Referencing Current Films + TV Shows In Sermons

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...
Giving Your Worship Service a Budget-Friendly Facelift

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

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...
The Pastor’s Struggle with Personal Finances

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...
It’s Time to Eject Your Mixtape

It’s Time to Eject Your Mixtape

I want to talk now about mixtapes. They were the 1980s version of a playlist, but instead of living in iTunes, they lived on good old-fashioned plastic cassettes. When a cassette broke, you didn’t take it to the Apple Genius bar. You took a number-2 yellow pen­cil,...