Has your church become so comfortable in the familiar that it misses what guests are experiencing? Guests will break through the confines of the comfortable and see Christ, or they will see the church stuck in church familiarity and never return.
I believe the Holy Spirit often sovereignly uses these emotions (conviction of sin, desperation for hope, grief from a loss, etc.) to prepare the lost for the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, including making an emotional decision for Christ.
While you wont always be as consistent in your followthrough as you had hoped, the process of setting pastor new year's resolutions can be an important spiritual discipline that at least sets our focus in the right direction.
Rarely do pastors and church leaders know the church community demographics of their neighborhoods, especially concerning poverty and medical bills. To care for those in need, understanding this data is crucial.
Leading the local church is hard enough, but leading when youre unsure what to do next is challenging. Finishing strong in your season will look different for everyone. But everyone can complete the overall tasks they have been called to and meet them with Gods excellence in mind.
When we take those steps to get to know the person instead of operating out of assumptions we grow in compassion, joy, and empathy.
Moore has had church members tell her that they were too scared to do something missional, but because they love animals, this outreach was a natural fit for them.
Every leader has a leadership Achilles heel, a weakness that challenges overall strength. Understanding your God's gifts and leadership weaknesses is crucial, as the devil already knows.
The win here is that the relationship stays intact, not necessarily that you reach a resolution, even though you hope you do find one. Ultimately the goal is not to win an argument or point out the error of the other person’s ways, but to reconcile.
I was able to be a good friend to those close to me. My best friend, for thirty years, went through a tough season being accused of something he didn’t do. I was able to support him, encourage him, remind him who he was, and pray for him. He came through his trial by fire, and I’m so happy for him.
