Finding Peace in Financial Vulnerability

Finding Peace in Financial Vulnerability

Charles Dickens opens A Tale of Two Cities with the stark words, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . .” I can so easily relate to that contrast when my memory races back to the winter of 2007. For most people, the coming recession hadn’t yet made...
4 Thoughts on Christmas Services

4 Thoughts on Christmas Services

It’s so hard to believe that it’s already December. Where did the year go? It seems like just a couple months ago we were celebrating Easter and the resurrection, and now we’re getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Before I share with you my thoughts on...
How to Prioritize Your Family During Advent

How to Prioritize Your Family During Advent

We’ve all seen it too many times. Pastors’ kids who grow up resenting the church and walk away as soon as they’re out of the home. According to a study conducted by the Barna Group, “one–third of pastors (33%) say their child is no longer actively involved in church.”...
The American Orphan Crisis

The American Orphan Crisis

Every Church Can Do Something I remember the first time I learned about orphans as a young boy. It was from a late-night infomercial highlighting starving orphans in Africa. It hit me hard then, and still today, I cannot fathom not having a loving family to take care...
Life is a Gift

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 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

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

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

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...