Articles
Life is a Gift
Life is short. Life is hard. Life is not fair. Life’s a beach. Life is a gift. You know all of these little quotes that we throw out there as if life is really all that simple to capture in a meme or a phrase. In spite of the fact that we all know that life...
How Does Jesus See Humanity? Part 2
How Jesus Sees His Kingdom The third and largest sphere in our diagram is God’s Kingdom. Without question, Jesus Christ is the rightful, exalted King of God’s Kingdom. God’s Kingdom is the context through which He is advancing His purposes through humanity here on...
Socially Distanced Christmas Events
Christmas is a wonderful time of year for churches. It’s a chance to celebrate our Savior’s birth, increase charitable efforts, and reach out to the local community to spread the truth about the season. However, many of our traditional events will have to be put on...
How Does Jesus See Humanity? Part 1
So how, exactly, does the Lord Jesus Christ see each member of humanity? The answer, it turns out, is more relevant than ever—and has three parts. The three parts are: God’s Kingdom. God’s Family. God’s Church. They’re not the same, but how are they different? People...
Five Benefits of Advanced Discipleship Training
Equipping the Saints for Ministry - Ephesians 4:12 As pastors, it is our Biblical mandate to make disciples and equip the saints to do the work of the ministry so the Church can be built up by what each one has to offer. All too often we become so busy doing the work...
Never Too Late to Contend for the Faith
Do you have people within your congregation who desire to know more about the Bible and grow in their faith, but have neither the time nor finances to enroll in seminary? Do you want your church to not only have a stronger understanding of what and why they believe,...
Molded and Transformed
Blacksmithing serves as a perfect metaphor for the long, hard, repetitive, seemingly violent method of transforming a leader. If the purpose of a transformational leader is, in the words of Dr. King, to “hew out of a mountain of despair stones of hope” then we would...
Opportunities to Deliver Hope Beyond the Box
MONUMENTAL COLLABORATIONS In this unexpected year of hardship, it's remarkable to see organizations work together to serve households residing in the "Last Mile of Need": a metaphorical region of families who have fallen between the gaps with unmet food needs. A...
A Desire to See the Church Do Better
I was in high school when Joshua Harris’s book I Kissed Dating Goodbye captured the attention of the evangelical world. It kicked off a movement and inspired countless other books on dating and sexual purity. I read many of these, internalizing messages about my...
Emotional Support Parent
You’ve probably seen “emotional support” dogs or other pets. They can provide valuable companionship, but the primary role for providing emotional support shouldn’t rest on the shoulders of a well-trained canine. It really rests on the shoulders of a parent. We are...
Using Exercise to Enhance Your Health
As a pastor, you take on much of your flock’s burdens which add to your ever-increasing stress. In one day, you might go from the bedside of a dying church member to performing a funeral. Then return the next day to offer counseling for a member who’s depressed or...
The People of God
In this age of cancel culture, individuals, institutions, and groups are publicly shamed for demonstrating or even just affirming an unpopular opinion or cultural value. When mass disapproval of the behavior occurs, they are “cancelled.” If you participate in social...
Home Grown Faith
Brand new research shines a light on faith in the home – just in time for a country that is mostly staying home on Sunday mornings. As a pastor in the time of COVID I’ve had to ask questions I’ve never asked before. The same is true of the many other pastors I’ve...
Grandparenting and Managing Screen Time Competition
Where do we start? Kids have so many digital distractions these days—as we’re sure you’ve noticed. There is something powerful competing with you for your grandchild’s attention. It’s not a brownie straight from the oven or a basketball waiting to be bounced. It’s an...
Postmodernism: A Biblical Analysis Part 2
We now take up postmodernism’s general tenants two and three: 2). Community is important, but never static, it must always evolve. 3). Reality is perception, and perception is personal not corporate. The reaction against a static community calls for the continual...
Postmodernism: A Biblical Analysis Part 1
Postmodernism is the currently reigning world view of the so-called progressive/intellectual movement. Its impact on society is hugely significant. The church has not escaped its invasive influence. Pastors, Biblical counselors, and other church leaders can expect...
Handling Church Conflict – Prov 2:2 Tune your ears to wisdom
It was Outwit. Outlast. Outplay from day one. The newly elected Church Chairman and I lived on different planets. We were light years apart on our views of leadership, preaching, and worship. I was a visionary flying at 40,000’. He was a bean-counter, stuck in the...
Using Exercise to Enhance Your Health
As a pastor, you take on much of your flock’s burdens which add to your ever-increasing stress. In one day, you might go from the bedside of a dying church member to performing a funeral. Then return the next day to offer counseling for a member who’s depressed or...
Gratitude’s Blueprint for Thanksgiving
When people think of thanksgiving, they likely think of Pilgrims, not prayer; drumsticks, not doctrine. Even the holiday of Thanksgiving gets minimized and skipped over. Black Friday has taken over Thanksgiving Day for many people. The morning started with gratitude...
As America Grapples With Division, Here Are 4 Ways Pastors Can Help Bridge the Divide
As we prepare for the 2020 Presidential Election, we have an important role as Christian leaders to shepherd our congregations through this time of division and contention. We are called by God to walk in Christ’s footsteps to be peacemakers—not merely peacekeepers....
