“What happens in your services is of no use to your people if they don’t walk away with a clear understanding of how to incorporate the teaching and worship into their lives. That’s why it is so important to begin your worship planning with the end in mind. At The Journey, we do this by asking and prayerfully answering … Read More
Study Finds Only 1 in 7 Pastors is Under 40
Today’s post comes to us from Kate Shellnutt for Christianity Today. American pastors aren’t as young as they used to be. As clergy live longer and stay in ministry longer, the average age of Protestant senior pastors has risen to 54—a decade older than 25 years before, when the average age was 44. Now, just 1 in 7 pastors leading … Read More
William Carey on Being a Minister
“A Christian minister is a person who in a peculiar sense is not his own; he is the servant of God, and therefore ought to be wholly devoted to Him.” – William Carey
Steps to Take Before Confronting Others
Recently, I came across an insightful article by Annie B. Garman about confronting others and some steps to take before issuing a reproof. It’s a subject I spent a full chapter talking about in my new book Tongue Pierced: How the Words You Speak Transform the Life You Live. As Annie points out in her article for the North American Mission … Read More
It’s Time to Prioritize Your Health (Thursdays are for Health)
“When you understand the importance of being proactive about your health you will find the time to do it. Period. It’s not a question of time, it’s a question of priorities.” – Nelson Searcy, Steve Reynolds & Jennifer Dykes Henson The above quote is from p. 41 of The Healthy Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Health and Wellness. P.S. – Click here … Read More
CS Lewis on Finding What Makes You Happy
“Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” – C. S. Lewis
Keys to Worship Planning: Planning Your Preaching in Advance
“Why is advanced planning so important? Creativity doesn’t happen under the gun. You can’t throw together a life-transforming, synergistic service at the last minute, as I’m sure you’ve learned the hard way. We certainly have! Rather than limiting your church’s potential by always being a step behind, make a decision to outline your preaching a year in advance. That … Read More
Step One for Your Health (Thursdays are for Health):
“Getting your health on track is a life-changing commitment. When you have your body under control, you are free to pursue God’s plans for you, unburdened by the very thing that drags so many people down into an average, mundane existence. It’s hard to get excited about the future when you don’t feel well; it’s not easy to shine the … Read More
Fastest Growing Churches Have Modern Worship & Teach Literal Bible Interpretation
Today’s guest post comes to us from Veronica Neffinger, Editor of ChristianHeadlines.com. A recent study by Canadian researchers has found that churches with positive growth rates have at least two things in common: they implement modern styles of worship and they stick to a literal interpretation of Scripture. According to The Christian Post, the study, titled “Theology Matters: Comparing the … Read More
A W Tozer: Refuse to Be Average
“Keep your feet on the ground, but let your heart soar as high as it will. Refuse to be average or to surrender to the chill of your spiritual environment.” – A W Tozer