Pastor Resources Podcast

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I think I used to see God working in my life very linearly. I kind of saw God as someone who coached me along my journey, and if I screwed up too badly, he would replace me with someone better. Then one day, while reading Lewis’s Mere Christianity, I realized God is timeless. God was not just going through life linearly with me, God also saw my life from above the timeline. God had chosen to walk with me, even though he knew I would mess it all up at various points along the way. I think I saw God as someone I had to keep going up the mountain to find. Then I realized God, seeing all of my timeline, had already chosen to come down the mountain to me. I saw God as angry, or at least someone willing to get angry quickly if you didn’t keep him happy. I didn’t realize God is accessible. God seeks, God finds, and God knocks. You don’t have to find God because the story is God find...

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Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. - Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

Have you ever stopped to think about WHY the Psalmist had to ask God to search his heart and thoughts; to point out anything that offends? I mean, they are his thoughts after all, so why would he – or any of us – need God search to our hearts and minds?

Let me explain it with an example...

Picture a tiger trap, like in the old “Tarzan” movies. You dig a pit, line it with spikes, and you’re all set, right? Not exactly! You have a hole filled with painful things, but you need to cover it! So, you grab sticks and leaves, whatever you can find, to cover the hole and make it unrecognizable! It LOOKS the same as everything else around it, but it’s not!

Now, how many of you would volunteer to run down the path and over the trap? Not many, right? When the covering gives way, what’s underneath is going to hurt...very, very badly…

But what does this have to do with the verses in Psalms? A lot of us have pain in our past; trauma or critical events that have ripped painful holes in our lives. When this happens, we have two choices:

Barry Rudesill is a Pastor, speaker, and co-creator of The Trek. (www.thetrek.org)

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Regular church maintenance is important for keeping your facilities in working order. Beyond annual cleaning and repairs, it’s also nice to spruce up your building with occasional renovations.

Maybe your budget is a little tight right now, but you’d still like to make some updates to your church. Here are five low-cost projects that will make a big impact for your members and visitors.

Update Paint Colors

When was the last time you painted your church interior? Do the colors even fit in with your current branding? Adding a new coat of paint or changing the paint color is an inexpensive project that goes a long way. To save even more money, get volunteers to help rather than hiring professional painters.

Install New Flooring

Flooring can become stained, faded, and outdated over the years. Switch things up with a new style. Take it a step further by changing the flooring material. For example, if you have carpet in your sanctuary, try out a spill-resistant tile instead. Coordinate the style with the wall colors and sanctuary accessories for a unified look.

Dr. Tom McElheny has served as an elder and director of Christian education for three Sarasota, Florida, churches, holds advanced degrees in business and education, and is CEO of his church seating company, ChurchPlaza.

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Outrage. Perhaps no other word better captures the spirit of our times, the wildfire in society that keeps roaring back with more and more fuel. It can deplete all our energy for quieter work, draw us away from the still small voice of God, and seem impossible to overcome. It spreads from social conflict to interpersonal relationships, disrupting community in the home, church, and workplace. How can pastors help their congregations reimagine a way forward, one that hammers their swords into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4, nlt) and leads to lasting unity?

Eugene Peterson translates those Isaiah verses further by stating, “He will show us the way he works so we can live the way we’re made (The Message).” The way we’re made. Yes—we are designed to heal, not to fester in our wounds. We are meant to be made whole through Christ and his church. One way God shows us how he works is in the way he created our physical selves. Our bodies have simple yet elegant systems in place to promote restoration and recovery, rather than rupture and limitation, when we are wounded. Can we live the way we’re made by following the example of the body, made in the image of God? Might this be particularly appropriate for Christian community as we are called the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27, nlt)?

In Designed to Heal, we encounter the persistent, orderly stages of physical wound healing. Clotting, inflammation, new growth, and return to function—even if through scarring—are portrayed through poignant patient stories illustrating each phase of healing. Chapters reflect how a particular aspect of physical healing can be a model for relational healing.

Inflammation, it turns out, is a necessary and helpful process. After clotting comes to the rescue, inflammatory cells get to work cleaning up the wound site. Just the right amount of pressure is applied by their work to prevent further damage. They identify debris that doesn’t belong and swallow it up. But then they get out of the way so new growth can begin. If the inflammatory stage goes awry and those cells don’t get a clear signal to stop their work, good tissue gets hurt. Healing stops.

Jennie A. McLaurin is a writer and physician with degrees in medicine, public health, and theology. Her book, Designed to Heal: What the Body Shows Us about Healing Wounds, Repairing Relationships, and Restoring Community (coauthored with Cymbeline T. Culiat), releases in August 2021.

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THE BIBLE REMAINS the bestselling book of all time. You may well have one hidden away somewhere in your house yourself. But while the Bible continues to sell incredibly well, it is often not read.

In many cases, this is not for lack of trying. Begin at the beginning— which sounds perfectly logical—and you may soon become bogged down in the laws of Exodus and Leviticus, the second and third books of the Bible, wondering what on earth they have to do with your life today. And so the Bible returns to its shelf, leaving you discouraged and feeling like you could never understand this strange book, as much as you would like to.

Why then read the Bible? To some the Bible is the basis for the largest religion in the world, Christianity, while for others it has been so influential historically that we need to be aware of it as literature if we are to understand our history. Still others seek to understand God and his relationship to the world. They wonder if God could possibly know or care about what is happening on earth and in our lives. To still others it is the book they meditate on to be instructed by and addressed by God, who has revealed himself particularly in Jesus Christ.

Adapted from The 30-Minute Bible by Craig G. Bartholomew and Paige P. Vanosky. Copyright (c) 2021 by Paige P. Vanosky and Craig G. Bartholomew. Published by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. www.ivpress.com

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The term "lockdown," is now associated with the attempt to slow or stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The virus is real, the risks are real, and the lessons learned from the lockdowns are real.

Some of the lessons learned were intended, others were not. There is legitimate debate about the efficacy of the lockdown, the wearing of masks, and social distancing. One thing is not debatable, the lessons learned are real, but many of the unintended lessons may be the most real, and the most unsettling.

For example, we have learned that:

Infants and small children have difficulty processing emotions and perceptions without the benefit of full facial expressions, Children deprived of diverse social interactions do not develop as healthy interpersonal skills as children participating in actual group settings, A virtual world is a flat-screen world without the depth of experience filled with the normal nuances of human life, Personal isolation can quickly morph into feelings of distress, distrust, and fear with real harmful psychological and physiological consequences, People can be divided into two classes, those who comply, and those who do not. Those who comply care about others, and those who do not are a threat, The elderly, infirm and otherwise physically vulnerable can be protected from friends, and family for their so-called "own good," to the point that they live and even die essentially in isolation from the very thing they need most - the presence of the ones they love, When people die, there is no obligation for a full funeral. A small group of essential personnel can perform a truncated (or online) service, Cremation is a cost-saving, and efficient way to dispose of the body,

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n the years leading up to the turn of the century (1996-1999), several publications ran “Man of the Millennium” features, presenting various candidates for the title. TIME Magazine featured extensive reports on various candidates, Einstein, Newton, etc. Theirs was perhaps the most closely watched process, and when the winner was revealed (as “Person of the Millennium”), the TIME Magazine laureate was Johannes Gutenberg (ca. 1400-1468), inventor of the moveable-type printing press. It was to be expected, I suppose, that media people would choose someone who enabled their craft in a remarkable way. And truly, modern literature, scholarship, reporting, propaganda, advertising, and spam all owe a great debt to Gutenberg’s invention.

The trouble is, Gutenberg had nothing to say. The purpose of printing, after all, is to utter something of value (to someone) in an inexpensive and easily distributable way. Luther took great advantage of the printing press: at his death (1546), according to some estimates, over 700,000 copies of various of Luther’s writings were in circulation, having a profound effect on the Protestant Reformation. Since then, the printing press has accelerated literacy, scholarship, and cultural cohesion everywhere, and the story has not yet ended.

But from Gutenberg himself—silence. And from the printing press itself, also—silence. The printing press only has meaning if someone uses it to say something. Such inventions, no matter how clever, do not change societies—ideas do. So, it seems to me that the Man of the Millennium should be someone who proposed ideas that changed the society of the second millennium. Of course, you know all the popular candidates—Luther, Newton, Jefferson, Nietzsche, Einstein, etc. Let me propose one from a little earlier, one whose influence still resounds above all the others today: John Wycliffe (1320?-1384).

Robert McAnally Adams is a retired mathematician and curator of The Christian Quotation of the Day. See cqod.com

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The ALL IN for FOSTER ADOPTION Challenge: The Goal and Strategies for Serving Waiting Kids Today there are over 125,000 youth in the foster care system. Many have never known the security of a loving home and often must wait for over three years for permanency. While others are shuttled between a multitude of homes; the number of placements sometimes soaring into the double digits. One can only imagine what the lasting impact might be on a child who has never known the safety of a loving family. And what about the strain on our communities overall? Sex-traffickers that prey on these children, increased homelessness, and incarceration are seemingly inevitable due to lack of guidance and substantial gaps in education. These bleak, cultural realities stand in contrast to the mission of the church – to care for those in need.

What can the local church do? They can go “All IN.”

What’s at Stake? When asked what’s at stake for kids who aren’t placed in permanent, loving homes, Alex Olson, an ALL IN for FOSTER ADOPTION Challenge Team Member whose own forever family fostered over 110 youth over time, said, “I had a friend in the system who took his own life at 11 years of age. And many young people I know have had similar experiences. It really is our lives that are at stake.”

Human lives made in the image of God are what’s at stake.

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Is there anything that has not been written about biblical manhood? Books, articles, and videos abound with calls for men to demonstrate character, integrity, authenticity, and especially “servant leadership.” In an attempt to not write what has already been written over and over again, I present the following ideas. First, the term servant leadership is an inaccurate and inadequate description of Paul’s instructions to men in the fifth chapter of Ephesians. A “servant leader” stoops to serve only when he chooses to do so; it is a very tidy role with a narrow focus on serving others. Yet it is already obvious to most Christian men that they need to avoid misinterpreting Scripture as a call to biblical de...

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Stephen Arterburn is the founder and chairman of New Life Ministries, the nation’s largest faith-based broadcast, counseling, and treatment ministry. He is also host of the New Life Live! radio program that airs on more than 180 radio stations, SiriusXM radio, and television. Steve is a nationally known public speaker and has been featured in media such as Oprah and Good Morning America. He is a teaching pastor at Northview Church in Indianapolis and resides with his family in Indiana.

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Addressing church budgets starts with understanding the broader context of a church’s mission and purpose. If a budget represents the financial blueprint for carrying out a church’s ministry plan for a particular period of time, then logic would dictate that such a blueprint and its related ministry plan should be a function—a derivative—of the church’s mission and purpose. Many times, however, churches engage in elaborate budget development processes without first evaluating whether their activities are directly in furtherance of their mission and purpose. In some cases, churches operate without a well-defined expression of their mission and purpose. Ensuring that the church’s budget is a function of its mission and purpose will help church leaders avoid putting the cart before the horse, or for that matter, having the cart detached from the horse.

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Michael E. Batts is the president and managing partner of Batts Morrison Wales and Lee (nonprofitcpa.com), a national CPA firm dedicated exclusively to serving churches, ministries, and other nonprofit organizations across the United States.This article is excerpted from his book, Church Finance: The Church Leader’s Guide to Financial Operations.

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It’s no secret: Finishing this life with a God-honoring legacy isn’t automatic and certainly isn’t easy. So, in my twenties and thirties and again in my forties, I asked a number of older Christians to show me how it’s done. Thankfully, they agreed!

A few months before his death, best-selling author and international consultant Dr. Ted W. Engstrom invited me to spend a day together, just the two of us. His eyesight was gone, but his mind was still sharp. For hours, he told me about the things closest to his heart.

Among other things, Ted told me about a pact he, Billy Graham, and Bill Bright had made decades earlier, before they became famous. “We promised each other that we would finish well,” Dr. Engstrom told me, smiling. “And just think—Bill Bright did just that! Billy Graham assures me he’s going to be faithful to the end. And I fully intend to do the same!”

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David Sanford’s book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale House, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, Barbour, and Amazon. His speaking engagements have ranged everywhere from UC Berkeley (CA) to The Billy Graham Center at the Cove (NC).

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Perhaps the biggest obstacle to belief in God in recent years has been a growing disillusionment with Christians and the church. No doubt the church has a historical closet full of skeletons. Even in our own lifetimes, horrendous evils have been exposed, with those who bear God’s name having done reprehensible things under the institutional cover of the church. So with the church’s moral currency bankrupted by religious hypocrisy, and when you consider that part of the Christian story supposedly involves a change brought about in the human heart by God, how do you explain Christians behaving badly?

There should be no room for any answer to a question this raw that does not begin with tremendous sorrow for those who have been harmed, closely followed by a deep protest against any ongoing existence of those evils. God Himself is intimately familiar with the terrible wounds that can accompany being the target of religious hypocrisy since the religious establishment, who were meant to be a spiritual safe haven, were the very ones whose dark actions of betrayal and injustice led to Jesus’ brutal execution.

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Through my 18 years of church and non-profit experience, along with my time as a church consultant I have learned a lot about the right and wrong way to bring change. Today, I want to share what I have learned as necessities to bringing impactful and long-lasting change. If you are a leader, your survival may depend on how you bring change. Why is that? People do not like change and if you bring it about poorly you will lose the people. Here are six things you can do to be a positive change agent: Mission and Values: Does the change you want to bring drive your mission forward and align with your values? If the answer is no, you need a new idea. If it is yes, now you have something you can share and inspire people with. The mission and values of your church should always serve as a filter for your ideas.

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Bob Van Baren is a church consultant and coach at his company Vision 2-10. He also has 18 years’ experience in church ministry and non-profits, along with a Master of Arts in Leadership and Organizational Development from Bethel Seminary.

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It’s been thirty years now since the first personal computers and cellphones began infiltrating almost all aspects of our everyday life. We’ve been dealing with technology long enough now to begin understanding the risk factors that we didn’t recognize early on. No doubt, parents from the 1950s eventually learned that smoking in a car with the windows up was damaging (or smoking in general, much less around children). Parents today, in their heart of hearts, are beginning to understand the need to put down the screen and start relating more with their children in a way that builds personal, loving relationships. But the real challenge is how do you build stronger relationships with your child once you put down your phone!

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Adapted from The Relationally Intelligent Child: Five Keys to Helping Your Kids Connect Well With Others by John Trent and Dewey Wilson (©2021). Published by Northfield Publishing. All rights to this material are reserved.

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“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:5-7, esv)

I’ve always needed someone to help guide me. I needed this even when I was blind to it. I thought I could be a lone ranger with Jesus, but it turns out my heart, family, and ministry is more of a community project than I originally thought.

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Russ Masterson is a husband, dad, pastor, and writer in Marietta, Georgia. He serves as the senior pastor at Christ the Redeemer Church of Marietta. He is the co-author (with Scotty Smith) of Searching for Grace: A Weary Leader, A Wise Mentor, and Seven Healing Conversations for a Parched Soul. Visit him at www.russmasterson.cc.

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Until fifty years ago, hardly anyone in the West was interested in Muslims or their religion, Islam. It was largely because of the discovery of incredible oil reserves in Arabic countries and increased international terrorism that caused Islam to achieve certain fame. Today, Islam is no longer an exotic religion that is only thought about by scholars. With roughly three and a half million followers in the United States, it is the third-largest religion after Christianity and Judaism.

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A rock collector named Robert Cutshaw once found a rock he described as “big and pretty.” He tried to sell it, and when that failed, he kept the rock under his bed in the dark. Rob guessed the blue chunk of rock could bring as much as $500, but he would have taken less for it if an urgent bill needed paying. That's how close he came to selling for a few hundred dollars what turned out to be the largest, most valuable sapphire ever found. The Blue Rock that Rob had once abandoned to the darkness -- now known as the ”Star of David” sapphire -- weighs nearly a pound and could easily sell for several million dollars.

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Dr. Tony Evans is Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship (Dallas, TX) and founder of The Urban Alternative, a worldwide media ministry. In 2019 Dr. Evans became the first African American in history to author a Study Bible (The Tony Evans Study Bible) as well as a one-volume Bible Commentary (The Tony Evans Bible Commentary). www.TonyEvans.org

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When we first moved to the Fixer Upper Farm, it was a bit of an eyesore. Weeds six feet tall. Broken windows. Snakes swimming in the broken-down pool. And so many bushes that needed to be trimmed way back.

We have girls. And girls are great and can do anything; I’m a total believer in that. But my girls? They aren’t exactly the farm-help type.

So I asked my friend Wendy if her son, Griffin, would be interested in being our farmhand for the summer. We promised a decent paycheck for a teenage boy, a pool to jump in whenever he needed to cool down, and three girls to cheer him through his projects for us.

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Nicki Koziarz is an author and speaker with Proverbs 31 Ministries. Her latest book is Flooded: The Five Best Decisions to Make When Life is Hard and Doubt is Rising. The Koziarz family lives on a small farm near Charlotte, NC. www.NickiKoziarz.com

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I remember having a conversation with a pastor from my home church a few years ago. We were discussing the idea of living with purpose. The phrase “living with purpose,” or “walking out your purpose,” is one that I hear often in women’s ministry.

I was frustrated because church people, particularly women, were obsessed with “finding their purpose.” Women would constantly struggle with what God was calling them to do or be. They would spend hours scouring self-help books or listening to podcasts by women who apparently had figured it out.

He said something that helped me clarify how to respond to these women who were steeped in concepts like destiny. He said, “God rarely reveals His unknown will to those who are not already walking in His known will.”

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It’s been thirty years now since the first personal computers and cellphones began infiltrating almost all aspects of our everyday life. We’ve been dealing with technology long enough now to begin understanding the risk factors that we didn’t recognize early on. Parents today, in their heart of hearts, are beginning to understand the need to put down the screen and start relating more with their children in a way that builds personal, loving relationships.

The great news is that you can help your children experience and create positive relationships by learning and modeling what they need to learn in your home. In the process, you’ll discover how they learn and how prepared they are for real-world experiences like relating well with others in the workplace, social settings, and even their loving relationships in the future. Becoming relationally intelligent will have a positive impact on their health and future.

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Adapted from The Relationally Intelligent Child: Five Keys to Helping Your Kids Connect Well With Others by John Trent and Dewey Wilson (©2021). Published by Northfield Publishing. All rights to this material are reserved.

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“Why so serious? That was the line The Joker, played by Keith Ledger, in the iconic Batman series gave explaining why he had the scars on his face. It became a cult-like phrase. Make no mistake about it, the crisis we are facing in our country is so serious it’s at a tipping point. However, there are those on the left who are saying to those of us who love the United States of America and would be considered patriots, “Why so serious?” Well, there is a large, loud group in our great country who believe that those of us who are flag waving, country loving, stand to our feet, hand over our heart when the national anthem is played Americans, are the obstacle to the next level of societal evolution. And they’re right! But it’s not societal evolution, it’s societal devolution! We are the only obstacle to Totalitarianism becoming mainstream while bulldozing our Republic into the ocean. Why so serious? Because

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By the time they have turned eighteen, most Americans will have moved at least twice. Most thirty-year-olds will have moved six times. By the end of our lives, most of us will have pushed that number up to eleven. This highly mobile way of life is mirrored in our career habits as well. The average American worker holds ten different jobs before the age of forty, and this job transience is only expected to increase in the years ahead. Add to these the slew of major life changes such as college or vocational training, marriage, and having children, and it becomes clear how many different phases our lives actually have. For all of us there is only one thing that remains the same—the fact that nothing does.

All these major decisions, though different in nature, are the same in that they determine our future trajectory. There are no neutral choices here—no loitering on the threshold of destiny. Each of these moments will either help or hurt us, depending on how we handle the transition between one space and the next. And we’re talking about when things are normal.

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I truly want to transform our internet dialogue, but it’s hopeless. We’re doomed. We’ll never make it! The internet is too powerful and social media is too corrupting for any of us to make a difference. Social media forms us into really divisive, dehumanizing, cantankerous people. Online technology changes the way we communicate, argue, organize society, and express empathy and compassion toward one another.

The internet allows us almost unlimited access to information and networks of individuals to give us what we perceive we need. Consequently, we no longer spend time doing the difficult work of maintaining and developing complex relationships in and through conflict. Instead, we abandon relationships the moment our ideologies disagree, knowing we can find other ideologically like-minded individuals to respond to our musings in a way that feeds our own personal wants, needs, and desires.

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At the core of our faith is the knowledge that we are broken people, incapable of restoring our relationship with God, or with each other, through our own efforts alone. And that admission of our own brokenness is foundational to understanding and navigating our relationship with God and with those around us—including those in our workplaces.

Our vertical relationship with God can only be restored when we repent of our sins and accept God’s forgiveness, made possible through Christ’s atoning death. The process goes like this: sin → repentance → forgiveness → restoration. Through repentance and forgiveness, that which was broken becomes whole again. It is restored. God’s model of forgiveness and restoration can also transform the horizontal relationships we have with family, friends, spouses, coworkers, and even enemies. These human relationships always manifest some degree of brokenness due to our sinful nature.

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After months of sitting with the Enneagram and sharing in its insights, my mind turned to my work as the pastor of a church.

What about the church? I remember thinking. Does the Enneagram have anything helpful to say about pastoring a congregation, working with a staff, or leading people? What about preaching, worship, or congregational care?

At the time I became the thirteenth pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park in the Autumn of 2008, I felt well prepared to take up this otherwise daunting responsibility. I was, thankfully, the beneficiary of a great theological education, wonderful pastoral mentors, and a number of fabulous church experiences. What did I lack?

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In Matthew 5, Jesus steps on a mount and begins to teach. His prophetic words are drenched in love and wrapped in vision. It was a sermon unlike any other that has now found its home in what we call the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5–7). In it, Jesus shares his dreams for the already-but-not-yet people of God in Christ. He paints a vivid vision of how the people of God are to live, love, act, and care for one another. His words are no doubt piercing, and they likely make us squirm at times, but what Jesus proclaims is an illuminating and radiant vision for the bride of Christ.

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Prophecy fulfilled is history, and understanding it is a matter of study. Prophecy future is expectation, and understanding it is a matter of judgment. Prophecy unfolding is a matter of discernment. And that, is the prophetic challenge, and its likeness to history in general.

We can discuss what has happened, and no one can say we are wrong because it has happened. We can discuss what may happen, and no one can prove us wrong because it has not yet happened.

The challenge comes when we try to specify with certainty that prophecy is happening in the present - now, around us, in front of us, and to us. It is a challenge to prove or disprove with absolute certainty.

And yet, prophecy to be fulfilled must happen, and happen in real time. Sometimes it happens in a moment, sometimes longer, and sometimes over vast stretches of time, but it does happen, and happens in real time. The challenge is to see it, understand it, and deal with it.

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Dennis D. Frey, M.Div., Th.D. President Master's International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu

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Now that we are over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a better idea of what church looks like in the “new normal.” While we still long for a return to the way things used to be, we also need to adapt to changing times. Here are a few church trends we’ll likely see in 2021.

Smaller Worship Groups Due to COVID, in-person worship groups will likely remain small and socially distanced. We may see churches downsizing their buildings in the near future if attendance remains lower than pre-pandemic levels. Rather than lamenting these changes, pastors and church leaders should be prepared to make the most of the situation. Watch your finances closely and continually evaluate whether a smaller building is necessary.

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Dr. Tom McElheny has served as an elder and director of Christian education for three Sarasota, Florida, churches, holds advanced degrees in business and education, and is CEO of his church seating company, ChurchPlaza.

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If there is a highway to the Great Commission most people need training wheels to get there. If you are like me, as a leader you have a Holy burden to see the bride of Christ get after her calling of making disciples of Jesus. You long for them to have the same Spirit-led hunger and thirst for righteousness that is inside of you, that compels them to action and obedience. But reality sets in when the appetites of our flock are quenched by good coffee, agreeable music, and a heart-warming sermon.

If you just understood that paragraph than you’ve been in ministry in the USA for a while. Aside from the multiple uber-churchy references, you also understand that it takes work to get the individuals and families that comprise your congregation to see themselves as missionaries in their everyday lives. So, no doubt you’ve gotten to work to set a DNA of loving, serving, and reaching out in the neighborhood or across the globe.

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Pastor Patrick Linnell is the author of Grace Bomb: The Surprising Impact of Loving Your Neighbors 2021, David C. Cook, and founder of Grace Bomb, a movement and ministry that equips churches around the country. Connect with Pat at www.gracebomb.org

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As we approach the first anniversary of the original stay-at-home order, the emerging story is one that the church has known all along; that more profound than our human differences are God-given commonalities, like the need for food, water, shelter – and hope. COVID-19 has lingered long past what most imagined, and with the shutdown of local businesses devastating communities nationwide, the number of people seeking food assistance has increased by 55% in less than a year. CityServe’s partnership with the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program has impacted the “Last Mile of Need” – a metaphorical term that has typically been defined by those who have unmet food needs, lack transportation, have physical limitations, or have fallen between the cracks of a stressed system. CityServe has reached this group by empowering churches to serve their communities with food and a healthy dose of hope. Yet newly apparent is how food insecurity has stricken households that have never experienced it. Families that have always had the financial means to purchase food are now struggling to fulfill basic needs.

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I have perceived two pervasive responses in our culture that seem to influence and dominate how we react to grief. The first treats grief as an unwelcome, uninvited trespasser to be shunned or dismissed. The gospel of John tells a story with which many are familiar. Lazarus, a dear friend of Jesus, becomes sick. Jesus does not immediately travel to see His ailing friend, but instead arrives several days later.

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I’m afraid a look into popular Christianity in America reveals teachings of a religion far from what the early church would have recognized. This Christianity worships a god who wants us to achieve worldly happiness, make our dreams prosper, and reach our fullest potential. We have largely set aside dated “prosperity gospel” preachers in fancy suits and gaudy television studio sets, yelling into a camera with a phone number to call at the bottom of the screen to receive a special blessing or prayer cloth. This kind of instant health-and-wealth teaching is now a fringe movement, more broadly mocked than followed. But in its place is a new prosperity gospel carried into the mainstream by trendy, attractive, compelling speakers.

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DEAN INSERRA holds a M.A. in Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is pursuing a D. Min. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the founding pastor of City Church in Tallahassee, FL.

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Ministry is hard work, beset by temptation, difficulty, and weariness. Clergy are not immune to depression or suicidal thoughts. What follows is advice for pastors, designed to help prevent the depression that can lead to suicide.

Fellowship It is all too common for pastors to report feeling isolated and lonely. A providential friendship is a thing worthy of getting on your knees and asking the Lord for. The Bible and close friends should be like sandpaper: constantly challenging and always helping to make rough places planed. When that stops being the case, the pastor has stopped growing.

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About the Author Matthew Sleeth, MD, is a pastor, former ER physician, and the author of Hope Always: How to Be a Force for Live in a Culture of Suicide. To request a Church Suicide Prevention Tool Kit, email contact@blessedearth.org.

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What happens before the Bible’s most famous verse, John 3:16? To Jesus, the master conversationalist, it’s all fair game toward one overriding mission.

Nicodemus is confused. Jesus comes right back at him. “Pay attention. That which is holy and true to God is like the wind….”

Back and forth the two men go at it. At every turn, Jesus drives the discussion exactly where He wants to go, verbally batting Nicodemus back and forth—first this way, then that.

How does Jesus get away with such verbal antics?

Nicodemus already is risking all to have this one conversation with Jesus.

So, Jesus doesn’t waste time. He rudely interrupts, He ruthlessly changes the subject…with one provocative statement after another.

Finally, Jesus presents the most quoted verse in the Bible.

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What happens before the Bible’s most famous verse, John 3:16? To Jesus, the master conversationalist, relationship and meaning triumph over social norms…every time. He interrupts. He puzzles. He changes subject. He provokes. He monologues. It’s all fair game toward one overriding mission.

Because of the intense hatred of the majority of the ancient Jewish religious elite, any true seeker among them had to talk with Jesus privately, in secret, for fear of swift and terrible retribution. So one night an important and widely respected religious leader, Nicodemus, uses the cover of darkness to visit Jesus.

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It has been said that “An education cannot make the most of a person, but a person can make the most of an education.” Some of the greatest men in the modern history of Christian ministry were without any formal theological training. Such a list is too long to include here, but names many will recognize are Charles G. Finney, Dwight L. Moody, Lewis S. Chafer, and A.W. Tozer.

On the other hand, the names of countless persons who have served in ministry (following graduation from well known schools), who could parse both Hebrew and Greek, explain complicated doctrinal theories, and argue apologetics with crisp reasoning, have passed though history scarcely known.

Dennis D. Frey, M.Div., Th.D., President, Master's International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu

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Pastor, you are called to preach. You are called to shepherd. You are called to lead. You are called to serve. You are called to sacrifice. You are also called to rest! This is especially important after this long season of stress we have all endured during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Why rest?

