4 WARNINGS FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERS
Inherent in the nature of ministry, and in our still-sinful bent, are dangers for all of us who lead or teach God’s Word. I repeatedly preach these four warnings to myself. 1. Beware of pride.There’s a subtle tendency for us to take credit for what God does...
6 PROMISES TO ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO SERVE
Opposition.Weariness of mind, body, and spirit.Feelings of inadequacy.Discouragement over apparent lack of fruitfulness.What instills resiliency to face these and other obstacles to ministry motivation?For me, one answer is memorizing timeless promises in God’s...
5 TRAITS OF PRODUCTIVE BIBLE TEACHING
Whether your venue for communication is the pulpit, a classroom, or a small group meeting in a home, effectiveness requires application of five characteristics. Use these guidelines to evaluate your teaching and group leadership.1. CLARITY Are my words...
1 APPLICATION OF JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION
So what?According to Johnny Miller, former pastor and past President of Columbia International University, that's the most important question to ask when we study the Bible.The text says this (observation). So what?The text means this (interpretation). So...
8 EXAMPLES OF BIBLE HEROES WHO WEPT
Most Christian leaders feel embarrassed and apologetic when they cry, particularly if it’s in public. We tend to equate weeping with emotional instability, loss of self-control, and fragility that’s the polar opposite of strong leadership.But God’s Word offers a...
3 Principles for Change in a Church
Integral to leadership is serving as a change agent. Yet leaders often fail in the way they implement new ideas. Unwise approaches often sabotage great ideas. Applying the three principles that follow may expedite acceptance of your changes. I’m aware of a...
10 QUESTIONS I WISH I HAD ASKED MY DAD
My dad, a textile mill worker in rural North Carolina, loved Jesus passionately. Forced to drop out of school in the seventh grade to go to work, after coming to Christ as a young man, he studied the Bible voraciously.Dad taught an adult Bible study class, wrote...
4 TIPS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION OF A BOOK OTHER THAN THE BIBLE
Small groups and adult classes often discuss books by Christian authors, one or two chapters at a time. The next time your group chooses a book to read—and it doesn’t come with a study guide or questions for group interaction – the following ideas may help...
6 TRUTHS TO HELP YOU SERVE STRONGER
Joy-sapping workloads, feelings of inadequacy, lack of apparent fruitfulness, and battle fatigue from spiritual warfare are some of the foes that threaten ministry motivation and endurance. Here are six truths that infuse me with biblical perspective and buoy my...
2 CONFESSIONS OF A PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIAN
I’ve always viewed my call from God to vocational ministry as a high privilege. Since I turned 19, forty-eight years ago, my only means of earning a living has been ministry venues: church staff, denominational trainer, writer, and Christian university...
4 THINGS I WISH I HAD DONE DIFFERENTLY IN MINISTRY
At 67, I am more prone to reflect on the past, especially my various ministry roles and key relationships. Here are four regrets, or things I wish I had handled differently. 1. I wish I had “picked more brains.” When it comes to taking classes,...
3 THINGS NOT TO SAY TO A DEPRESSED PERSON
I can’t remember a time when chronic depression wasn’t a nemesis for me. As a child I often felt an overwhelming sadness and wept without understanding why. Now I’m a 67-year-old Christian college professor who still wanders occasionally into the dark fog of...
