We want a lot of things. Watch yourself as you go through the day. Do you find yourself wanting anything? More sleep. Better coffee. A nicer car. A better-paying job. A more affectionate spouse. Better-behaved kids. A nicer home. A bigger TV. Whatever. We want a lot. Whether it’s possessions, power, or whatever, we’re a crowd of wanters.

Continue reading “Wanting More vs. Growing Gratitude” »

christian thanksgiving · give thanks · gratitude · thankfulness

The church is a family. All throughout the Scripture, we read references to family terminology to describe Christian relationships. The local church is the visible and active manifestation of this family life. If it’s true — if Christians are really spiritual family — then how should we behave?

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brothers · church life · church members · family · sisters

Here’s an obvious statement:  you’re probably not getting enough sleep. If the statistics are correct, a whopping one-third of Americans don’t get enough sleep, and a shocking 75% report sleep problems. Among pastors, church volunteers, and religious workers, these numbers may be higher. Thom Rainer reports that many pastors only sleep around six hours per night ?

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ministry advice · pastoral advice · relaxation · rest · sleep

Part of being missional is making sure that our churches—everything about them—is accomplishing our mission. Our mission, of course, is to make disciples, something we pursue in the lives of both believers and nonbelievers. As you consider your mission, you may want to consider how visitors view your church. This is easier said than done.

Continue reading “How to Look at Your Church from a Visitor’s Point of View” »

church visitors · missional church · visiting church · welcoming visitors

“I sat down and wept and mourned for days.” Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you didn’t actually have a multi-day weeping period (or, maybe you did), but perhaps you felt as if the discouragement you were facing warranted that kind of grief. It’s totally understandable. Ministry is tough. Really tough. Sometimes, you may feel like searching for some random job on Monster.com, rather than sticking with the toilsome task and ornery people of your ministry.

Continue reading “When the Work Is Hard: Finding Fortitude in Fatigue” »

burnout · challenges in ministry · ministry fatigue

You do it every week. Maybe you do it several times a week. Preaching. You are, by trade, someone who speaks to others. After a while, it can become easy to slip into preaching mode, without doing some self-assessment and taking stock of how you’re doing. For that reason, here are five questions to ask about your preaching. Continue reading “Five Questions to Ask about Your Preaching” »

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There is a danger in being overly sensitive to what people think of your church. The church is to follow the Bible’s teaching, regardless of what people think. At the same time, it is important to understand how people are feeling, thinking, and seeking as they attend a new church. It can help to get inside the head of a visitor and realize what they’re looking for.
Continue reading “Ten Things Church Visitors Are Looking For” »

church newcomers · church visitors · visit church

You’ve probably heard the saying, “the devil is in the details.” The phrase is derived from an earlier idiom, “God is in the details.” Whatever you think of assigning the presence of Satan or Deity to details, it’s an inescapable fact:  details are important.

Continue reading “Seven Church Details You Must Not Neglect” »

church appearance · church details · church hymnals · church ministry · ministry details

If you’re human, you know what selfishness is. If you’re a believer, you have undoubtedly struggled with selfishness in your own heart. It’s important to realize that the gospel is the solution for our selfishness. This motivation for serving puts legs on the practical outworking of how we seek to grow in serving others.
Continue reading “10 Questions to Ask Yourself about Serving Others” »

christian service · ministry · selfishness · servanthood

It was bedtime, and for some reason, my three year-old daughter was afraid. “Daddy, I’m afraid,” she told me honestly.

Continue reading “Daddy, I’m Afraid: How to Face Your Fear” »

christian fear · fear · fear the lord