Chuck Lawless

I need to listen better to my church members. How can I truly help shepherd them if I don’t know what they’re facing? I need the reminder that shaking hands on a Sunday morning does not equal listening.

He expands his kingdom broadly, but not deeply. After all, deeply-developed kingdoms require serious discipleship – and genuine disciples would recognize the problem with a king’s leadership style.

It’s good to be with others who are trying to walk the same path. The spiritual battle is real for all of us, but none of us has to walk this road alone. Even though the church is hardly perfect, they’re still colleagues in this journey—and just seeing them in-person can be uplifting.

A mission-minded pastor shapes their church in these nine ways.

Here's what churches with a missional focus do well.

God’s mercies are new every morning, and great is His faithfulness (Lam 3:22-23). That means each day is a new day and each year is a new year. His mercies await you this day, and He will be faithful to you.

Simple ways to incorporate memorization into your routine

It’s just uncomfortable to be outside the bubble. Honestly, it’s just easier to hang out with other believers who think like we do, talk like we do, and act like we do. Outside the bubble is a different world.