Discipling Our Politics

I recently came across an article titled “The Top 10 Problems Facing Pastors Today.” I was not surprised by #1, which was “job-related stress,” or #2, which was “feelings of loneliness and isolation.” I was dismayed, however, at #3.

A Model Mentor

Someone who shaped my life in my early years of ministry was the late Dr. Howard Hendricks, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. I read his books. I listened to his sermons.

Why Pastors Don't Disciple

According to a Barna report that came out a few years back, the aspect of ministry that pastors love most - by far - is preaching/teaching. To their way of thinking, nothing beats addressing the crowd.

A Multiplying Mindset

I came across a quote from a pastor named J.D. Greear recently that powerfully gripped me: “Those who care about the future of the Great Commission will devote themselves to multiplying and sending, not gathering and counting.”

5 Steps of Apprenticeship

When we think of the Apostle Paul, typically we consider him as a church planter and a letter writer. Yet it’s important to understand that he was also a disciple-maker.

Predictable Patterns for the Scattered Church

In last week’s post, I talked about how the recent shutdown during the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic actually presented the 21st-century church with a wonderful opportunity. Almost overnight we went from being the church gathered to being the church scattered.

Gathered and Scattered

As often happens when we go through hard times, somehow, someway, something good comes out of it. I think that’s true for the western church in this current crisis. The shut-downs brought on by COVID-19 have forced churches all over the world to rethink the ways we “do church.”

Why Leaders Fall

As a young leader, I was 100 percent convinced that competency was the key to effectiveness in leadership. I no longer believe that’s true.

The Master's Plan for Discipleship

Jesus was the greatest leader who ever lived. He inspired multitudes with His teaching. He performed miracles before thousands. Yet, for all of His interaction with large numbers of people, His primary investment was with a small group of individuals.

Your Discipleship Toolbox

I’m asked quite often, “What is the discipleship method that you have found to be the most effective?” When I hear that, I know what the individual is looking for. They’re hoping to find a neatly packaged program that they can implement in their church to dramatic results.

Leveraging Invitation and Challenge, Part 2

Fundamentally, effective leadership is based upon an invitation to relationship and a challenge to change. As seen in Jesus’ example, when skillfully calibrated, the result is transformation from the inside out. This is true not only for individuals, it’s also true for churches.

Leveraging Invitation and Challenge, Part 1

Monty Roberts spent his youth in the western prairies rounding up wild mustangs. He observed the typical method of “breaking horses,” as they were ridden by “bronco busters” until exhaustion or tied to a post and beaten until the animal’s will was broken. Watching this happen, Monty began to think that there had to be another way…a less barbaric way…a more natural way.

7 Tips for Leading Culture Change

It’s one thing to dream of changing a culture – it’s another thing to see it happen.

We’ve all seen how even the most noble of ideas can fail to launch successfully. (Believe me, I can testify to literally scores of “great strategies” that I launched from the Cape Canaveral of my imagination over the years – all too many of which ended up sputtering into the Atlantic Ocean of failure.)

Delivery Culture vs. Development Culture

In my previous post, I noted that the data is in regarding the current state of the American church and it’s not pretty. Among the results reported were the following: While the number of admirers of Jesus is growing, the number of attenders at church is shrinking.

Delight, Disillusionment, Despair, and Discovery

In my last blog, I focused on “The Costs of Consumerism.” If you sensed some passion in that post, it’s because I faced those costs first-hand in the church I led for 35+ years. Allow me a bit of history.

Come Apart Before You Come Apart

One of the challenges of ministry is its non-stop nature. The pressures and demands are relentless. It’s as if you’re on never-ending merry-go-round and seat-belted onto the horse. For example, if you’re in the pulpit weekly, you know that Sundays come around with amazing regularity.

HeartDave DeSelmApril 11, 2019pastors, ministry, Everyday Pastor, discipleship, Leadership, come apart, healthy rhythms, master your calendarComment

Walking With a Limp

A.W. Tozer was a no-nonsense pastor and theologian whose comments often pressed in hard. One that I’ve often used is this: It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.

I don’t know how that hits you. You might be nodding your head in agreement. “Absolutely!” Then again, you might be shaking your head in protest. “What??? God would never intentionally hurt someone!”

Six Keys to Boost Staff Morale

Your church staff has a culture whether you know it or not. You can have a positive culture where there’s a corporate sense of “us” that lends itself to mutual celebration or you can have a negative culture where there is a siloed sense of “me” that lends itself to selfish pride.

If the culture is healthy, amazing things happen. People love being there. Great leaders come and stay.

If the culture is unhealthy, destructive things happen. People endure being there. Great leaders look for ways to leave.

The Leader's Ultimate Influence

One of the most dog-eared books in my personal library has been in my possession for nearly 40 years. I’ve read it through multiple times and returned to it for points of reference scores of other times.

J. Oswald Sanders’ 1967 classic, Spiritual Leadership, has marked not only my life, but thousands of other pastors as well. The book is a treasure-trove, filled with wise counsel that is timeless.