The following post comes to us from Steve Addison, church planter and author of Movements That Change the World; What Jesus Started; and Pioneering Movements. Rodney Stark is Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University. I read just about everything he writes. His latest is entitled The Triumph of Faith: Why the World is More Religious Than Ever. Here’s … Read More
What’s Your Conversion Story?
For those of you who didn’t mark your calendars, yesterday was the anniversary of an interesting date in Christian history: when Charles Haddon Spurgeon, prince of preachers, was converted. On that day in 1850, at the age of 15, Spurgeon heard the voice of God calling him in the words of Isaiah 45:22 through the sermon of a Primitive Methodist … Read More
The Value of Application in Preaching
The following guest post comes to us from Rick Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Church. Rick is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life. He is also the founder of Pastors.com, a global internet community for pastors. Many preachers believe the purpose of preaching is to explain the Bible, or to interpret the text, or to help … Read More
What’s Your New Year’s Resolution?
If you are like the majority of pastors, your years of ministry have decreased your passion and increased your frustration. In the midst of life’s chaos and the pressures of leading church week after week, “average” may have become your new standard – but you’ve been called to so much more. Why not resolve to make 2016 the year where … Read More
8 Reasons Many Churches Are Living in the 1980s
Today’s guest post comes to us from my good friend Thom Rainer. Dr. Rainer is the CEO and President of LifeWay Christian Resources and will be one of our featured speakers at the 2016 Renegade Pastors Conference (see the PS below for more details on how to be a Renegade and join me and Dr. Rainer at the conference). Nine … Read More
Merry Christmas!
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! As for my own family, Kelley and I are celebrating together with our son Alexander. He is understandably excited about Christmas! You’re a part of the Church Leader Insights family and I thank God for the opportunity to partner with you to maximize your leadership and grow your church! Have a … Read More
Christmas Sale! Resource packages up to 80% off!
Christmas is THIS Friday and I want to be a blessing to you and your church. I know you’re planning your worship services but I wanted to take a moment and give you a Christmas package. Well, actually SIX Christmas packages. I’ve collected the very best of my resources and carefully put together these six unique resource packages – at … Read More
Five Lessons from Donald McGavran that I’ve Learned and Applied – Part 2
Many church leaders don’t know the founder of the modern church growth movement, Donald McGavran, and what we can apply from his teaching to our own ministry. In honor of McGavran’s birthday this past Tuesday, I shared the first three of five motivational Donald McGavran quotes that have impacted what we do at The Journey. Today I’m sharing the other two quotes … Read More
NEW Resource! The Finishing Well Seminar
“Well done, my good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21) These encouraging words from Jesus are what every pastor wants to hear. Especially when the path we’re on seems long, treacherous and difficult to navigate. Still, in our mission to grow the Kingdom, we want to finish well, don’t we? Isn’t this our goal, as Paul so vividly illustrates: “I have … Read More
False Interpretation of Scripture – A Saturday Quote
“A false interpretation of Scripture causes that the gospel of the Lord becomes the gospel of man, or, which is worse, of the devil.” – Jerome, 5th century theologian and historian