. I want to share why we’re about to begin a two-and-a-half-year walk through the Gospel of Luke, and why I think it’s time to go the second mile in letting God’s Word set the pace.

Preaching is sacred, but the weekly grind can drain joy and focus. Planning ahead creates space for deeper study, greater creativity, and better shepherding.

Travis Agnew

Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC.