Articles
Three Key Elements To Telling An Effective Story
We all have stories. Stories that open up old wounds exposing the raw pain that lies underneath. Stories that make us feel unworthy, unloved and unwanted. Our temptation is to keep it buried, so we can avoid the hurt and emptiness. No matter what our story, the...
Church-Wide Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Party
One of the most difficult segments of people to reach are new visitors to a church. At our church, we do the best we can to make new visitors feel welcome by implementing the “First Five” after church. This is where regular attendees spend the first five minutes after...
Three Ways Couples Can Successfully Lead Together in Ministry
After fifteen years of being in the ministry together, we have led almost every type of group imaginable. We have watched as members in suit and tie and those dressed in coveralls both sat side by side in the church pew. Because our ministry has led us to four...
How to Fan the Flame of God in Your Church
At my son’s school the other day, I spotted some artwork that lined his classroom walls. Each child created a flower and wrote five descriptive words about another classmate on each petal. One girl said my son was “handsome, smart, friendly, trustworthy, special.”...
Mental Illness as a Preacher, Teacher, Pastor, and Leader
Rev. Pamela Yerby-Hammack, visionary and founder of Wind of Change Ministries, shares her story of brokenness and mental illness. Diagnosed with depression and anxiety, she shares how God used both prayer and medication to bring her out of a place of darkness and show...
Hearing God’s Voice
Hearing the voice of God is vital for our everyday lives. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man cannot live off of bread alone, but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” For believers, it should be normal for us to hear from God and experience His presence. This...
Resurrection Day In The Muslim World
I was a pastor for 20 years before God called me to launch into missions in the volatile Muslim world. It was three months before September 11, 2001, and if I’d known what was coming, I might’ve asked God to send me to South America instead. You can imagine the...
Where’s The Deep End Of Discipleship?
“I’m just not being fed.” Every pastoral leader cringes when they hear this from concerned church attenders. What am I doing wrong? What can our ministry do to help? While it’s tempting to double sermon prep time, launch a series of apologetics classes, and recruit...
Traits of a Leader
My husband and I lead a mentorship group for aspiring leaders in our church. We hand picked the leaders and taught them through practical example how to lead their small groups. But one member, at the end of one meeting said, “I don’t think I’m a leader. I always...
Five Tips For Creating A Third Space At Your Church
Ray Oldenberg, author of The Great Good Place wrote, “The third place is a generic designation for a great variety of public places that host the regular, voluntary, informal and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realms of home and work.” Small...
Bless Those Who Curse You
The knife went in, only a bit deeper this time. Some congregation members had spread gossip about my husband and I, ruining our reputation not only in our community, but with our leadership team as well. People who we thought were friends became our enemies. I felt...
The Case for Lent
Aaron Damiani, writing for Pastoresources.com One of the common beliefs among evangelical pastors is that Lent is legalistic. The word “Lent” conjures associations of petty and pointless acts of self-denial, like giving up chocolate or meat while conspicuously wearing...
The Vital Role Of Elderly in Church Growth
In at least some ways, we are probably all guilty of telling ourselves that in order to best grow our church and impact the community, we need to be focusing on the younger generations and future generations to come. It’s this focus that affects our sermon topics, our...
Referencing Current Films + TV Shows In Sermons
“The kingdom of heaven is like . . .” And here begins a common phrase used by Jesus to introduce his popular way of teaching to his disciples and the crowds around him. “The kingdom of heaven is like . . . treasure hidden in a field . . . a merchant looking for fine...
50 Shades of Flourishing
The last “Fifty Shades” film grossed more than $500 million worldwide, despite horrible reviews and weak word-of-mouth scores. And now the newest installment in theaters this month may drive the Fifty Shades dynasty into its seventh digit. As Christians, we know God...
5 Quick Ways To Reclaim Your Off Time
As a pastor, your job is more than a “job”—it’s a way of life. Even if you have set hours, you probably feel like you’re on call 24/7. With the majority of your time spent with staff, in meetings, researching, writing, and in services…do you ever feel like you don’t...
Encouraging Authentic Prayer
Though it’s been the better part of eighteen years, I can still recall vividly the day I received a phone call at work from the secretary at the church my wife and I had recently joined. As much as I was confused at how she knew the phone number she had reached me at...
Gossip in the Church
Have you ever played the gossip game? This game has been around for a long time—probably because of how well it illustrates the effect of gossiping. I remember a particular Vacation Bible School when the youth class played this game. The teacher began by whispering...
Cocaine Trafficking, Heroin, and the Grace of God
If you feel you've walked too far from God, trust and know that you can never go too far from God’s love and salvation. James Sizemore, pastor of Radiant Church, shares his redemption story of drugs, trafficking, and addiction and how through God’s grace, he and...
Giving Your Worship Service a Budget-Friendly Facelift
Has there begun a slight indentation on the top of your desk from where you bang your head each week trying to plan yet another worship service? Have you already run out of fresh ideas for Sunday worship this year . . . and it’s February? Are you not one of the lucky...
