Ten Ways God Moved in Church History
I have been an avid reader and lover of history since college. And I have learned a lot from Scott Sunquist, a close friend for the past 34 years since…
I have been an avid reader and lover of history since college. And I have learned a lot from Scott Sunquist, a close friend for the past 34 years since…
Jay, one of our church members, recently shared with me: “I was a Christian for twenty-two years. But instead of being a twenty-two-year-old Christian, I was a one-year- old Christian…
When is the last time you preached or heard a message on grieving or lamenting that was not at a funeral? When is the last time your church sang a…
“Most Americans, white and black, see racism as a lingering problem in the United States, and many say they know people who are racist. But few Americans of either…
Leaders have a number of key tasks if we are to operate out of high level of integrity. These include: 1. Confronting myself. Am I calm and clear about what…
Don’t be deceived. We often settle for a defeated, complacent walk with God-even if we are supposed to be spiritual leaders. Self-examination is critical if we are to be the…
The story of Ananias and Sapphira teaches the gravity of allowing Satan to gain a foothold in God’s church through lying and deception. The passage connects pretense, divided self, lack…
One of the great dangers of faithfully observing Sabbath is legalism. What about pastors, nurses, doctors, police officers, and others who must work on Sundays? Jesus observed Sabbath but he…
Luke teaches in Acts that listening to the Holy Spirit requires that we are surrendered to God’s will, know Scripture and receive wise counsel from mature believers. We must be…
All of us need to deepen our walk with God. As a church pastor, it is essential that our staff model true spirituality to those under our care. We are…
“Skimming” in your life can produce the impression that everything is covered – but in reality, you aren’t completely there. You’re covering ground superficially without being fully engaged. Today I’ll…
Life change is our goal as pastors and teachers. Here are a few “bullet point” essentials to emotionally healthy preaching! Preach from grounded place of a contemplative (i.e. out of…
ARE YOU SKIMMING WITH GOD? Cultivating a life with our Lord Jesus requires large amounts of focused time. Days alone with God, hours of meditation on Scripture, and time for…
Jesus teaches us what real faith is: staying in with God even when we do not feel Him. Even though God is silent, He is still working powerfully. Even though…
Marriage and sexuality point to our deep longing for union with God. The way God loves us is the way that romantic love should be expressed among us:free-God chose you;…
Each community of believers has been called by God to be something lovely together and to do something in our world. This togetherness, however, requires integrity from each of us,…
We must discern between negative circumstances in our lives that are “frontal assaults” from the Devil or circumstances in which God is calling us to grow up and “stand”. The…
Fear is a universal experience. Jeremiah is a young prophet called to prophesy against his own people. He was suicidal at times because of the pressure. Despite his challenges and…
There are 2 primary ways of praying in the church: kataphatic – prayer that uses words, images, e.g. Scripture, icons, song, worship and; apophatic – prayer that is beyond words,…
False prophets tried to lie to Israel about the coming judgment upon their nation. Ezekiel the prophet was trying to help them with their blind spots by telling them truth.…
Rule of Life. The meaning of Rule comes from the Greek word for “trellis.” A trellis is a tool designed to enable a grapevine to get off the ground and…
This assessment tool evaluates an individual’s general formation and discipleship, the emotional components of their discipleship, hurts from the past, brokenness and vulnerability, limits, grief and loss. It also provides…
A guide to praying the “Daily Office,” an early church discipline of prayer, meditation and scripture study throughout the day. Nehemiah, Daniel, and Jesus are examples included in the study.…
I have identified eight unique leadership challenges, each of which is powerful and far reaching in their implications. These are tensions that Christian leaders face. 1. Dual Relationships- Supervision and…
How do I discover where I am emotionally in my walk with Christ? Here are a few indicators. Emotional infants. I look for other people to take care of me…