Many years ago the seminary where I attended had invited a guest speaker to preach at one of the chapel services. While I don’t remember anything about his subject I remember something he said in passing: “I have heard a lot of Pharisee frogs in my...
Seven People You Should Fire Right Now
I’ve been pretty lucky in ministry. Over the years I’ve only had to fire a handful of staff and volunteers. It’s the least enjoyable part of my job but also one of the most important. And if you’re a pastor, it’s one of your most important jobs. Allowing a person to...
Why I Stopped Preaching Doctrine
I was saved as a teenager in the mid-seventies in a small church in a small town in southwest Missouri. Almost immediately I was taught doctrine. Even before I really knew what it was. The English word “doctrine” derives from the old Latin word “doctor”...
The Rule of Seven (Times Seven?) in Missions
Experts have studied how many times humans must be exposed to something in order for it to stick. One author says, “The rule of seven is an old marketing adage. It says that a prospect needs to see or hear your marketing message at least seven times...
The Benefits and Pitfalls of Full Disclosure
To reveal or not to reveal? Should our lives be an open book? Self-disclosure is definitely a risk, but sometimes a risk worth taking. Pastor Mike “bragged” about his short-term memory loss, treating his condition as inconsequential and refused to ask...
It’s Time for a Game Change!
All pastors and church leaders worth their salt say they care about disadvantaged and disenfranchised people. In many cases, however, their actual ministry strategy is designed primarily to increase the number of people attending weekend services. The...
The Devil’s Three Deadly Ds: A Three-Point Sermon for Defeating Christian Leaders
The front cover of Rev. W. S. Harris’ 1904 classic book Sermons by the Devil 1 is decorated with a drawing of a devil-like man gesturing from behind a pulpit. Harris selected the image because he knew that with the exception of our Lord Jesus Christ,...
Is pastoring really that hard?
According to recent statistics, from LifeWay Research, the average tenure for a senior pastor in the U.S. is only about 4-6 years. Translated that means that there are a lot of pastors out there with four to six years of experience many times...
A Month of Sundays
While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.” Matthew 17:5 This is one of the most difficult texts in...
Becoming Compassionate Leaders
Nehemiah faced one of the of the most complicated and most documented leadership challenges ever when God called him to oversee rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. At the time, Nehemiah lived a thousand miles from Jerusalem and served as the cupbearer...
The Pharisee Frog
Many years ago the seminary where I attended had invited a guest speaker to preach at one of the chapel services. While I don’t remember anything about his subject I remember something he said in passing: “I have heard a lot of Pharisee frogs in my...
Seven People You Should Fire Right Now
I’ve been pretty lucky in ministry. Over the years I’ve only had to fire a handful of staff and volunteers. It’s the least enjoyable part of my job but also one of the most important. And if you’re a pastor, it’s one of your most important jobs. Allowing a person to...
Why I Stopped Preaching Doctrine
I was saved as a teenager in the mid-seventies in a small church in a small town in southwest Missouri. Almost immediately I was taught doctrine. Even before I really knew what it was. The English word “doctrine” derives from the old Latin word “doctor”...
The Rule of Seven (Times Seven?) in Missions
Experts have studied how many times humans must be exposed to something in order for it to stick. One author says, “The rule of seven is an old marketing adage. It says that a prospect needs to see or hear your marketing message at least seven times...
The Benefits and Pitfalls of Full Disclosure
To reveal or not to reveal? Should our lives be an open book? Self-disclosure is definitely a risk, but sometimes a risk worth taking. Pastor Mike “bragged” about his short-term memory loss, treating his condition as inconsequential and refused to ask...
It’s Time for a Game Change!
All pastors and church leaders worth their salt say they care about disadvantaged and disenfranchised people. In many cases, however, their actual ministry strategy is designed primarily to increase the number of people attending weekend services. The...
The Devil’s Three Deadly Ds: A Three-Point Sermon for Defeating Christian Leaders
The front cover of Rev. W. S. Harris’ 1904 classic book Sermons by the Devil 1 is decorated with a drawing of a devil-like man gesturing from behind a pulpit. Harris selected the image because he knew that with the exception of our Lord Jesus Christ,...
Is pastoring really that hard?
According to recent statistics, from LifeWay Research, the average tenure for a senior pastor in the U.S. is only about 4-6 years. Translated that means that there are a lot of pastors out there with four to six years of experience many times...
A Month of Sundays
While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.” Matthew 17:5 This is one of the most difficult texts in...
Becoming Compassionate Leaders
Nehemiah faced one of the of the most complicated and most documented leadership challenges ever when God called him to oversee rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. At the time, Nehemiah lived a thousand miles from Jerusalem and served as the cupbearer...
Helping Your Small Group Thrive
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