Because the Bible commands us to rest.

The Old Testament principle of rest, enshrined in the teaching of the Bible in the book of Genesis and the creation account, is a call

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Josh Moody (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) is the senior pastor of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois. He is the president and founder of God Centered Life Ministries, which proclaims God’s Word worldwide through daily broadcasts on Moody Radio, One Place, podcasts, and live-streaming on godcenteredlife.org.

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Praying Through Your Church Directory By Timothy Merrill

The apostle Paul says that we should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The apostle James tells us to “pray for one another” (James 5:16). Good ideas, but easier said than done. The sainted apostles didn’t have to work 8-10 hours a day, take care of family obligations, change baby’s diapers, mow the lawn and take out the trash. Yet, there it is: “Pray without ceasing.”

Of course, the Bible has a lot to say about praying, and most people of faith really want to pray, but lack a clear idea of when and how to do it. _

TIMOTHY MERRILL is an ordained minister and has served churches in Oregon, Minnesota and Colorado. His doctoral work at Princeton Theological Seminary focused on the apocalyptic nature of the preaching of the First Crusade in 1096 A.D. His work has been published in the academic press including the Patristica and Byzantine Review and the Westminster Theological Journal. His book, Learning to Fall: A Guide for the Spiritually Clumsy (Chalice Press) appeared in 1998.

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In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, CityServe, along with churches around the nation will be observing a National Day of Prayer, referred to as Blue Sunday, this April 25th. This day reminds faith communities to intercede in prayer for abused and neglected children and to open their doors to provide good homes for those who need them. Giving children a safe place to lay their head every night is not only a beautiful expression of God’s love, it is the responsibility of the Church. We at CityServe believe wholeheartedly in this mission and challenge the faith community to go a step further - to strengthen the American family so kids stay safe in their homes and empower churches to go all in when caring for children who are waiting for their forever families

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By Crissy Sanchez-Cochran, Director of Communications, CityServe

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Mark and Jeff and I are sponsors of our sons’ soccer teams this year. After a bruising Saturday morning chasing the kids through an activity that was something like soccer, we loaded the rowdy bunch of 9-year-olds into the van and headed towards the local pizza parlor, which was a welcome sight, believe me.

When we had the kids watered down, the dads relaxed with some refreshment of our own at a table next to them. Jeff was talking about his work when Mark chimed in with a remark about the fantastic baseball card purchase he had recently made.

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Robert McAnally Adams is a retired mathematician and curator of The Christian Quotation of the Day. See cqod.com

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While I never thought of myself as an author, writing has become a major part of my ministry over the last three decades. Almost all of my books have grown out of my counseling ministry. Earlier in my career, I discovered the five love languages and how they greatly impacted my own marriage. Of course, I wrote the book hoping that other couples would experience the transformed marriage that so many of my clients had experienced when they discovered and started speaking each other’s love language. I knew from experience how impactful the love language concept could be, but I never anticipated what would happen when the book was released in 1992.

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Ministry preparation is as old as the church itself. The apostle Paul had received formal Jewish instruction at the feet of Gamaliel before receiving personal instruction from Christ Himself. Bringing this concept full circle, Paul exhorted Timothy to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

Additionally, in 2 Timothy, Paul encouraged Timothy to “entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). The apostle’s exhortations ring through the ages, challenging every generation of gospel ministers to be maximally prepared for ministry service. And, by the way, Timothy knew Greek, was ministerially incubated in the apostolic age, and enjoyed Paul as his personal mentor. Think about that carefully. If Timothy needed to be intentional about ministry preparation, so do you!

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DR. JASON ALLEN is the fifth and youngest president of Midwestern Baptist Seminary. He currently serves the church more broadly through writing and preaching ministries, including his own website www.jasonkallen.com.

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As pastors, we’re on the move! We’re movers and shakers of influence by nature. That’s how we became leaders. We have big dreams and dynamic plans. Yet, following Jesus requires that we rest.

After an intense season of ministry, Jesus offered this invitation to His disciples, “Come with me by yourselves, to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). His invitation still stands today. Rest and relaxing is to be a vital prat of our spiritual journey’s yet often pastors are reluctant. Why? Often their ego is involved. They get wrapped up in the lie that if they don’t keep moving, how will transformation happen? How will the church grow? As a result, they push harder and harder spinning their wheels in frantic activity. God’s desire for us is different. God’s heart is that Pastors will lead out of the overflow of a full heart that is well rested, relaxed and renewed daily by Him. Why? Here are just 3 reasons and there are likely many more!

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Steve and Becky Harling are veteran church ministry leaders, authors and speakers. Certified by the John Maxwell Team the Harling’s have served as Pastors both nationally and internationally.

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I remember when I first heard the word “vulnerable” a couple of years ago. My wife, Julie, and I had been invited to be the CityServe National Directors for the Vulnerable Initiative, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure I knew who “the vulnerable” were. I soon learned that at CityServe, we consider the vulnerable to be special needs families, those with mental health issues, at-risk youth, pregnant mothers and the unborn. CityServe is committed to helping the local church reach the vulnerable in their communities.

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If you would like to get involved in reaching the vulnerable in your community with the good news of Jesus, please contact Steve Kramer at stevekramer@cityserve.us. (503-580-1544)

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The coffee bean is a tiny thing that drives many people through the day. Maybe we don’t “need” it to survive, per se, but, for some, it plays a critical role in our ability to function effectively and apparently helps us live longer. Prayer similarly has this effervescent power to move us forward through the circumstances we face and grant longevity. Unlike a caffeinated drink, though, it’s far more potent in terms of how it changes our abilities to react well to our world. Prayer is vital because it requires humility to admit we don’t have anything under control. It reboots the system and realigns us with God’s will. “The only way to fail in prayer is to not show up,” Tim Dilena, pastor and World Challenge board member, pointed out. If we want to do well in our ministries and lives, we have to pray. If we want to continue to do well long into the future, we absolutely must pray.

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Rachel Chimits is a writer for World Challenge, a global ministry that aims to transform lives through the message and mission of Jesus Christ.

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In response to the lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29), Jesus tells the parable of the good Samaritan. The lawyer’s motivation in asking this question, the Bible tells us, was to evade moral responsibility, but Jesus patiently unpacked the question and the lawyer’s motivation, delivering one of His best remembered teachings in response. The question we are still asking today is: “Who is my neighbor?” Do Christians have a moral obligation to love those with whom we come in contact via the internet and VR? Is it possible to express Christian love to someone whom we know only through virtual reality and whom we have never met in person? In Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, we learn that it was not the one who was physically nearby but the one who showed love who proved to be a neighbor (Luke 10:36-37). Jesus’ concluding words to the lawyer and to use are: “You go, and do likewise.”

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Excerpted from Virtual Reality Church: Pitfalls and Possibilities (Or How to Think Biblically About Church in Your Pajamas, VR Baptisms, Jesus Avatars, and Whatever Else is Coming Next) (Moody Publishers, April 2021) by Darrell Bock & Jonathan Armstrong.

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One evening, after decades of a Christianity driven by rules and performance, I came impulsively close to ending my life. Until that moment, my relationship with God had been primarily about Bible content and the discipline to obey. But that night, everything changed. Driving along a freeway in Detroit, I came face-to-face with my deep longing for intimacy with him—an overwhelming need to live surrounded by his love. There was no going back. Either God was more than distant holiness and a list of rules and commands clamoring for discipline . . . or I was done.

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J. Kevin Butcher was a lead pastor for 35 years—the last 16 in urban Detroit. He is founder and executive director of Rooted Ministries, which comes alongside isolated, wounded, and discouraged pastors and their families to help them experience the deep love of God through abiding in Jesus. Kevin is the author of Free: Rescued from Shame-Based Religion, Released Into the Life-giving Love of Jesus and Choose and Choose Again: The Brave Act of Returning to God's Love. He is a graduate of Taylor University and Dallas Theological Seminary and has written numerous articles and shared the message of the Father's love around the world. Kevin is married to his best friend, Carla, and has three grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.

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It’s tax season again, and pastors across the U.S. are gathering the financial documents necessary to carry out their civic duty. With inherent complications of ministerial tax treatment, albeit with some benefits, how can ministers make sure their income tax filings are accurate and above reproach?

In more than 40 years of work with churches and non-profits, ECFA has observed five common tax mistakes made by pastors:

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About Michael Martin Michael Martin is president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Founded in 1979, ECFA provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations and churches that faithfully demonstrate compliance with the ECFA standards pertaining to financial accountability, fundraising and board governance. For more information about ECFA, visit ECFA.church.

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Truck drivers see it all the time. I’ve seen it a few times when we’ve needed to drive through the night.

It comes about the time you’ve opened the window on a frigid night. And you’ve turned to the most annoying radio station you can find. Because the night is getting long, and your eyelids are staying a little too long in the down position. To top it off, it seems like the dark has gotten darker as morning approaches.

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When Curt was diagnosed with brain cancer, all of us were heartbroken. All except Curt, who stood tall and resolute. He told us God was in control. On the eve of the day the doctors would operate, our group of seven held a healing service in Curt’s home. I had never been part of something like this on such an intimate level, and from the outset I was tentative—not doubtful, just unsure. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that to you now, but I need to continue being transparent with you.

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Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/curt/

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Why do leaders sometimes struggle with decision-making? There are at least five major reasons. The first is fear of the unknown. The leader may not have knowledge or experience concerning the decision at hand. He or she may be looking for some sort of assurance or even a guarantee their decision will be the right one. You’ve probably heard someone say, “I don’t want to make a decision until I get all of the facts.” Of course, it’s important to collect as much information as possible about any decision. However, if you wait until you get all the facts, it will no longer be a decision. It will be a conclusion. Decisions are made without all the facts. That’s why they’re called decisions.

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Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/decision-leadership-success-in-10-minutes-a-day/

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We all know that studying the Bible on your own is foundational to the Christian life. But how important is it to do it together? If leading or attending a small group Bible study sounds like an unnecessary commitment to you or members of your congregation, here are six benefits to consider:

It follows Jesus’ example...

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About WordGo WordGo is created and supported by Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). BSF has been enhancing and resourcing in-depth Bible study since the early 1960s and currently serves 400,000 people across 180 countries. The ad-free, app-based program can be downloaded in the app store or by visiting wordgo.org.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/study-six-benefits-of-studying-gods-word-with-others/

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Following American Idol’s season 7 “Idol Gives Back” episode on FOX, viewers raced online to react to pop-star competition contestants performing Darlene Zschech’s contemporary worship staple, “Shout to the Lord.” Some regarded this performance, which was on the sixth-highest-ranked television program of that week, as a sign of impending religious revival. Others criticized the performance of contemporary worship music (CWM) on a secular program. Some thought it was overt proselytization; others believed it was inauthentic worship.

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Read the full article https://pastorresources.com/musical-becoming-what-we-sing/

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"Everyone in your leadership wake benefits when you do the personal work to shrink your integrity gap."

Whether one or millions follow you, how you live and lead matters.

You and everyone you influence benefits when you wake up to the importance of shrinking your integrity gap. The converse is also true. Everyone in your leadership wake (especially you) pays when your gap grows, it’s only a matter of time.

We define integrity as a commitment to continuing to shrink the gap between the values you preach and the values you actually practice. Our perspective on the integrity gap comes from nearly two decades of sitting behind the closed doors of counseling and coaching offices. We have been deeply grieved by the broken record being played everywhere we turn, especially its surge within the Christian church. We know we are not alone.

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Jeff Mattson and Terra Mattson are founders of Living Wholehearted, where they coach leaders and counsel individuals. Their latest book is Shrinking the Integrity Gap: Between What Leaders Preach and Live.

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Revival that spreads rapidly often–if not exclusively–is a result of persecution and/or efforts at the very least suppressing God’s people.

The Carto, a bustling street in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem is a perfect example of this reality. The Romans were hellbent on eliminating the Jewish people, their culture and their cities. What’s amazing, and only something God could do, is the Jewish people not only survived, they actually thrived. You could experience this with your own eyes if you walked down the street of Cardo!

In our comfortable American culture, many of us (yes, that includes me!) are distracted by our material blessings and the wonderful freedom the Lord has granted us, and therefore praying for revival can sadly sit on the back burner. Then when you add to the thought of severe persecution being the catalyst for revival, one certainly has to take a step back from self-centered ways.

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We can make several points about cruciformity that will help us to see that this is the most hopeful reality possible for pastors and ministry leaders. First, being a person claimed by the cross means that God is pouring out resurrection life on me to renew the image of God in me (Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:24). That involves God’s transforming me into a true and renewed human in the image of the Son of God—a human who is enjoying life in God’s good world according to his original design. An essential part of that design is following the Sabbath rhythms of creation—work and breaking from work in order to be refreshed. Pastors who are shepherding communities in the way of Jesus, therefore, keep themselves refreshed by following the rhythms of renewed humanity. Sundays are “workdays” for pastors, as they lead communities in celebration of our identity in Christ. They would do well to select some other day on which to take a break from responsible care for the life of the church.

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As excavators brought Megiddo back to life, they saw a stronghold. This place was the intersection between Assyria and Egypt – the main trade route between the east and the west. In Revelation 16:16, Har Megiddo is even referred to as Armageddon.

When we think of Armageddon, most of us think of Hollywood with movies like Terminator, or...yes...certainly Armageddon...and too many more to list. Guns, nuclear warfare, destruction, stars falling from the sky – violence beyond belief.

While terrible violence will certainly be an aspect of The End, The Lord is wanting to redirect His children to strategy. The kind of strategy led not by carnal tools or of “...might or power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6).

What does that mean for you and me?

We can arm up, store food and water, become almost “prepper” in mindset. None of these tactics being necessarily wrong, but when they become our focus, it most likely means we’re operating in fear.

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I know this seems like a strange question to ask in a pastor’s blog, but it is one Holy Spirit recently asked me. Like myself, you probably answered, “Absolutely” very quickly. Also, like me, you would be mistaken.

The nature of a relationship is somewhat precarious. Relationships take a lot of work, and even then, have a lot of stressful moments. Oh, I know they can be wonderful when everything is working correctly, but it only takes a cross look, or a word spoken out of place to turn everything upside down again.

As a minister, you have probably used the marriage relationship as an illustration of our relationship with Jesus. I know I have preached several messages on Ephesians 5:31-32. However, after being challenged by Holy Spirit I went back and took another look at that passage. What I saw surprised me. He is not saying that Jesus has a relationship with an individual, but rather, with the whole. In other words, I am not the bride of Christ, we collectively are.

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Reflecting on some of the mistakes I made in ministry I am thankful for the people who showed me grace but were also honest with me. One area where I was ignorant and needed accountability was email. I am not talking about how to technically use email, but how to handle email communication properly. I found email an easy way to vent and complain. Emailing was a safe place for me to criticize others while hiding behind a computer screen. In other words, I was an email coward, and I want to give you some ideas on how to lead better by avoiding the pitfalls of email.

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My Dad had a terrible habit.

I thought it was terrible, anyway. Or At least I thought so.

He wouldn’t tell me what to do.

Specifically, he wouldn’t tell me what to do when I didn’t know what to do and wanted him to tell me what he thought I should do.

Andy Stanley is founder and senior pastor of North Point Ministries (Atlanta, Georgia), a television host and podcaster, and the author of more than twenty books. His latest book is Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets: 5 Questions to Help You Determine Your Next Move.

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I vividly remember a number of years ago that we were moving some things on the platform of our church getting ready for some event. One of our Youth, who was maybe ten or twelve years old, was carrying a speaker probably a little bigger than he was when he slipped and careened into the wall causing the corner of speaker to leave a nice sized dimple in the drywall. He immediately looked over at me, feeling guilty and said, “Pastor, I’m sorry, I left a mark.” Without giving it much thought, I instantly said something to the effect of, “Yep, I guess you did. That is exactly what I want you to do, Jared. Go into this world, allow Jesus to work through you and leave a mark! I’m serious. Don’t ever forget it!”

That event could have gone a different way. I could have made a careless, cutting comment leaving a mark on his spirit and soul that could have damaged or severely hampered his potential. I am so thankful I said what I did. The Holy Spirit must have been hard at work that day! Since that time, Jared has grown into an incredible young man, married now with a beautiful wife, 2 children and is a staff pastor at an amazing church. No guarantees, but had I reacted differently, things may have turned out differently for him.

Read the full article at pastorresources.com

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John Adams has been pastoring New Life Church in Sandusky, Ohio for over 23 years and has served as a law enforcement chaplain for over a decade. He was recently featured as a guest on Michael Hyatt’s “Lead to Win” podcast and teaches “Emotional Survival for Pastors.” For more information, visit: PastorJohn.net

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Throughout history, we humans have been trying to “become more Godly” through rigid discipline, controlled behavior, strict legalism, and an abundance of commandments. In fact, there approximately 1663 commandments found in the Bible, (613 in the OT and 1,050 in the NT).

Although most contemporary preachers/pastors would agree that most of the 613 commandments found in the Torah are now obsolete, we still struggle with how to deal with the 1,050 found in the NT: “How many of them are relevant to us today?” “Were some of them written only to specific churches and, therefore, not for us?”

We seem to be divided into 3 camps on this issue, or a blending of them:

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Will Sharples

Rage Ministries

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We’re leaving for the airport in twenty-five minutes. I hope you’re ready. I’m rushing around my house, trying to figure out how to get my suitcase closed and which things in it I won’t actually need on the trip. I check my phone again to see what the weather is predicted to be: the warm jacket takes up a lot of suitcase space. Will I need it? Will I need a nicer pair of shoes for church? Is anyone going to expect me to be wearing a tie? Every extra item prompts a tiny cost-benefit analysis. Yes, it would be nice to have my running shoes in case the hotel has a fitness center. But they take up precious space. Yes, I’d love to have my personal Bible, but my traveling New Testament is much smaller and lighter—and I have the whole Bible on my phone if I need it. And I always hope to have a little bit of extra space when I leave, because invariably I come home with a small souvenir for my wife or a gift for my sons (when they were young, their favorites were swords, knives, or any sort of weapon!) and daughters-in-law.

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When we talk about disciplemaking, we’re talking about people who are “learners.” The Greek word discipulus means one who learns, who follows, who is ready to open up to the new. Disciples want to learn about Jesus, they want to learn from Jesus, and they want to learn to follow Jesus. Disciples are people eager to learn.

My friend Diane lamented the mistake she made about the women she invited into her small circle. “I chose people who I thought needed to grow, not those who wanted to grow.” Sometimes those who need to grow as disciples may not want to grow as disciples. We must look for those in whom the Holy Spirit is at work, and this is often demonstrated by people who are eager to learn.

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Author Bio: BILL MOWRY (M.A., Ohio State University) has a passion for creating ministry cultures where relational disciplemaking is the norm. Bill and wife Peggy serve on staff with The Navigators Church Ministries in Columbus, Ohio. Bill is a published author in culture building, evangelism, and disciplemaking. You can contact Bill at his website: www.alongsider.com.

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Is peace a state of mind that comes naturally to you? Could you honestly say the words, “I feel completely at peace right now,” and truly feel it? In many ways, finding peace is a lost art. Your world may be filled with distractions and meaningless babble that capture your attention and warp your sense of reality. If you watch too much cable news, your perception might be that the world is one step away from disaster. Binge too many fantasy features and you might get a warped sense of how your relationships should look. Or playing too much of the comparison game with your neighbors might make you feel inadequate. A sense of comfort can be difficult to come by if you are looking in all the wrong places. According to Scripture, there’s only one way for you to find and feel a sincere peace that fills your heart and spirit. That is via a mind that is unswervingly toward Christ—meaning you are in harmony with Him and rooted in His Word. Put your trust in His promise; it’s a much more beautiful melody than the noise of the world.

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Eve Annunziato is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who segued from news writing and reporting to ministry leadership roles at some of the fastest-growing churches in the country. A freelance producer and writer, she loves spending time at her farmhouse outside Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband, Charlie Neese, and their two kids.   Jackie Brewster, a certified Enneagram coach, consults with teams and individuals, leading them toward finding the best version of themselves in their work and personal environments by identifying their unique personality type through the teachings of the Enneagram and biblical truth. Leaning on their many years of church ministry experience, Jackie and her husband, Stephen, own a consulting company while raising their four children in Franklin, Tennessee.

Adapted from Hearing God Speak: A 52-Week Interactive Enneagram Devotional. Copyright © 2021 by Eve Annunziato and Jackie Brewster. Used by permission of Ink & Willow, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

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Is peace a state of mind that comes naturally to you? Could you honestly say the words, “I feel completely at peace right now,” and truly feel it? In many ways, finding peace is a lost art. Your world may be filled with distractions and meaningless babble that capture your attention and warp your sense of reality. If you watch too much cable news, your perception might be that the world is one step away from disaster. Binge too many fantasy features and you might get a warped sense of how your relationships should look. Or playing too much of the comparison game with your neighbors might make you feel inadequate. A sense of comfort can be difficult to come by if you are looking in all the wrong places. According to Scripture, there’s only one way for you to find and feel a sincere peace that fills your heart and spirit. That is via a mind that is unswervingly toward Christ—meaning you are in harmony with Him and rooted in His Word. Put your trust in His promise; it’s a much more beautiful melody than the noise of the world...

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Eve Annunziato is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who segued from news writing and reporting to ministry leadership roles at some of the fastest-growing churches in the country. A freelance producer and writer, she loves spending time at her farmhouse outside Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband, Charlie Neese, and their two kids.   Jackie Brewster, a certified Enneagram coach, consults with teams and individuals, leading them toward finding the best version of themselves in their work and personal environments by identifying their unique personality type through the teachings of the Enneagram and biblical truth. Leaning on their many years of church ministry experience, Jackie and her husband, Stephen, own a consulting company while raising their four children in Franklin, Tennessee.

Adapted from Hearing God Speak: A 52-Week Interactive Enneagram Devotional. Copyright © 2021 by Eve Annunziato and Jackie Brewster. Used by permission of Ink & Willow, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

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THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY FOR YOU TO FIND AND FEEL A SINCERE PEACE THAT FILLS YOUR HEART AND SPIRIT

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. ISAIAH 26:3

Is peace a state of mind that comes naturally to you? Could you honestly say the words, “I feel completely at peace right now,” and truly feel it? In many ways, finding peace is a lost art. Your world may be filled with distractions and meaningless babble that capture your attention and warp your sense of reality. If you watch too much cable news, your perception might be that the world is one step away from disaster. Binge too many fantasy features and you might get a warped sense of how your relationships should look. Or playing too much of the comparison game with your neighbors might make you feel inadequate..

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Eve Annunziato is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who segued from news writing and reporting to ministry leadership roles at some of the fastest-growing churches in the country. A freelance producer and writer, she loves spending time at her farmhouse outside Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband, Charlie Neese, and their two kids.   Jackie Brewster, a certified Enneagram coach, consults with teams and individuals, leading them toward finding the best version of themselves in their work and personal environments by identifying their unique personality type through the teachings of the Enneagram and biblical truth. Leaning on their many years of church ministry experience, Jackie and her husband, Stephen, own a consulting company while raising their four children in Franklin, Tennessee.

Adapted from Hearing God Speak: A 52-Week Interactive Enneagram Devotional. Copyright © 2021 by Eve Annunziato and Jackie Brewster. Used by permission of Ink & Willow, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

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Here is a question: the classics of Christian literature over the last 1800 years or so—a bunch of old, dusty books or great and profound Christian thought that we should not ignore? Of course, there is some of both. Opinions will vary, but the very best of them is so great that we are poorer for not having at least “picked up the crumbs under the table.” Moreover, they have such value because they are the product of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church age. Over the last twenty-five years, I have gathered several thousand quotations from these, in many cases, almost forgotten works, and I have doled them out through a service called The Christian Quotation of the Day. This has given me a chance to examine them closely. Many of the fine, memorable quotations employ vivid figures of speech, such as parallelism, symmetrical patterns in successive phrases that imitate each other. These parallelisms come in many flavors: synonymous, antithetical, inverted, and reversed as in a chiasm, a figure that abounds in Scripture. Consider some examples:

_ Robert McAnally Adams is a retired mathematician and curator of The Christian Quotation of the Day. See cqod.com

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Now that we are about a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, most churches have adapted to the “new normal.” This means nearly every church has started offering online services. Perhaps you feel like online services are not making enough of an impact. Or maybe you’re looking for ways to get more out of online worship, to distinguish it from in-person services, and keep viewers engaged. Here are three strategies to use. Consider Whether to Live Stream or Prerecord Many churches initially live streamed their services during the pandemic. It made the most sense to create something as close to in-person worship as possible. However, now that we’ve been doing this for months, it might be time to evaluate whether live stream is still the best option. While there are many pros to a live stream, there are also some cons.

About the Author:

Dr. Tom McElheny has served as an elder and director of Christian education for three Sarasota, Florida, churches, holds advanced degrees in business and education, and is CEO of his company, ChurchPlaza (www.churchplaza.com).

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Do you like statistics and measuring metrics? Pastors everywhere love numbers, right? Are super inflated ones the best kind? Tongue-in-cheek, everyone knows that pastors get a bad rap for wanting to measure, measure and count, count and grow, grow. While acknowledging this can become unhealthy at times, analytics do play an important part in any industry, whether sacred or secular. It is quite fascinating to read about analytic metrics that matter in business. Sales revenue, profit margin, growth in market share, new customer acquisition, and qualified leads are among the top measurements that companies and businesses must analyze in order to be certain they are who they claim to be and are measuring as they desire. Likewise, church pastors and leaders often consider statistics of new members, new baptisms, number of rededicated lives, amount given to offering, and percentage of the community that has been evangelized. When it comes to missions, though, there are typically only two metrics we hear about: dollars given and number of missionaries supported. What is fascinating is that the calling in the Great Commission does not fit the metrics!

Kirsten McClain serves as a Church Missions Consultant with OMF. She has been donating her services to churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various free resources that OMF uses to come alongside churches and individuals so that they can do missions well. kmcclainomfmail@gmail.com

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The most tragic reality of last Easter and too many other Easters is that so many people spend holidays like this alone, with no human connection; 2020 was agonizing because it brought funerals where loved ones couldn’t gather to mourn loss, empty bedsides where those gasping for air were denied comforting touch, and long months when the elderly were isolated from meaningful community.

Humans are intensely social creatures, not made for isolation. On Good Friday, we can see in the agony of Jesus in His dying moments a true loneliness we are spared from experiencing. Jesus – the blame of humankind’s worst evil thrust upon His sagging shoulders – felt the cold shoulder of the Father, who turned His face away. Jesus was alone so you would never be alone and could enjoy communion with the One who created you.

He felt the sting of isolation so you could be baptized into a body of believers in Heaven and earth. Jesus took upon Himself your sins so you could enjoy intimacy with your Father. He is the One who broke through the sting of death, who defeated sin, and who ushers you into communion with God.

Author Bio: DANIEL DARLING is the Senior Vice-President of Communications for the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), and a regular contributor to several leading evangelical publications, including Christianity Today, Homelife, InTouch and others. He has authored six books, including Teen People of the Bible, The Original Jesus, and The Dignity Revolution. Dan is a teaching pastor at Green Hill Church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee and lives with his wife and four children in the Nashville area.

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Full disclosure: You can’t memorize Scripture by accident; it does take effort. But if you put these following steps into practice, you will discover that it’s a lot easier than you think. These are the steps that I use to memorize Scripture, so I know they work and can help you. Memorize Passages Rather Than Single Verses Memorizing a long passage helps you keep what you’re memorizing in its context. The flow of the text aides the memorizing process. Many Scripture memorization plans are organized topically, which is fine but can be more difficult, since the memorized verses don’t flow together naturally. Also, context is important for rightly interpreting Scripture, so memorizing a verse in isolation from its context can lead to misunderstanding and misapplication of the truth in it. By memorizing passages, you are much less likely to misapply the verse because you retain the context.

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Church emails can be a real blessing, communicating encouragement, concerns, information about the activities of the church body, service schedules and details, links to online services and classes, expectations for the future, and even teaching—a wide variety of information, the “how-to” of church life during the pandemic. Many will find that, even when the pandemic is gone, they will want to continue the practice of sending regular emails to the congregation. Still, church emails can present difficulties that sometimes irritate already-frayed relations of the church with its isolated congregants. As the curator of the Christian Quotation of the Day, a daily Christian email that has run for 25 years, I have seen many of those problems in my own email ministry, as well as those of the churches I have attended over that time. So, let me draw on that experience and present the seven deadly sins of church emails:

Sin #1: Breaking your publication schedule—

Robert McAnally Adams is a retired mathematician and curator of The Christian Quotation of the Day. See cqod.com

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Are you struggling with fear today? Is it the pandemic, a job, food, something else? Are you seeing the size of your worries and not the size of your Savior? I think I can point you in a direction that might help you right-size your fear. I’d like to start with a long look at Jesus. A long look at his face.

