Last year I asked the question, Do Christians Have a Responsibility to Observe Halloween, and I still stand behind everything in that article. I do believe that Halloween represents a unique opportunity for Christians to be on the offensive against the darkness of sin in our culture and to communicate the gospel with our lost and …
As I was researching some leadership development options for use among our staff, I came across a Forbes article from 2012 that argues leadership training should be scrapped in favor of leadership development. The author lists 20 of the primary differences between leadership training and leadership development, and I couldn’t help but see the ways …
As pastors, we are right to prioritize and emphasize public proclamation of the gospel and carefully planned and structured times for discipleship and counseling. Most pastors appreciate structure and ample time for preparation. We like the security of the pulpit and our study, but if we are to do the necessary work of “bearing one …
Dipsticks: Efficient Ways to Check for Understanding— The teaching suggestions in this article for better understanding should have some preaching applications. The Importance of Persuasive Preaching— One of the preacher’s jobs is to persuade people away from worldly ways of thinking toward a biblical worldview. We are called to convince people that what the Bible says …
Much is made about the prevalence of young adults leaving the church after they finish high school. We have a right to be concerned, but more than concerned, we have a responsibility to fight the trend. Certainly much of the fight needs to take place long before graduation. Some research over the years has suggested …
3 Common Traits of Youth Who Don’t Leave— My wife (Angela) sent me a link to this article. Notice that the first and most important trait to be considered is the spiritual state of our students. Christians persevere. Our first goal must be to see our students saved. Two Questions that May Greatly Improve Your …
I’ve read several blog posts and articles recently discussing ways that church members can love their pastor, or their pastor’s wife, or their pastor’s family. There is certainly a place for these encouragements. The pastor’s family is no different from other families in the church in that they need to be loved and cared for …
Sustainable Preaching— This is the first in a series of posts by Dan Doriani on creating a sustainable preaching model in your church. This series looks promising. Not your Stereotypical Pastor’s Wife— Kathy Keller granted an interview about her ministry at Redeemer. The last quote is fantastic, “Devoting myself to the support of Tim’s ministry …
4 Ways to Say No as a Pastor— Often the message behind the request of your presence, attention and action is affirmation. There have been times when I have been asked to be apart of something that really didn’t need my attention but the one asking needed both affirmation that they were doing a good …
My brother had his first breakfast date with Wyatt (my son) seven years ago. I think they went to the Waffle house, but Wyatt didn’t eat. Wyatt doesn’t remember their “guy” time that morning. The reason that Wyatt doesn’t remember is because Wyatt was only two months old. Angela was working her notice at her …