Bad theology makes ministry feel like we are working for God in order to earn his love, favor, and approval. The work-for-God mentality is one reason many ministry leaders feel like pack animals. On the edge of the burnout cliff, we schedule a weekly sabbath to rest...
As the COVID pandemic begins to recede in many communities, I have had a lot of conversations about what it looks like to regather in local churches. Pastors are talking about what sermons their people need to hear and what measures they need to take to ensure safety....
“You’re not as ready as you think you are, and Jesus doesn’t care.” A few weeks ago, I wrote that line down as I studied the story of Jesus and the seventy-two disciples in Luke 9 and 10. That message—that no one is as ready as they need to be to walk into ministry—is...
Q: What makes something preaching? How is a sermon different than a lecture or a motivational speech?A: The context (worship service) and the content (Word of God).When someone gives a motivational speech or lecture, he or she might use a Bible verse to support their...
What is at the core of what any pastor or spiritual leader should do? What is our essential job in ministry? What is the job of a pastor?In John 18:19–21, Jesus provides us with the perfect example of what our ministry should look like. Two key words stand out to me...
A few weeks ago, one of our pastors in Asia asked me to speak to his ministry team about the concept of a ministry “leadership pipeline.” You may have heard this phrase before, which was popularized by business author Ram Charan in his 2000 book, The Leadership...
