“There was good reason for the silence of the Holy Spirit as to how, when, in what form Christ ordained the apostles, the reason being to show the indifferency of all forms of words.” — John Wycliffe, Bible Translator and Morning Star of the Reformation (c. 1330 – December 31, 1384) Wycliffe was an English professor, priest, and reformer. He is … Read More
Retired Pastors Satisfied and Optimistic, but See Room for Improvement, by LifeWay Research
Most retirement age pastors and missionaries say their current life is close to ideal, but some who have entered retirement say they could’ve been better prepared. In a survey sponsored by Shepherd’s Fold Ministries, Nashville-based LifeWay Research asked 2,451 pastors, ministers and missionaries who were retired or at least 67 years old about their life, health, relationships, reflections on ministry, and … Read More
Average vs. Renegade: Embracing a Bifocal Vision
There’s a distinct difference in how average pastors and renegade pastors view the expansion of God’s kingdom. Average pastors wrestle with one of two opposing temptations. Either they are tempted to focus solely on their own churches, to the exclusion of any involvement in the greater Kingdom, or they get so excited about outside kingdom opportunities that they let their … Read More
The Surprising Truth About Sleep — Why You Need A New Perspective
A few years ago, as I (Nelson) was studying Genesis in preparation for a teaching series, God brought something significant to my attention—a truth that became a paradigm-shifting revelation concerning my view of sleep. At first glance, the truth seems simple enough: when God created the world, he created the night before the day (Gen. 1:2–4). The darkness preceded the light. … Read More
Last Chance to Register for 2020 Preaching Calendar Conference Call!
This is your last chance to sign up now for the most anticipated training event I do all year — one that will literally save you hours in 2020: my 2020 Preaching Calendar Conference Call— taking place TOMORROW, Wednesday, Nov. 6. This would normally be a closed training just for my coaching networks, but because this planning process is so critical … Read More
The Necessary Qualities of a Close Friend
What does a person, who is a friend, an advisor, and a confidant, look like? Are there certain qualities that make a person fit for this position in your life? These are important questions because, for many average pastors, they have never had someone like this in their lives. You may feel fearful of having someone who has that kind … Read More
Leaders Are Not Easily Influenced
“Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” – Ephesians 4:14 (NLT)
John Wycliffe on the Measure of Christian Life
“All Christian life is to be measured by Scripture; by every word thereof.” — John Wycliffe, Bible Translator and Morning Star of the Reformation (c. 1330 – December 31, 1384) Wycliffe was an English professor, priest, and reformer. He is credited for being the first to translate the entire Bible into the English language. He is widely considered one of … Read More
3 Occasions When Pastors Should Expect Mental Struggle, by Facts & Trends
In recent months, the conversation regarding the mental health of pastors has been brought to the forefront. Although I’m convinced we’ve kept this topic in the dark for far too long, it’s not a new struggle. Indeed, in the mid-1800s, the “Prince of Preachers” himself, Charles Spurgeon, spoke about the mental health of pastors in a lecture titled, “The Minister’s … Read More
Happy Reformation Day!
In celebration of Reformation Day today and Luther’s act of defiance 502 years ago that started the Protestant Reformation, I’d like to share some of his major achievements: Luther posted the 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany in October 1517. These were the differences Luther found between the Roman Catholic Church and the Bible. His refusal to … Read More