Blog Articles and Resources for Pastors and Church Leaders
Blog Articles and Resources for Pastors and Church Leaders
The Only Way to Break Money's Power Over You
The only way, and I mean only way to get a grip on money’s power in your heart, is to return it to its owner. And that’s not you or me. I’ve found myself occasionally getting trapped in the “when I, then I” spiral. Maybe you can relate. When I have...
What Does God Expect from Us?
The idea behind The Hole In Our Gospel is quite simple. It’s basically the belief that being a Christian, or follower of Jesus Christ, requires much more than just having a personal and transforming relationship with God. It also entails a public...
Why Bother with Historical Study of Jesus? N. T. Wright Responds
People often ask me, why should we bother doing historical Jesus studies? Why should we bring history into it at all? Surely if we have the four gospels and we in the church have worshiped God in Jesus Christ for all these years, we don’t need to...
Learn to Embrace Essential Change
Adaptability is a crucial skill for leaders As fast as the pace was in the 1980s, when I look back it seems slow by today’s standards. Life moves much faster now. The rate at which we must deal with change and uncertainty can seem insane. For...
What do I need to do as a pastor to help my people grow?
I drove to see Dallas Willard one time to spend an entire day with him and I was at a needy point in my soul. I told him I felt frustrated because the people at the church where I served were not changing more. And I asked him, what do I need to do...
What Made Jesus Mad? Interview with Tim Harlow
Interview with Tim Harlow, Senior Pastor of Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, Illinois Q: This month your new book was released, called What Made Jesus Mad? What did make Jesus mad, would you say? A: I think there was a theme to Jesus’...
Four Ways to Talk About Money with Your Congregation
Money shapes the hearts of your congregation’s members. It can be their gateway to unparalleled joy in Christ, and intimacy with him. But according to Jesus, it can also keep many from reaching maturity as disciples! The stakes are high. As church...
Do it Again Lord
We’re still hoping we’ll wake up. We’re still hoping we’ll open a sleepy eye and think, What a horrible dream. How could this have happened? Just a moment ago moms were packing school lunches. Just a moment ago chefs were planning the day’s menu....
Becoming Powerful
Pastors are the first responders for the spiritual well-being of a global community that has been deeply shaken. Who is caring for our pastors in this hour on the earth? This question has been stirring in my heart and infusing me with desire to...
What I Learned from Billy Graham, by Luis Palau
Evangelists are not easily satisfied. We tend to feel the burden of every empty seat in the crowd. It can be easy, especially when you’re young, to lose perspective. It was encouraging to find out that Billy Graham struggled with this too. “Even...
It’s Impossible to Lead Well if We Aren’t Willing to Be Misunderstood
Sheep Seldom Know What’s Best for Them Every shepherd must occasionally make his sheep do something they don’t want to do. It’s an unpleasant but necessary part of leadership. A good shepherd doesn’t take a poll to see where the sheep want to go....
Door Number Three: Pivoting to Success When You Feel Like Giving Up
Weariness had set in and I was ready to throw in the towel. The organization I started wasn’t growing and disappointment and stress had taken their toll. So, I sought the counsel of a well-known minister. I asked one simple question: “Is it time...
4 Virtues That Fuel God-Honoring Cultural Engagement
One of the first virtues necessary for the believer who seeks effective and God-honoring cultural engagement is diligence . The Bible describes diligence, in fact, as the foundation for the other virtues (see 2 Peter 1:5-8). No one can be an expert...
3 Steps to Navigating Homosexuality in Our Churches
Step 1: Have Your Conviction s Settled On Sunday, September 20, 2009, I walked into an evangelical church in Hollywood called Reality LA as a self-proclaimed atheist and a gay man; two hours later I walked out a born-again Christian who no longer...
God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel
Interview with Cost Hinn, nephew of televangelist Benny Hinn. As his faith in Christ deepened, Costi Hinn, nephew of televangelist Benny Hinn, found himself questioning his family’s practices. This insider view from the once heir-apparent of one of...
Riding the Ups and Downs of Leadership Confidence
Roller Coasters take you on a wild ride with unexpected turns, dips, and plunges at high speeds. Even the names of some of the biggest thrillers offer a clue. For example, “The Beast” at Kings Island, in Mason, Ohio travels 65 mph and is 110 ft...
Free Resources
Using How (not) to Save the World with your church or small group?
Here are some tools to help:
The Small Group Tool Kit includes two mobile-friendly invitation cards, reflection cards to enhance your small group experience, and a worship song playlist curated by Hosanna Wong that can beplayed during small group meetings or personal Bible study time.
The Church Tool Kit includes a downloadable poster, bulletininsert, invitation card, and Power Point slide.
Is your church talking about anxiety, depression and mental health issues? You should be.
Shawn Johnson, lead pastor of Red Rocks Church, gives a
searingly honest portrait of anxiety and depression and shows readers how to fight back and live free. He also has put together three free tools pastors can use to help their congregation have a productive conversation around mental health, including a discussion guide, sermon notes and key Scripture verses.