It’s the expression of Jesus that puzzles us. We’ve never before seen his face like this. Jesus smiling, yes. Jesus weeping, absolutely. Jesus stern, even that. But Jesus anguished? Cheeks streaked with tears? Face flooded in sweat? Rivulets of blood dripping from his chin? You remember the night. Jesus left the city and went to the Mount of Olives, as he often did, and his followers went with him. When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray for strength against temptation.”

Max Lucado is a San Antonio pastor and best-selling author. This article is taken from his latest book Begin Again: Your Hope and Renewal Start Today (Thomas Nelson, December 2020). Visit his website at www.MaxLucado.com or follow him on Twitter: @MaxLucado.

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The earth is the LORD’s and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it (Psalm 24:1). Everything I have belongs to God. Am I a good steward of the blessings God has given me? What does God desire I do with those gifts? We must be honest with God about our response to these questions. First, we need to consider the assets God has given us, and then, we need to decide how we use the time God has given us. Most churches refer to giving as “tithes and offerings,” referring back to the Old Testament requirements. Churches traditionally challenge people to give 10%, with an occasional “above and beyond” gift for a specific need. However, the Israelites not only were required to give a 10% tithe but also were required to give mandatory offerings (sin offering and guilt offering) and encouraged to give voluntary offerings (burnt offering, grain offering, peace offering, etc.). The result? Their giving far exceeded 10%.

Roy Haggerty is a lover of God, a husband, and a father. He graduated from the University of Miami, FL, in 1972. He has taught Bible studies for over twenty-five years. Roy retired in his mid-sixties and has spent his time immersed in Bible study and a study of modern politics. He has taken courses towards a masters of theology through Reformed Theological Seminary.

Deb Haggerty is a lover of God, a wife, and a mother. Born in Benson, Minnesota, she graduated from Macalester College, St. Paul, MN, in 1969 with a BA in English Literature and a minor in music and religion. In 1982, she received an MBA from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA. She now serves as Publisher & Editor in Chief of Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.

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Pilfer (intransitive verb) to steal; especially to steal stealthily in small amounts and often again and again. For example, a few grains of wheat in a large sack pilfered by a rodent in the middle of the night will at first hardly be missed. Yet, over time, and little by little, the whole bag can be depleted and spoiled. We slept, and in small amounts again and again, the world went about pilfering, and spoiling sacred things.

Dennis D. Frey, Th.D., President Master's International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu

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Pilfer (intransitive verb) to steal; especially to steal stealthily in small amounts and often again and again. For example, a few grains of wheat in a large sack pilfered by a rodent in the middle of the night will at first hardly be missed. Yet, over time, and little by little, the whole bag can be depleted and spoiled.

Dennis D. Frey, Th.D., President Master's International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu

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If you pay close attention while reading the Gospels, you discover that nearly every time Jesus talks with someone, He uses a new approach. He does so for good reason.

After all, each individual starts at a different place, with different beliefs and misconceptions, with different hang-ups and sins, with different needs and circumstances, and with different kinds of relationships with God and others.

David Sanford’s book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale House, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, Barbour, and Amazon. His speaking engagements have ranged everywhere from UC Berkeley (CA) to The Billy Graham Center at the Cove (NC).

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If you pay close attention while reading the Gospels, you discover that nearly every time Jesus talks with someone, He uses a new approach. He does so for good reason.

After all, each individual starts at a different place, with different beliefs and misconceptions, with different hang-ups and sins, with different needs and circumstances, and with different kinds of relationships with God and others.

David Sanford’s book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale House, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, Barbour, and Amazon. His speaking engagements have ranged everywhere from UC Berkeley (CA) to The Billy Graham Center at the Cove (NC).

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I have learned from responses to my autism diagnosis that whenever we eat the proverbial fruit, we lose faith in the very idea that God created humanity to be human and to be free from the burden and weight of trying to assess the value of ourselves and others by our own standards.

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After months of sitting with the Enneagram and sharing in its insights, my mind turned from me, my marriage, and my family to another extremely important part of my life—my work as the pastor of a church.

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I haven’t figured out whether it’s acceptable or not to have a favorite book in the Bible. I mean, it’s God’s Word, and every word is a gift! But let’s face it, there are books we tend to gravitate toward over and over again. The book of Hebrews is one for me and, more specifically, I draw great comfort from the lives of those featured in Hebrews 11 who have gone before me. These Old Testament saints are known as the “great cloud of witnesses,” as referenced in Hebrews 12:1, and often called the “Hall of Faith.” Be inspired and encouraged as you read about the lives of those highlighted in the great cloud of witnesses.

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In 1930, the cancer rates in the US were one in 30. Today, the rates have increased to one in every two men and one in every three women. Years ago, the American Cancer Society blamed genetics, but today they know better. Research clearly shows that lifestyle is the major player with genetics contributing only 10-15 percent. And so it is with many diseases today. February is Cancer Prevention Month. With cancer rates this high, it’s wise to put a prevention plan in place.

Prevention starts with securing a primary doctor who will schedule all your needed screenings. These important screenings, however, don’t prevent cancer. They only detect it it early. It’s lifestyle changes that prevent cancer—changes such as proper hydration, exercise, adequate sleep and nutrient dense foods. The following are four excuses that many people use preventing them from implementing a plan:

Ginny Dent Brant is a counselor, educator, speaker, and wellness advocate. Her recent book, “Unleash Your God-given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer,” was written with an oncologist, won a Golden Scrolls Award, and was featured on CBN. Cancer prevention blog at www.ginnybrant.com.

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As a pastor who is learning to navigate life with my own autism diagnosis as well as lead a church, I am often asked by special-needs families how to find a church that can help meet their spiritual needs. What are some of the ways that families can determine if the environment is right for the development of a healthy, Christ-centered ministry to the special-needs/disability community?

Creating the right environment and culture for disability inclusion will be challenging, but I have found there are four top characteristics of churches that are already headed in the right direction.

People over programs. Churches that value people over programs have an environment that is conducive to creating a great special-needs ministry. More often than not, churches in the beginning stages may be unable to provide the required resources for a complete special-needs ministry. However, a church that prioritizes people over programming normally has the proper attitude, even if they currently lack the proper accommodations. I learned this valuable lesson a few years ago when a church I pastored adjusted an entire summer program to ensure that it met the needs of one family with special- needs children.

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I remember one evening many years ago, in a season when all my kids were little, they all had a massive meltdown at the dinner table. No joke, all four were melting down. Steve and I looked at each other across the table and knew something had to change. Steve had been out at church meetings four nights that week and as a family, we were all paying the price! He quietly got up from the chaotic dinner table, called an elder, and canceled his meeting for that evening. His choice spoke volumes to our kids.

After all the kids were tucked in bed, Steve and I had a conversation about reordering our lives around a different set of priorities. We agreed on God first, then family, then ministry. As a result of that conversation, we set some new boundaries around our family life and prayed that God would give us wisdom moving forward. We knew it would be a battle because ministry always seems to call for more. However, many years later, folks in the church told us the thing they appreciated most about our ministry was our family life.

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The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States contains the phrase "one nation under God." The word "God" is capitalized making it a proper noun. A proper noun is a word for a particular person, place or thing, and is usually capitalized. The person named in the United States Pledge of Allegiance is the God of Bible.

Beginning in the late 1950s, the reference to "God" in our Pledge of Allegiance attracted the hostile attention of secular humanists aided significantly by those promoting liberal theological revisionism.

Revisionism is defined as "a departure from any authoritative or generally accepted doctrine, theory, practice, etc." 1 The term liberal theological revisionism as used herein is defined as "a secularized evolutionary interpretation of Theology." It is not disconnected with the ideas of secular humanism, revisionist Theology" 2 and "process Theology." 3

Dennis D. Frey, M.Div., Th.D., President Master's International University of Divinity https://the.mdivs.edu

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How would you answer the question, “How do we pass on the worship of God to our children?”? One can falsely assume that worship of God can be communicated and passed along once you begin to have regular family evenings. This is not so. You may pass along to your children a religious practice or a good habit, but this is a “shell,” not the essence. Worship of God is subtle and evasive. It cannot be “copied” and then “pasted” into other people’s hearts. It comes only personally, as a person’s response to the revelation of God Himself. And that is why we can confidently say that regular family meetings serve only as a plate that holds the food, i.e., revelation of God taken from the Bible. When children hear their parents share stories about God, they will be impressed by Him, and it will be expressed in their worship.

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It is important for seniors to stay fit, but they often feel intimidated by the younger crowds at the gyms and fitness centers. Seniors who are active in their churches, however, can take advantage of the welcoming atmosphere of the church and begin fitness and exercise groups within the church. We offer a few tips for senior church members who want to get fit with their church family below.

Form a Walking Club

If you and other senior members of your church are looking for ways to socialize and stay fit, consider forming a walking club. You may want to begin by walking to church together on Sunday mornings if you live near enough to your church. Advertise in your church bulletin or newsletter and make a Sunday announcement about the walking club. Then, determine which days and times people would prefer to walk in addition to Sundays and establish a schedule for the club.

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For ten years, Hezekiah lived under the threat of the Assyrian empire threatening to pillage the southern tribes of Judah. I bet he wondered “what is God doing?”

Habakkuk watched his nation deteriorate into chaos—injustice, evil, idolatry, and violence prevailed. Early in his short message, he cries out to God, “O Lord, how long will I cry for help?” In other words, “God, what are you doing right now?”

For years Joseph was a slave in Egypt, and then unjustly imprisoned. I’m sure he wondered, “what is God doing right now?”

When Abraham left home not knowing where he was going, wouldn’t he have wondered, “what is God doing right now?”

CARY SCHMIDT serves as the Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Newington, CT. He and his wife Dana have been blessed with three children, three grandchildren, and have enjoyed thirty years of marriage and ministry together. Cary's passion is to love God, love his family and church family, develop spiritual leaders, and point people to Jesus Christ -- through teaching, preaching, and writing. He has authored more than a dozen books and hosts the Leading in the Gospel podcast. You can connect with Cary at www.caryschmidt.com.

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What, if anything, makes communion different from the rest of our worship service? Should communion create feelings and/or emotions in me other than those I have during a regular service? Most messages during communion focus on what Jesus has done for us and rightfully so. But we are remiss if we do not also identify what our responses should include. I do have different reactions and responses based on where I am in my spiritual journey and what is happening in my life at any given moment. But one emotion is always present, and, I would argue, most important. That emotion is an overwhelming sadness at what our Lord had to suffer for my sake, and this sadness ultimately drives me to repentance.

Roy Haggerty is a lover of God, a husband, and a father. He has a BA from the University of Miami, Miami, Florida, and has taken courses towards a masters of theology through Reformed Theological Seminary. Roy retired in his mid-sixties and has spent his time immersed in Bible study and a study of modern politics. He has taught Bible studies for over twenty-five years.

Deb Haggerty is a lover of God, a wife, and a mother. Born in Benson, Minnesota, she earned her BA from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, and her MBA from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA. Following a successful career, she purchased Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., a Christian publishing company in 2016.

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If you have been impacted this year by COVID, you may have found yourself at times asking, “Why is this happening?” “Why now?” Or “Why do some businesses get to prosper while others aren’t allowed to open?” Why?

We all are asking these types of questions today and are struggling with answers leading to frustration, anger, and sometimes hopelessness. Yes, we may know that God somehow has a purpose, but that knowledge does not negate the feelings and reality of what is happening to us.

Robb Hiller is CEO of Performance SolutionsMN. He is nationally known for his expertise in talent selection, executive coaching, team development, sales, and leadership building. He was the CEO of a high-tech company, Minnesota Business Systems, where he developed a passion for acquiring talent and solving problems that executives face. He has assessed more than 24,000 people in the past 25 years. He is a business graduate of St. Olaf College. He and his wife have three adult children and live in Minnesota.

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Down in the pit of depression, we struggle to see that far. We can’t feel the warmth of God’s love in that icy place. We have no assurance that God’s even there.

I get that low sometimes. I’ve believed and loved God for most of my life, and I write about Him all the time. But sometimes the silence at the other end of the line can push me into a place of doubt. I struggle with all the same 3 a.m. questions that you probably do. And while I don’t think depression is the cause of those doubts and questions, it certainly can make them louder.

When I find myself in that place, sooner or later I’ll be reminded of another pit—the one that a pair of English children (Eustace and Jill) and a strange, gangly creature called a Marshwiggle (Puddleglum by name) found themselves in during C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia book, The Silver Chair.

A few of my favorites include G.K. Chesterton’s Orthodoxy, a clever, logical, and wildly fun illustration of why faith makes sense; C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity; and lots of stuff by Lee Strobel. The Language of God, by Nobel-winning scientist Francis S. Collins, is a great book for the more scientifically inclined. And, for philosophy majors, Anthony Flew’s There Is No A God is a pretty interesting read, too.

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Working in the pro-life movement, I hear many stories of women that have experienced an abortion struggle with shame and regret silently in our churches. Lifeway Research published that 36% of women were attending a Christian church once a month or more when they made their abortion decision and 70% of women that have experienced an abortion indicate that they are Christian. They are sitting in our pews but not feeling as if they can run to the church for wisdom and guidance with their life-changing decision. So then after they choose abortion, they are immediately filled with shame and regret, not feeling that they can ever talk about their abortion experience.

Recently I met a woman and her husband and they are both pastors at their church. She had always hid her past abortion with everyone in her life other than her spouse because she feared it would bring condemnation. As a result, she had never completely healed.

AMY FORD is the President of Embrace Grace, Inc., a nonprofit organization formed for the purpose of providing curriculum and leadership support for churches nationwide to open their arms to young women with unplanned pregnancies. She is also the author of Help Her Be Brave: Discover Your Place in the Pro-Life Movement and the co-host of the Help Her Be Brave Podcast show which can be viewed at helpherbebrave.com. Amy resides in Arlington, Texas, has been married for 21 years, and has four beautiful children.

https://lifewayresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Care-Net-Final-Presentation-Report-Revised.pdf

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What is the nature of worshiping God? In 1920 a famous strongman known as Kid Dundee lifted a barbell that weighed 1,454 kilograms (about 3,200 pounds) – roughly the same weight as the original Volkswagen Beetle with passengers! How would you have reacted if you had been near that strongman in that moment? Perhaps you would have been astonished, and that overwhelming feeling would have burst out as “Wow! This is unbelievable!” This is the way a human being is designed. Humans are impressed with superiority, and we hasten to express it in words or emotions. This example helps us understand what worshiping God is in its essence. It is important to understand that worship is something that is inside a person, coming from the state of one’s heart. And it inevitably seeks to come out by expressing itself in various forms: in trembling veneration, in singing, in a joyful spirit, in a pious attitude toward people, work, school, and so on.

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I’ll never forget my first and only Ironman triathlon finish. It was actually my third triathlon. My first was an Olympic distance and my second was a half iron man, and I had just turned 55. The training to complete the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and the 26.2-mile marathon run was brutal! But with God’s help, I crossed the finish line, victoriously with a smile. The end was better than the beginning!

Duke Senior, in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” said, “Adversity can have its benefits…we can hear…sermons in the stones, and discover the good in every single thing.” What? Adversity can have its benefits? We can discover good in every single thing? What possible benefits could come out of 2020 with the adversity we have all faced? Was there any good in a single thing? Well, I suppose I could list some things…from my perspective. But what about your perspective? I’m certain that you, if you sincerely look for them, can find some jewels amidst the chaos. Personally, I think how we finish can be a good indication of how we start new beginnings. How we finish 2020 can be an indicator of how we start 2021.

John Adams has been pastoring New Life Church in Sandusky, Ohio for over 23 years and has served as a law enforcement chaplain for over a decade. He was recently featured as a guest on Michael Hyatt’s “Lead to Win” podcast and teaches “Emotional Survival for Pastors.” For more information, visit: PastorJohn.net

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So what is it that YOU wanted for Christmas? (Please don’t say for the pandemic to end, though that was probably on the list for many this year!) Some of you probably have items from Amy Grant’s Grown-Up Christmas list song just dancing through your mind…no more lives torn apart, wars would never start, and time would heal all hearts. Those are just a few of the items that most adults might add to their list, if it were truly possible to receive such magnificent presents. No surprise they didn’t end up under your tree, huh? Maybe those things are just too difficult to fathom as being anything that would even be possible, but there are some gifts that can be given to missionaries that would bring almost as much joy!

Kirsten McClain serves as a Church Missions Consultant with OMF. She has been serving churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various free resources that OMF uses to come alongside churches and individuals so that they can do missions well. kmcclainomfmail@gmail.com Resources related to retreat centers as listed in number two above can be found HERE

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To the Citizens of the United States

We have bear witness to many events within the time of the 45th President of the United States.

The many events that have transpired take on meanings for us citizens seemingly dependent upon what ideology, faction, or encampment one has aligned themselves with. For this reason, I write to address the division of the nation in an effort to showcase the powers granted of the government no longer belong to the people nor the government but rest in the hands of but a few private and for-profit corporations.

We have all seen over the course of the years leading up to 2021 the consolidation of technology into the hands of larger corporations and the extinction of competitors across all sectors of technology. Our countries data and information, and to the greater extent our world, now flows through the gates of but just a few. Companies like Amazon, Google, Facebook, their subsidiaries, and cohorts. AWS alone hosts or controls the flow of over 40% of the surface web. Facebook has over 2.7 billion active monthly users. Google controls the keys to another 40% of the surface web. This, taken into account with its subsidiaries and cohorts, amounts to more than just a meager percentage of influence and control.

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I just don’t feel God’s presence in my life.

For pastors, counselors, and others in ministry leadership, this is one of those common refrains heard on a regular basis. And yet it’s amazing how a simple phrase can indicate such a deep sense of crisis. In our churches, we have many tools that those seeking Him can use to open up an encounter with the living God, and yet for many people, as soon as Sunday worship is over, the preoccupations of normal life take over and the feeling of distance returns. Undoubtedly, this can be true just as much for those in leadership as those outside it.

What if the way forward isn’t simply to try harder in the rhythms we already have, but to consider an alternative way to develop our faith and the faith of others? What if the answer to being more spiritual isn’t all in our heads, but in God’s created world as well?

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Our mission as Christians was the same yesterday as it is today and will be tomorrow. The world, however, is changing faster than ever before, and keeping up feels impossible. The realities of human life—from how we develop relationships to how we use technology to have impact—therefore change rapidly too. It’s critical that Christian leaders take this into consideration as they plan for their organizations’ future. When we talk about this, many pastors say, “But my church has a vision and a mission! We know what we’re about!” Which is awesome. Vision and mission is vital—and you have taken a huge step in the right direction by doing some of the work around that for your community. The complication is that neither of those things happen in a vacuum. The world around us is changing all the time, and so the context of that vision and mission becomes really relevant in new ways.

In What Comes Next?, strategists and innovation experts Nick Skytland and Ali Llewellyn use the eight elements of their Futures Framework to teach us how to help shape the future, be visionary, and grow our businesses and ministries. This futures-thinking process is a proven solution for executives, entrepreneurs, pastors, and anyone in between who struggles to respond to an ever-changing world. You can read more about it at futuresframework.com.

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CityServe Imperial Valley (CA) Each week, in a region close to the Californian/ Mexican border, Lupita Bawarski helps lead a CityServe ministry in the Imperial Valley of California. When talking with her, she will humbly tell you stories of lives being transformed by the love and hope of Jesus through her work and others. She speaks of single mothers who need furniture and, in the process, get connected to the local church. She's made friendships with those who live in the apartments for the disabled. In two cases, she noticed that her new friends had broken wheelchairs. Lupita gave her new friends new wheelchairs from the CityServe warehouse and prayed with them and introduced them to Jesus. More recently, while walking through a neighborhood, she noticed that many of the houses had Christmas lights, except for one. She knocked on the door, met the family who lived there and gifted them with solar-powered Christmas lights provided by the CityServe ministry. Along with lights came a powerful testimony, a new friendship, and an invitation to church. My conversation with Lupita about lives being changed could go on for hours. I was compelled to ask, "Lupita, so many people get intimidated in sharing their faith. How do you do it?" Her answer. "Knock on the door and let the Holy Spirit do the work." An amazing thing about these stories of the local church working together with CityServe resources is how it's happening amid a pandemic that has caused severe economic effects.

CityServe Arkansas Right now, 183 churches in the Little Rock, Arkansas area are unifying to reach their city and state with the good news of Jesus. A majority of the churches are either African-American or Latino churches—the unity and diversity that represents the Kingdom of God is seen in this city of almost 200,000. Jessica Mauthe, the communications director for CityServe Arkansas, is excited about ministry during this Christmas season. CityServe is working with the local churches to minister to the poor in their communities with an outreach called, "Christmas Mall."

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I vividly remember a point in my life when the Bible was completely foreign to me. I had heard and understood the gospel, confessed my sins to the Lord, believed in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, attended church regularly, prayed often, participated in small groups, told other people about Jesus, and even played in the praise band. But amid it all, I knew something big was lacking in my Christian life. I didn’t read my Bible. It wasn’t that I never read my Bible. I spot-read every now and then, I jotted down verses and put them on my fridge, I listened to inspiring sermons on Christian radio, and I even memorized a few key verses. Having grown up going to church, I had a small arsenal of about twenty to thirty verses that I knew by heart, and I would trot them out in Christian circles so as not to appear completely ignorant or unspiritual. When I was being honest with myself, I really didn’t know the Bible. For me, the New Testament felt daunting, and the Old Testament felt like a foreign language. My lack of Bible knowledge or spiritual understanding had become a source of embarrassment and shame.

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Have you ever lost it—at a time when things were humming along for you? You were feeling good—until someone said or did just the thing to set you off. You got derailed, pushed out of your sweet spot. You stopped listening and started reacting. You no longer felt like a competent, functioning adult, responsible and caring. You turned into that awkward adolescent all over again as fears and big feelings took over.

Of course you have! We all lose it, some of us more than others. No matter how good our intentions, or how strong our willpower, we are no match for unregulated feelings. We all reach a tipping point. Our ability to manage what we feel sets the limits on our enjoyment of life and relationships. Under the right conditions, all of us can be pushed too far. But the trick is knowing how to get back to that sweet spot, those healthy emotions. When we don’t know how to get back, life becomes unbearable.

Excerpted from The Joy Switch: How Your Brain’s Secret Circuit Affects Your Relationships – And How You Can Activate It by Chris M. Coursey (©2021). Published by Northfield Publishing. Used with permission.

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When we refuse to sacrifice our time for the sake of busyness or of keeping up with the person next to us, we can get back to the good stuff. We can enjoy the rewards that come from instilling these values in our children. We can get back to the simple joys that we would otherwise miss out on as we go through motherhood and life. We forget the abundant beauty that’s hidden in the simplest moments. We forget that oftentimes it is these moments that end up meaning the most to us. We can’t see what’s right in front of our faces if we are constantly looking ahead to what’s next on our calendars. Our priorities shift, and we lose sight of the beauty in life. We stress about the board we agreed to be on, the cookies we have to bake for the bake sale, and the other commitments we have to juggle, and we no longer have time for what really matters.

Caitlin Henderson is a small-town girl from Kansas who fell in love with a farmer. She and her husband have three kids who keep her on her toes and clinging to coffee. Caitlin is passionate about showing people Jesus and writing about her family’s life full of grace, craziness, love, dirt, and cows. The Henderson family lives on a grain-and-cattle farm in south-central Kansas.

Excerpted from Faith, Farming, and Family: Cultivating Hope and Harvesting Joy Wherever You Are. Copyright © 2021 by Caitlin Henderson. Used by permission of WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. OR Excerpted from Faith, Farming, and Family: Cultivating Hope and Harvesting Joy Wherever You Are. Copyright © 2021 by Caitlin Henderson. To be published by WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, on January 19, 2021.

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Love. Even if we’ve never cracked open a Bible, most of us know evangelical America’s favorite verse, John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The verse sums up the essence of Christianity. But it’s so familiar to us that we sometimes lose the backstory.

For God so loved the world, we’re told. And so He gave us His son. Why did He need to give us Jesus? Because we needed Him. It wasn’t that we deserved that special gift of life and salvation. Just the opposite, really. He loved us not because we showed a great deal of love for Him, following His commandments and all, but in spite of that fact. He loved us, and because God also knew how broken we all were, He sent His Son so that we could be with Him anyway. God’s love isn’t dependent on what we can do for Him. He loves us.

You have just read an excerpt from the book, Beauty In the Browns: Walking with Christ in the Darkness of Depression by Paul Asay. © Focus on the Family 2021. Used by permission of Focus on the Family (rights managed by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) All rights reserved.

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All Christian churches preach and teach the “Great Commission,” the command Jesus gave to all of us to go and make disciples. The Greek word translated “go” is in the present-perfect verb tense and more accurately can be translated “while going.” In other words, wherever Christians go in life, we should seize the opportunities God gives us to make the gospel of Jesus Christ known to every person He places in our paths. Question: are our churches successfully responding to Jesus’s command to go? If not, why not? In most churches today, evangelical outreach is primarily accomplished by inviting people to attend our churches. Our visitors then hear the gospel message and, if the Holy Spirit leads them, accept an invitation to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Simply stated, our members are not being encouraged to go out and share the gospel, but to share their church. Inviting people to church should be encouraged. But inviting people to church is not the command of the Great Commission to “go.” Inviting people to a church service is more of a suggestion to others to “come and see.”

Deb Haggerty is a lover of God, a wife, and a mother. Born in Benson, Minnesota, she earned her BA from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, and her MBA from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA. Following a successful career, she purchased Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., a Christian publishing company in 2016. Roy Haggerty is a lover of God, a husband, and a father. He has a BA from the University of Miami, Miami, Florida, and has taken courses towards a masters of theology through Reformed Theological Seminary. Roy retired in his mid-sixties and has spent his time immersed in Bible study and a study of modern politics. He has taught Bible studies for over twenty-five years.

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Severe depression is, by definition, an unhealthy, unnatural state of mind, inherently and wholly illogical. It really and truly doesn’t make sense. And that’s what makes it so difficult for those who’ve never dealt with it (and even many who have) to understand. Cheer up, people say. Get out. Get active. Life’s not so bad. And, of course, they’re right. On some level, you know they’re right. This is exactly how you should be thinking and what you should be doing, because this is what normal people think and do.

You have just read an excerpt from the book, Beauty In the Browns: Walking with Christ in the Darkness of Depression by Paul Asay. © Focus on the Family 2021. Used by permission of Focus on the Family (rights managed by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) All rights reserved.

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I remember the first time I learned about orphans as a young boy. It was from a late-night infomercial highlighting starving orphans in Africa. It hit me hard then, and still today, I cannot fathom not having a loving family to take care of me. I was born into and raised in a home with love and stability. My parents taught me to love and follow God, and I learned of His character and how Psalms says, He is a Father to the fatherless. Sadly, my childhood is a far cry from the reality of orphans. The orphan crisis is real, and the need for adoptions and fostering is high. Currently, in the United States, there are 425,000 kids in foster care, and 122,000 of those are waiting to be adopted. These children are waiting for families that will love and care for them, as I experienced as a child.

“We’re thankful our church highlighted foster care and adoption regularly. God used it to speak to us and open our hearts and home to foster and adopt. We often say this is the hardest yet best thing we’ve ever done. Our children have brought unimaginable joy to our lives and taught us so much about the love of our Father.” - Kris and Jen Watts If you would like to know how to get started or more involved, please connect with Rick Smith at Pathway Family Services (1-877-550-KIDS) or rick@pfsffa.org.

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An old man stoops and grabs a weathered hardback off the shelf. He handles the volume gently, careful not to disturb the fragile binding while returning to his favorite chair, glasses perched on his nose. As he slowly turns the yellowed pages, his eyes dart around the room. Grandpa is flanked by several grandchildren, who lean in with anticipation. Across them a fire flickers and crackles in the hearth.

It’s less than two weeks until Christmas, but at Grandpa’s house, these words usher in the official beginning of the season. “Let me tell you a story.” They knew the story, but they want to hear it again.

And so he begins a daily December ritual. Each day Grandpa unfolds another piece of the Christmas story. An angel. A scared young Jewish girl. A bewildered fiancé, Joseph. Shepherds. Angels. Wise men. The kings from the East. The wicked Herod. The shepherd boys in the field. The innkeeper. Prophets and princes, paupers and philosophers, wise men and wanderers.

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If you listened to my Christmas playlist, you’d quickly get bored. It’s essentially every version of O Holy Night available on Spotify. Even though they’ve left out some verses, my favorite version is still the *NSYNC cover.

Oh, holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

I love the reminder of the night of Christ’s birth. His coming was anticipated, but unexpected. He was born in the arms of common people, not to nobility, royalty, or even wealth. He was given no special treatment, laid in a manger not meant for Him.

