The Lord’s hospitality to Moses and Israel’s leaders in Exodus 24 stops careful readers in their tracks. What a God! He is holy but personal. And Jesus’s hospitality to Peter and the disciples on the shore of Galilee humbles us. So kind is the resurrected Son. God reveals Himself as a host in these two scenes and many other places in Scripture.
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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.
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It’s time to take back your joy. Pay attention for a moment — this might just save your sanity.
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What does your church staff consider important? Hopefully, some things will come to mind immediately, such as the Great Commission, the Great Commandment, and the vision of your local church. Have you ever considered the values that help you work together as a staff? Have you considered how you press towards these essential goals?
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.
I confess that I don’t always take care of myself as I should. I have to work hard to maintain a healthy weight, keep my blood pressure down, etc. As a Christian, I see this issue of exercise and bodily well-being as more a spiritual one than a physical one.
I’ve studied and written about spiritual warfare for more than 30 years now. In fact, you can study the topic with me through the Church Answers “Church Equip” course, “Engaging in Spiritual Warfare.” In some ways, that short course reflects the core of what I’ve taught over the years.
Christmas can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, we usually give gifts that don’t last anyway. This Christmas, give one of these gifts to someone that doesn't cost any money.
We are only a day away from Thanksgiving 2024. Many of us will gather with families and friends, and we’ll express our thanks to God for relationships, love, food, salvation, etc. When you pray in your own quiet time, though, think about praying these surprising prayers, too: Take some time even now to pray one […]
In my second pastorate, I stayed at the church for just over eleven years. At the time, more than a decade at one church was almost unheard of. I’ve paid attention since then to pastors who stay at their church for at least ten years, and here are some traits I’ve seen in these pastors.
