“A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.” — John Calvin (10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564) was a French theologian, pastor and reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system … Read More
The Four Spaces of Spiritual Growth
Well-meaning church leaders have long been trying to force a high level of familiarity within groups, even though the environment is just not conducive to it. Understanding that there are four primary spaces where we grow spiritually can help stop this tendency. Here is a quick overview of the four spaces of spiritual growth. 1. Public Space Public space is … Read More
Shepherd Your Flock: How to Grow Disciples Through Stewardship
A giving challenge is an ideal way to get hesitant members to commit to giving for a specified period of time and to re-engage those who may have fallen off. The best way to introduce a giving challenge is to tie it in with one of your messages or testimonies on stewardship. Turn your people’s attention to the idea of … Read More
Being a Godly Leader
“The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path. The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.” – Psalm 37:30-31 (NLT)
Calvin on God’s Infinite Goodness
“However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts.” — John Calvin (10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564) was a French theologian, pastor and reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism, aspects … Read More
Love Your Family: Putting in the Hard Work
Providing well for your family is a major component of loving them–and hard work is key to being able to provide well. For some reason, however, too many pastors have gotten it into their heads that ministry is a soft profession–that it can be done with less effort and intentionality than other jobs. In a surprising number of ministerial circles, … Read More
Thinking About Thinking
Since the quality of your life is so directly tied to the quality of your internal dialogue, you must do all you can to shape that dialogue for your own good. Understanding the power of your thoughts or knowing you need to change is not enough. You have to take specific action. Here are some practical steps you can take … Read More
Caring for the Flock
“Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds.” – Proverbs 27:23 (NLT)
Flogging the Devil
“The preaching of Christ is the whip that flogs the devil. The preaching of Christ is the thunderbolt, the sound of which makes all hell shake.” – Charles Spurgeon (June 19, 1834 – January 31, 1892), The Prince of Preachers
The New You: Your Thoughts and Your Health
How do you feel today? Are you tired? Are you sick? Maybe you are feeling healthy, happy, and on top of the world. Here is something that may surprise you: how you feel has almost everything to do with how you think you feel. If you wake up in the morning thinking about how tired you are and wishing you … Read More