Melissa Fuller serves as the Content Director for the international ministry Love God Greatly. She served as the general editor for the Love God Greatly Bible and as the managing editor on several Bible projects including the She Reads Truth Bible and the (in)courage Devotional Bible. Melissa has a Master’s degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. She currently lives in Georgia. https://lovegodgreatly.com/love-god-greatly-bible/

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The word “nativity” is derived from the Latin nativus, which means “arisen by birth.” Although technically we could use the word to describe any birth, it has become synonymous with the birth of Jesus. Nativities created as art, models, carvings, or even live demonstrations are common Christmas decorations depicting the night of Jesus’ birth. Although Christmas Day is celebrated in only twenty-four hours, the immensity of its meaning and significance demands much more time and consideration. We do not know the exact day or even the year of Jesus’ birth, and few believe it was December 25 or even in the winter. The shepherds would unlikely have been out in their fields by night! So this creates a problem with some Christmas carols that speak of snow and cold. Even though our calendar implies that year one is the first year of Christ’s life, most scholars believe the year was somewhere between 6 and 4 BC. Yet the most important issue is not the precise date of when it happened, but that it happened on a precise date. In his book The Truth of God Incarnate, Michael Green defines the incarnation as being “the way and time that God made Himself known specifically and personally by taking our human nature into Himself, by coming amongst us as a particular man, without in any way ceasing to be the eternal and infinite God.” ...

Adapted from Hosanna in Excelsis: Hymns and Devotions for the Christmas Season by David & Barbara Leeman (Moody Publishers, October 2020). Used by permission.

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We are the reason for the season? It struck me while reading that popular Christmas phrase one more time. I know I’ve read it hundreds of times. “Jesus is the reason for the season.” But reading it this time made my head tilt to one side with one eye closed. “We are the reason for the season,” I thought to myself.

So many things really are a matter of perspective, aren’t they? It really boggles my mind reading what some people's idea of God is. One actor's view is that God is a tyrannical monster whose behavior is utterly unacceptable. One psychologist tweeted that God is basically a sexual predator for the virgin birth stating that Mary was "forced" to bear Jesus. Unfortunately, there are preachers who describe God as an angry ogre always on the brink of reducing, even His people, to a pile of ashes. Then you have the "enlightened elite" who paint a portrait of God who is nothing more than an aloof impersonal life force. No wonder His creation is having a hard time dealing with reality. I'd run from a god like these descriptions as well.

John Adams has been pastoring New Life Church in Sandusky, Ohio for over 23 years and has served as a law enforcement chaplain for over a decade. He was recently featured as a guest on Michael Hyatt’s “Lead to Win” podcast and teaches “Emotional Survival for Pastors.” For more information, visit: PastorJohn.net

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There are many reasons and places to experience a first Christmas away from home. If you have, you understand. Have you thought of the first time anyone spent Christmas away from home - the very first time? Have you thought of Mary and Joseph in this way? About 90 miles south of their home, family and friends in Nazareth, they would experience the very first Christmas in the ancient city of Bethlehem.

Joseph and Mary could not have known what Christmas would eventually mean to history, and how it would become the one time of the year when so many around the world wanted to be home. Nevertheless, they were certainly aware that the night when Mary’s baby was born was a night like no other – a holy night.

Dennis D. Frey, M.Div., Th.D., President Master's International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu

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When we hope for something, the timeline is usually very simple. We want whatever it is we’re hoping for, and we want it now. Or better yet, yesterday. The idea of spending days, much less years, patiently hoping for something sounds nearly unbearable.

This is why a look at the Hebrew word for hope reveals a fascinating twist: the word tikvah (hope) contains the root kavah, which means “to wait.” In other words, waiting is literally a central part of hoping.

The Ink & Willow line infuses contemplation and inspiration into the regular spiritual practice of creative-minded Christians, wherever they are in their faith journey. Each thoughtfully curated gift product is based in biblical truth and sparks a reminder of how God reveals beauty in the midst of our ordinary.

Excerpted from 40 Days of Intentional Living: A Challenge to Cultivate Faith Through Devotions, Journaling, and Prayer. Copyright © 2021 by Ink & Willow. To be published by WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, on January 26, 2021.

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Charles Dickens opens A Tale of Two Cities with the stark words, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . .” I can so easily relate to that contrast when my memory races back to the winter of 2007. For most people, the coming recession hadn’t yet made its debut in their lives. However, for small business owners connected with real estate, the pain was coming on strong. Financial experts called the changes a correction since their formula for a recession hadn’t been met. That wasn’t the case with me. My real estate investing business was hemorrhaging. Bank loan funds had frozen, so buyers weren’t able to purchase our properties. Yet, the business expenses still required payment.

About the Author Susan Gregory (“the Daniel Fast Blogger”) regularly corresponds with thousands of men and women who are seeking God through the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting. Since the launch of her website in December 2007, it has received nearly 14 million visits, and Susan’s work has taken her to more than 35 countries around the world. She has a passion to help followers of Jesus Christ from all cultures integrate their faith into every part of their lives. She is the author of Out of the Rat Race, The Daniel Cure (with Richard J. Bloomer, PhD), The Daniel Fast, The Daniel Fast for Weight Loss, and The Daniel Fast for Financial Breakthrough. A mother and grandmother, Susan lives in a small college town in central Washington. Visit her at www.daniel-fast.com.

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It’s so hard to believe that it’s already December. Where did the year go?

It seems like just a couple months ago we were celebrating Easter and the resurrection, and now we’re getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Before I share with you my thoughts on Christmas services, I want to encourage you to slow down during this season. Spend time with your family. Spend time with your church. And most importantly spend time with Jesus.

Now I would not consider myself a Christmas expert, but I happened to be born on December 22nd, and legend has it, that I was brought home from the hospital in a Christmas stocking just like Jesus was.

Travis Stephens

I am a husband, father, and executive pastor of a small-town church that went big. I have a passion for helping pastors grow themselves and the churches they serve. You can find out more about me and my ministry at http://travisstephens.me

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We’ve all seen it too many times. Pastors’ kids who grow up resenting the church and walk away as soon as they’re out of the home. According to a study conducted by the Barna Group, “one–third of pastors (33%) say their child is no longer actively involved in church.” What accounts for these massive numbers? Certainly, a factor is hurt from the church. But I’d like to suggest that another reason is that many Pastors prioritize ministry over their family. This is often the case during the holiday season.

Steve and Becky Harling are veteran church ministry leaders, authors and speakers. Certified by the John Maxwell Team the Harling’s have served as Pastors both nationally and internationally. www.harlingleadership.com

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I remember the first time I learned about orphans as a young boy. It was from a late-night infomercial highlighting starving orphans in Africa. It hit me hard then, and still today, I cannot fathom not having a loving family to take care of me. I was born into and raised in a home with love and stability. My parents taught me to love and follow God, and I learned of His character and how Psalms says, He is a Father to the fatherless. Sadly, my childhood is a far cry from the reality of orphans. The orphan crisis is real, and the need for adoptions and fostering is high. Currently, in the United States, there are 425,000 kids in foster care, and 122,000 of those are waiting to be adopted. These children are waiting for families that will love and care for them, as I experienced as a child.

If you would like to know how to get started or more involved, please connect with Rick Smith at Pathway Family Services (1-877-550-KIDS) or rick@pfsffa.org.

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Life is short. Life is hard. Life is not fair. Life’s a beach. Life is a gift. You know all of these little quotes that we throw out there as if life is really all that simple to capture in a meme or a phrase. In spite of the fact that we all know that life can’t be captured in one phrase, one of these is worth remembering today. How about reflecting for a moment on “Life is a gift”?

Kirsten McClain serves in church missions mobilization for OMF. She has been serving churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various free resources that OMF uses to come alongside churches and individuals so that they can do missions well. kmcclainomfmail@gmail.com

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How Jesus Sees His Kingdom

The third and largest sphere in our diagram is God’s Kingdom.

Without question, Jesus Christ is the rightful, exalted King of God’s Kingdom.  God’s Kingdom is the context through which He is advancing His purposes through humanity here on earth.  That context includes God’s work around the world and down of all ages through emperors, kings, prime ministers, presidents, governors, mayors, and other government officials, whether or not they believe in God yet.

David Sanford’s book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale House, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, Barbour, and Amazon. His speaking engagements have ranged everywhere from UC Berkeley (CA) to The Billy Graham Center at the Cove (NC).

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Christmas is a wonderful time of year for churches. It’s a chance to celebrate our Savior’s birth, increase charitable efforts, and reach out to the local community to spread the truth about the season. However, many of our traditional events will have to be put on hold due to COVID-19. Instead, here are six socially distanced alternatives.

Virtual Christmas Concert

Most churches won’t be able to gather their choirs together this year since singing can spread the virus. Instead, consider a virtual concert. Members of your choir or church band can stream over Zoom or another video platform.

About the Author: Dr. Tom McElheny has served as an Elder and director of Christian education for three Sarasota, Florida churches, holds advanced degrees in business and education and is CEO of his company ChurchPlaza.com.

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So how, exactly, does the Lord Jesus Christ see each member of humanity? The answer, it turns out, is more relevant than ever—and has three parts.

The three parts are: God’s Kingdom. God’s Family. God’s Church.  They’re not the same, but how are they different? People in the churches we lead need to know!  At the risk of oversimplifying what the Bible teaches, allow me to use the image of three concentric circles.

Eternity will be enjoyed by all God’s Family down through the ages...

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/how-does-jesus-see-humanity-part-1/

David Sanford’s book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale House, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, Barbour, and Amazon. His speaking engagements have ranged everywhere from UC Berkeley (CA) to The Billy Graham Center at the Cove (NC).

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Do you have people within your congregation who desire to know more about the Bible and grow in their faith, but have neither the time nor finances to enroll in seminary? Do you want your church to not only have a stronger understanding of what and why they believe, but also contend for the faith confidently? The Contenders Discipleship Initiative – also abbreviated CDI – is a two-year, tuition-free program offered by Village Missions to equip Christians for ministry within their local church and to prepare those who are called for full-time ministry as missionary pastors.

So, are you ready to lead your congregation through this advanced discipleship training program? Let CDI be a part of that incredible journey!

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In this unexpected year of hardship, it's remarkable to see organizations work together to serve households residing in the "Last Mile of Need": a metaphorical region of families who have fallen between the gaps with unmet food needs. A unique coming together of private enterprise, the public sector, and the faith community have created monumental collaborations to deliver fresh, nutritious foods to these homes, and local churches have the opportunity to deliver through the most intricate leg of the distribution chain.

Pastors have wondered, "Will our church be able to help the lost and hurting during this challenging season?" The Farmers to Families program enables local churches to do what they love to do, help people. The most beautiful part is what is delivered beyond the food box. When needs are met, hearts are open to receive the hope that is found in Jesus. After all, God's church should be a beacon of hope for the broken and hopeless.

Join the CityServe collaborative network and meet the needs of your community. Visit www.cityserve.us.

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Blacksmithing serves as a perfect metaphor for the long, hard, repetitive, seemingly violent method of transforming a leader. If the purpose of a transformational leader is, in the words of Dr. King, to “hew out of a mountain of despair stones of hope” then we would expect that process to be as transformative for a leader as the process of taking steel and shaping it, hardening it, and tempering it to become a tool that can stand up to both the pounding of the task and the resistance of the rock.

Tod Bolsinger (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is a speaker, executive coach, former pastor, and author who serves as vice president and chief of leadership formation and associate professor of leadership formation at Fuller Theological Seminary. His books include the forthcoming title, Tempered Resilience, the Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year in Pastoral Leadership, Canoeing the Mountains, and the Christianity Today Award of Merit recipient, It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian.

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Equipping the Saints for Ministry - Ephesians 4:12 As pastors, it is our Biblical mandate to make disciples and equip the saints to do the work of the ministry so the Church can be built up by what by what each one has to offer. All too often we become so busy doing the work of the ministry that little time is left to equip others to do the same. But imagine what would happen if we spent the time and made the effort to train others for ministry? Here’s what happened in our church when I took Ephesians 4:11-16 to heart.

Contenders Discipleship Initiative is an advanced discipleship training program available online tuition-free at www.vmcdi.com

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I was in high school when Joshua Harris’s book I Kissed Dating Goodbye captured the attention of the evangelical world. It kicked off a movement and inspired countless other books on dating and sexual purity. I read many of these, internalizing messages about my responsibility as a female to keep men from lusting, the value of my virginity, and how sexual sin could destroy my future marriage. I often finished one of these books more ashamed of my sexuality than when I had started it. Marriage and sex were placed on a pedestal, and they quickly became an idol: something I thought would one day complete me.

With my first serious relationship, I tried to follow all I’d been told in the books. We were friends first. We dated for years before getting engaged, ...

Rachel Joy Welcher (MLit, University of St. Andrews) is a columnist and editor at Fathom magazine. She is the author of two books of poetry: Blue Tarp and Two Funerals, Then Easter. Her writing has appeared in Fathom Magazine, The Gospel Coalition, Mere Orthodoxy, Relevant, and The Englewood Review of Books. She lives in Glenwood, Iowa, with her husband, Evan.

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You’ve probably seen “emotional support” dogs or other pets. They can provide valuable companionship, but the primary role for providing emotional support shouldn’t rest on the shoulders of a well-trained canine. It really rests on the shoulders of a parent. We are the ones, the first responders, who provide emotional support and guidance for our kids.

Emotional growth is progressive, just like physical growth. Kids have emotions very early in life, but they don’t have names for those feelings. When they cry because you leave the room, they don’t know what to call that emotion, but they know how to express it! We are designed to be emotional creatures.

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As a pastor, you take on much of your flock’s burdens which add to your ever-increasing stress. In one day, you might go from the bedside of a dying church member to performing a funeral. Then return the next day to offer counseling for a member who’s depressed or suicidal while preparing an uplifting sermon for Sunday. How does the giver of hope release their own burdens and keep their health vibrant and strong? One way is to enhance your health with exercise.

Ginny Dent Brant is a counselor, educator, speaker, and wellness advocate. Her recent book, “Unleash Your God-given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer,” was written with an oncologist and won a Golden Scrolls Award. Cancer prevention blog at www.ginnybrant.com.

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In this age of cancel culture, individuals, institutions, and groups are publicly shamed for demonstrating or even just affirming an unpopular opinion or cultural value. When mass disapproval of the behavior occurs, they are “cancelled.” If you participate in social media, you’ve seen this in action. At the very least, this leads to bad short-term publicity for the “offender”; long-term, it means a loss of influence. However, most of the time there’s just aimless outrage that’s over soon. Few of the people or groups that have been targeted experience long-term consequences.

Alvin Sanders (PhD, Miami) is the president and CEO of World Impact. He previously served as a pastor, church planter, and denominational leader for the Evangelical Free Church of America, leading its All People Initiative. He is the author of Uncommon Church and Bridging the Diversity Gap.

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Brand new research shines a light on faith in the home – just in time for a country that is mostly staying home on Sunday mornings.

As a pastor in the time of COVID I’ve had to ask questions I’ve never asked before. The same is true of the many other pastors I’ve talked with since this virus disrupted one of our central, rarely questioned, strategies for encouraging spiritual growth: Sunday mornings.

Don Everts is reluctant to call himself an evangelist, but for decades he has found himself talking about Jesus with all sorts of skeptical and curious people. He is a writer for Lutheran Hour Ministries and teaching pastor at Bonhomme Presbyterian Churchin St. Louis, Missouri.

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Where do we start? Kids have so many digital distractions these days—as we’re sure you’ve noticed. There is something powerful competing with you for your grandchild’s attention. It’s not a brownie straight from the oven or a basketball waiting to be bounced. It’s an iPad, or other brand of tablet. And it’s the superhero of the toy kingdom. That slim rectangle is the gateway to so many adventures. It makes other activities look lame in comparison...

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/ipad-grandparenting-and-screen-time-competition/

About the Author Excerpted from Grandparenting Screen Kids: How to Help, What to Say, and Where to Begin by Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane (©2020). Published by Northfield Publishing. Used by permission.

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We now take up postmodernism’s general tenants two and three: 2). Community is important, but never static, it must always evolve. 3). Reality is perception, and perception is personal not corporate. The reaction against a static community calls for the continual evolution of community. What is considered required, proper, taboo or essential by one generation must give way to more enlightened or more expedient forms of community. In other words, each person in each generation has just as much right as the community at large to determine what is acceptable.

Dennis D. Frey, M.Div., Th.D., President Master’s International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu

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Postmodernism is the currently reigning world view of the so-called progressive/intellectual movement. Its impact on society is hugely significant. The church has not escaped its invasive influence. Pastors, Biblical counselors, and other church leaders can expect to confront the destructive consequences of postmodern attitudes for decades to come.

Dennis D. Frey, M.Div., Th.D., President Master’s International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu

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It was Outwit. Outlast. Outplay from day one. The newly elected Church Chairman and I lived on different planets. We were light years apart on our views of leadership, preaching, and worship. I was a visionary flying at 40,000’. He was a bean-counter, stuck in the weeds. During weekdays, he hung out at the local courthouse, putting bad guys behind bars. On nights and weekends, he hovered over the church like a helicopter searching for fugitives. During our first board meeting together, he staked out his position with bold clarity: “Reverend, this is my church. It’s the only church I’ve ever known. Pastors will come and go, but I’ll be here long after you’re gone.” It was a shot across the bow. Nothing amiss was going to happen under his watch...

Steve and Becky Harling are veteran church ministry leaders, authors and speakers. Certified by the John Maxwell Team the Harling’s have served as Pastors both nationally and internationally. www.harlingleadership.com

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As a pastor, you take on much of your flock’s burdens which add to your ever-increasing stress. In one day, you might go from the bedside of a dying church member to performing a funeral. Then return the next day to offer counseling for a member who’s depressed or suicidal while preparing an uplifting sermon for Sunday. How does the giver of hope release their own burdens and keep their health vibrant and strong? One way is to enhance your health with exercise.

Ginny Dent Brant is a counselor, educator, speaker, and wellness advocate. Her recent book, “Unleash Your God-given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer,” was written with an oncologist and won a Golden Scrolls Award. Cancer prevention blog at www.ginnybrant.com.

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When people think of thanksgiving, they likely think of Pilgrims, not prayer; drumsticks, not doctrine. Even the holiday of Thanksgiving gets minimized and skipped over. Black Friday has taken over Thanksgiving Day for many people. The morning started with gratitude for what we have, but by evening, we’re thinking about what we want next. In our day and age of more-more-more, where “Thanksgiving” is the waiting season between Halloween and Christmas, gratitude takes a back seat...

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As we prepare for the 2020 Presidential Election, we have an important role as Christian leaders to shepherd our congregations through this time of division and contention. We are called by God to walk in Christ’s footsteps to be peacemakers—not merely peacekeepers. Peacemaking is not passive but rather an active commitment to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers—and all of our brothers and sisters, not just those that we agree with. We must remember and live by Hebrews 12:14: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”...

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/congregation-pastors-can-help-bridge-the-divide/

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So, you want to write a “Meditation of the Day”, a daily reflection on a Scripture verse or spiritual thought. Very laudable—potentially very useful and beneficial—an excellent idea if you are writing a book. But if you want to send it to your friends and congregation on a daily basis, beware!...

Robert McAnally Adams is a retired mathematician and curator of The Christian Quotation of the Day. See cqod.com

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Evangelism is sharing the love of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ with an unsaved person/people to provide the opportunity for them to respond to God’s call and to receive God’s offer of eternal life with him. Our motivation for evangelism should be our love for our fellow man and concern for their eternal destiny...

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/teach-experiencing-gods-love-in-a-broken-world/

Deb Haggerty is a lover of God, a wife, and a mother. Born in Benson, Minnesota, she earned her BA from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, and her MBA from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA. Following a successful career, she purchased Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., a Christian publishing company in 2016. Roy Haggerty is a lover of God, a husband, and a father. He has a BA from the University of Miami, Miami, Florida, and has taken courses towards a masters of theology through Reformed Theological Seminary. Roy retired in his mid-sixties and has spent his time immersed in Bible study and a study of modern politics. He has taught Bible studies for over twenty-five years.

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Most Christians want to spend more time with God’s Word, but often find that it is a struggle to get started or keep going with their Bible reading. There are a lot of possible reasons for that struggle, but it isn’t inevitable, and there are definitely things that we can do to make sure we stay engaged with our Bibles...

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/four-keys-to-enjoying-your-time-with-the-bible-more/

Keith Willams is passionate about helping people know and love God better, specifically by creating Bibles that are designed to build as many bridges toward understanding as possible for modern readers. He has been working with Bibles at Tyndale House Publishers since 2005. After twelve years working in editorial on projects including the award-winning Chronological Life Application Study Bible and Swindoll Study Bible, he has been leading the Filament Bible project since its inception in 2015.

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This article is the final in a series that has already been published and that has focused on the critical need for churches to build a strong foundation in missions. We all know that at some point the foundation is done, and then it is time to build. Once the foundation has been laid, the workers must build, grow, enhance, and develop whatever structure has been planned. The goal is that the foundation will be strong and will not crack, and the hope is that the future structure will be supported through any future development...

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/build-what-kind-of-foundation-part-4/

Kirsten McClain serves in church missions mobilization for OMF. She has been serving churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various free resources that OMF uses to come alongside churches and individuals so that they can do missions well. kmcclainomfmail@gmail.com

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There I said it.

You may not agree, but you needed to hear it.

Now, before you unsubscribe or send me a scathing email about the power of the spoken word of God, hear me out.

I’m not saying that the Word of God is overrated.

I’m not saying that you’re preaching isn’t good.

I’m not saying that preaching isn’t important. It is...

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/your-preaching-is-overrated

Travis Stephens I am a husband, father, and executive pastor of a small-town church that went big. I have a passion for helping pastors grow themselves and the churches they serve. You can find out more about me and my ministry at http://travisstephens.me

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I got the call on a typically busy day of both ministry and publishing. FOX News wanted to do an interview on the upcoming Superman movie release, specifically on my thoughts of Warner Bros. Studios marketing this superhero to churches. Since I was both a comics publisher and a pastor they wanted to know where the church stood on Superman. Since I could do the interview in the Orlando studio I agreed and drove over to answer the questions with another man, a Greek Orthodox persuasion who joined in at the New York studio. The interviewer asked the right questions and I got to another interview later in New York when the Kingstone Bible released. She understood faith and asked the right questions...

Art Ayris is the CEO of central Florida based Kingstone Comics. Kingstone Comics was born out of Art Ayris’ desire to explain scriptural truth and provide healthy entertainment to kids. With this goal in mind, Art and a group of DC and Marvel Comics artists have succeeded in creating the most complete graphic adaptation of the Bible to date.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/finding-your-superhero/

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Nothing impacts a church family more than the sting of cancer or a life-threatening disease, especially when the journey involves the loss of life or the pastor. Research clearly shows that lifestyle is the major player in many diseases including cancer, and underlying conditions play a role with COVID-19. Here are four prevention tips that reduce our risk for cancer, diseases, and viruses including Covid-19. After all, who is there to look after the flock, if the pastor goes down!...

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/four-cancer-prevention-tips-to-keep-pastors-healthy/

Ginny Dent Brant is a counselor, educator, speaker, and wellness advocate. Her recent book, “Unleash Your God-given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer,” was written with an oncologist and won a Golden Scrolls Award. Cancer prevention blog at www.ginnybrant.com.

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What personal qualities are the most important as a pastor or teacher studies the Bible week after week? I offer five of the twelve virtues listed by Kostenberger and Patterson in their book, Invitation to Biblical Interpretation. All twelve virtues listed by the authors help the process and habit of exegesis a reality. Thank God we have a lifetime to pursue them. I choose five to focus on: be spiritual, sensible, and seasoned; be intentional and deliberate; and be committed...

Darlene Franklin is a million-books-sold Christian author. An occasional contributor to Pastor Resources, she has enrolled in the Ph.D. in Biblical Exposition at Liberty University. This article stems from her coursework. www.DarleneFranklin.com

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I remember speaking on this topic at a Christian physicians conference. I began by explaining that marital sex is good and a God-blessed, sacred spiritual act. I said that God wants a couple to build a foundation for their relationship by connecting deeply on mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. This leads to marriage. Only then, as a natural result or by-product of this profound soul connection, does it become appropriate for them to bond in sexual intercourse. This ever-deepening foundation of holistic human connection (not just body connection) is the context for meaningful marital sex. At this point my audience was smiling and nodding in agreement. That’s when I asked some very personal questions and went over the scriptural evidence we had just reviewed.

About the Authors Joann Condie’s career as a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor, registered nurse, and counselor at Focus on the Family has spanned several decades. Her counseling specializes in the sexually broken and wounded.

Geremy Keeton is the senior director of the counseling services department of Focus on the Family and a licensed marriage and family therapist. He has extensive experience in counseling men and couples on topics of healthy sexuality, infidelity, and pornography addiction.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/what-is-sacred-sex/

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You care deeply about your members, the people God has entrusted to your care. You want them to experience the abundant life of Jesus, to become more and more like Him, and to fulfill the purpose for which God has created them. But many if not most of your people seem to be making painfully slow progress. They come to you with the same problems they had a year ago, ten years ago. Many of your members seem stuck. They’re frustrated. And you’re frustrated...

About the Author

Dr. Carol Tanksley is a board-certified OB-Gyn physician as well as a Doctor of Ministry. She’s published several books by Charisma House, and has been highlighted several times in Ministry Today, Charisma and SpiritLed Woman. Find more of Dr. Carol’s resources at drcarolministries.com.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/helping-your-members-get-unstuck/

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I vividly remember Diane and I visiting the California Giant Sequoia groves in Yosemite National park. They are massive and purportedly the largest living things on planet Earth. From what I read about these majestic giants, their root system is not known for going deep. Interestingly, it’s not the depth of their root system that keeps them alive through fire and storm. What keeps them alive so long and growing so tall is the fact that their root system spreads out to their closest neighboring redwood trees and intertwines with them. It is their ability to connect and intertwine with each other that keeps them living long and prospering. Ryanosuke Satoro said, “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we become an ocean.” Whether our drops form an ocean or our roots stretch out to hold a redwood fortress together, unity is and always has been a miracle. True unity is not natural; it is supernatural. We naturally do our own thing. We naturally look out for number one. We naturally put our own interests first. It doesn’t take much effort and we’re all really good at it. Unity, on the other hand is miraculous!

About the author

John Adams has been pastoring New Life Church in Sandusky, Ohio for over 23 years and has served as a law enforcement chaplain for over a decade. He was recently featured as a guest on Michael Hyatt’s “Lead to Win” podcast and teaches “Emotional Survival for Pastors.” For more information, visit: PastorJohn.net

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/true-unity-takes-a-miracle/

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There are times in our Christian experience when we don’t always feel like God keeps His promises. That might not be something most of us are willing to admit publicly, but most of us have probably felt it nonetheless. There are times when it looks like God said one thing but the opposite is taking place. And it is during those times when most of us, to varying degrees, question how things really are.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/encountering-gods-promises-when-life-hurts/

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Welcome to the Pastor Resources podcast! Today Pastor Resource's president Dave Wike continues his conversation with Pastor Bob Franquiz of Calvery Fellowship. In part 2 of their discussion, they talk about dealing with struggles COVID has caused churches.

Dave - So, churches have been reopening here for a while. I'd say we have a little more freedom then we have had in a while. How have you been addressing that in your church? And then, try to be as transparent as you can about any mistakes you have made because that is where pastors are going to benefit the most. Then of course definitely what you have done right, that would be a win for them.

Bob - One of the decisions that we made early on...

About Senior Pastor Bob Franquiz Bob Franquiz is the Founding and Senior Pastor of Calvary Fellowship in Miramar, FL. Bob is also the author of seven books, including Pull: Making your Church Magnetic and Begin: First Steps for the Journey of Faith. Prior to entering Pastoral ministry, Bob played guitar for Christian Hardcore band Strongarm; a band that has been called one of the best Christian Metal bands of all time.

About Dave Wike Dave Wike and his wife, Margie, live in Carolina Beach, NC with their four kids and their dog, Happy. When he’s not serving pastors, you can find him strumming his guitar, surfing, or hanging out with his family. He loves the Lord, and feels as though he has called him to caring for pastors time and time again.

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More than fifty years ago, The Navigators released the Topical Memory System (TMS). It offered a simple system for memorizing Bible verses that help you live a new life, proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, rely on God’s resources, be a disciple, and grow in Christlikeness. A sibling edition would focus on life issues: dealing with anger, sin, sex, money, suffering, and more. The verses chosen for memorization encouraged Christians to experience victory over sin, overcome fear and worry, enjoy boldness in witness, discover fresh depths of discipleship, and move from egotism to humility...

Taken from Hide This in Your Heart by Michael Frost and Graham Joseph Hill. Copyright © 2020. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/memorizing-how-memorizing-the-bible-empowers/

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In 2018, Baeble Music released its list of the top karaoke songs of all time. You don’t have to particularly like any of these songs or even have been born in the era when they were hits to have some of the lyrics of every one of these songs buried in your brain somewhere. From the list: 1. “Mr. Brightside”— The Killers 2. “You Oughta Know”— Alanis Morissette 3. “I Will Always Love You”— Whitney Houston 4. “Don’t Stop Believin’”— Journey 5. “Cheerleader”— OMI...

