Features

Scott McConnell: The State of Discipleship

Discover where disciples in your church are in their journey. Then design paths to encourage progress toward biblical outcomes.

The Deity of Christ is the Heart of the Gospel

People had only to look at Jesus to see God.

The Easter Illusion

Easter exposes the gap between attendance and belonging, between membership and engagement, between connection and discipleship.

What Questions Should You Ask a Pastor Search Team as a Candidate?

Ive previously written these posts about pastor search teams: 6 Reasons Pastor Search Teams Dont Always Work and 14 Mistakes Search Committees Make. Today, I want to answer a question many students have asked me: What questions should you ask a pastor search team if you were their candidate? I have many other questions beyond these, but here are some Id ask:

How to Address the Chronic Anxiety Surrounding the Pandemic

This article originally appeared on MissioAlliance.org and is reposted here by permission. If there were ever a time in recent history in which anxiety seems likely to...

7 Warnings for People in Leadership

I often hear from pastors who want to grow as leaders. They feel pressure to steer the church on a healthy course. Most of...

7 Things About Understanding Gen Z Your Church Needs to Understand

Insights for the church from a Gen Z thinker on understanding Gen Z.

How to Manage Your Stress as a Leader

Ask someone how they’re doing. The common response: “I’m good, thanks!” Here’s the more candid version I’m hearing these days. “I think I’m pretty good, but I’m...

Canceled Mission Trips Give Us an Opportunity for Self-Reflection

With much of the world in various stages of lockdown, short-term mission trips have become one of the first summer casualties. Planes are grounded. Airports are quiet. And the folks who print all those matching mission trip T-shirts are wondering when business will pick up again. But I, for one, am grateful someone hit the […]

7 Ways to Be an Authentic Leader

A few years ago I met with a group of millennials in our church—asking them to help me think through leadership today. The most...

How I CRAFT My Sermons

Its true that Saddleback has gained attention because of its growth over the decades, but I dont want our church to grow just to add to our numbers. Im motivated by changed lives. Im always asking myself, Who is the next person God will radically change? Whose marriage will be transformed next? What is the […] This article discusses Rick Warren's method for crafting sermons.