Articles
6 Ways To Get Control Of Your Paperwork
Today, a lot of our world is digital. But somehow, that hasn't eliminated those pesky piles of paper that build up day after day. When so many of our systems are electronic, it's hard to know how to wrangle the mess. Here tips from highly-organized...
10 Ways To Take Your Mind Off Of Work
After 20 years in pastoral ministry, my husband learned that if a pastor doesn’t rest his mind, take care of his body, and detach from work regularly he will very quickly burn out. After experiencing burnout twice, resulting in two separate year-long (unpaid)...
5 Signs You Should Consider Counseling
As a Pastor’s wife, I felt pretty sure there was an unwritten rule; “Don’t go for counseling.” My excuses were plenty; “We’re in ministry. Aren’t we supposed to have our act together? What will people think? Who needs all that “psycho-babble”? My excuses all sounded...
The Perfect Potluck Chili For Busy Pastors
OK, call me sexist if you will, but it’s a fact: the majority of cooks are women. They just are. Like it or not, there are just not as many men in the kitchen as there are women. And that’s not necessarily a problem, but it sure can be. Especially if you’re a pastor,...
Lessons From Translating The Bible
I worked for a major publisher for many years. For seven of those years, I was given a grand opportunity that most people never experience. I was the associate editor for a new Bible translation. It was my responsibility to manage the editorial part of the translation...
How To Best Choose Pop Culture References For Your Sermons
Let’s see. There’s Chariots of Fire. Ooh, Ben-Hur is a good one. But those are pretty old. What’s at least from this millennium? Oh yeah, Fireproof and God’s Not Dead were popular. Those should all work to pull examples from. And if need be, I can always talk Star...
A Faith That Works
Too many pastors in too many churches today are pressed with unreal expectations. They are expected to be spiritual supermen, always able to leap tall buildings with a single bound. The pastor is expected to counsel without a degree in counseling. He is expected to...
Best Tools for Growing Faith
Let’s say you wanted to plant a garden. Whether you’re growing flowers, vegetables, or a fruit tree, you’ll need the same basic ingredients—nutrients, time, and the right atmosphere. It’s the exact same with your faith, too! You need nutrients (the right fuel in the...
5 Lies That Lead To Pastor Burnout
This article was written by our fearless leader, Dave Wike, and was originally posted on RelevantMagazine.com. Despite what you may think, burnout isn’t reserved for only Fortune 500 executives and pastors of megachurches. it can blindside any of us. And its effects...
Before God’s Face
Mankind's past is littered with people who started off knowing God, possessed a deep faith in their Creator, and then somehow lost their bearings. The Bible gives us many examples of people who lost their way. This study will look at Bible stories and ask the...
Your Next Unique Sermon Is Closer Than You Think
Assuming you take two weeks off a year (can I recommend you take even more weeks off from at least the pulpit?), you probably preach fifty sermons a year. Do you have a Sunday evening service as well? Then make that a hundred sermons. Wednesdays too? Now we’re looking...
What Kind Of Government Does God Want?
The situation sounds all too familiar. The leaders of another country ask for help. “Tell us what to do! Protect us, hide us, give us sanctuary.” Their representatives need help with everything foreign policy covers. More than that, they are at war against a common...
6 Ways To Protect Your Kids From Bullies
Bullying. Just the word makes you disgusted doesn’t it? My heart goes out to kids who are bullied. Both Steve and I were bullied as kids. And to be honest with you, I worried a lot about my kids being bullied when we were raising them. As I began praying for my kids...
Make The Most Of Your Group’s Time
Group meetings range from small Bible studies, mentoring, steering committees, to full congregation worship services. It's important to be intentional with these meetings if you want to make the most of them. In order to make the most of time spent, you'll want to...
Rebirthing a Sense of Urgency
I read a very sad report today. According to author and pastor Ed Stetzer, “Almost 1 in 5 churchgoers say they never read the Bible.” He went on to say that in the UK, children didn’t know the Nativity was a Bible story—but their parents (more than half of them!)...
The Hat Collection
As the wife of a pastor, I wear a lot of hats. These are not physical hats but a term I use to represent the roles a pastor’s wife plays. Most people do not realize how many there are. I dare say there are pastors who don’t know everything their wives do. Well, let me...
Different Kinds Of Prayer
Over 20 years ago, Dr. Dave Williams wrote The New Life...The Start of Something Wonderful to help new believers become established in their Christian walk. Since that time, over two and a half million copies in eight languages have been sold, and this book is in its...
What Happened to Halloween?
Growing up in the 50s and 60s, every kid in my neighborhood counted down the days until the 31st of October. We couldn’t wait to dress up in what was usually a handmade costume paired with a mask we’d purchased at the local five and dime. Afterward, we would walk...
How Denominations Are A lot Like Pizza
A study in 2006 found that there are at least 43,000 different Christian denominations worldwide. That’s not a typo, either. An initial reaction to that huge number is, “How can there even be that many differences in beliefs?” And how do we reconcile that number to...
CHOPPING UP BRAINS AND THE SCIENCE OF ANXIETY
Over the last few decades, scientists have discovered that the part of the brain responsible for “thinking ahead” is called the prefrontal cortex. And unfortunately, doctors figured this out the hard way. Back in 1940s and ’50s, there was a popular surgery called a...