Taken from Hide This in Your Heart by Michael Frost and Graham Joseph Hill. Copyright © 2020. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/memorization-how-memorizing-the-bible-empowers/

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A couple of summer’s ago, my wife and I discovered that some skunks were living under the porch of our house. We awoke one morning to the nose-pinching smell of a skunk’s spray permeating our home, called a pest control company, and waited a week or two for the unwelcome critters to be trapped and safely removed. I neglected to properly repair the wire fencing below the porch, thinking a few loose bricks placed in the entryway they had created would do the trick. Now, as I write this two summer’s later, we are once again calling the professionals for help to remove at least two skunks tearing up our lawn.

About the Author

Wade Mullen, PhD, is a professor, researcher, and advocate working to help those trapped in the confusion and captivity that mark abusive situations. His personal experiences and ongoing research enable him to write with both care and expertise. Wade and his wife, Sarita, live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with their four children.

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Dave Wike speaks with Bob Franquiz about how churches are dealing with reopening.

Hey guys, this is Dave Wike with Pastor Resources. You may remember back in early March we sent out a bunch of resources right when COVID took off and it became quite a crisis for the church. There was a little bit of silence, we spent that time redesigning the website for you and providing some new opportunities. But, we wanted to spend some time today addressing the fact that churches are reopening and have been here for a while. I wanted to bring in not only and expert but a pastor, who I respect alot, Bob Franquiz.

About Dave Wike Dave Wike and his wife, Margie, live in Carolina Beach, NC with their four kids and their dog, Happy. When he’s not serving pastors, you can find him strumming his guitar, surfing, or hanging out with his family. He loves the Lord, and feels as though he has called him to caring for pastors time and time again.

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The interior examination of anxiety is another powerful practice to engage in. To be anxious is to be human. But to be regularly shaped by anxiety diminishes our human¬ity. Therapist and pastor Peter Steinke noted two types of anxiety: acute and chronic. Acute anxiety is situational and time based. It is a momentary loss of self-composure and poise. Chronic anxiety is not specific to a threat. Any issue, topic, or circumstance can provoke chronically anxious people. Consequently, they have little capacity to step out of their experience, observe their own emotion¬ality, reflect on what is happening, make choices based on principles, and manage their lives...

About the Author

Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large, multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens. Prior to becoming lead pastor, he gave oversight to New Life's small group ministry and served as preaching pastor. Rich graduated with a BA in pastoral ministry and theology from Nyack College. He went on to complete his masters of divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. He enjoys reading widely, and preaching and writing on contemplative spirituality, justice-related issues, and the art of preaching.

Excerpted from The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus. Copyright © 2020 by Rich Villodas. Used by permission of WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/examination-of-our-anxiety/

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The metaphor of fire is common among the spiritual masters. Indeed, ever-greater union with God has often been understood to be accompanied by purification and illumination. But that process is by no means linear. There is no straightforward progression from one to the next. They are, in fact, different ways of talking about one and the same journey—the journey of surrendering to the Spirit’s total work. We are purified and illuminated as we are drawn into union with God . . . we are brought into union as we are illuminated and purified . . . we are illuminated as we are purified and made one with the Lover of our souls.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andrew Arndt is the lead pastor of New Life East, one of seven congregations of New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Prior to joining New Life’s team, he served as lead pastor of Bloom Church: a neo-monastic, charismatic, liturgical, justice-driven network of house churches in Denver. He is the host of the Essential Church podcast, a weekly conversation designed to strengthen the thinking of church and ministry leaders. Andrew received his MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and has written for Missio Alliance, Patheos, The Other Journal, and Mere Orthodoxy. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Mandi, and their four kids. Andrew’s upcoming book, All Flame, releases from NavPress in September 2020.

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We must clearly define what we mean by healing. The temptation is to conflate healing with curing. When we do this, the quest becomes the eradication of troublesome experiences with a view to initiating a return to some kind of perceived psychological norm that is often determined by the expectations of culture rather than by the actual nature of the experiences of individuals living with mental health challenges. However, thinking about healing in terms of cure is only one way the issue can be addressed. Theologically, we might think of healing as much more than cure, if in fact it includes cure at all.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/christians-with-mental-health-challenges/

Excerpted from Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges by John Swinton ©2020 (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.) Reprinted by permission of the publisher.

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Many of us have been taught some damaging and false principles about emotions. You might have been told that it’s wrong to feel angry, that you shouldn’t feel sad, or that your faith is weak if you’re emotional.

Your Emotions Are Neither Right Nor Wrong

But your emotions are neither right nor wrong. In fact, they can be your best friends if you pay attention to the messages they’re attempting to convey. Think of emotions as flashing lights on the dashboard of your car that let you know something is wrong. If you understand what a light means, you know what the problem is and can attend to it so that your car will once again operate the way it was built to operate.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/specific-actions-to-manage-your-emotions/

About the Authors

Joann Condie’s career as a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor, registered nurse, and counselor at Focus on the Family has spanned several decades. Her counseling specializes in the sexually broken and wounded.

Geremy Keeton is the senior director of the counseling services department of Focus on the Family and a licensed marriage and family therapist. He has extensive experience in counseling men and couples on topics of healthy sexuality, infidelity, and pornography addiction.

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Local churches are innovatively taking the torch where others fall short and feeding the most food-insecure families.

The Role of the Local Church

Local churches have a unique ability to fill the gaps because they are in close relationship with their neighbors and most aware of the needs and specific circumstances in their community. They look out for the unseen, forgotten, and left behind. To this end CityServe is focused on delivering to the “Last Mile of Need” by empowering and equipping the local church to fulfill its purpose to overcome despair and transform lives by resourcing them with tangible goods and capacity building.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/local-churches/

Authors: CityServe Co-Founders Dave Donaldson & Pastor Wendell Vinson

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Due to the many challenges of the pandemic we know the health and economic impact of COVID-19 is having a devastating impact on millions of Americans who lack basic necessities in their homes including food, clothes, and essential household items.

Over the past four-plus months as we’ve adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity has increased in the United States. “Food insecurity for U.S. households last week reached its highest reported level since the Census Bureau started tracking the data in May, with almost 30 million Americans reporting...

Read the full article at

About the author

CityServe Co-Founders Dave Donaldson & Pastor Wendell Vinson

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My Mother’s father grew up in the village of Gungyi, hearing the roaring sounds of Japanese jet fighters, the crescendo of explosions, and the rainfall of debris. As a freelance journalist, he published an article that was falsely accused of criticizing communism. It put him on the list to be killed. His friend, a communist soldier, secretly told him that he must flee immediately, lest he be killed by morning. My grandfather escaped to Hong Kong...

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/listened-she-reminds-me-of-you/

About the Author Nikole Lim is a speaker, educator, and consultant on leveraging dignity through the restorative art of storytelling. She is the founder and international director of Freely In Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping survivors and advocates to lead in ending sexual violence through their rewritten stories. Nikole graduated with a degree in film production from Loyola Marymount University and is currently pursuing a masters in global leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary.

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Pastors are under more pressure than ever. In the wake of the COVID crisis, many churches are struggling. Others have not been allowed to reopen. Offerings are down and stress levels are up. What will church look like moving forward? Will folks feel comfortable enough to come back? Is it time to re-imagine church? So many questions. I don’t have the answers, but there’s one thing I do know for sure: God is challenging us as leaders to new levels of incarnational listening.

Read the full article at

About the Author

Steve and Becky Harling are veteran church ministry leaders, authors and speakers. Certified by the John Maxwell Team the Harling’s have served as Pastors both nationally and internationally.

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Not that a pandemic is new in our history. Nor the emergence of many disasters at once an odd occurrence. War, plague, poverty, draught, fires, floods, and revolution, are nothing new.

However, the American experience has had relative comfort in most areas of our country, allowing a standard of comfort and convenience not known in previous centuries.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/what-pastors-should-know-about-stress/

About the author:

A veteran social worker, award-winning author Linda Wood Rondeau resides in Hagerstown, MD with her husband of over forty years and where she is active in her local church. Watch for the author’s newest releasee, Who Put the Vinegar in the Salt, anticipated in November 2020. Readers may sign up for the newsletter and announcement of actual release on the author’s website: www.lindarondeau.com. Readers may also follow the author on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

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n times like these, we begin to realize how critical our foundations are. We all strive to value strong foundations all the time, but we all know that we struggle to put down strong foundations. It is often easy to build and grow and expand during the good times without giving detail to the first steps that are required. Really…who wants to waste time to read the instructions? Come hard times, we start to remember how important it is that we not let ourselves get too far ahead of what our foundations can endure. Indeed, foundations are critical.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/what-kind-of-foundation-part-3/

About the Author

Kirsten McClain serves in church missions mobilization for OMF. She has been serving churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various free resources that OMF uses to come alongside churches and individuals so that they can do missions well. kmcclainomfmail@gmail.com

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Sometimes I feel lonely.

Of course, there’s a big difference between feeling lonely and being alone. I can be alone and not feel lonely at all. Conversely, some of my loneliest experiences have been when I was in a crowd of people.

Perhaps loneliness is meant to serve as an invitation into something we should actually pursue at great cost—intimate fellowship with the God who made us and is with us.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/when-we-were-lonely-god-came-down/

Nancy Guthrie teaches the Bible at her church, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee, at conferences worldwide, and through numerous books and video series. She and her husband, David, are the cohosts of the GriefShare video series used in more than 12,000 churches nationwide and host Respite Retreats for couples who have experienced the death of a child. Guthrie is also the host of Help Me Teach the Bible, a podcast of the Gospel Coalition. Nancy’s upcoming book, God Does His Best Work with Empty, releases from Tyndale House Publishers in September 2020.

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I heard a preacher say one time that we all have dark thoughts about God. My initial response was skepticism. As someone whose earliest memories are filled with Bible truths, I didn’t want to think that I have anything but esteem and love for God. But I’ve come to see that the preacher was right. We don’t instinctually expect the best of God. We’re a bit suspicious of him. We suspect he’s out to make us miserable instead of deeply and eternally happy.

Read the full article: https://pastorresources.com/how-god-fills-our-emptiness-with-his-grace/

About the Author Nancy Guthrie teaches the Bible at her church, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee, at conferences worldwide, and through numerous books and video series. She and her husband, David, are the cohosts of the GriefShare video series used in more than 12,000 churches nationwide and host Respite Retreats for couples who have experienced the death of a child. Guthrie is also the host of Help Me Teach the Bible, a podcast of the Gospel Coalition. Nancy’s upcoming book, God Does His Best Work with Empty, releases from Tyndale House Publishers in September 2020.

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In times like these, we begin to realize how critical our foundations are. We all strive to value strong foundations all the time, but we all know that we struggle to put down strong foundations. It is often easy to build and grow and expand during the good times without giving detail to the first steps that are required. Really…who wants to waste time to read the instructions? Come hard times, we start to remember how important it is that we not let ourselves get too far ahead of what our foundations can endure. Indeed, foundations are critical....

Read the full article at

About the Author: Kirsten McClain serves in church missions mobilization for OMF. She has been serving churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various free resources that OMF uses to come alongside churches and individuals so that they can do missions well. kmcclainomfmail@gmail.com

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Consider the labor (trouble) experienced by Moses, Abraham and Elijah. Then consider their work. In I Corinthians 6:2-3 Paul declares that “the saints will judge the world,” and, that “we will judge angels.”  In Matthew 25:14-30 twice Jesus says “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your Master.” This speaks not of this life, but of the life to come! The context of this “Parable of the Talents,” is the kingdom of heaven.  

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/are-we-working-out-our-heavenly-job-description-on-earth-part-2/

About the Author

Dennis D. Frey, M.Div., Th.D., President Master's International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu

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As a Christian, you expect to go to heaven when you die, but what do you expect to be doing after you arrive? Perhaps you will spend time with loved ones, make appointments to meet the great saints of the ages, or take a long rest. But, is that all you will be doing? Eternity is a long time you know! Is it possible that what you are doing with your life on earth right now, is actually setting you up for a job when you get to heaven? Let’s consider the proposition from a Biblical perspective.

Read the full article: https://pastorresources.com/are-we-working-out-our-heavenly-job-description-on-earth-part-1/

About the Author Dennis D. Frey, M.Div., Th.D., President Master's International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu

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In challenging times your people more than ever need to know you care about them personally. That’s critical when it comes to reopening. If your people sense you are more concerned about getting them back in the seats than you are about their personal wellbeing, it won’t go well.

Read the full article https://pastorresources.com/leading-and-discipling-into-the-new-normal-part-2/

About the Author

Dr. Carol Tanksley is a board-certified OB-Gyn physician as well as a Doctor of Ministry. She’s published several books by Charisma House, and has been highlighted several times in Ministry Today, Charisma and SpiritLed Woman. Find more of Dr. Carol’s resources at drcarolministries.com.

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Many Christian leaders are wrestling with what it looks or will look like to reopen in-person church gatherings. Some churches, perhaps yours, are meeting in person now. But whether you are or not, if you’re honest you know things are not “normal.”

About the Author Dr. Carol Tanksley is a board-certified OB-Gyn physician as well as a Doctor of Ministry. She’s published several books by Charisma House, and has been highlighted several times in Ministry Today, Charisma and SpiritLed Woman. Find more of Dr. Carol’s resources at drcarolministries.com.

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While your church is unique in its offerings, it still operates similarly to other types of businesses. It must pay employees a fair wage, cover debts and expenses, and maintain a budget. As a church leader, you have an important role to play in the financial health of your church.

About the Author: Dr. Tom McElheny has served as an elder and director of Christian education for three Sarasota, Florida, churches, holds advanced degrees in business and education, and is CEO of his company, ChurchPlaza (www.churchplaza.com).

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This is harder than I expected. All of it. From the lockdown to this weird middle ground, to whatever’s coming next, the sense of constant uncertainty is wearing on me. No, I’m not sick. And none of my loved ones are. For those of you who are sick or who are dealing with the illness or the death of a loved one, I cannot imagine your burden. But even for those of us who were simply asked to stay home, then walk through the phased steps to return to something close to normal, this is proving hard in some unexpected ways...

About the Author KARL VATERS has been a small church pastor for thirty years, and is currently the teaching pastor at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Fountain Valley, California. He is author of The Grasshopper Myth: Big Churches, Small Churches, and the Small Thinking that Divides Us and Small Church Essentials: Field-Tested Principles for Leading a Healthy Congregation of Under 250. You can learn more about Karl at www.KarlVaters.com. Karl and his wife, Shelley, have three kids (Veronica, Matt, and Phil) and one son-in-law (Sam).

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God designed a complex network of neurological circuits to work together to help us stay relationally connected and attuned to each other. When these relational circuits are running as designed, we call this “Relational Mode.” Our emotional and relational sensitivity is working and we look at life through a relational filter. We are emotionally attuned to other people and share their pain. In this mode our identity is stable and we spread joy and life to those around us...

Excerpt pulled from pages 171-175 in The Other Half of Church by Michel Hendricks and Jim Wilder (Moody Publishers, August 2020)

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Some of you reading this are standing at the edge of something new and contemplating your first step across the border. I want to remind you that God has already gone before you. Stepping out may stretch your faith, but God is already preparing a way. The first bold step never comes without challenges. Crossing borders, stepping into new seasons, and walking through open doors will always stretch our faith and challenge our comfort. The moment you step out into a new environment, the adventure begins.

About the Author

MARK JOBE is the president of Moody Bible Institute and host of Moody Radio's Bold Steps. He is the author of Unstuck: Out of Your Cave into Your Call. He is also the founding pastor of New Life Community Church, a Chicago-based ministry with 27 locations throughout Chicago. Mark has a Master's degree from Moody Theological Seminary and a Doctorate in

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Church attendance has been on thin ice for some time with many Millennials asking, “Why should I go to church at all?” One often repeated comment about church is, “I love Jesus. It is church people I don’t care for.” Church life hasn’t produced the kind of character young people desire. Now COVID-19 has further changed Sunday attendance. Many people are asking, “Why should I go back? Isn’t virtual church enough?”

About the Author

Michel Hendricks and Jim Wilder have written The Other Half of Church about full-brain training in Christlike character. The four soils detailed in the book grow mature disciples of Jesus and provide the basis for the transforming sequence described in this article. Both authors and their families live in Colorado.

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Have you ever winced upon learning that a long-time member has left your church? Even harder, does that individual appear to doubt some or much of what he or she used to believe about God, the Bible, Jesus Christ, the Church, and the Christian faith?

If so, how did you respond?

That’s a tough question to answer, isn’t it? Even for pastors. Especially for pastors...

About the Author

David Sanford‘s book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, Barbour, and Amazon. His newest book is Choose Courage: 3-Minute Devotions for Men.

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I learned to drive before smartphones with GPS were commonplace. If I wanted to go somewhere new, I needed to do a little homework first. Do you remember the routine? Find the address, look it up on a map (or later, MapQuest), and then either plan your route or print out the directions. It was laborious, but it was a necessary process if you wanted to arrive at your destination.

About the author

Matt VanGent is an Executive Pastor and Leadership Coach, helping pastors bridge the gap between the theology they learned in seminary and the leadership skills they need in order to grow healthy churches. You can find out more at beyondseminary.net.

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Churches in vacation destinations face unique struggles. They tend to see fluctuating attendance, with many visitors coming in during the vacation season and then attendance dropping in the off-season. With the right planning, most of these churches can adapt and save up money for these times.

But with COVID-19, some churches will undoubtedly miss out on the vacation influx as people cut back on or cancel travel plans. How can these churches weather the storm? Here are a few practical ways to survive if your church is missing out on the usual rush of visitors...

About the Author:

Dr. Tom McElheny has served as an elder and director of Christian education for three Sarasota, Florida, churches, holds advanced degrees in business and education, and is CEO of his company, ChurchPlaza (www.churchplaza.com).

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God’s words are powerful because within His words there is a love we don’t have to work for or strive to maintain. God loves you. He says it, and you can experience that love on a daily basis. Particularly if you are a words of affirmation kind of man or woman, you can feel loved. You can live into God’s love by hearing God’s words. Through your mobile device, you can read God’s words to you and experience love and companionship in a way you may never have thought possible...

Excerpted from Seen. Known. Loved.: 5 Truths About God and Your Love Language by Gary Chapman & R. York Moore ( 2020). Published by Moody Publishers. Used with permission.

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Earlier this year I began a mastermind group with other small town pastors, and even though I’m teaching and facilitating the group, I feel like I’m learning just as much as they are. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that most small town pastors feel overwhelmed...

Travis Stephens

I am a husband, father, and executive pastor of a small town church that went big. I have a passion for helping pastors grow themselves and the churches they serve. You can find out more about me and my ministry at http://travisstephens.me

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It certainly seems like we live in a day when everyone is interested in the end of time. This appears to surface in every period of history that has seen trying times as preachers, teachers and parishioners try to make sense of what they are seeing. Today is no different.

Written by Will Sharples, Rage Ministries

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Whether you have been walking closely with the Lord or running hard on a path far away from Him, those words stop you in your tracks and then bring you to your knees. Cancer—could there be a more unwelcome, more truly loathsome intruder? You have, no doubt, recoiled at the thought of cancer and perhaps struggled numbly to comprehend what sort of storm may lie ahead. And maybe your heart has voiced a silent, sincere question to God: why, Lord?

Excerpted from Strength for the Cancer Journey: 30 Days of Inspiration, Encouragement, and Comfort by Deborah Barr (©July 2020). Published by Moody Publishers. Used with permission.

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/why-lord/

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When we talk about God, it is important to realize that we are not talking about some idea of our own making. We are talking about the God who created roaring seas of wonder, covered the mountaintops with swirling snow, and filled the world with beautiful...

Excerpted from Seen. Known. Loved.: 5 Truths About God and Your Love Language by Gary Chapman & R. York Moore ( 2020). Published by Moody Publishers. Used with permission.

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If I want to be full, open to receiving abundant grace—more human, selfless—first I must be emptied. He must increase, and I must decrease (John 3:30 ESV). The word I discovered is kenōsis. Oh, it’s not that I never heard the word. On the contrary, I’m quite familiar with the idea. But it’s one thing to define it and discuss it in a detached sort of way—to keep it at a safe distance. It’s another thing altogether when God calls us to put it into practice. And he always calls us to put it into practice.

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How do we remember well? How do we recall the pain of history without reinforcing its trauma or repeating its mistakes? How do we memorialize without sanitizing? In the wake of monuments tumbling-- in some cases as an act of repentance or justice, and in other instances as a result of an angry or ignorant mob-- the question we are grappling with is one of memory and mercy. How do we remember a failure through the prism of mercy? Can remembrance meet repentance?

Glenn Packiam (Doctor of Theology and Ministry, Durham) is an associate senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He has authored many books, and his most recently released title is Worship and the World to Come: Exploring Christian Hope in Contemporary Worship (IVP, 2020).

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Most often, when we debate the Bible, we make secondary things primary. When we love our opinions, perspectives, or judgments at the expense of loving people, we are at risk for not loving people at all. C. S. Lewis put it like this, “Put first things first and we get second things thrown in: put second things first and we lose both first and second things. . . . You can’t get second things by putting them first; you can only get second things by putting first things first.”

Sharon Hersh is a licensed professional counselor, an adjunct professor in graduate counseling programs, a sought-after speaker, and the author of several books, including the acclaimed The Last Addiction: Why Self Help Is Not Enough, the popular Bravehearts: Unlocking the Courage to Love With Abandon, and the award-winning Mothering Without Guilt. Sharon lives in Lone Tree, Colorado and is finding freedom and adventure in the empty nest years. Sharon’s latest book, Belonging, releases from NavPress in August 2020.

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No one makes political decisions from a neutral position. To make a policy decision is to choose certain values and goods over others. Political decisions are inevitably informed by a certain worldview or outlook. When Christians aren’t applying biblical principles to their political opinions, their point of view is guided by other belief systems.

Adapted from Compassion & Conviction by Justin Giboney, Michael Wear, Chris Butler. Copyright (c) 2020 by Justin E. Giboney, Michael R. Wear, and Christopher Butler. Published by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. www.ivpress.com

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When I first gave my life to Jesus, I remember saying to him, “Wherever you want me, whatever you want, however and whenever you want it—I am all yours.” Honestly, I think that kind of response is just what love, in fact, does. If you’ve ever fallen in love, you know what I’m talking about. Love gives itself, and it gives itself completely. That’s what marriage is: I am yours, and you are mine. And when the love of Jesus touches us, when his call comes to us, it awakens a similar response—I am all yours!

Andrew Arndt is the lead pastor of New Life East, one of seven congregations of New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Prior to joining New Life’s team, he served as lead pastor of Bloom Church: a neo-monastic, charismatic, liturgical, justice-driven network of house churches in Denver. He is the host of the Essential Church podcast, a weekly conversation designed to strengthen the thinking of church and ministry leaders. Andrew received his MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and has written for Missio Alliance, Patheos, The Other Journal, and Mere Orthodoxy. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Mandi, and their four kids. Andrew’s upcoming book, All Flame, releases from NavPress in September 2020.

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Let’s just put it out there: the word evangelism is usually a turnoff—and not only to non-Christians. I’ve taught classes on evangelism...

Adapted from Chapter Nine, “Leading: What’s a Leader to Do?”

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“You are the smartest person in the room.” “I was hoping you could do me a favor,” “You and I have more in common than you think.”

Adapted from Something’s Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuse—and Freeing Yourself from Its Power by Wade Mullen, releasing from Tyndale House Publishers in October 2020.

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The musical Hamilton resonates with me more than any piece of art I have ever experienced, primarily because it teems with the most important themes of my life. Engaging these themes of grace, shame, forgiveness, and surrender through Hamilton’s story encourages, inspires, and transforms me. But above all other themes, Hamilton’s story resonates with me because, ultimately, it tells a story that I desperately need to experience: it tells a story of redemption.

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Sometimes people say that their severe loss is like a hole in their hearts. It is so hard to describe that empty space, that tear in the fabric of the universe. When it happens we struggle to adjust to something or someone who is not there. We are adjusting to a negative space, which is completely different from adjusting to a new presence in our life, like when we find a new friend or take home a new baby. What is hard to describe is that we are not just sad about missing someone beloved. We are hearing a whistling wind coming from a space that was filled and is now empty.

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My spiritually mismatched marriage chronicle began in a dance club in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ya, that’s right! That is where I met my husband. We dated long-distance for more than a year then married quickly. It wasn’t the best of circumstances in which to begin a marriage. At that time in my life, I’d abandoned the faith of my Sunday school years and was living fast and furious in the badlands of the Prodigal Nation. My brokenness and the devices of Satan left great wounds and deception upon my heart. As time passed, I found myself drawn into dangerous living that nearly destroyed my relationships with my family, my Christian friends, and almost took my life.

Lynn Donovan is a speaker, author, and an ordinary woman who shares with audiences her everyday adventures of walking in the Presence of God. Her delight is igniting believer’s hearts with Holy Spirit fire, inspiring all of God’s children to step fully into their divine identity and purpose for their life.   She has been featured guest on the 700 Club Interactive, Focus on the Family, Dr. James Dobson's FamilyTalk and FamilyLife Today. She co-authored the award-winning book, Winning Him Without Words and also Not Alone, Trusting God to Help You Raise Godly Kids In a Spiritually Mismatched Marriage. She has a son and a daughter and a granddaughter. She lives with her husband in Temecula, California. Visit Lynn online at marchingaroundjericho.com.

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In times like these, we begin to realize how critical our foundations are. We all strive to value strong foundations all the time, but we all know that we struggle to put down strong foundations. It is often easy to build and grow and expand during the good times without giving detail to the first steps that are required. Really…who wants to waste time to read the instructions? Come hard times, we start to remember how important it is that we not let ourselves get too far ahead of what our foundations can endure. Indeed, foundations are critical.

Kirsten McClain serves in church missions mobilization for OMF. She has been serving churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various free resources that OMF uses to come alongside churches and individuals so that they can do missions well. kmcclainomfmail@gmail.com

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Following Jesus as never been easy, but some believe it’s becoming even more difficult as Western cultures become increasingly post-Christian. Today, fewer people identify as “Christian,” fewer attend church with any regularity, and the fastest growing religious group in the United States is the so-called Nones—those with no religious affiliation. Along with these demographic changes, fewer people see the Bible as a source for moral or spiritual wisdom, and popular attitudes toward traditional Christian sexual ethics now reside somewhere between indifference and hostility.

Excerpted from What If Jesus Was Serious?: A Visual Guide to the Teachings of Jesus We Love to Ignore by Skye Jethani (Moody Publishers, June 2020).

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I have been disappointed by how many church leaders avoid having crucial conversations as if they were the bubonic plague. Instead, they believe the innuendos, reasoning, and deductions they’ve never investigated but have received as factual, allowing them to shape the way they view others. This, of course, limits the depth of their personal relationships. It’s mind boggling. Having a conversation takes much less energy!

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By any name—attitude, orientation, choice, habit, discipline, virtue, or practice—learning to wait on the Lord is an essential, transformative, and rewarding dimension of spiritual formation. This perspective is countercultural and unexpected: waiting is positive. It is not merely a “dry season” or something we need to escape. Rightly conceived, spiritual waiting is a crucial, ongoing dimension of following Christ and loving God. It’s a vital part of our Christian pilgrimage.

BRADLEY BAURAIN has taught for more than 25 years in the United States, Canada, China, and Vietnam. He currently leads the TESOL programs at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He is the author of Religious Faith and Teacher Knowledge in English Language Teaching, co-editor of the International Journal of Christianity and English Language Teaching, and writes devotional studies for Moody's Today in the Word.

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When we lose someone we love, we ask God why it happened. Sometimes, we get the answer we seek. Other times, we have to wait. But regardless of closure, grief hurts, and it hits hard. Here are some ways you can take care of yourself while you heal the emotional wounds of loss.

Author Lucille Rosetti │The Bereaved

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You only have to spend a few minutes on Facebook to know we are living in an epidemic of inner emptiness, complete with a cast of characters who escape in all kinds of “isms” or put others down as a path to their identity. But understanding the cast of characters in all of our stories—rather than blaming or dismissing them—can be a healing path back to one another.

Sharon Hersh is a licensed professional counselor, an adjunct professor in graduate counseling programs, a sought-after speaker, and the author of several books, including the acclaimed The Last Addiction: Why Self Help Is Not Enough, the popular Bravehearts: Unlocking the Courage to Love With Abandon, and the award-winning Mothering Without Guilt. Sharon lives in Lone Tree, Colorado and is finding freedom and adventure in the empty nest years. Sharon’s latest book, Belonging, releases from NavPress in August 2020.

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To communicate effectively, church leaders need to use precise, carefully chosen messages with accurate and complete details. Words are certainly a key component, but they’re just part of the equation.

For communications that are guaranteed to inform, inspire, and invite readers, it’s important to include relevant, attention-grabbing artwork such as clip art, photos and other graphic elements.

