Every church has a collective story. As a leader, you need to pay attention to what story is being told. I’m not talking about the good old, unchanging story of Jesus’ love, sacrifice and ultimate work of salvation. That story will never change. I’m talking about the narrative your church lives in – what you … Read more
A greenhouse helps grow healthy plants while protecting them from the cold weather. Part of our role as parents with young children is to help grow them up with a godly view of life. They will eventually experience the joys and hardships of living in the world, but the foundation is as important for their … Read more
A plane takes off from New York heading to Dallas. Just after takeoff, the strong winds cause the plane to veer slightly off course. Does the pilot turn around and take off again? Of course not! The pilot just adjusts his course to compensate for the wind and gets the plane safely to Dallas. This analogy, … Read more
This past week and weekend were hectic. Long day, lots of details. Forty-eight invigorating hours of ministry work between Thursday evening and Sunday evening. I was mentally distracted at home. For part of that time, my wife and kids were with me. In another part, they were off doing other activities while I was busy. … Read more
A healthy church is a worthy goal. It’s not that healthy church leaders don’t disagree or engage each other. It doesn’t mean there won’t be growing pains, transitions, and setbacks. But all healthy organisms grow. As churches grow and grow numerically, it’s important for pastors and leaders to strive for health as a congregation. Systems … Read more
For several years, Harvest Conferences has been in existence to provide opportunities for children, students, and leaders to grow. You may be tired of hearing me say this, but gathering with the larger church is part of a healthy plan for anyone in your congregation, especially the younger generations. Day in and day out discipleship, … Read more
It’s too easy to give up on big dreams. The vision begins to fade as busyness overtakes our time. We lose heart, we lose patience, and we lose faith. But what if our dreams are linked to our prayers? Are you praying boldly? Are you praying persistently? As Mark Batterston says in his book, The … Read more
If you had to live your life over again, what would you do differently? In studies asking this question to people at the end of their lives, three answers are always at the top: Risk More Reflect More Do More Things That Live On After You Die You don’t have to wait to do these … Read more
I’ve been in 843 church buildings – or something like that. I’ve seen some good and bad. And no matter what, it’s always a challenge. Congregations are formed by their buildings, to some extent. If your sanctuary is formal, the congregation typically begins to lean that way. If the sanctuary is more informal, the congregation … Read more
Those born between 1997 and 2012 are called Generation Z. Like other generations, they take what is passed down to them, mix it with their own historic and cultural experiences, and out comes their unique take on life and their contribution to the world. Since both of my kids fall into this age group, I … Read more