March 27, 2018
riptides

Riptides: When Pastors Play Power Games

Article appeared originally on Evangelicals Now, reposted with generous permission by the same.  You can’t see or even detect them… but that  is precisely why riptides are so lethal. Many an unsuspecting swimmer has been swept out to sea, or perhaps worse, immediately dragged under, by the violent currents beneath the surface. For at the very moment of realising they are in trouble, it’s probably too late. It takes seasoned tide-watchers to alert newcomers to where the dangers lie. Cultural riptides in the West The rapid cultural shifts of recent years can make western Christ-followers feel as vulnerable as swimmers […]
March 22, 2018
solution

5 Simple Questions Great Leaders Ask

  Great leaders don’t just provide great answers to questions; they also ask great questions. You can learn so much by asking great questions, and this a fantastic habit to develop. As well as helping you to increase your knowledge and understanding, it also makes your teams feel more involved because when you listen to them, it shows that you value their input, all of which increases their commitment and motivation. HERE ARE 5 SIMPLE QUESTIONS THAT GREAT LEADERS ASK: 1.  IS THERE A SIMPLER SOLUTION OR A SIMPLER WAY OF DOING THIS? Many people have a natural tendency to over complicate things, especially when […]
March 20, 2018
sermon

Is Church More than a Sermon?

In this podcast “Church: More than a sermon,” Drs. Darrell L. Bock, Michael Svigel, and Barry Jones discuss the question, “Why does church attendance matter if we have worship music, sermons online, and fellowship with other believers everyday?” and related inquiries from participants.  Timecode: 01:39 Why should we go to church? 07:20 Why can’t seminary substitute for the local church? 11:25 The culture of the consumerism and the church. 16:20 Women and the church 19:55 Communicating the importance of church as a minister 23:15 What if the church is not spiritually forming? 25:20 How do we stress the importance and expectations of community? 32:45 Is it a […]
March 17, 2018
ambition

Scott Sauls On Unhealthy Ambition, Envy And Isolation In Leadership

Reshared with kind permission from the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast.  Scott Sauls offers some keen observations about the heart and soul of leaders. In this wide-ranging conversation, Scott talks about why our culture is so angry, and gives penetrating insights into why leaders end up with unhealthy ambitions, find themselves envious of others and wind up isolated. Welcome to Episode 178 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free. Listen to podcast here 3 Insights From This Episode 1. Leaders need […]
March 15, 2018
Objective

Objective insights: “If I Were a Pastor…”

Church management advisor and trainer, Barry Voss shares his objective insights on the topic of what he advises for those called to pastoral ministry. I have been training pastors and church leaders now for 12 years on leadership and management, focusing on teaching them Biblical principles and giving them practical tools to help them lead & manage their churches more effectively.  I have 25+ years of experience as a leader and manager in business, in church, and in my own ministry, but yet I have never been pastor of a church.  This often makes it very difficult for me to relate […]
March 6, 2018
decisions

3 Ways Church Leaders Can Make Better Decisions

Article on making decisions from guest blogger Aaron Buer at Breeze Church.  I’m currently obsessed with the stories of the Old Testament Kings of Israel. Their stories are fascinating. There’s also a lot to learn from these guys – the good and the bad. Speaking of good and bad, King Solomon was a jumbled up mix of good and bad. On the one hand, he is described as the wisest man in history. On the other, he basically enslaved his people and apparently married every woman he met. 700?!? Come on bro. Let’s focus on his strengths. He was next-level […]
March 5, 2018
prosperity

Introducing The Gospel Coalition + Online Resource Library (Free eBook Download)

Since its inception in 2006, The Gospel Coalition International Outreach (TGC IO) has distributed more than 850,000 theological books and resources to 130 plus countries in 38 languages and growing! TGC IO’s main purpose is to provide theological famine relief: serving the local church by delivering Gospel-centered and Christ-focused content. Through whatever means necessary, TGC IO utilizes multimedia content, events, books and international outreach to help strengthen churches. They are meeting a specific need in the Body for the strengthening of churches all over the world based on their insight that, “As pastors and church leaders are fed Gospel-centered, theologically […]
March 1, 2018
ministry team

3 Lessons I’ve Learned in Leading a Ministry Team

Guest Post from Aaron Buer. Reposted with kind permission from Breeze. Three big transitions have brought about the greatest growth in my life. The first was my wedding day. I’m coming up on my 15th anniversary this fall and I can’t imagine who I would be without my wife and how our relationship has shaped me. The second was the birth of my first child. Wow, was I not ready for the level of selflessness required for parenthood. The lesson was a tough one for me so we went ahead and added four more kids to make sure I really caught […]