Stephanie Martin is an editor for Communication Resources.

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Allow me to introduce a man I am quite confident will be a new friend, colleague, and favorite prophet. In your study of the Bible, you’ve read the chapter he authored, but probably didn’t give the man himself much thought. His name is Agur. He’s smart, funny, and quite perceptive. He loves God. He’s streetwise in a good way. And he’s not afraid to speak his mind.

Adapted from The Prayer of Agur: Ancient Wisdom for Discovering Your Sweet Spot in Life. Copyright © 2020 by Jay Payleitner. Published by Multnomah, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, on June 9, 2020.

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The first recorded sermon by Jesus is a pastor’s worst nightmare. Halfway through the place erupts violently. The hometown synagogue crowd furiously drives Jesus out of the city “in order to throw him off the cliff” (Luke 4:28-29).

David Sanford‘s book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, Barbour, and Amazon. His newest book is Choose Courage: 3-Minute Devotions for Men.

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As followers of Christ, many of us wrestle with how we, and the congregations we lead, can make the most impact in helping those in need, especially those entrenched in a cycle of poverty. We take seriously the mandate given to us in Matthew 25:40, “And the King will say, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,” but we may wonder how we can most effectively invest our time and resources to live this out.

Rev. Dr. Roger Dermody is the CEO for PathLight International, a U.S.-based Christian non-profit organization that provides access to quality education to students in Belize, one of the most impoverished countries in the world. Learn more about PathLight International and its sponsorship, teacher training, and community partner programs at www.PathLight.org.

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Yet another pastor confided to me: “I almost feel powerless to do anything about racial justice.... What do I know about racism? I feel like a part of the problem that can never be a part of the solution because of the color of my skin. I feel like I am scolded, ‘How could you understand!?’ while at the same time I am told that my silence is deafening.” I shared a brand-new book with him just I have with countless others in recent days. I have told each one: Don’t just read the title and subtitle. Read the book itself.

David Sanford‘s book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, Barbour, and Amazon. His newest book is Choose Courage: 3-Minute Devotions for Men.

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I have a sister who lives in Vancouver, Washington, and another who resides in Richardson, Texas. Vancouver has few cases of COVID-19. But Dallas County, by comparison, has a lot. Yet, at the moment, Vancouver has stricter social-distancing restrictions than Richardson.

Sandra Glahn is associate professor of Media Arts and Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary. She is the author, co-author, or general editor of more than twenty books, the most recent being The City of Ephesus: A Short History.

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I was about eleven years old when we got the word that my mother, older brother, and I had finally been approved to move into the government housing project. We had been on the waiting list for a long time, and by most accounts it was a big move up.

Dennis D. Frey, Th.D., President Master's International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu

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Why are we painfully seeing more suicides in the ministry? Why does it seem like a “taboo” topic to bring up? Why does it seem that people are fearful to tell the truth when it comes to someone taking their own life?

Pastor John Adams has been pastoring New Life Church in Sandusky, Ohio for over 23 years. For more information on Emotional Survival for Pastors and the 3 “D” Pastoral Legacy Framework, visit: PastorJohn.net

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Look at the nations and watch — and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. — Habakkuk 1:5

James Choung (DMin, Fuller Theological Seminary) is vice president of strategy and innovation for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. He is the co-author of Longing for Revival (IVP) and author of True Story and Real Life. Ordained with the Association of Vineyard Churches, he previously served on the pastoral staff of a Boston-area urban church plant, a megachurch in Seoul, and a house church in Los Angeles.

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Praying for the revival of the church and rebuilding of the city is always crucial, but has a timely urgency during the present COVID-19 crisis. While hopes for urban renewal always burn deep within Christ’s church, in just a few short weeks prayer has risen from the depths from pedestrians to vital. Christians all over the world have united, ‘lifting our voices together” (Acts 4:24). Like the formation of life itself, when DNA coalesces, it seems to be guided by an invisible conductor, with the amino acids and proteins joining together in a synchronized dance of elements. The same is true of a praying community. Irresistibly and invisibly, the Spirit is bringing His people together to pray.

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I’ve been reading the Bible almost every day for decades. I firmly believe that any listening and reading of Scripture is better than none at all, but I do think that some of the ways I’ve read the Bible have ended up restricting my own spiritual growth.

Dr. Phil Collins serves as the General Editor for The Abide Bible. He is Co-executive Director of the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement where he has been a full-time Christian Ministries professor since 1999. Dr. Collins earned a B.A. in Bible Literature and Christian Education from Taylor University, an M.A. in Christian Education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Purdue University. In addition to his academic work, Dr. Collins was formerly on staff with Youth for Christ and has served as a church youth pastor.

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God’s mission in the world includes you. Uniquely you. Specifically you. Think through those statements for a moment. God—the Lord of the universe, sovereign over all nations, creator of all humankind, allpowerful, all-knowing, everywhere present—has a mission that includes you! You—created in God’s image but rebellious, given the gift of life but still a sinner—are given the invitation to do the mission of God in the world. For some reason beyond our comprehension, God has decided to do his work through us. Author and missionary Elisabeth Elliot states it beautifully:

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You’ve probably never heard the name Oswald Avery.

Not long after the influenza pandemic of 1918, he devoted himself to finding the cause of this horrific virus. Avery lived in a laboratory, hovering over petri dishes and test tubes. Unfortunately, each research experiment seemed to end in failure. He retired in 1943, with little to show for his years of labor. He finally published what he considered a significant discovery. It raised some eyebrows, but...

Aaron Menikoff is the Senior Pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned an M.Div. and Ph.D. at Southern Seminary where he studied Christian social engagement during the Second Great Awakening. He is the author of multiple books including his latest Character Matters: Shepherding in the Fruit of the Spirit.

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Turning a church from unhealthy to healthy is a daunting task. It starts by working smarter, not harder. Here’s an example

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A friend confessed to me that, for years, whenever he tried to read the Bible he would get so bored that he stopped reading after a short time. This surprised me because my friend was leading a vibrant ministry and I know he has a deep relationship with God. Yet his confession rang true. There have been times when I, too, have found the Bible to be pretty dry and difficult to read.

Dr. Phil Collins serves as the General Editor for The Abide Bible. He is Co-executive Director of the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement where he has been a full-time Christian Ministries professor since 1999. Dr. Collins earned a B.A. in Bible Literature and Christian Education from Taylor University, an M.A. in Christian Education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Purdue University. In addition to his academic work, Dr. Collins was formerly on staff with Youth for Christ and has served as a church youth pastor.

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Can faith and fear co-exist? Can we have hope in the midst of fear? Aren’t we, as God’s people, especially in difficult times, to eradicate fear from among us? Easier said than done! While fear is an emotion; faith is a choice. We can’t always control what emotions we feel, but we always have a choice whether or not they control us. With mandated stay at home orders, people wearing surgical masks, social distancing and evaporating jobs and paychecks, even as people of faith, it is completely understandable, if we approach this resurrection season with fear of the unknown. Is it acceptable for people of faith to have fear?

Pastor John has been a Sr. Pastor for over 36 years in only 2 churches, and also serves as a Regional Law Enforcement Chaplain to 4 local agencies. For more wisdom and insight on pastoral ministry and leaving a good legacy, visit: PastorJohn.net

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Jesus told his followers to “Go . . . make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19). We generally read the passage to say, “Go make believers.” The difference might seem subtle, but the implications are enormous. When Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples,” He initiated a chain of attachments. Disciples make disciples who make disciples and on and on to the end of the earth.

Dr. Jim Wilder is a neurotheologian who has trained leaders and counselors for nearly 30 years on five continents. The founder of Life Model Works, he is an expert on the intersection of theology and brain science. He is the author of Renovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church That Transforms and coauthor of Rare Leadership and Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You.

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As was true after 9/11, the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic has people turning back to the Scriptures in droves. Bible sales are significantly up, as are the number of people downloading reading plans from YouVersion.

Paul Caminiti is co-Founder of The Institute for Bible Reading, which in collaboration with Tyndale House Publishers, recently launched a free virtual Bible book club called Immerse from Home. He has been a cultural innovator for the Bible for over two decades. As the Bible Publisher at Zondervan and Vice President of Bible Engagement at Biblica, he helped launch The Bible in 90 Days, The Story, and Community Bible Experience. His interviews have appeared in: Newsweek, The New Yorker, USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NBC News. Paul currently lives in Grand Rapids, MI.

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In my experiences with racial reconciliation conversations, there usually comes a moment when superficial talk gets real. Often this comes about because a person of color takes the risk to share how racism and white supremacy have impacted her life. And then, almost invariably, in response to this vulnerable testimony, a white person begins to speak, usually through tears. This person shares about how overwhelming this experience has been, how he hadn’t known the extent of our racialized society and its racist history, about how sad, angry, or confused he is feeling now. I’ve watched this happen so many times that I can almost predict it: the move away from a person of color’s experience to a white person’s emotions.

David W. Swanson is the pastor of New Community Covenant Church, a multicultural congregation in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. He helps lead New Community Outreach, a nonprofit that collaborates with the community to reduce sources of trauma, and speaks around the country on the topics of racial justice and reconciliation.

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When I was young, I had a soccer coach who told me I didn’t know how to run—and that he was going to teach me. His statement made me mad. I actually didn’t like my coach too much; I thought he was kind of overweight for a coach, he was pushier than any coach I’d ever had, and I was sure he wasn’t playing me in games enough. Besides, I’d been running all my life and my dad had been a college track star (so I figured I had running in my genetic makeup). Who was he to tell me I could learn from him how to run? I look back now on that coach and realize he was right. I didn’t know how to run, and what he taught me sticks with me to this day.

Dr. Phil Collins serves as the General Editor for The Abide Bible. He is Co-executive Director of the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement where he has been a full-time Christian Ministries professor since 1999. Dr. Collins earned a B.A. in Bible Literature and Christian Education from Taylor University, an M.A. in Christian Education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Purdue University. In addition to his academic work, Dr. Collins was formerly on staff with Youth for Christ and has served as a church youth pastor.

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Four hundred years before Israel ever had a king, God gave Moses a spiritual practice that would transform the life of the king and the people he served. The practice is described in Deuteronomy 17:18-20, a passage you might not have paid much attention to:

Dr. Phil Collins serves as the General Editor for The Abide Bible. He is Co-executive Director of the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement where he has been a full-time Christian Ministries professor since 1999. Dr. Collins earned a B.A. in Bible Literature and Christian Education from Taylor University, an M.A. in Christian Education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Purdue University. In addition to his academic work, Dr. Collins was formerly on staff with Youth for Christ and has served as a church youth pastor.

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I dialed into yet another Zoom call. Pastors’ faces filled the screen. The upper left corner said, “So, when are you guys gathering again?” Chatter erupted about state restrictions, social distancing, and size limitations. Then someone asked, “How are you guys doing?”—crickets.

Jonathan Dodson is s the founding pastor of City Life Church in Austin, Texas, and founder of Gospel-Centered Discipleship. He is the author of several books with his most recent release entitled Our Good Crisis published by InterVarsity Press.

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I dialed into yet another Zoom call. Pastors’ faces filled the screen. The upper left corner said, “So, when are you guys gathering again?” Chatter erupted about state restrictions, social distancing, and size limitations. Then someone asked, “How are you guys doing?”—crickets.

Jonathan Dodson is s the founding pastor of City Life Church in Austin, Texas, and founder of Gospel-Centered Discipleship. He is the author of several books with his most recent release entitled Our Good Crisis published by InterVarsity Press.

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One of the biggest challenges for any church is to figure out how to measure healthfulness. The usual default is to count attendance figures. But the number of church attenders was never the best measure of church health, and it’s becoming a less-accurate measure as time goes on.

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With the novel coronavirus shutting down nearly every church in the country, pastors are facing difficult financial challenges. Congregants may be giving less during this time. This could be due to personal financial difficulties, or they may simply forget to make their weekly contribution if they are used to giving in-person.

Dr. Tom McElheny has served as an elder and director of Christian education for three Sarasota, Florida, churches, holds advanced degrees in business and education, and is CEO of his company, ChurchPlaza (www.churchplaza.com).

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There has been much written about the exodus of Millennials from the church. But I haven’t seen much discussion about the effect of that exodus on those they’ve left behind; specifically, the parents who sought to pass on their faith to their children both at home and via involvement with their local church.

Since coming to faith in Christ at the tail end of the Jesus Movement, Michelle Van Loon’s Jewish heritage, spiritual hunger, and storyteller’s sensibilities have shaped her faith journey and informed her writing. She is the author of five books, including Becoming Sage: Cultivating Meaning, Purpose and Spirituality in Midlife and Born to Wander: Recovering the Value of Our Pilgrim Identity. Michelle is a regular contributor to Christianity Today’s women’s blog, In Touch magazine, and is the co-founder of www.ThePerennialGen.com, a website for midlife women and men. Learn about her writing and speaking ministry by visiting her website, www.michellevanloon.com.

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None of us really expected that we would be indoors together, not really having human contact with other people and it can be really hard, for so many reasons. It’s easy to go to social media and vent about how difficult it is to be with your spouse 24/7 or how challenging it is to be with your little humans all the time. And yeah, it’s easy to get on each other’s nerves and it’s hard to be in close quarters with people.

ASHERITAH CIUCIU is a bestselling writer and speaker, wife to her high school sweetheart Flaviu, and mama to three spunky kiddos. She grew up in Romania as a missionary kid and studied English and Women's Ministry at Cedarville University. Her passion is helping women find joy in Jesus through creative and consistent time with God's Word. Discover your creative Quiet Time personality at www.OneThingAlone.com.

This content originally appeared at www.moodypublishers.com/help for the Moody Publishers Rethink Rhythms. Find Joy. campaign. Used by permission.

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What are the characteristics of a church with a healthy culture? Let’s look at four of them. First, the people in a healthy culture know the church doesn’t exist for its own self but for God’s glory. No farmer works hard to keep a field healthy just so they can say “Look! A healthy field!” They do it to produce...

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This sad abandonment of the humble way of Jesus shows up today in pastors of large and small churches, in beloved Christian celebrities, prolific clergy authors and bloggers, dynamic church planters, and seemingly godly men and women. The frightening reality of narcissism is that it often presents in a compelling package. Narcissism is the “glittering image” we present to the world, as novelist Susan Howatch describes it in her novel Glittering Images, which tells the story of a mid-twentieth century clergy narcissist. Could it be that the very men and women who are called to be shepherds of the flock struggle most with narcissism?

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COVID-19 burst onto the global scene out of nowhere. Well, not out of nowhere. However, in terms of the things you expected to experience in 2020, yes, it figuratively burst onto the scene out of nowhere.

Dr. Jeannie Clarkson is the researcher behind a groundbreaking study linking emotional intelligence and performance-based self-esteem with burnout among Christian pastors. She is founder of Christian Care Connection, a multi-staff professional counseling center in the greater Toledo, Ohio area. She also is the author of the book, The Emotionally Intelligent Pastor: A Guide for Clergy and Other Church Leaders.

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With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world as we know it has turned upside down in just a matter of weeks, leaving educators across the country scrambling to provide content and resources through eLearning to students sheltering in place at home. In spite of the rush to continue students on a seamless path of learning, those leading and teaching at Christian schools can take heart that even when things seem shaky and unknown, we are called to such a time as this.

Dr. Hutz Hertzberg is President of Christian Heritage Academy in Northfield, Illinois, a PreK-12 school. Dr. Hertzberg has previously pastored in the local church and has also served in Christian higher education and in para-church leadership. He is a graduate of both Wheaton College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

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The word Gospel occurs multiple times throughout the New Testament. It’s first appearance is in Matthew chapter 4 and it’s last is in Revelation chapter 14 and most of the books in between use this phrase. Paul uses it more than all the other writers combined as it is found in all his writings except for Titus.

Will Sharples R.A.G.E. Ministries, INC www.rageministries.org

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I wanted to take a few moments to share with you how nature and creation has been really significant to us and to our family in these last few days. Like you, our lives have been turned upside down in just a matter of a few weeks. And that comes with a lot of anxiety and a lot of uncertainty, a lot of fear. One of the things that has been important for our family in the middle of all of this is just turning our eyes back to creation and back to the natural world.

HANNAH R. ANDERSON lives in the haunting Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She spends her days working beside her husband in rural ministry, caring for their three children, and scratching out odd moments to write. In those in-between moments, she contributes to a variety of Christian publications and is the author of Made for More (Moody, 2014), Humble Roots (Moody, 2016), and All That's Good (Moody, 2018). You can connect with her at her blog www.sometimesalight.com and on Twitter @sometimesalight.

This content originally appeared at www.moodypublishers.com/help for the Moody Publishers Rethink Rhythms. Find Joy. campaign. Used by permission.

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“Can’t we all just get along?” became a popular saying after Rodney King uttered this question during riots in Los Angeles in 1992. Many would think these words are not needed in churches either because we have all already learned it isn’t really possible to get along or because they think that Christians already do get along! As it turns out, this same question needs to be asked about missions. Really? After all, aren’t all missionaries and missions agencies just focused on the Great Commission and the unfinished task to reach all nations? Aren’t they all really the same and working together and getting along and accomplishing so much for the kingdom of God?

Kirsten McClain serves in church missions mobilization for OMF. She has been serving churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various resources that OMF uses to come alongside churches and individuals so that they can do missions well. kmcclainomfmail@gmail.com

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Like a lot of us, I’m stuck at home today. I’m blessed to be trapped here with my family. In fact, we’ve done a lot of things to try to make this new reality more enjoyable and more fun for all of us. And that’s why I’m here with you today. We’re going to be talking about how to keep your marriage healthy when you’re together 24/7. We’re going to talk about how to make a plan for making the most out of this time when you’re together, how to build a rhythm, some things you want to avoid, and some things you can do to make this as enjoyable as possible. You can remember these four habits with the word “PLAN”: Play together, Listen for emotions, Appreciate daily, and Nurture rhythm. We’ll start with playing together.

MARCUS WARNER (M.Div., Th.M. and D.Min. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is the president of Deeper Walk International. He is a former pastor and college professor who has written several books on topics ranging from how to study the Bible to spiritual warfare, emotional healing, and leadership. Marcus has done training events for organizations such as Navigators, Willow Creek Prison Ministry, and Moody Church. He has traveled the world with Deeper Walk equipping people on the front lines of ministry with practical tools for dealing with root issues that keep people and ministries stuck and unable to go deeper into what God has for them. Website for the book: https://deeperwalkinternational.org/4habits/

This content originally appeared at www.moodypublishers.com/help for the Moody Publishers Rethink Rhythms. Find Joy. campaign. Used by permission.

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Blended family relationships naturally create loyalty conflicts—or maybe we could call them love conflicts. “Am I still loved? Who do you love more—your spouse/kids or me? Your old life or our new one?” What results is a household of competing relationships where everyone is fighting to matter…to someone, but not necessarily everyone.

Adapted from Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages® and Becoming Stepfamily Smart by Gary Chapman and Ron L. Deal, Northfield Publishers (2020). Used with permission. All rights to this material are reserved.

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We are witnessing endless accounts of leaders who have received the flag of disqualification, raised the white flag of premature surrender, or thrown in the towel because of debilitating discouragement. No doubt, the complexities of modern ministry, the onslaught of extraordinary temptations, and our superficial measurements of pastoral success can erode our personal satisfaction. Yet, the real need is for a clearer more compelling vision of our ultimate calling.

DANIEL HENDERSON was a senior pastor for over two decades and brought prayer-based revitalization to numerous churches. He now serves as the president of Strategic Renewal, dedicating his full-time efforts to help congregations around the world experience renewal. He is the author of numerous books on biblical leadership and prayer, including Glorious Finish.

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Today people have access to the best sermons and church music in the world, at the touch of their fingertips. So why don’t they just stay home and listen from the comfort of their beds on Sunday mornings? For those of us who are leading church communities, putting forth our best effort week in and week out to craft sermons and songs that might impact our communities, how do we deal with the reality that our people can more conveniently stay home and listen to the Tim Kellers, Andy Stanleys, Francis Chans, and Erwin McManuses of the world—gifted communicators whose content is, more often than not, far more engaging than anything we could come up with on our own?

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A lot is being written about God's role in the COVID-19 pandemic. Some are suggesting that it is Divine retribution for mankind's wickedness. Others are promoting the idea that God is allowing it to happen in order to teach the world a lesson. Many are theorizing that God is doing it to get our attention.

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I want to share with you what I believe to be a secret during this time to help us deal with the anxiety and worry that we all feel in varying degrees. It’s called mindfulness. Now, I recognize that mindfulness is kind of a questionable practice among Christians and it’s a fair question to ask.

DR. CHARLES STONE (M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, D.Min., Trinity Evangelical Divinity Seminary) has served for 37 years in ministry, 24 of those years as a senior pastor. He currently pastors West Park Church in London, Ontario, Canada, a multicultural congregation with over 1,000 attendees. He founded StoneWell Ministries to serve pastors and churches through coaching and consulting. Many of his articles have been featured in magazines such as Outreach, Leadership Journal, REV, New Man, and In Touch and his blog posts have appeared on sites such as Pastors.com, SermonCentral.com, ChurchCentral.com, and Churchleaders.com. Charles and his wife Sherryl have been married for 36 years and have three adult children. Website: https://charlesstone.com/

This content originally appeared at www.moodypublishers.com/help for the Moody Publishers Rethink Rhythms. Find Joy. campaign. Used by permission.

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Hello, my name is Trillia Newbell and I am looking forward to talking to you about the hope we have in Romans 8. What interesting times we are in! I’m going to talk about one of the rhetorical questions that Paul addresses. A rhetorical question is asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point, rather than to be answered. But during this time, it’s almost as if Paul is saying, “If God did all of these things for you, he provided his Son for you, how would he not also grant you all things?” Read Romans 8:31: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

TRILLIA NEWBELL is the author of Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God's Good Gifts (2016), Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves (2015), United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity (2014), a children's book, God's Very Good Idea: A True Story of God's Delightfully Different Family, and a six-week Bible study on Romans 8, If God is For Us: The Everlasting Truth of Our Great Salvation. She is currently Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention. Trillia is married to her best friend, Thern, they reside with their two children near Nashville, TN. You can find her at www.trillianewbell.com and follow her on twitter at @trillianewbell.

This content originally appeared at www.moodypublishers.com/help for the Moody Publishers Rethink Rhythms. Find Joy. campaign. Used by permission.

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We are all trying to figure this out, without a doubt. This is uncharted territory. You can think of this as an unfamiliar wilderness. We don’t know which way to go. It’s helpful if you have a compass when you’re out in the middle of the wilderness. I want to share with you some navigation points on this compass to help us navigate these uncharted waters.

RON L. DEAL is one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the country. He is founder of Smart Stepfamilies™, Director of FamilyLife Blended® for Family Life®, the author of numerous videos and books on stepfamily living including the bestselling The Smart Stepfamily, and is consulting editor for the Smart Stepfamily Series of books. Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist, popular speaker, and host of the podcast FamilyLife Blended. He and his wife, Nan, have three sons and live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Find events and resources at RonDeal.org.

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Dealing with the passing of a loved one is never easy, but it becomes more challenging when legal loose ends remain untied. In addition to navigating life without your spouse, you also need to make crucial financial decisions that can affect your future and the future of your loved ones.

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When the COVID-19 pandemic first began shuttering doors across America along with many other parts of the world, I read an editorial suggesting that we shouldn’t be concerned about being productive during weeks of isolation. But as weeks turn into months, few of us are content binge-watching Netflix or cleaning out closets. Time is the most finite resource we have. As a woman in ministry, I pray daily, “Oh, Lord, let me use my time wisely and well!”

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To bond with stepchildren, stepparents are prudent to lead with love and to apply the principles of the 5 love languages with wisdom. Further, as we discuss in our book Building Love Together in Blended Families, to dissuade feelings of rejection it is important that stepparents learn to listen for love.

Taken from Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages® and Becoming Stepfamily Smart by Gary Chapman and Ron L. Deal, Northfield Publishers (2020). Used with permission. All rights to this material are reserved.

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We are witnessing endless accounts of leaders who have received the flag of disqualification, raised the white flag of premature surrender, or thrown in the towel because of debilitating discouragement. No doubt, the complexities of modern ministry, the onslaught of extraordinary temptations, and our superficial measurements of pastoral success can erode our personal satisfaction. Yet, the real need is for a clearer more compelling vision of our ultimate calling.

By Daniel Henderson

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How can a pastor benefit from an article defining prayer? In a sense, pastors are professional pray-ers, responsible for leading the corporate prayer life of the church and providing an example to their people. They’ve seen God answer prayer, in miraculous ways. They take Paul’s admonition to Timothy seriously, “that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:1, NIV) They’ve led prayer retreats and taught children the prayer hand.

Written by Darlene Franklin

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If you’re a pastor, your church may not be gathering together physically because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re a traveling evangelist or minister, all your scheduled engagements may have suddenly cancelled. Your own income may be uncertain. As our world changes in unexpected and perhaps permanent ways, it’s challenging for even the most godly leader to maintain the heart position that your success or identity is not dependent on how many people you see in front of you each week.

Dr. Carol Tanksley. She's a board-certified physician as well as a doctorate of ministry. She's published several books by Charisma House, has been highlighted several times in Ministry Today, Charisma and SpiritLed Woman. Dr. Carol blogs frequently at drcarolministries.com.

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One evening I was quietly considering the news concerning Covid-19 when a still small voice asked, "Are you ready to die in two weeks?" I was startled and puzzled by the question and checked off some crucial things in my life:

Written by Mary Younger

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One evening I was quietly considering the news concerning Covid-19 when a still small voice asked, "Are you ready to die in two weeks?" I was startled and puzzled by the question and checked off some crucial things in my life:

Written by Mary Younger

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The demands are coming fast and furious. Do we offer services online? Offer communion during those services? How do we minister in a time of isolation? What about ministry in rural settings? Why should our students even study at such a time? Below you’ll find links to resources for exploring such questions:

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Lewis, Clark, and the Corps of Discovery explored their way towards the Pacific with an overarching belief: to find a river flowing westward was the ticket to success. Imagine their shock when they saw the Rocky Mountains. Instead of navigating waterways, they’d need to climb over one of the most unforgiving terrains on the planet. Ditch the canoes!

Brian lives in Tulsa with his wife, Beth, and their four children. Brian preaches at Highland Park Christian Church and serves on the boards of Blackbox International (help for trafficked boys) and Ozark Christian College. He’s written two, published books, Lead Your Family: 12 Ready-To-Use Steps For Spiritually Leading Your Family and Dancing In No Man’s Land: Moving With Peace And Truth In A Hostile World, along with some e-books. He has also written for Lookout Magazine, Christian Standard, and What’s In The Bible.

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The other night I found myself having thoughts that were……. apocalyptic. I know the news is constantly talking about potential worst-case scenarios as the entire world adapts to the novel corona virus. But, my thoughts were a little different. Let me explain.

My 3-year-old Joaquín was being his usual goofy self, playing with a foam airplane that our next-door neighbor gave him.

Tim Soerens is a pastor, social entrepreneur, co-founding director of the Parish Collective, and author of the new book “Everywhere You Look: Discovering the Church, Right Where You Are”

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The word “Televangelist” was first used in a 1958 miniseries produced by The Southern Baptist Convention. It gained widespread use and notoriety in the 1980’s as millions of dollars were poured into television ministry. It was during this time that I entered the ministry.

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Hi! This is Dr. Paul White, co-author of The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace along with my friend and colleague Dr. Gary Chapman. We apply the 5 love languages to work-based relationships and that’s really been helpful to a lot of both individual colleagues as well as supervisors. Today I want to talk to you about how to support and encourage those who are working remotely. As you know, because of the coronavirus situation, a lot of people - probably billions of people - have started working from home. That’s a new situation for them, so there’s some differences, obviously, in how to support one another and stay connected when you’re working from a distance, so I want to address that for you.

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One of the biggest challenges for most people during this current pandemic is how to move forward. Everything is on pause, and yet, American nature tells us that the thing to do is strategize, look to the future, and figure out next steps. Cancellations feel like a step backward, and plans are currently made only to be changed. It feels as if one just can’t GO anywhere, but it is indeed possible to GO when you can’t go.

Kirsten McClain serves in church missions mobilization for OMF. She has been serving churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various resources that OMF uses to come alongside churches and individuals so that they can do missions well. kmcclainomfmail@gmail.com

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In the midst of this pandemic and quarantine, I think of storms. I live on two islands in Alaska, and my family commercial fishes every summer out on stormy waters. So I feel a deep connection to the disciples and the two storms in the gospels. Those two storms have some hopeful things to teach us now in the midst of our coronavirus storm.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Leslie Leyland Fields is the multi-award-winning author of 12 books. This content is adapted from Crossing the Waters: Following Jesus through the Storms, the Fish, the Doubt and the Seas, which won Christianity Today’s Book of the Year for Christian Living. Her most recent book is Your Story Matters: Finding, Writing and Living the Truth of Your Life. Leslie lives in Alaska but travels and speaks around the world on matters of faith, discipleship, creation care and storycrafting.

