The gospel itself–Jesus’ death and resurrection–is an overwhelmingly powerful story of transformation. When all hope seems lost, we see light. Something difficult becomes something beautiful. The Red Sea rolls back to reveal dry land. The new heavens and the new earth...
You have an investment opportunity that is as close to a sure thing as it can get. But it’s still a leap of faith. It still requires a sacrifice. Jesus taught about earthly managers being left with money to invest and how different managers handled the task...
Are you raising up people who are dependent on you? For spiritual food, for sermons, for meeting their needs? If you died tomorrow, do your people have the roots to continue growing? What about new ministry leaders who, in their own right can feed themselves, go on to...
You care about your congregation, both as a whole and for the individuals who call it home. After all, you’ve invested so much time, energy, and heart. How could the fact that you care be in doubt? Yet in many congregations, it is a real question. Sometimes people...
Answer: To make disciples! That is what Jesus called the church to do in the great commission: disciplemaking. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to...
Are you only reaching the reached? Jesus had some words about that: “And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matt. 5:47). Making disciples—the primary mission of any church—cannot be accomplished...
If you were in business or accounting or teaching or healthcare, you wouldn’t have this problem. No other profession or calling so directly ties one’s marriage to their role. Periodically every spouse of a pastor asks themselves, “Is this what I signed up for?” Being...
If your people don’t seem clear on where they’re going, if your ministry leaders aren’t sure how to measure whether they’re successful, you might have a vision drift problem. Effective vision casting means keeping your focus solely on what God is calling you toward,...
If you are a Senior Pastor, you need to facilitate healthy change. It should come as no surprise that it lands in the top twelve competencies of a senior pastor. It’s not only churches in crisis or transition that are in need of change. Every church needs to be moving...