When Faith Doesn’t Work
I am not a Christian because my faith “works” for me. Talk to a devout Mormon, Muslim, or Buddhist and he’ll extol the here-and-now benefits of his faith. He’ll cite a serenity of spirit, or a sense of order that believing brings to his life. Yet his belief system...
5 LESSER KNOWN WAYS THAT PRIDE SHOWS
Repeatedly in His Word, God warns about the encroachment of pride. That’s because, as John Wesley put it, “All pride is idolatry.” When we’re proud, how does it show? More obvious answers include boasting about accomplishments (even when we’re subtle about it...
I’M TIRED OF THESE 7 LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS
I’ll start by qualifying what I’m about to write. Most vocational church and parachurch leaders deserve more applause than they get. They’re diligent, caring, teachable, committed to Christ and His church, and often underpaid in a job fraught with pressure and...
5 STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE
God’s Word is first and foremost a message book, revealing the story and means of redemption. But it’s also a method book, in the broad sense of that term. Pastors, missionaries, teachers, and evangelists may glean from certain texts how-to ideas for fulfilling...
7 GUIDELINES TO HELP YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Do you prepare your own small group Bible studies or Sunday School lessons? Do you receive published curriculum from your church, but typically revise the lessons in view of the characteristics of your particular group of learners? Do you strive for an interactive...
6 QUESTIONS FOR ENHANCING APPLICATION IN YOUR TEACHING OR PREACHING
The late Larry Richards, biblical scholar and Christian Education specialist, lamented that even good Bible teaching usually stops at the level of interpretation. In Creative Bible Teaching, he viewed a focus on application as the missing element in much Bible...
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...
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). ...
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...