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As far as we know, there are no surviving autographs of any of the Books of the Bible, including the newer writings of the Apostles. An autograph is the original document as first penned by the

Dennis D. Frey, Th.D., President, Masters’s International University of Divinity

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In a matter of weeks, (almost) everything has changed. COVID-19 has transformed pastors across the country (and parts of the world) into digital-church-planters. We are learning and living on the fly, adjusting to a new normal, figuring out how to be the “church” in an exclusively online world

Jay Kim serves on staff at Vintage Faith Church and on the leadership team of The ReGeneration Project. He is the author Analog Church, which explores the challenges and opportunities churches face in the digital age.

@jaykimthinks

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I long for sad things to be untrue one day. I hunger for wrongs to be made right. I thirst for the hurt to be healed and the broken to be fixed. I want decay and death to give way to life and human flourishing. Like you, I’m longing for God’s justice and shalom (peace) to overwhelm our unjust world. And as I long for the brokenness out there to be healed, I also desire the brokenness in me to be healed.

Adapted from The Good Life. Copyright © 2020 by Dr. Derwin Gray. Published by B&H Publishers, Nashville, TN. Used by Permission Dr. Derwin L. Gray is the founding and lead pastor of Transformation Church, a multiethnic, multigenerational, mission-shaped community in Indian Land, South Carolina, just south of Charlotte, North Carolina. Gray met his wife, Vicki, at Brigham Young University (BYU). They have been married since 1992 and have two adult children. After graduating from BYU, he played professional football in the NFL for five years with the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers.

In 2008, Gray graduated from Southern Evangelical Seminary magna cum laude with a Master of Divinity, with a concentration in Apologetics. While there, he was mentored by renowned theologian and philosopher Dr. Norman Geisler. In 2018, Gray received his Doctor of Ministry in the New Testament in Context at Northern Seminary under Dr. Scot McKnight. In 2015, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Southern Evangelical Seminary. Gray is the author of “Hero: Unleashing God’s Power in a Man’s Heart” (2009), “Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future” (2013), “Crazy Grace for Crazy Times Bible Study” (2015) and “The High-Definition Leader” (2015).

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I can honestly say that I’ve never experienced a week quite like the one we just had in America. The coronavirus is changing our lives on a daily basis.

First, the CDC recommended no large group gatherings of more than 250 people, then 50 people, and last

Travis Stephens I am a husband, father, and executive pastor of a small town church that went big. I have a passion for helping pastors grow themselves and the churches they serve. You can find out more about me and my ministry at http://travisstephens.me

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Wow, talk about a loaded question! Unless you have been living in a proverbial cave, it’s no secret that we are living through, probably, the most life altering crisis we have ever seen In our lifetimes. Many in our grand country are locked in a debate over how much of this crisis is health and how much is hype. It probably depends quite a bit on where you are located and the...

John C. Adams, New Life Church, Sandusky, Ohio

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The Old and New Testaments teem with God encounters: Abraham serving three strangers, Moses taking his sandals off to approach the burning bush, Elijah watching the Almighty pass by at Horeb, Gideon putting out his fleece as a test, Balaam’s talking donkey, Jonah’s wilted plant, Job and his desolation, Gabriel robbing Zechariah of speech, and Mary believing Gabriel when he said, “Nothing is impossible with God.”

Austin L. Church

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nxiety is an out of control thought pattern. It settles over the mind like a severe weather system, spewing thunderclouds and casting lightning bolts. Life feels like an airplane in a tailspin. It feeds on what-ifs and worst-case scenarios.

By Max Lucado

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First COVID-19 meant we cancelled gatherings of 500 or more. Then fifty. Then ten. Now some cities are near lockdown. Normally, the church gathers as an expression of our love for God and for one another. But in this moment we must do the opposite—for the same reasons. So, many churches that have never done live streaming are scrambling to offer services online. And while it’s one thing to figure out the technical side, what about pastoral and theological considerations? Here are a few suggestions:

Dr. Sandra Glahn, a professor in Media Arts and Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary, is the author of more than 20 books, including the Coffee Cup Bible Study series.

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“We left our former church, in part, because they had a security team with guns!” I was told. I respected their decision and them for following their convictions. The only problem was, we had a security team with men and women carrying guns; they’re just not an “in your face” cowboy type of team. So, just what is it with churches thinking they have to assemble a security team? Is it anti-biblical? Is it anti-peace? Aren’t we supposed to trust God for protection? Church isn’t a right place for guns, is it? Isn’t having guns in church kind of a radical right-wing, crazy thing?

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Helping parents who’ve lost a child must be one of the most difficult things pastors and church leadership teams must face. I am one of those parents. In 2008, when our three-year-old son died from strep throat, I did not know the Lord, nor go to a church. I had been “church shopping” in the months before our son passed away on a Friday morning. On Saturday, we knocked on the door of a church I had visited only two or three times.

KIM ERICKSON began following Christ after the death of her three-year-old son in 2008. Kim began a writing and teaching ministry to help other women, which can be found at www. KimAErickson.com. She is the author of Surviving Sorrow: A Mother’s Guide to Living with Loss and His Last Words: What Jesus Taught and Prayed in His Final Hours. Kim is also an attorney and practices immigration law. She lives in Florida with her husband, Devin, and son, Ethan.

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“Triangles are special because they are exceptionally strong.” “Any structure requiring a strong and rigid construction depends on triangles to achieve that goal.” “Triangles hold large loads without collapsing or having their structure altered.” These are just a handful of statements that come up under a google search that explores the strength of triangles. If triangles...

Kirsten McClain serves in church missions mobilization as a church missions consultant for OMF. She has been serving churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various resources that OMF uses to come alongside churches and individuals so that they can do missions well. kmcclainomfmail@gmail.com

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God is the gift giver. God is our gift giver. And all too often we are like hesitant, nervous children, questioning the gifts under the tree. We leave them lying idle, gathering dust. Our Creator, our heavenly Father, the ultimate parent, has lav¬ished on us a generous wide range of incredible gifts, talents, skills, and abilities.

Jo Saxton is an author, speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneurial coach. Born to Nigerian parents and raised in London, Jo brings a multicultural and international perspective to her leadership training for women. A sought-after speaker, Jo has a diverse calendar addressing universities, churches, national conferences, nonprofits, and corporations, including Q, Catalyst, Evereve, NoonDay Collection, LakeShore Media, and internationally in the U.K. and Australia. She is co-host of the podcast Lead Stories and the founder of the Ezer Collective, an initiative that equips women in leadership. Jo is the author of three books, including The Dream of You.

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Third grade started out very badly. I hated my new teacher, and to make matters worse, I was sure that she hated me. Some of the blame goes to my second grade teacher. She was nice - so nice. In fact her name was Miss Nice - really.

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You’re a pastor. You have been faithful in the Christian disciplines you preach and teach. You have seen God’s hand move in miraculous ways in your life and the lives of others. You may have attained some level of “success” or become a sought-after speaker in your circle of influence. You’ve encouraged others to be faithful to “watch and pray.” However, you’ve also had some folks come to you and tell you that it is not working as they thought it would. And, the truth is that some of you have been hiding the fact that it is not working for you that way either and it has taken its toll on you, your ministry, your marriage and even your outlook on life and Christianity. This, my dear pastoral friends, is the result of emotional trauma, or what I call vocational pain, and emotional trauma left “ignored” WILL take you out. Let me repeat this for emphasis: Emotional trauma ignored WILL take you out! You’ve seen it in others, don’t become a victim.

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In 1 Chronicles 11:41, we see Uriah listed as one of David’s “mighty warriors”—the men who “gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised” (verse 10). Uriah was clearly consumed with the purposes of his king, David. He was also consumed with the purposes of God. Uriah was by David’s side in the caves when Saul hounded their heels. He cried....

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I was in my midtwenties when I met Gwen. My college days were over, and it was a matter of working, investing in my calling, and building my adult life. I started working at my local church, and for the first year, I felt like a fraud on a daily basis. My favorite band, the Brand New Heavies, had an album track with a line that went, “Why you such a FAKE!” and I heard it in my head most days.

Jo Saxton is an author, speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneurial coach. Born to Nigerian parents and raised in London, Jo brings a multicultural and international perspective to her leadership training for women. A sought-after speaker, Jo has a diverse calendar addressing universities, churches, national conferences, nonprofits, and corporations, including Q, Catalyst, Evereve, NoonDay Collection, LakeShore Media, and internationally in the U.K. and Australia. She is co-host of the podcast Lead Stories and the founder of the Ezer Collective, an initiative that equips women in leadership. Jo is the author of three books, including The Dream of You.

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In his book Nothing Like it in the World, Stephen Ambrose writes about the building of the transcontinental railroad in America. It was a monumentally ambitious vision, the linking of the nation’s two coasts by rail. In 1863...

Doug Gehman is the President/Executive Director of Globe International, a mission sending agency based in Pensacola, Florida. Doug and his wife Beth are lifelong globally-engaged people. They were married in 1976 and served for fifteen years in South East Asia with their family. Doug and Beth have four married children and eleven grandchildren. They have ministered in over fifty nations. Doug loves to coach emerging leaders and help them discover their giftings and life direction. He is the author of four books. The most recent, Before You Quit – Everyday Endurance, Moral Courage, and the Quest for Purpose.

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We’ve all had moments in life when we needed a little rehearsal time to achieve optimal results. If you’ve ever prepared for a job interview, broken up with someone, shared bad news, or even proposed marriage, you’ve had imaginary conversations with yourself. Before you ever entered into any of....

Adapted from When Relationships Matter: Make Your Church a Place Where Kids and Teenagers Belong, by Reggie Joiner, Kristen Ivy, and Tom Shefchunas, © 2019 The reThink Group, Inc. Used with permission from the publisher. To find out more (and to download free resources for leaders), visit WhenRelationshipsMatterBook.com.

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Do you ever find yourself rushing through devotions, your mind focusing elsewhere? You read the words, but don’t really hear what they’re saying. It can be embarrassing for pastors to admit this. People seem to assume that we have some kind of special access to personal spirituality.

About the author: Timothy J Miller has served as a worship pastor and technician for over 30 years in small, medium, large, and multi-site churches. In addition to being the WSC campus technology director at Bayside Community Church (an 8-campus, 12k+ congregation along Florida’s Gulf Coast), he writes for church leadership and worship-related publications. His recent book, Born For Worship: The Best You Can Be In Worship Arts Ministry, uses mini-chapters to help teams and individuals explore the biblical foundations that result in growth and effective service. Find him at htworship.com or drop a note to grow@htworship.com!

To read the artcile go to https://www.pastorresources.com/devotions-that-matter/

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It was shortly after 3 am as I was rudely jolted from sleep by my ringing cell phone. Good news for pastors rarely travels at 3 am so I bolted from my comfy bed expecting an emergency. The call, from one of our Sheriff’s Deputies, informed me, as their Chaplain, of an officer-involved shooting. I was to learn that one of the officers from the Sandusky Police Department had been shot by a known individual who...

For more, listen to the Emotional Survival for Pastors podcast at PastorJohn.net

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In 1987, we founded The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta with fewer than forty adult members. We never dared imagine we would one day become a congregation of more than three thousand members.

Michael Youssef, PhD, is the founder and president of Leading The Way and the founding pastor of The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta. His latest book is Saving Christianity?: The Danger in Undermining Our Faith—and What You Can Do about It.

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A few days ago as I was lying in bed, getting ready to go to sleep, I listened to my nightly devotional—“Pray As You Go,” a beautiful daily audio recording by a group of British Jesuits. I paused the recording in the middle to answer a question from my wife, Kellie, and then tried to resume the recording. For some reason, I couldn’t get it to work and had to restart from the beginning. Argh. Isn’t technology wonderful?

Jerome Daley is a former pastor turned executive coach and author of the recent book release Gravitas: The Monastic Rhythms of Healthy Leadership. Read more about Jerome at Thrive9Solutions.com.

For the full article go to https://www.pastorresources.com/the-prayer-you-will-never-want-to-pray/

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As much as you and I may dislike it, we can’t argue with the fact that people are attending church less often than they used to. It’s not uncommon for someone to attend church once or twice a month. That’s becoming the norm, and even your most committed members may only show two to three times a month.

For the full article go to https://www.pastorresources.com/4-ways-to-respond-to-people-attending-church-less-often/

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For many, a life of prayer and spiritual depth is not for them. It’s not that they do not desire it; it’s that they believe it is out of reach. There’ve been too many false starts in their spiritual life. A lot of well-intentioned declarations of commitment that puttered to stalls and stops. Humming under the hood of the heart is the belief, A deep and satisfying prayer life is not for me. Do you believe that? I want you to know it’s not true.

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The recently deceased monk Thomas Keating said that to be human is to carry three lifelong needs—the need for approval, the need for security, and the need for control. These needs are not bad; in fact, they are hardwired into our souls by God himself—so that he can meet them personally. It’s when we attempt to engineer our own solutions to these legitimate needs that we create collateral damage to ourselves and to others.

Jerome Daley is a former pastor turned executive coach and author of the recent book release Gravitas: The Monastic Rhythms of Healthy Leadership. Read more about Jerome at www.Thrive9Solutions.com.

For the full article https://www.pastorresources.com/5-unhealthy-habits-for-leaders-to-avoid/

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I am fairly determined when it comes to accomplishing a task. My wife, Diane, would even say that I’m hard-headed! Guilty as charged. As an endurance athlete, that is even more important. Maybe it’s just a manifestation of my German descent, but I don’t easily change directions. It’s not that I don’t like change, it is just that when I start a direction, I have given it considerable thought, believing it to be the right thing to do, so unless the outcome is really bad, I’ll stick with it until there is a compelling reason to change.

For more, visit my podcast, Emotional Survival for Pastors at PastorJohn.net.

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If you’re considering planting a new church or prayer group, gaining and maintaining the support of a core group of like-minded people will be very important.

My wife and I participated in a church plant some years ago that began in our own home with five like-minded couples having differing complimentary gifts. In hindsight, we now see how important it was to serve as one another’s helpmates as we blended our individual gifts, sharing the burdens of discouragement and challenges while we encouraged and prayed for one another.

About the Author:

Dr. Tom McElheny has served as an Elder and director of Christian education for three Sarasota, Florida churches, holds advanced degrees in business and education and is CEO of his company ChurchPlaza.com.

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Sometimes, it’s too hard to keep living in a home with memories of your loved one. It can be difficult to put distance between yourself and the memories while finding the closure you need. While it’s typically inadvisable to sell your home when you’re processing grief, it’s natural to need a break and a clean slate. If you need a change of scenery to help you through this difficult period, moving may be right for you.

To see the full article https://www.pastorresources.com/grieving-a-loved-one-moving-could-give-you-a-fresh-start/

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During the past two decades, there has been a technological revolution in advertising and entertainment. Graphics software has made it possible to produce astoundingly beautiful images that would have been unimaginable as late as the nineteen nineties.

Dennis D. Frey, Th.D., President Master’s International University of Divinity

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It’s important to long for revival for a few reasons: First, it has some biblical basis. The Psalmist prays, “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” It’s right there: a prayer for the revival of the Jewish people and their faith in God. We’ll make a stronger biblical case throughout the book for the concept of revival, but for now, wouldn’t that be a great prayer for the Christian church?

—Adapted from the introduction, “Why Revival?”

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While there are several levels to calling and various ways God can extend a leadership call, nowhere does the Bible teach that either gifts or secondary callings are bestowed according to gender. In fact, women preached, prophesied, and led in both the Old and New Testaments . . . sometimes over men. (See the examples of Deborah in Judges 4–5, Huldah in 2 Kings 22, Anna in Luke 2, Priscilla in Acts 18, and Junia in Romans 16. ) The exercise of calling was sometimes limited by gender, but the fact of calling was not.

Angie Ward is a leader, teacher, writer, and pastor’s wife. She is an award-winning regular contributor to Christianity Today leadership publications and has served as a contributing editor and editorial advisor for Leadership Journal, Building Church Leaders, and Gifted for Leadership. She is also a highly regarded teacher and speaker, with classroom experience at Denver Seminary, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Trinity International University, and Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School. Her leadership experience includes roles in church, para-church, nonprofit, and educational contexts.

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Do you remember what it was like when you first became a pastor? Do you remember the zeal you had? Do you remember how you thought you couldn’t love people any more then you did then? It’s kind of like having your first child. It is so incredibly powerful (in a good way) to be responsible for the salvation of so many lives. Actually, we’re responsible for their care not their salvation. We really can’t save anyone and if we think we can, we truly overrate ourselves. So how does one go from being passionately excited, like a racehorse, simply wanting to “see people saved and change the world” hopefully impacting a community, to someone who pulls the ripcord on that church in a matter of three short years? If you are hard-headed enough to endure the third year and beyond, the statistics still point to an average tenure of only six years, which is hardly enough time to make a significant difference.

For more on this topic, go to the Emotional Survival for Pastors podcast at PastorJohn.net

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/passion-to-cynicism-in-4-to-6-years-flat/

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We give our money and things when there is a need that we can meet:

*Don’t bail out on this when you get angry. Just keep reading and finish it. And then if you are still angry, please reach out and begin a discussion. Contact info is listed at the bottom of the post.

Read full post at https://www.pastorresources.com/perfect-church/

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For many, a life of prayer and spiritual depth is not for them. It’s not that they do not desire it; it’s that they believe it is out of reach. There’ve been too many false starts in their spiritual life. A lot of well-intentioned declarations of commitment that puttered to stalls and stops. Humming under the hood of the heart is the belief, A deep and satisfying prayer life is not for me. Do you believe that? I want you to know it’s not true.

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So, you’ve been handed the job title of “directory administrator.” The job at hand can feel daunting and overwhelming, especially if you feel all the responsibility lies on your shoulders. But this is a great opportunity to remind yourself that you don’t have to go this alone. You can take this project and organize a directory team to make the process of creating and updating your church directory fun and uniting instead of isolating.

Instant Church Directory offers a 30-day free trial. You can learn more by visiting InstantChurchDirectory.

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My Fellow Fakers,

I have assembled you here today for the purpose of preaching a short sermon on an amazingly effective way to improve the public image of a Christian minister in most communities around the world.

This is the day of short sermons, so I will make this short and sweet to your ears. When you see how obvious my three points are, you will not doubt that I am a fine prince of preachers, and a fine prince of darkness!

For the full article go to https://www.pastorresources.com/a-short-sermon-by-the-devil-on-improving-the-ministers-image-in-the-community/

by Dennis D. Frey, Th.D. President of Master's International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu

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You may be a political junkie, searching out every possible partisan nugget in media and among friends, and looking forward to the bare-knuckled skirmishes of the new election year. Or you may find the sharp rhetoric and endless parsing of political points already tiring, and you are dreading nearly a full year of wall-to-wall political forays, assaulting every print, broadcasting and online communication. Or you be somewhere in-between.

Read full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/our-god-is-a-relational-god/

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Having just come through the Christmas season I thought it would be a good time to look at an age old debate that always resurfaces during that time. I am speaking of the use of “Xmas” rather than “Christmas”.

As any of you who have been in Christianity very long know, this subject can be very polarizing. The secular world, in an attempt to avoid any mention or use of the Savior, have preferred the use of “Xmas” as it does not contain the name Jesus or Christ, unlike the use of “Christmas”…or does it?

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/ignorance-is-dominant/

Written by Will Sharples R.A.G.E. Ministries, INC www.rageministries.org

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All married couples experience anger. The tragedy is that thousands of couples never learn how to process anger productively. Marriage becomes a battlefield, each spouse accusing the other of firing the first shot. If a couple do not learn to properly handle their anger, they will never have a satisfying marriage.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/angry-at-your-spouse-six-ways-to-handle-this-emotion-productively/

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When we’ve been hurt, when we’ve been battered, sometimes anger and bitterness give us a sense of control. But the truth is, our bitterness and anger often control us. They keep our perpetrators close at hand, keep the wrongs they’ve done to us in the front of our minds...

Read the full article at http://www.pastorresources.com/the-power-of-forgiveness/

Written by LATASHA MORRISON is a bridge-builder, reconciler, and a compelling voice in the fight for racial justice. Ebony magazine recognized her as one of their 2017 Power 100 for her work as a community crusader. Tasha has spoken across the country at events that include: IF:Gathering, Justice Conference, Youth Specialties, Catalyst, Orange Conference, MOPS International and many others. A native of North Carolina, Tasha earned degrees in human development and business leadership. In 2016 she founded Be the Bridge to inspire and equip ambassadors of racial reconciliation. In addition to equipping more than 1,000 sub-groups across five countries, Be the Bridge hosts a closed, moderated online community of bridge-builders on Facebook with more than 20,000 members.

Audio excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison, narrated by the author.

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It was a small act, really, but one that was significant to this music-loving gal. A year or so after I became a Christian at twenty-three, I had thrown all of my CDs in the trash. I would have a fresh start and begin a new collection...

Read the full article at http://www.pastorresources.com/sacred-endurance/

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I dream big, I pray big, and I don’t settle for anything. If I pray for someone to be healed, I pray in faith for a miracle. If someone needs encouragement, I’m their biggest cheerleader. When Lucy wanted to be president, I bought her a hat that had “Future President”...

Read the full article at http://www.pastorresources.com/settlinga-little/

Kerri Pomarolli is a writer, comedian, speaker, and the ultimate Proverbs 32 Woman. She tours nationwide with clean comedy at top Christian and secular venues, with film and TV appearances. Known as “Hollywood’s Favorite God Girl,” she lives with her daughters in LA by the sea. She is the author of two books, Confessions of a Proverbs 32 Woman and She Rises Late and Her Kids Make Her Breakfast, available now from Harvest House Publishers. kerripom.com

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All churches focus on missions, right? All churches support missionaries, right? All churches care for missionaries, right? Probably not exactly, though no church (or pastor) wants to admit where there might be some gaps in the care being given to the missionaries that they support.

Read the full article at: http://www.pastorresources.com/how-do-you-spell-care/

Written by: Kirsten McClain serves in church missions mobilization for OMF. She has been serving churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various resources that OMF uses to come alongside churches and individuals so that they can do missions well. kmcclainomfmail@gmail.com

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“Papa is a hero!” Don’t you just love grandkids? You can almost do no wrong. My wife, Diane and I recently took 4 of our grandkids, ages 6-8 to a local fast-food establishment which had a small indoor play space....

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/hero-to-zero-im-just-trying-to-help/

There is much more to come so read away, my dear pastor. For more, tune in to the Emotional Survival for Pastors podcast at PastorJohn.net.

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I have learned, in my forty-plus years of serving God and living in His kingdom, that there are recurring pressures and voices that try to convince me to wave the white flag. That is to be expected, because the values of God’s kingdom are not the values of this world.

Read the full article at http://www.pastorresources.com/grit-dont-quit/

Adapted excerpt from “Burn the White Flag: How to Fight for an Abundant Life" by Pastor Charles Nieman (Fedd Books, August 2019). Used with permission from the publisher.

Charles Nieman is an author, speaker and the co-founder and senior pastor of Abundant Living Faith Center in El Paso,Texas.

Nieman founded Abundant Living Faith Center with his late wife, Rochelle Nieman. Their humble beginnings began in 1977 when they began teaching in a home Bible study with 12 people. Since then, their congregation has grown to about 40,000 people and is a multi-campus church in El Paso, Texas. The non-denominational church is a Hillsong Family Church and was rated as the No. 31 fastest-growing church and No. 41 in size in 2008 by Outreach Magazine.

Nieman currently resides in El Paso and his two children, Shannon and Jared, are also pastors at Abundant Living Faith Center. He has four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.charlesnieman.com or www.alfc.com.

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There are many reasons and places to experience a first Christmas away from home. If you have, you understand. Have you thought of the first time anyone spent Christmas away from home - the very first time?

Read the full article at http://www.pastorresources.com/christmas-away-from-home/

Written by Dennis D. Frey, M.Div., Th.D., President Master's International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu

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My church, Pepperell Christian Fellowship, is a nondenominational church on Main Street in the town of Pepperell, Massachusetts, an hour northwest of Boston and just minutes from the New Hampshire border. You’ve probably never heard of Pepperell. It’s not a place people travel to so much as one they travel...

Read the full article at http://www.pastorresources.com/a-big-gospel-in-small-places/

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Why do children love Jesus so much?

In the Gospels, it’s clear that they loved Jesus because He first loved them. Jesus wasn’t posing for future artists when He invited children to gather around him. Actually, He didn’t have to do any coaxing. Children loved Him. So did their parents, who were eager for Jesus to bless their children.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/cultivating-guarding-childrens-love-for-jesus/

Written by David Sanford coaches leaders passionate about demonstrating the relevance of Jesus Christ in every major sphere of life. His book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, and Amazon. His speaking engagements have ranged everywhere from UC Berkeley (CA) to The Billy Graham Center at the Cove (NC).

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First off, I have to tell you that never in a million years would I have ever thought that I would become so involved in Law Enforcement, especially while a full-time Sr. Pastor! Not only that, but I also currently serve on our regional SWAT team as the Chief drone pilot and as a Negotiator. God certainly has a sense of...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/how-i-became-pastor-cop/

For more, tune in to the Emotional Survival for Pastors podcast at PastorJohn.net.

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Experiencing church for the first time as a twenty year old young man was quite the experience. I’ve been a part of brush arbor revivals, where you go out into a field and gather some sticks and build a structure to have a church service in. I’ve been in church services where they couldn’t find anyone to play the piano or...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/five-elements-of-a-great-worship-experience/

Written by Travis Stephens I am a husband, father, and executive pastor of a small town church that went big. I have a passion for helping pastors grow themselves and the churches they serve. You can find out more about me and my ministry at http://travisstephens.me

Read by http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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I enjoy singing. It's fun. It's been a big part of my life and I take satisfaction in using it to express my heart and as a tool to explore my relationship with God. It's good for me. But that's not why I sing.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/why-do-i-sing/

Written by TJ Miller

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It’s Not Gossip If Your Head Is Bowed

I love catching my mother in sin. One time I heard her on the phone with a friend talking about another friend’s “issues” and I busted her. I said, “Mom, you can’t talk about someone else’s issues.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/she-rises-late-and-her-kids-make-her-breakfast/

Kerri Pomarolli is a writer, comedian, speaker, and the ultimate Proverbs 32 Woman. She tours nationwide with clean comedy at top Christian and secular venues, with film and TV appearances. Known as “Hollywood’s Favorite God Girl,” she lives with her daughters in LA by the sea. She is the author of two books, Confessions of a Proverbs 32 Woman and She Rises Late and Her Kids Make Her Breakfast, available now from Harvest House Publishers. kerripom.com

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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It will be very difficult to embark (and remain) on a journey of transformation if we do not have confidence that we are already loved as we currently are. We don’t change so that we’ll be loved more by God. We are measurelessly loved by God, so we are free and enabled to change in all the ways we long for.

Read the full article at http://www.pastorresources.com/its-about-the-heart/

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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Serving the local church as a pastor is a calling, and on the best days, there’s nothing more fulfilling than leading a congregation into deeper relationship with God. But, on other days, we pastors face challenges that are unique to our individual callings as we wear the mantle of responsibility and bear the weight of spiritual battle in our leadership...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/preventing-pastoral-stress-and-burnout/

Written by Gary Wilkerson is president of World Challenge, an international mission organization founded by his father, David Wilkerson, and host of the Gary Wilkerson podcast. Gary is also founding pastor of The Springs Church. Gary and his wife, Kelly, have four children and live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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There’s something powerful about repetition. Doing the same thing day in and day out. Over time habits start to form, and those habits play a big role in our lives. If you have good habits, your life tends to go well. If you have bad habits, your life tends to fall apart. In the same way that our lives have habits, your church has habits as well. Sometimes those are good, and unfortunately sometimes those are bad...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/four-phrases-every-pastor-should-say/

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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Augustine’s Confessions was the very first Western autobiography. Countless others have followed. The newest is by Brent C. Hofer. Brent, what’s it about? As pastors, it’s not enough for us to manage anger. Recovery is possible. I’m living proof. Confessions of an Angry Man is my redemptive story.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/confessions-of-an-angry-pastor/

Written by David Sanford coaches pastors and other Christian leaders passionate about demonstrating the relevance of Jesus Christ in every major sphere of life. His book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, and Amazon. His speaking engagements have ranged everywhere from UC Berkeley (CA) to The Billy Graham Center at the Cove (NC).

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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It happened again this past Monday. A dedicated, hard-working veteran pastor told me about the problems within his church. He listed a number of tell-tale markers as he expressed his deep frustrations. When he was done, I paused, noting the pain written across his face. I then asked: “Is it possible that your personal issues have colored or clouded your perceptions?”...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/are-you-a-disquieted-pastor/

Written by David Sanford coaches pastors and other Christian leaders passionate about demonstrating the relevance of Jesus Christ in every major sphere of life. His book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, and Amazon. His speaking engagements have ranged everywhere from UC Berkeley to The Billy Graham Center at the Cove. He can be reached at sanforddr@gmail.com.

