“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” —Matthew 23:12 Our college ministry staff has been reading the classic Campus Crusade book Principles God Honors by Jim Sylvester. In the book, his first principle is: God honors himself, not men. Sylvester writes of five signs that indicate you may be … Continued
Have you ever felt like you’re on the backside of the desert or in some twisted form of an apocalyptic wasteland? Do you feel a bit isolated and irritated in your struggle with the COVID dilemma? Of course, you’re pretty sure God hasn’t abandoned you or moved out of your reach. But … You feel … Continued
I don't claim to be a great preacher, but I love to study and proclaim the Word. Below are some preaching improvement practicessome that may be surprisingI do that I hope help me with preaching and teaching. 1. Regularly exercise. A preacher who is not taking care of himself likely wont have the energy he needs to […]
Abraham was getting on in years, yet he and Sarah didn’t have any children. However, God had given him this promise: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing” (Gen. 12:2). Although Abraham was older than old, he kept believing that … Continued
Four essential concepts for navigating ministry in a new world today and preparing for tomorrow.
As we continue in this Ministry Pivots Series during this season of COVID-19, we have to look at how our ministry budgets need to pivot. Every Church has been impacted through their giving somehow, according to an April 2020 study from CapinCrouse. This study showed that most churches saw an increase in online giving, because […]
COVID has been like a mission trip for the analog church. We thought we were going on a short-term trip to a place that felt foreign. We got there, and had to immediately learn some new languages and methods. Turns out, this is becoming more like a long-term mission assignment. And since arriving in this … Continued
There seems to be two extremes when it comes to how Christians view their relationship with their possessions. The first one is that God wants 10%, often called the tithe. This is based on an Old Testament principle that the first 10% of what God gives us goes back to him. For this group, after you've learned how much to give, you've essentially fulfilled your duty and can do whatever you want with the rest. It's like a God-tax. After you pay it, you're done.
I have a passion for the brain and how applying newly discovered brain science can impact leadership and spiritual growth. I even wrote a book about it. Now into my sixth decade of life, I want to maximize my brainpower as I (and everybody else) faces inevitable cognitive decline. In this post I share three morning habits you can build into your routine to boost your brain power and stay mentally sharp […]
As congregations return methodically to in-person services, something else will be taking place. It will be obvious to some churches; it will be more subtle to others. Simply stated, churches will have an incredible window of opportunity to make substantive and positive changes. We have been watching closely the responses of congregations and their leaders … Continued
