Features Archives - Page 319 of 589

Whats Wrong With the World? Understanding the Bible’s Wild World of Powers

June 30, 2020

Features Discipleship

This series of articles (Read Part 1) contends that the Bible is set in the land of wild things. That is, the Bible is more fantasticalbeautiful, dangerous and strangethan we give it credit for. What we incorrectly call the natural and the supernatural, as if they are distinct and isolated realms, are actually part of the bible's wild world of powers, where heaven and earth are constantly interacting and alive with all kinds of creatures, forces and powersboth seen and unseen.

Glenn Paauw

Why Many Churches Seem to Operate in Their Own Power

June 30, 2020

Features Discipleship

It seems to me that many churches operate more in their own ability than they do in Gods power. The evidence, particularly of North American churches, is that were not making much difference in reaching nonbelievers and driving back the darkness. Here are some reasons churches operate in their own power: 1. We dont always […]

Chuck Lawless

Why Overcoming Envy Is About Where You Turn

June 29, 2020

Features Discipleship

How do you respond when you feel dissatisfied?

Christine Hoover

The Most Frightening Thing About Being a Pastor

June 29, 2020

Features Leadership

Know what really scares me as a pastor? It’s that my words are going to cause people to take action. People will, based on a sermon, based on a tweet, based on an interaction, or a counseling session decide things about their future based on my advice based on how I explain the wisdom of … Continued

Brandon A. Cox

6 Tips to Plan a Memorable Summer With Your Kids

June 26, 2020

Features Children Ideas

Summer is here and yet, many of us feel like we have already had summer because our kids have been home from school or daycare for months due to COVID-19 precautions. Now that the school year has finally finished in some form or fashion, how do we make the most of the next few months … Continued

Jana Magruder

Looking for True Contentment in All the Wrong Places

June 26, 2020

Features Discipleship

Before you came to Christ, your life aspirations arose from a wrong way of looking at the world, what the apostle Peter calls the desires of your former ignorance (1 Peter 1:14). You thought, for instance, that romance was the key to true contentment. But at some point, you realized it wasnt quite as fulfilling as youd hoped. […]

J.D. Greear

8 Ways to Avoid Wasting This Next Season of Ministry

June 25, 2020

Features Leadership

The good news is it feels like were entering a new season of leadership and ministry. Although the coronavirus is still with us, churches and businesses are reopening and things that werent possible a month or two ago are now possible again. Thats the good news. The bad news is that the new season is perhaps even more complicated than the season of crisis we just left, and leaders must be careful to avoid wasting ministry season […]

Carey Nieuwhof

6 Things I’ve Missed During This Season of Preaching to a Camera

June 25, 2020

Features Leadership

A few weeks into this madness, the global pandemic that has resulted in the unprecedented move to not provide physical worship gatherings at our church, Kenton Beshore called to check on me. Kenton is my predecessor, our pastor emeritus, and he still serves as teaching pastor for us. “How in the world are you not … Continued

Eric Geiger

5 Neuroscience Tips to Improve Sermon Attention

June 24, 2020

Features Leadership

One of the most disconcerting feelings we pastors experience is when we prepare a sermon and pour our heart into it, yet feel that it didnt make a difference in peoples lives. Its equally frustrating when we preach to see somebody tuning us out. What can we do to improve sermon attention? For when they do, theres a greater chance what we say will stick in their minds to give the Holy Spirit time to ultimately change their hearts. Here are some neuroscience-based tips.

Charles Stone

8 Unhealthy Dynamics That Destroy Motivation and Momentum

June 24, 2020

Features Leadership

I have found that regardless of how motivated I am, if the people around me are unmotivated, we arent going to be very successful as a team. This is why it is important a leader learns to recognize when a team is decreasing in motivation. And heres the greater reason. Motivation is often a catalyst to destroy motivation and momentum […]

Ron Edmondson