Blog
Blog
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...
Does Truth Even Matter to this New Generation?
My father and I recently updated his classic book, Evidence that Demands a Verdict . A handful of people have asked me why we even bothered. After all, don’t we live in a “post-truth” world dominated by feelings? It certainly is true that this...
I don’t always understand what I read in Scripture
The Bible wasn’t sinking into my heart. I could go about my day without time in the Word as long as I was cherry-picking verses out when I needed something from God. (Facebook is a good place to find inspirational verses, right?) I’d read a page or...
What Barre Class Taught Me About Loving God
I’m a newly converted Barre3 member, which means I’m in shape, but I can barely walk. And though I can now sit and eat comfortably in my jeans without unzipping them, I have trouble getting into a seated position. If you look up Barre3, the website...
Dear God: Let's Be Co-Rulers. Love, Me
Here’s what has to be one of the worst life plans ever hatched: “I know I don’t get to be in charge, but maybe God and I could co-reign. If we did, I’m sure I could be a huge help to him.” I mean, why not do the two-rulers-for-the-price-of-one...
Finding the Good in Others
“Hi, my name is Jessica. Are you calling to give a compliment or a complaint?” My husband gently responded, “I’d like to give a compliment for one of your drivers.” There was a long pause. “I’m sorry, I think I may have misheard you, did you say...
Why won't she come? 8 Ways to Engage the Woman on the Fringes of your Church and Community
The amazing truth is that you can engage women on the fringes. Think about who is underserved in your community. Pray. Don’t judge, love. Create a flyer. Choose an accessible study. Eliminate excuses. Make yourself available.
That Time I Asked the Unthinkable Question
I was thirty minutes into a forty-minute message I was giving at a large women’s conference, when I recognized that I needed to shift the conclusion. I’d planned on inviting women to respond to God and come to the altar, but what I sensed now was...
Experience God through His Names
SERVANT, SERVANT OF GOD, MAN OF SORROWS E BED P AIS TOU T HEOU I SH M AKOBOTH He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Isaiah 53:3 NKJV The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. Matthew 20:28 NIV...
Four Easy Decluttering Projects That Will Transform Your Living Space
While unstuffing your living space might seem like a daunting (or downright impossible) task, many quick and relatively painless decluttering projects can be tackled in small bites that don’t take too much time. These small wins can help build...
Confessions of a Former Do-It-All Mom and Pastor’s Wife
Do you ever find yourself trying to do All. Of. The. Things. to make sure your holidays are Instagram-worthy and Pinterest-perfect? If so, you may be guilty of overfunctioning . This was Geri Scazzero’s problem; take the quiz to find out if it’s...
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.