Three notable articles I read this week: Trevin Wax – Small vs. big churches: The family feud we all lose. You probably heard about Andy Stanley’s comments on small churches. Trevin weighs in with wisdom and balance. Joe Thorn – How I prepare a sermon. “If you can't prepare a good sermon in 10 hours you're definitely doing it wrong.” Got your attention? Read the article. I always appreciate Joe’s thoughts. Tony Morgan – Six ways good pastors make bad hiring decisions. Read more [...]
Pastors and politicians are notorious for speaking in hyperbole. I’d rather not blog on politics, so I’ll focus this post on pastors and church leaders. Most pastors communicate with good intentions, and most pastors are genuinely excited about God’s work in their churches. In fact, one of the main questions I get when I consult with pastors is How can I get my church more excited? I start by telling them it’s unlikely anyone in your congregation will have the same level of passion Read more [...]
Three notable articles I read this week: Chris Martin – The memification of life is destroying civil discourse. “Our echo chambers have created an environment in which we can share insulting, inaccurate content and be applauded, not criticized for it. As a result, when we’re required to interact with those with whom we disagree in the workplace or at family events, we overheat and don’t know how to handle ourselves.” Hershael York – The case for an exegetical sermon series. Read more [...]
Like me, you probably get a lot of messages throughout the day. They all coalesce in my smartphone. I assume most of you have the same set up. It’s convenient. But the message amalgamation can become a source of stress, especially for task-oriented people. I’m among your ranks. So, I’m giving my thoughts about when you should use each communication channel: In-person, phone call, email, text, and social media. Better uses of these channels may exist. Comment if you want to add your thoughts. In-person. Read more [...]
Three notable articles I read this week: Landon Coleman – 7 ways to pray for the sick. “Too many times I’ve head prayers for the sick that sounded eerily similar to a nurse briefing a doctor on the condition of patients.” Landon writes seven helpful ways to pray for the sick. Michael Kelley – 3 reasons to stay in a church that’s not cool enough. “At some point, most any of us who grew up in a Christianized culture are going to look around at our church, the one we have Read more [...]
Pastor A has a top-ranked podcast, a book deal from a well-known publisher, and 150,000 Twitter followers. Pastor B is the secretary at the local Rotary Club, is the assistant football coach at the middle school, and recently joined a bowling league. Both pastors have influence. Both are doing God’s will. Both enjoy their callings. I will make a bold statement: Pastor B’s local influence is ultimately more vital to church health than Pastor A’s national platform. I certainly don’t Read more [...]
Three notable articles I read this week: Ronnie Floyd – Insecurity: Pastors, church leaders, and churches. “Some of the whiniest people I know are ministers. It also happens that pastors are some of the most insecure people I know. The two often go together.” Ronnie gives helpful tips for identifying the signs of and solutions to insecurity. Jason K. Allen – The one gift every pastor must have. “There are a thousand ways a minister can serve the church, but he has one indispensable Read more [...]
Lead a church long enough, and you will encounter a crisis. People sin. Satan roams. Life happens. Crises are inevitable results of a fallen world. All pastors and church leaders will run into a legitimate crisis at some point. Your church will face a split. You will be forced to resign by an ugly power group. A close staff person will have a moral failure. The types of crises are numerous. All pastors and church leaders have battle scars. You can’t fight these battles alone. Obviously, Christ Read more [...]
Three notable articles I read this week: Will Browning – Five questions to ask if you think God is calling you elsewhere. Will provides five questions any minister should ask before beginning a transition. Jeremy Roberts – Why I dress up more than I used to when I preach. “My attire was not helping me minister to people older than I. I’m 32, and sometimes folks who are 50+ can struggle with having a pastor the age of their kids or grandkids.” Jeremy Weber and Ted Olsen – Read more [...]
Leaders fail when they accuse someone of breaking trust when all that person did was make an honest mistake. It’s demoralizing for the accused. Leaders also fail when they dismiss betrayal, thinking the betrayer was simply mistaken. That’s dangerous for the leader. I’ve made mistakes as a leader. One in particular stands out. The pre-filled-peel-and-partake communion cups were a mistake. I thought they would make the Lord’s Supper process more efficient. Apparently, no one cares about Read more [...]
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