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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Executive pastors hold a unique role in the church. They’re responsible for maintaining and improving church operations, as well as ensuring their church team remains healthy and aligned with their church’s vision. It takes a blend of business acumen and ministry know-how...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/4-ways-to-thrive-as-a-leader/

Written by Troy Pollock, Chief Ambassador at Pushpay

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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Perhaps most would agree that thirty years ago there was no such thing as rubrics. Oh, there was evaluation, but other than a potential list of requirements for that upcoming project or paper, there was no way to determine what the score might be…until it showed up graded! The students waited in great expectation to find out whether their science project was passing or failing, and when the grade was returned it was accompanied by a sigh of relief or a deep knot in the stomach.

Read the full article here https://www.pastorresources.com/rule-rubrics/

Written by Kirsten McClain serves as Assistant to the Executive Director for Propempo International. She has been serving churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various resources that Propempo uses to come alongside churches so that they can do missions well.

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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"Samson", a novelization by author Eric Wilson, releases tomorrow. Here is an exclusive sneak peak interview with the author. What inspired you to write a book about Samson? The world is looking for heroes. This is evident in movies and books. And more than ever...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/samson-interviews-eric-wilson-author-new-novelization/

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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In the Pacific Northwest, we love to hike. It’s exhilarating. We hike trails that lead through old forests, along rivers, or through alpine meadows bursting with wildflowers. We hike to lakes, beaches, lookouts, or mountaintops. The views are magnificent.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/path/

Written by Susie Crosby is an active blogger and an elementary-school PE teacher. She loves the beach, strong coffee, and the fun and meaningful ways Jesus works through people and words. Susie is also a wife and mom, and she resides in Seattle, Washington. Connect with her at SusieCrosby.com.

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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At Canaan we are trying to live into our tagline “the church where love makes the difference,” which we have found to be a very dangerous statement. Christians often tell people we love them before we have ever lived with, listened to, or learned from them. If we are going to be genuine, presence becomes a precursor to love and a foundational principle for ministering to the needs of our neighbors.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/proximity-presence-love-genuine/

Written by Jonathan Brooks (“Pastah J”) is senior pastor of Canaan Community Church in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. A sought after speaker, writer, and artist, he has contributed to two books: Banned Questions for Christians by Christian Piatt and Making Neighborhoods Whole by John Perkins and Wayne Gordon. Visit his website and read his blog at pastahj.com. Follow him on Twitter: @PastahJ.

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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Mindfulness is a big deal in today’s culture. Businesses such as Apple, sports figures such as basketball player Kobe Bryant, and the popular press such as Time magazine have all given it their stamp of approval. Governments are spending hundreds of millions of dollars researching it, and it has become a billion-dollar-a-year business.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/mindfulness-and-the-pastor/

Written by DR. CHARLES STONE (M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, D.Min., Trinity Evangelical Divinity Seminary) has served for 37 years in ministry, 24 of those years as a senior pastor. He currently pastors West Park Church in London, Ontario, Canada, a multicultural congregation with over 1,000 attendees. He founded StoneWell Ministries to serve pastors and churches through coaching and consulting. Many of his articles have been featured in magazines such as Outreach, Leadership Journal, REV, New Man, and In Touch and his blog posts have appeared on sites such as Pastors.com, SermonCentral.com, ChurchCentral.com, and Churchleaders.com. Charles and his wife Sherryl have been married for 36 years and have three adult children.

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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Many years ago the seminary where I attended had invited a guest speaker to preach at one of the chapel services. While I don’t remember anything about his subject I remember something he said in passing: “I have heard a lot of Pharisee frogs in my ministry. Always croaking ‘Yea but!’”

Read the full article at http://www.pastorresources.com/the-pharisee-frog/

Written by Will Sharples R.A.G.E. Ministries, INC www.rageministries.org

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“How do we engage children in church?” This age-old question remains paramount for almost every children’s ministry leader, parent and pastor. And if you’ve ever sat up late at night, cutting out the gazillionth piece for some Pinterest craft that seemed like the perfect idea for kids, you may have found yourself thinking, “Is this really worth it?”

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/engage-children-in-worship-in-4-simple-steps/

Written by Kristen Greene is the creative director for Children’s Worship Bulletins. www.ChildrensBulletins.com

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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Have you ever wondered, Where did I come from? Before your eyes glaze over and you start to dream of pizza or the newest episode of This Is Us, I need you to focus. This will help to build the foundation of your creativity. God’s fingerprint is woven throughout our anatomy! Our body is an intricately designed, wonderfully made, creative miracle...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/created-create/

Written by Courageous Creative, Jenny Randle Speaker, author, and Emmy-winning editor Jenny Randle has served in ministry and worked in the entertainment, publishing, and creative industries for more than fifteen years. With her unique personal story and creative-ninja-like ways, she inspires, encourages, and equips others to understand their God-given identity and purpose. Jenny and her husband, Matt, founded Freedom Creatives, empowering creatives in the art of living a transformed life in Christ. They live in upstate New York with their two kids, where they enjoy strawberry gummies and spontaneous dance parties. For more information or creative inspiration, visit jennyrandle.com.

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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We have a problem—whether we recognize it or not. It has to do with the relationship between Christianity and creativity. Many Christians have grown suspicious of creatives. Creativity impedes true spiritual progress, doesn’t it?...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/christianity-creativity/

Written by Ryan Lister is a professor of theology at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is also the author of The Presence of God: Its Place in the Story of Scripture and the Story of Our Lives and serves as Director of Doctrine & Discipleship for Humble Beast, where he helped start the Canvas Conference. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, Chase, and their four children.

Read by Jim Buttrey from http://www.homesuitehomestudio.com/

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Being a bivocational minister means serving a church part time while holding down a secular job until the church can pay you enough to go full time. Right? In some cases that is true, but there is a decided shift toward bivocational ministry as a ministry in its own right - inside and outside the church...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/training-for-bivocational-ministry/

For more information visit: https://the.mdivs.edu/-bivocational-macs

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I always feel a bit awkward giving preachers advice on preaching since I’m an Executive Pastor who only preaches a few times of year, but just hear me out. I’m actually probably more qualified than most people because while you are preaching the messages, I’m in the audience listening to them...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/10-preaching-mistakes-you-should-avoid/

Written by Travis Stephens I am a husband, father, and executive pastor of a small town church that went big. I have a passion for helping pastors grow themselves and the churches they serve. You can find out more about me and my ministry at http://travisstephens.me

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Alone! Why do I feel so alone in the leadership of this ministry? With dozens of people around me, I feel separate, isolated and cut off. What am I supposed to do, Lord? Do I carry this responsibility alone? How do I share the weight of ministry with my team?...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/encouragement-for-leaders-alone/

Written by Mary Younger Mary has spent 40 plus years in Womens Ministry, first as an attendee learning about God and the Bible, then serving coffee and setting up chairs. As she grew spiritually, the Lord called her into leadership. She served 18 years as a volunteer before she was asked to join the staff of RiverLakes Community Church in Bakersfield, CA. She served for 18 years as Director of Womens Ministries and Service Ministries. Mary loves to help women turn biblical knowledge into practical application for their everyday life. She has a heart for leaders and loves to mentor them. Mary is married to Doug. In retirement they enjoy traveling across the United States and Canada. They have three children, nine grandchildren and four great grand children. She loves to read, sew and teach. You may contact her at myounger.1050@yahoo.com

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Church leaders, have you ever asked yourself the forbidden question in ministry? You know the one—it goes something like this, “Am I really made for this?”...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/vocational-ministrys-forbidden-question/

Written by Jeff Rasor is the Founder & CEO of the Blue Sky Academy, where he offers unique and powerful coaching programs to guide professionals and pastors to experience breakthrough in their careers and in life. Jeff is also the author of “Where Breakthrough Happens – Discover How the Power of Clarity, Purpose, & Momentum Will Set You Free to Reach Your Dreams.”

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When I was a young girl, my dad told me a story about a well. He said, “Human beings are like wells. Every time we interact with someone, we take a little bit of our water to give them something to drink...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/one-and-only/

Written by Choosing Marriage, by Debra Fileta Debra Fileta is a licensed professional counselor and the author of True Love Dates. A passionate speaker, she challenges people to have a psychologically and spiritually healthy approach to relationships. Debra and her husband, John, have been happily married for more than a decade and have three beautiful children. www.TrueLoveDates.com

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A few years ago my wife and I attended a small international church in Limassol, Cyprus. Among the congregation were several Filipino domestic workers who led the singing, a couple who were refugees from Syria, about twenty Cypriots, and four pastors! The pastor of the church was of Indian background and British citizenship...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/pastors-as-homemakers-shaping-the-christians-first-family/

Written by LEE ECLOV has served in pastoral ministry for over forty years. He is currently Senior Pastor of Village Church of Lincolnshire in the Chicago area, where he has served since 1998. He is the author of the Feels Like Home: How Rediscovering the Church as Family Changes Everything and Pastoral Graces: Reflections on the Care of Souls. He is a regular contributor to CT Pastors and PreachingToday.com.

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You’ve heard it said many times before. You’ve likely even said it to yourself. “Don’t sacrifice your family for your ministry.” You know it’s true, but you continue to struggle with the implementation. It’s not just about the preaching and teaching, but about the calls, emails, and text messages that don’t ever seem to stop...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/dont-sacrifice-your-family-for-your-ministry/

Written by Dr. Laurel Shaler is a national certified counselor and licensed social worker. She is an Associate Professor at Liberty University where she serves as the Director of the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling program. Dr. Shaler writes and speaks on the intersection of faith, culture, and emotional well-being, and is the author of Reclaiming Sanity: Hope and Healing for Trauma, Stress, and Overwhelming Life Events and Relational Reset: Unlearning the Habits that Hold You Back. She and her husband, an officer in the Navy Reserves, have one daughter and live in South Carolina. Learn more and contact Dr. Shaler at www.drlaurelshaler.com.

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It’s no surprise that students need to spend daily time alone with God. And its also no surprise that a student’s relationship with God can improve if they would just spend some time cultivating that relationship through reading the bible and praying...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/four-ways-to-help-your-teens-disconnect-from-social-media-and-spend-time-with-god/

Written by Rodney and Sarah Anderson Rodney and Sarah Anderson are a husband-and-wife writing team with a combined 20 plus years of ministry service and experience. Through their in-depth knowledge of ministry and passion for faith, the Andersons inspire ministries, parents and teens to engage in their faith and start meaningful conversations.

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I’ve been pretty lucky in ministry. Over the years I’ve only had to fire a handful of staff and volunteers. It’s the least enjoyable part of my job but also one of the most important. And if you’re a pastor, it’s one of your most important jobs...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/seven-people-you-should-fire-right-now/

Written by Travis Stephens I am a husband, father, and executive pastor of a small town church that went big. I have a passion for helping pastors grow themselves and the churches they serve. You can find out more about me and my ministry at http://travisstephens.me

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Conflict resolution is an interesting idea, but it is often very difficult to achieve. It's no wonder that so many Christians rightly solicit the wise counsel of their pastor...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/rslv-powerful-new-app/

Written by Kelly Rhoades is the founding pastor of LifePoint Church in Lebanon, MO. He is married to Bridget and is father to 4 amazing kids. He speaks and blogs about leadership, marriage and family, church, and personal growth. To learn more check out his blog at kellyrhoades.com.

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In this Q&A, Davidson discusses some of her book’s applications to pastors and ministry. Do you hope pastors will use your book when they counsel others? Yes, but first read it for you...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/pastors-transforming-wounds-into-wisdom/

Written by David Sanford coaches pastors and other Christian leaders passionate about demonstrating the relevance of Jesus Christ in every major sphere of life. His book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, and Amazon. His speaking engagements have ranged everywhere from UC Berkeley (CA) to The Billy Graham Center at the Cove (NC).

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Like many areas of professional experience, Christian churches have utilized standardized methods to determine effectiveness and decision-making. Pastors are inundated with record-keeping designed to help leadership determine the success or failure of programs and ministries...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/evaluating-our-ministrys-fruit/

Written by Linda Wood Rondeau is a retired social work and resides in Hagerstown, Md. Readers may visit her blog Snark and Sensibility found on her website www.lindarondeau.com. The author may be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads. Her latest book, I Prayed for Patience God Gave Me Children is both a study and devotional and explores the meaning of being God’s child. The author is available to speak to groups on this or other topics as listed on her website.

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I was saved as a teenager in the mid-seventies in a small church in a small town in southwest Missouri. Almost immediately I was taught doctrine. Even before I really knew what it was.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/why-i-stopped-preaching-doctrine/

Written by Will Sharples R.A.G.E. Ministries, INC www.rageministries.org

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Experts have studied how many times humans must be exposed to something in order for it to stick. One author says, “The rule of seven is an old marketing adage. It says that a prospect needs to see or hear your marketing message at least seven times before they take action and buy from you.”

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/the-rule-of-seven-times-seven-in-missions/

Written by Kirsten McClain serves in church missions mobilization for OMF. She has been serving churches and mission agencies for the last 20 years. She has a heart to see the church realize her potential in missions and is driven to be a mobilizer to this end. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three children, and she is ready to direct pastors to the various resources that OMF uses to come alongside churches and individuals so that they can do missions well. kmcclainomfmail@gmail.com

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To reveal or not to reveal? Should our lives be an open book? Self-disclosure is definitely a risk, but sometimes a risk worth taking. Pastor Mike “bragged” about his short-term memory loss, treating his condition as inconsequential and refused to ask for help. When significant problems arose due to this disability, the church suffered.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/the-benefits-and-pitfalls-of-full-disclosure/

Written by A veteran social worker, author Linda Wood Rondeau’s varied church experience and professional career affords a unique insight into church dynamics. Readers may visit her web site at www.lindarondeau.com. Link to Linda’s Bible/Devotional book, I Prayed for Patience God Gave Me Children.

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All pastors and church leaders worth their salt say they care about disadvantaged and disenfranchised people. In many cases, however, their actual ministry strategy is designed primarily to increase the number of people attending weekend services.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/its-time-for-a-game-change/

Written by Scott Wilson

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The front cover of Rev. W. S. Harris’ 1904 classic book Sermons by the Devil 1 is decorated with a drawing of a devil-like man gesturing from behind a pulpit. Harris selected the image because he knew that with the exception of our Lord Jesus Christ, earth has known no more effective preacher than the Devil.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/the-devils-three-deadly-ds-a-three-point-sermon-for-defeating-christian-leaders/

Dennis D. Frey, M.Div., Th.D., is the President of Master's International University of Divinity, the.mdivs.edu

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According to recent statistics, from LifeWay Research, the average tenure for a senior pastor in the U.S. is only about 4-6 years.

Translated that means that there are a lot of pastors out there with four to six years of experience many times over with very few having twenty to thirty years of experience in one place...

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/is-pastoring-really-that-hard/

Written by John C. Adams has been an ordained Senior Pastor for 35 years. He holds a Masters degree from Oral Roberts University and has been serving the non-denominational New Life Church since 1997. He has been married to Diane for 34 years and has three grown sons and five grandchildren. He serves as the regional law enforcement chaplain for four local agencies teaching officers and their spouses “Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement” and also teaches that same topic at the local police academy. He received a commendation from the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association for his involvement in a protracted negotiation while assisting the SWAT team as a crisis negotiator, a position in which he currently serves. At the request of the Sheriff, he also formed the agency’s drone program and is a FAA licensed remote pilot and trainer of their agency drone pilots. Pastor John is also an avid triathlete and three-time qualifier for USAT Age Group National Championships and part-time instructor at Cuyahoga Community College at the Police Academy.

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This is one of the most difficult texts in the Gospels to preach from. What do you say about the Transfiguration? As I was preparing and studying the passage, a man came into my study and told me something that had just happened to him.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/a-month-of-sundays/

Author Eugene H. Peterson, translator of The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, is the beloved author of more than thirty books, including A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Run with the Horses, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, and Tell It Slant. He earned his master’s degree in Semitic languages from Johns Hopkins University. Peterson was the founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland, where he and his wife, Jan, served for twenty-nine years. Peterson held the title of professor emeritus of spiritual theology at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia, from 1998 until his death in 2018.

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Nehemiah faced one of the of the most complicated and most documented leadership challenges ever when God called him to oversee rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. At the time, Nehemiah lived a thousand miles from Jerusalem and served as the cupbearer to the most powerful king of the day. Warlords in the area around Jerusalem certainly didn’t want anyone rebuilding the wall because it would diminish their control over the people. So why would Nehemiah leave a legacy position, travel a far distance to take on a dangerous task no person had asked him to do, and incur personal sacrifice for a group of people he didn’t know?

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/becoming-compassionate-leaders/

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My goal is to show you some startling research and help you understand a few very powerful leadership skills. These practices—if cultivated and practices—can help you avoid some ministry frustrations altogether. Used in response to existing problems, these skills are remarkable correctives. I have seen them make happy leaders even healthier and more effective. I’ve also seen them help weary leaders recover a sense of balance and joy. Almost like a vaccine, these practices have been shown to protect pastors against burnout and pave the way to transformational leadership.

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/the-emotionally-intelligent-pastor/

Author - David Sanford coaches pastors and other Christian leaders passionate about demonstrating the relevance of Jesus Christ in every major sphere of life. His book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, and Amazon. His speaking engagements have ranged everywhere from UC Berkeley (CA) to The Billy Graham Center at the Cove (NC).

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We live in a digital era, where technology is at our fingertips and access to data helps us manage our day-to-day lives more efficiently. For example, EveryDollar lets us track our household spend so we have a better understanding of where our money is going and how to budget more effectively. Or, what about a Nest thermostat?

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/using-data-to-nurture-your-congregation/

Author: Troy Pollock is the chief ambassador at Pushpay, a software company based in Redmond, WA. As the first U.S. employee, he has been an integral part of the development, strategic planning, and growth at Pushpay the last seven years. In addition, he currently leads donor development at a multi-site church in Washington. Prior to Pushpay, Troy was the executive pastor at a church in southern California.

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Let me ask you this. If Jesus saved every person you shared the gospel with this month, how many people would that be? That literally should be all I have to write on this one.

When it’s all said and done, this literally is the most important thing we can do as a follower of Jesus. If we really believe that you have to trust Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and the alternative is an eternity in a place called Hell…then what in the world are we doing other than sharing this with other people?

Read the full article at https://www.pastorresources.com/tell-people-about-jesus-every-time/

My name is Casey Hubbart - (“Case”). I am a former pastor living in Texas. I own a business with my wife, coach high school football & pole vault, and I write about: Faith, Family, Fashion and Fitness. I believe those of us who say we know Jesus are in desperate need of a change in the way we do things. I’ve spent my entire life as part of the church in some capacity. I met Jesus when I was 18 and have spent the last 20 years serving in the church in some capacity. 13+ years of that was as a paid staff member or “professional Christian” — The last 4 years of my life I’ve been trying to process what it means to not be on a church staff and still hold that as such a vital part of mine and my family’s life. It’s been educational to say the least having lived on this side of the table now for a few years, giving me a better understanding of what I was truly asking the people who sat in the churches I served in. Trying to find a way to appropriately handle all that I’ve experienced in the church I decided to begin to write.

More articles and podcasts at: www.stellofello.com

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As I look at the scriptures and then I look at how we do things today in our churches, I think we’ve got a few things backwards. Specifically when it comes to defining “love”. Love looks different in each of our relationships...

Read the article at https://www.pastorresources.com/the-perfect-church-part-3-we-love-each-other-well/

About the Author: My name is Casey Hubbart - (“Case”). I am a former pastor living in Texas. I own a business with my wife, coach high school football & pole vault, and I write about: Faith, Family, Fashion and Fitness. I believe those of us who say we know Jesus are in desperate need of a change in the way we do things. I’ve spent my entire life as part of the church in some capacity. I met Jesus when I was 18 and have spent the last 20 years serving in the church in some capacity. 13+ years of that was as a paid staff member or “professional Christian” — The last 4 years of my life I’ve been trying to process what it means to not be on a church staff and still hold that as such a vital part of mine and my family’s life. It’s been educational to say the least having lived on this side of the table now for a few years, giving me a better understanding of what I was truly asking the people who sat in the churches I served in. Trying to find a way to appropriately handle all that I’ve experienced in the church I decided to begin to write.

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The pastor walked slowly toward the podium as I sat on the stage behind him, waiting to be introduced. Clearing his throat, the pastor nervously shared, “My wife and I are grateful for the opportunity to serve here, but we’ve decided to resign as your pastors.” ...

Read the article here https://www.pastorresources.com/for-prophet-leadership/

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Recently, I had coffee with a friend I hadn’t seen in a long while. I knew her from years ago, when we served together with our husbands in the same ministry. She had moved to Arizona to join an art colony, and her life has taken many different turns since...

Read the full article here https://www.pastorresources.com/sin-is-not-a-dirty-word/

About the Author Paula Rinehart, LCSW, is a therapist in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the author of Strong Women, Soft Hearts and Sex and the Soul of a Woman. This article is adapted from And Yet, Undaunted: Embraced by the Goodness of God in the Chaos of Life (coming out in October 2019), and written together with Connally Gilliam (Revelations of a Single Woman).

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In the medieval world, thinking about God was done in a monastery where it was bathed in a liturgical setting amid devotional practices. In the modern world, thinking about God is done in a university where liturgical formation is replaced by academic formation marked by a disputational spirit and critical practices...

Read the full article here https://www.pastorresources.com/the-decline-and-fall-of-seminaries/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Leonard Sweet is a preacher, teacher, scholar, and bestselling author. In 2006 and 2007, Len was recognized by his peers as one of the "Fifty Most Influential Christians in America" (ChurchReport magazine); and in 2010, he was selected by the leading non-English Christian website as one of the "Top Ten Most Influential Christian Leaders of 2010." Len resides on Orcas Island off the coast of Washington State. You can find Leonard Sweet online at www.leonardsweet.com; LenSweet on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and Amazon; and youtube.com/lenssweetspots.

See Leonard Sweet, Viral: How Social Networking Is Poised to Ignite Revival (Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook, 2012).

William Muehl, Why Preach? Why Listen? (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1986).

Matthew 10:39.

Karl Rahner, “I Believe in Jesus Christ,” in Writings of 1965–67, part 1, vol. 9 of Theological Investigations (London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1973), 167.

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As a whole, we typically do not like to deal with our own mess. I don’t think anyone truly loves admitting that they are wrong. I hate being the one to raise my hand and say, “Hey, I’m sorry – please forgive me for ______.” Just this weekend I remember thinking/praying – “Really God, I’ve done this, this and this and still I messed up? Really?! And now I have to apologize?!”

Read the full article here https://www.pastorresources.com/the-perfect-church-part-2-we-deal-with-our-sin/

Written by Casey Hubbart – (“Case”). I am a former pastor living in Texas. I own a business with my wife, coach high school football & pole vault, and I write about: Faith, Family, Fashion and Fitness. I believe those of us who say we know Jesus are in desperate need of a change in the way we do things. I’ve spent my entire life as part of the church in some capacity. I met Jesus when I was 18 and have spent the last 20 years serving in the church in some capacity. 13+ years of that was as a paid staff member or “professional Christian” — The last 4 years of my life I’ve been trying to process what it means to not be on a church staff and still hold that as such a vital part of mine and my family’s life. It’s been educational to say the least having lived on this side of the table now for a few years, giving me a better understanding of what I was truly asking the people who sat in the churches I served in. Trying to find a way to appropriately handle all that I’ve experienced in the church I decided to begin to write.

More articles and podcasts at: www.stellofello.com

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Whether your church has sixty-five people or sixty-five hundred, money matters. Even so, many pastors tell me that they find budgeting to be—at best—a necessary-but-distracting process. I’ve never heard a young pastoral candidate confide that the initial draw to ministry was the joy of managing resources. You know how divisive talking about gathering, stewarding, and spending money can be.

Read the full article here https://www.pastorresources.com/budget-blunders/

Written by Timothy J Miller has served for over 30 years in small, medium, large, and multi-site churches. In addition to being the technology director at Bayside Community Church – WSC (an 8-campus, 12k+ congregation along Florida’s Gulf Coast), he writes for church leadership and worship-related publications. His recent book, Born For Worship: The Best You Can Be In Worship Arts Ministry, uses mini-chapters to help teams and individuals explore the biblical foundations that result in growth and effective service. Find him at htworship.com or drop a note to grow@htworship.com!

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“Put on your sunglasses,” Aaron says as we shoulder our packs outside the teahouse. He points to the blue sky and the blazing sun. “With the way the sun is shining on this snow up here, without sunglasses you’ll go blind before too long.”

“Are you serious, Aaron?” I ask.

Read the full article here https://www.pastorresources.com/blindness/

Written by David Platt is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, including Radical. He is lead pastor at McLean Bible Church in metro Washington, DC, the former president of the IMB (International Mission Board), and founder of Radical Inc., a global ministry that serves churches in accomplishing the mission of Christ. Platt received his master of divinity (MDiv), master of theology (ThM), and doctor of philosophy (PhD) from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Excerpted from Something Needs to Change: A Call to Make Your Life Count in a World of Urgent Need by David Platt

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There is no higher vocation or more rewarding life than Christian ministry. Whatever the area of service, being in the employ of the Lord is an earthly and eternal honor. I know this to be true.

Read the full article here https://www.pastorresources.com/a-surprising-antidote-to-ministry-boredom-and-burnout/

Written by Dennis D. Frey, A.B.S, M.Div., Th.D., is the president of Master’s International University of Divinity the.mdivs.edu.

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The one phrase I’ve been told over and over and over again throughout my time in the church world is: “There is no perfect church.” I hate this statement; passionately hate it when people say this to me. Why? Because it makes us sound lazy. It allows us to make excuses. And it’s wrong.

Read the full article here https://www.pastorresources.com/the-perfect-church-part-1/

Written by Casey Hubbart – (“Case”). I am a former pastor living in Texas. I own a business with my wife, coach high school football & pole vault, and I write about: Faith, Family, Fashion and Fitness. I believe those of us who say we know Jesus are in desperate need of a change in the way we do things. I’ve spent my entire life as part of the church in some capacity. I met Jesus when I was 18 and have spent the last 20 years serving in the church in some capacity. 13+ years of that was as a paid staff member or “professional Christian” — The last 4 years of my life I’ve been trying to process what it means to not be on a church staff and still hold that as such a vital part of mine and my family’s life. It’s been educational to say the least having lived on this side of the table now for a few years, giving me a better understanding of what I was truly asking the people who sat in the churches I served in. Trying to find a way to appropriately handle all that I’ve experienced in the church I decided to begin to write.

More articles and podcasts at: www.stellofello.com

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When our third man cub was four years old, we experienced a year of him unexplainably waking throughout the night, screaming and crying. Troy and I (mostly Troy because he’s a very kind husband) would be in and out of bed seven or eight times a night that entire year, trying to console a little boy who couldn’t fully explain whether the problem was pain, fear, or something else.

An excerpt from Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship by Ruth Chou Simons

Read the full article here https://www.pastorresources.com/rest-is-productive/

Written by Ruth Chou Simons (art and text) Published by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97408 www.harvesthousepublishers.com

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Throughout the 1990s I served as the student ministries pastor in a thriving, suburban church in Little Rock, AR, that grew from 2,000 to 5,000 attending members in eight years. In that time and place, money was not an issue. Tithes and offerings provided more than enough to cover the budget and advance new ministry development from year to year.

Read the full article here https://www.pastorresources.com/the-time-to-pivot-is-now/

Written by Mark DeYmaz is founding pastor of the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas (www.mosaicchurch.net) and co-founder of the Mosaix Global Network (www.mosaix.info). He is the author of seven books, including The Coming Revolution of Church Economics: Why Tithes and Offerings are No Longer Enough and What You Can Do About It, from which portions of this article are adapted. Join Mark and over 100 other speakers at the 4th National Multi-ethnic Church Conference, November 5-7, in Dallas, TX. (www.mosaix2019.com)

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I’m a firm believer that the world needs more churches and more pastors. However, there are some pastors out there who are doing more harm to the church than good. I’ve spent the past two years trying to encourage and equip small town pastors to grow their churches, but today I want to encourage some of you to quit.

Read the full article here https://www.pastorresources.com/ten-reasons-you-should-quit-the-ministry/

Written by Travis Stephens I am a husband, father, and executive pastor of a small town church that went big. I have a passion for helping pastors grow themselves and the churches they serve. You can find out more about me and my ministry at http://travisstephens.me

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Written by Jim Jewell

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Pastor Resources Podcast: Recent Episodes

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On the other hand, the names of countless persons who have served in ministry (following graduation from well known schools), who could parse both Hebrew and Greek, explain complicated doctrinal theories, and argue apologetics with crisp reasoning, have passed though history scarcely known.