These are dark days. The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic is growing more and more serious. The infection rate is soaring. Hospitals are being overwhelmed. The death rate is advancing. For those of us in church leadership, this Easter will be unlike any other in our lives.
Read MoreThese are truly unprecedented times. Never in my lifetime have we had to face a global pandemic with all of the physical, relational, financial, and spiritual implications. So, how does one lead when this is such uncharted territory?
Read MoreI’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.
Read MoreThe Old Testament is filled with illustrations of great leaders: Moses, Joshua, Esther, David, Hezekiah, Josiah, etc. I love to read of their exploits and marvel at their victories. Yet there’s another who is right at the top of my list of favorites. It’s the son of King Saul – Jonathan.
Read MoreLooking back at 35 years of preaching, there were some themes that deserved an annual emphasis. Some of these were holiday-based – Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, New Year’s. But I also came to see that there was another theme that also needed to be addressed every year. Money. Surprised?
Read MorePastors traffic daily in books. Of course, we preach the Book and as such, it should lead any list. But beyond that, we are on an endless search for other books that will encourage and equip us in ministry.
Read MoreFundamentally, 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.
Read MoreMonty 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.
Read MoreAsk any pastor about the importance of discipleship and you’ll get a vigorous nod accompanied by passionate words: “Absolutely what we’re to be about”… ”The bottom line by which to measure success”… ”Jesus’ marching orders couldn’t be clearer.” That being the case, why do we see discipleship languishing in the vast majority of churches?
Read MoreIt was a special opportunity to go fishing with an old friend. As we shared our time on the water, he brought me up to speed on his battle with prostate cancer. “Right now the numbers are good,” he said. “But soon I will have received all the radiation and hormone treatment that is allowable. Things might well change then.”
Read MoreI read the following recently: Life is made up of moments .| Moments create days. | Days create months. | Months create years. | Years create life. | Lose the moment and you lose Life.
Read MoreIt’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.)
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreThe data is in and it’s not pretty. The number of admirers of Jesus are growing while the number of church attenders are shrinking. For those who do attend, determining factors for church choice are based on what is offered to and expected from its membership rather than what is expected from its membership. Convenience is prioritized while commitment is minimized.
Read MoreIn my previous blog post, “Living in Three Dimensions,” we noted that Jesus oriented His life around 3 relational dimensions. Luke 6:12-19 records them:
First of all, JESUS LOOKED UP. This speaks to His relationship with His Father. The key to Jesus’ fruitfulness was His commitment to this vertical dimension.
Read MoreWhoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. I John 2:6
This verse is relatively easy to read; but it’s painfully difficult to apply, isn’t it? How does one actually walk in the way of Jesus? What does that look like practically speaking?
Read MoreA.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!”
Read MoreYour 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.
Read MoreOne 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.
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