Recently our church completed a renovation project of our sanctuary and surrounding education space. This portion of our campus had not been updated for more than 30 years. It was a huge endeavor. The whole process, from the planning stage to completion, took the better part of a year.
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Early in my first pastorate, I was advised to avoid favoritism by treating all my church members exactly the same. It took me several years to root this ministry myth out of my system.
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What is an emotional affair and why must pastors, elders and ministry leaders fight against succumbing to this temptation? According to one online source, “An emotional affair is a non-sexual relationship involving a similar level of emotional intimacy and bonding as a romantic relationship.” The writer adds that emotional affairs often begin as a friendship and then move to something more involved.
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For many years now, I’ve asked students about their quiet time with the Lord. Frankly, many struggle with consistency, especially with prayer. Anecdotally, though, here’s what I’ve learned: the students who struggle least tend to have had parents who modeled quiet times for them. Sometimes they did that intentionally, but at other times it just happened. Their parents did their quiet time in a more public place, and their kids took note.
For many years now, I’ve asked students about their quiet time with the Lord. Frankly, many struggle with consistency, especially with prayer. Anecdotally, though, here’s what I’ve learned: the students who struggle least tend to have had parents who modeled quiet times for them. Sometimes they did that intentionally, but at other times it just happened. Their parents did their quiet time in a more public place, and their kids took note.
Over my years of studying churches, I’ve watched for ways they recognize and honor volunteers – the folks who faithfully serve the Lord through serving in their churches. Here are some of those ways. 1. Commission them at the beginning of the year. Make a big deal about praying over and supporting volunteers, and you’ll likely […]
It happens. Life s going well, it seems. You’re comfortable where you are. You’re enjoying what you’re doing. As far as you know, you could spend the rest of your life living where you live and doing the work you’re doing. Then, God unexpectedly changes your plans. Sometimes it happens excitedly, sometimes painfully – but […]
Ministry sometimes feels like a slap in the face, often when you least expect it to happen. Sometimes doing God's will still hurts. What do you do when that happens?
It happens to most of us. Ministry gets really hard, and we get wounded. Our wounds then become scars, on which other scars later develop. If we’re not alert and self-aware, our heart gets hardened. Be aware of these signs of increasing hardening in your life.
I know this post proposes a ministry lifestyle that is difficult to establish and maintain, but I state my position that I’ve taught my students for more than two decades: you should never do ministry alone. Here’s why having someone with you whenever you’re doing ministry matters.
None of us likes to confess our sin to another believer. Instead, we too often choose to hide in our sin. Ultimately, God is the one who forgives us, but here are reasons we must prayerfully consider confessing our wrong to another brother or sister in Christ:
When I became a believer at age 13, my pastor told me to begin praying for my parents to become believers. I followed his direction, and I started praying that God would save my mom and dad. These prayers would go on for 47 years.
Charles Spurgeon, one of my favorite writers, spoke often about the minister’s responsibility to guard himself, to “take heed, therefore, to yourselves first, that you be that which you persuade others to be.”* He pushed leaders to be people of integrity and credibility.
As I began ministry decades ago, few people were talking about accountability. More are using that language today, but we still have much room for growth.
