Today’s guest blog comes to us from Karl Vaters, pastor of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Fountain Valley, CA. Karl is the author of The Grasshopper Myth: Big Churches, Small Churches and the Small Thinking that Divides Us and is a regular contributor on NewSmallChurch.com. Much of today’s ministry training takes its lead from businesses. Maybe businesses should be taking their … Read More
McGavran Monday – The Bridge of Faith
In honor of Dr. Gary McIntosh’s new biography of Donald McGavran, here’s today’s Monday moment: “ … the coming to Christ of Greeks at Antioch was unplanned and depended on the burning faith of some unknown Christians who were organically linked with both Jews and Greeks, thus forming a bridge between the two peoples…. This bond of relationship was the bridge over which … Read More
On Sin – A Saturday Quote
“One reason sin flourishes is that it is treated like a cream puff instead of a rattlesnake.” -Billy Sunday
Top Reasons Pastors Quit Ministry
Today’s guest blog comes to us from Cathy Lynn Grossman, senior national correspondent for RNS, where she specializes in stories drawn from research and statistics on religion, spirituality, and social and biomedical ethics. Sometimes a call from God is not enough to keep a pastor in his post. Many evangelical pastors who quit before retirement age found “another calling” either … Read More
The World is More Religious Than Ever
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