Watch and then read: our interview with Evan Morgan, president of Our Daily Bread Christian University (ODBCU), to learn more about the many opportunities available through this online school and then peruse their course offerings shared on our GProLearning site today. Access courses here via our Learning Paths on GProLearning: Interview below: How is Our Daily Bread connected with ChristianUniversity.org? Our ministry was founded in February 1998 as a subsidiary of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in the USA, with the mission of reaching students worldwide with affordable and accessible Christian learning opportunities. We became a subsidiary of […]
Shared with kind permission from author Barry Voss “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 There is an old saying that “you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.” It means that if a horse is not thirsty he likely will not drink, even if you place some water before him. The same can be said of our relationship to God. We can be led to God, but unless we desire Him we will have no interest. So it is important for us to develop a hunger for […]
Reposted with kind permission from Breeze. It seems like every other week that a prominent Christian leader quits, is fired or lands in the news because of some sort of scandal. I don’t know about you, but I find these stories demoralizing because each story tarnishes the reputation of Jesus and His Church in our culture. These stories are also scary because I find myself thinking, Can anyone do this? Can anyone lead in the spotlight without failing? The truth is that hundreds, probably thousands, of church leaders and pastors serve and lead faithfully for years, even decades without a major failing. […]
It’s hard to be the person you’re supposed to be. If we’re honest, the person we are, the person God is creating in us often seems mundane and ordinary. Nothing like the highlight reels we see on Instagram. As a pastor, it is tough to be the person God has created you to be. You can download the sermons of any other pastor (and so can your people). You wonder if you are measuring up; if you are faithful enough if you are pursuing the vision God has placed in your heart or pursuing someone else’s vision. Compound that with […]
by Kevin Halloran, reposted with kind permission from Leadership Resources. Paul commands Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:13 to “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture. . . .” Why be devoted to the public reading of Scripture? Let’s take a look at the theological foundations of public Scripture reading and some ways to give Scripture a more prominent place in public gatherings. Theological Foundations God has spoken. From the beginning of the Bible (Genesis 1:3), we see that God speaks, and His word is powerful and life-giving. At the end of the Bible, we see that a word from God ushers in […]
By Dr. Lloyd Estrada I am sure that you are familiar with the following words and phrases: “scapegoat” a person who is blamed for the mistake or wrongdoing of someone else “drop in a bucket” a very small amount; less than nothing “the powers that be” important people that have authority over others “put words in one’s mouth” to falsely attribute a statement to someone “fall from grace” to fall out of favor; to have one’s reputation tarnished “labor of love” work done for the benefit of others rather than for material gain “the blind leading the blind” a situation […]
This article appeared originally on Claire Muster’s blog. I have been in Christian ministry for 25 years. And in common with practically everyone else alive, I have worn masks. Not literally, of course. At times, a mask has been the means of self-preservation, at others a ministry preserver – and even an act of generosity and service. In other words, masks can and should have their place. To some extent. But they are also detrimental to psychological wellbeing and community life. They conceal rather than reveal. They can do even more damage to the wearer than they do to those who only encounter […]
We, women, are known to have what I would call a survival kit – a small pouch that holds what you need for whenever you travel, whether short distance or long distance. Some kits would have a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, dental floss, nail cutter, safety pins, baby powder and lip balm. Others may need to include a deodorant, lipstick, eyeliner, cologne, travel tissue, comb, etc. Then you learn a thing or two from an embarrassing experience and add something else here and there. As pastors’ wives, we could use a survival kit as well. The contents of this […]
This article “How One Pastor Prepares a Sermon” is shared with permission from Pastor Josh Reich. I’m often asked by other pastors or church planters about how I prep a sermon. While these aren’t so much things you should do, these are things that are principles for me and shape how a sermon goes from nothing to something. 6 things that go into preparing a sermon. CLICK TO TWEET 1. Plan ahead. My goal is to know 18 months in advance what I plan to preach on. This is crucial to my process. I’m a big believer that the Holy Spirit is just as […]
In this episode, Drs. Darrell Bock and Kevin Vanhoozer discuss the pastor as public theologian, focusing on the minister’s identity and mission. Transcript Darrell Bock: Welcome to The Table where we discuss issues of God and culture, and our topic today is the pastor, both as he is and how – and as he should be. And our guest is Kevin Vanhoozer, who is research professor of systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, better affectionately known as TEDS, and he is with us via Skype. It take it from Illinois. You’re still in the Illinois area or your […]