Articles
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...
Keeping Church Volunteers from Burning Out
If your church fits the stereotype that 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work, then you can bet your last dollar that 100 percent of those 20 percent either are in the process of burning out, burnt out long ago and are simply mailing in the work they once...
Fighting Addiction With Grace
Though it typically is thought to be in reference with alcohol, drugs, and, lately, pornography, the term addiction truly refers to an almost unlimited list of habits that negatively affect a person and/or the people around him or her. In addition to these, people in...
The Truth Behind Being a Pastor’s Wife from Kay Warren
Through the ups and downs of many years as a pastor’s wife, Kay Warren has a lot of great wisdom to share! In this eye-opening and insightful video, catch a glimpse into her life and learn from her years of trial, error, and experience.
The Three Discipling Relationships Every Pastor Must Have
No follower of Jesus would deny the importance of relationships within the church body. First Corinthians 12 and other similar scripture passages are quite clear on why we all need each other. And no happily married man or woman would argue against maintaining a...
Expectation Versus Reality For Pastor + Congregation
My husband became a minister in his mid-thirties. Being actively involved in church life prior to entering ministry has its advantages. We both worked in the youth department, held various committee positions, worked in the nursery, and my husband served as a deacon...
Why Reconciliation Is Vital
As a pastor, I have no doubt you are very familiar with and quote often what Jesus said concerning forgiveness after He taught His disciples how to pray: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive...
So You Want To Write A Book?
Pastors are in a wonderful position to know what people need. Day-in and day-out you hear the longings, fears, questions, and hopes people in your communities have. Pastors are usually terrific storytellers, and every week they craft a message that weaves those...
Awkward Situations for the Single Pastor
If you’re a single pastor, there’s a good chance you’ll experience an endless stream of well-meaning (mostly) people who want to be instrumental in finding your “special someone” for you. It doesn’t matter whether you are divorced, happily single, open to a...
The Core of True Discipleship
In recent years, “discipleship” has become the new buzzword. As a result, we’ve seen churches begin to make a shift toward helping people grow up spiritually, and utilize the best means to that end. Leaders have begun to recognize that disciple making involves...
Perception And Our Behavior
“The picture I have of prayer is like Luke 15 and the prodigal son story, where the father ran to him and embraced him; I see prayer more as a hug than a kneeling appeal.” Judah Smith in The One: Experience Jesus. This excerpt from the interview we did with Pastor...
3 Great Ways To Unwind Right Now
Sunday morning seems to come every single week, doesn’t it? Without fail. And depending on your church’s typical weekly schedule, so does Sunday night, Wednesday night, Tuesday morning Bible study, and the recently popular Saturday night services. On top of that,...
The Pastor’s Struggle with Personal Finances
In July 2015 Grey Matter Research surveyed 4,249 pastors and discovered that 50 percent receive less than $50,000 per year in compensation with 30 percent having student loan debt averaging $36,000. Thirty-three percent have under $10,000 in retirement funds, and 29...
Stop Throwing Hail Marys
The American church is having a bit of an identity crisis. People want to be entertained, and they have a long list of expected religious goods and services. Pastors can find themselves caught up in having to create “cool plays” or throwing Hail Mary’s, hoping for the...
Thoughts On Balancing Love And Judgment
Several years ago, the Sunday school lesson was about judging. A young woman in the class told a story about a coworker who was of a different faith—one that does not believe Jesus is the Son of God. This man had asked the class member if she thought he would go to...
