As 2018 draws to a close, here are my most viewed posts of the year!
It’s always interesting to see what analytics reveal about what people are reading!
Most Viewed Posts in 2018:
1. 9 Keys to Engaging Youth In Church
This post keeps going! Now two years in a row at the top spot. By far my stickiest post, this remains the most discovered and shared. It was the basis for my first ebook, A Church for All.
2. Sermons – Preaching the Lectionary
This isn’t a post, but the page warehousing my sermons. If you’re looking for a sermon from a particular day, this is the place to go.
This short reflection on an interesting gospel story (John 21) was written back in 2013. It was last year’s big analytics surprise by charting at #6 for the year. It has since jumped 3 spots to #3.
4. They Did Not Understand About the Loaves
This piece was a reflection on Mark 6:47-56 from my 2016 daily devotional: “A Simple Lent”. A fun piece to write, this also marked an interesting surprise to the list, especially up at #4.
5. How a blind beggar became the greatest disciple
This 3-year-old sermon became a first-time charter. It’s clear to me that there were plenty of preachers looking for help on preaching Mark 10:46-52.
6. 8 Keys to Engaging Pre-Teens in Church
Another top post from 2011, people continue to search for help with engaging youth and children in church.
7. The Frightening Case of a Coming American Collapse
The first piece to chart from 2018 is perhaps the grimmest one. This was the conclusion to a series reflecting on five pathologies that the US isn’t addressing in its public policy or social commitments.
8. Extreme Capitalism – a pathology of exploitation
One of the five pathologies of the American Collapse series, this one focused not only on the numbers, but what those numbers symbolize.
9. Not a King
I never try to hide my disdain for Christ the King Sunday. Not because I don’t like the image or see its natural usefulness, but because I don’t think it works for what people want it to. Even though I didn’t preach from the pulpit this year, I had to preach to the internet.
Another older post, charting for the first time, “When God Doesn’t Provide” wrestles with one of the enduring and challenging questions of faith.
Overview
Of the most viewed posts for 2018, three were written in the year.
2011: 3
2013: 1
2015: 1
2016: 1
2018: 3
{plus one page}
This year, evergreen content shined. Some older posts got some of the magic Google juice and were noticed.
I also notice that people were really looking for solutions to problems — something which we can say of every year. But given the political climate, this means the anxiety of wrestling with our problems has caused a lot of readers to want solutions, the sort of shortcut to the simple fix.
At the same time, more people than ever (in raw numbers) have gotten engaged with their local, state, and national politics. The 2018 midterms were the most energized of any midterm elections I’ve seen in my life.
Spiritual longing and searching, latent anxiety, and signs of new hope made 2018 a challenging and spirit-filled year.
In the coming days, I’ll share my essential reading for 2018 and my 3 words for the new year. Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!