When the Pastor’s Preferences Become Priority
Pastors, lead. But don’t lead in such a way that your preferences become a priority to the detriment of the church. Be careful that you are not practicing what you preach against.
Leadership
Standing Room Only in the SBC
At the Southern Baptist Convention 2021 Annual Meeting, some things were better than imagined, and some realities were worse than expected. When there’s standing room only in the SBC, I pray for a day when it’s about the most important, unifying issues.
Approachable Attitudes
Those who lead in the church should always strive to portray approachable attitudes as they serve the people walking through the door. People need help, and it would help if they believed you actually want to help them.
When Pastors Fail to Lead a Staff
Pastors are often so busy that they fail to address one critical area – charting the course for the rest of the ministry team. When pastors fail to lead a staff, the staff often fails to lead the church.
When the Task is Too Big and You Feel Too Small
What do you do when the task is too big and you feel too small? King Solomon was there once, and what he asked for could save us as well.
5 Necessities for a Church Revitalization
We never want to see a church die, but are we willing to make the changes to see it live again? Here are five necessities for a church revitalization.
Dangerous Trends in Church Planting
While church planting has rightfully garnered more attention in the last two decades, we must be careful to evaluate the methods we use. We must also be aware of some of the dangerous trends out there.
When Burrito Rollers Are Trained Better Than Ministry Leaders
Many of us got our first ministry opportunity before we ever received intentional training. Are we in danger of not taking the most important work seriously enough?
Game-Changing Group Leaders
Your church is as healthy as the groups assembled. Your groups are as healthy as the leaders available. Like it or not, the maturity of any group of people rises and falls on the pace that the leaders set. The leadership in your church is critical. It’s time to go the second mile with game-changing group leaders.
Leaders Worth Imitating
We’ve all had heroes in our lives. They are the people who inspire us to do better, to do more, and to make our lives count for something valuable. Your church needs the type of leaders that set the bar for others to follow in their example. It’s time to go the second mile with leaders worth imitating.
Burdensome Leaders
Within the church, we understand that we can’t have perfect leaders, but somewhere along the way, we’ve grown to accept pathetic leaders. What happens when we water down the requirements for leaders? The whole church drowns. It’s time to go the second mile with demanding for more than burdensome leaders.
Malnourished Ministers
In ministry, the needs are always endless. You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself.
My Year in Books [2020]
2020 was challenging, but here are the 52 books that helped me navigate it through.
5 Years Later
In completing a 5-year term on the Board of Trustees at North Greenville University, I am incredibly grateful to have witnessed what God has done during this time. I can’t wait to see what is next for the university where Christ makes the difference.
Why Your Pastor Might Be Ready to Quit
Every year, many pastors burn out and quit. Why is that such a common reality? Discover ten things that might be discouraging your pastor, and how to help him address it.
4 Questions for Long-Term Sermon Planning
One of the most helpful ways to preach faithfully to a local congregation is to have a long-term plan. It doesn’t limit the Holy Spirit, but I think the process connects you even more to Him in your preparation and delivery.
Church – It’s Time to Dream Again
What if COVID-19 has provided you the opportunity to prioritize all the things you have dreamed about for your church? Church – it’s time to dream again.
God Is in Control of Who Is in Control
Daniel interpreted the king’s disturbing dream and showed him that all of his power had been given by the one with all authority. No matter who is in charge, God remains sovereign.
The Greatest Leaders Are the Sincerest Servants
Everyone wants to be considered a leader, but few are willing to be a servant once they are viewed as a leader. Jesus never got too big to live as a servant.
Why Successful Ministry Leaders Are Rarely Challenged
Due to past successes, supporters often give leaders a free pass for any current suspicious direction. Allowing past successes to overlook present mistakes will lead to future calamities.
Lead Like Jesus (7 Essential Characteristics)
Are you a leader? Have you always wanted to be a leader? If so, you should learn from the greatest leader this world ever witnessed. Here are 7 essential leadership characteristics from the life of Jesus.
Think Church Rebuild – Not Church Restart
All church leaders have been imagining what it will be like when we restart and everything returns to normal. That isn’t happening. We need to think about a church rebuild – not a church restart.
The Ministry Equivalent of Ford Making Ventilators
When the COVID-19 hit, much of our economy came to a screeching halt. While some industries have prospered, most have struggled. Due to the uncertainty of the coming months, Ford did something unexpected: they started making ventilators. When Henry Ford started the company back in 1903, he wasn’t anticipating an assembly line churning out ventilators, yet that is the reality …
How Your Church Website Needs to Change
Your church’s website is important to how you will reach people. It is not the only way, but it is a very helpful way. I firmly believe that the gospel is the power of salvation to those who believe (Rom. 1:16). A church doesn’t need a website to reach people with the news of Jesus, but it is a fantastic …
Don’t Pause During a Pandemic
Crises have a way of clarifying who we are. Trials do change us, but they often reveal us more than anything else. The same is true for churches and ministries. When trials come, the health of a ministry is clearly seen. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I personally was in disbelief. “Surely this isn’t happening. No, we are going to …
Leading Towards Regathering Practically
I was honored to discuss “Leading Towards Regathering Practically” with fellow pastors in South Carolina who are all also great friends. It was a part of the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s Advance Anyway podcast they have started during the COVID-19. As pastors, we need to learn from each other without pressure to conform to another’s plans. You are called to …
Questions to Answer Before Reopening Church Gatherings
As a culture walking through the uncharted territory of an international pandemic, we know that we have to begin the process of reopening businesses, parks, restaurants, schools, and even churches. While plenty of measures have been taken to flatten the curve of the COVID-19, we all acknowledge that, at some point, we have to reverse operational trends, yet we must …
Creative Quarantine Ideas for Your Church (That Actually Work)
I would have pulled out my notebook from seminary on how to lead a church through an international pandemic, but, like everyone else, I didn’t have that class. I am making it up as we go along. You are too. I have benefitted from hearing ideas from other places, and I thought maybe this list could help you. As a …
Ministry Has Times to Plant and to Pluck
King Solomon wrote that life is full of differing seasons. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time for war and a time for peace. Life provides the opportunity to walk through all of these polarized experiences. Like life, the ministry has differing seasons. In the ebb …
The Right Person in the Wrong Spot
On January 13, 2020, Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow led the LSU Tigers to defeat the Clemson Tigers for the National Championship. As a Clemson fan, it was a disappointing loss but one that provided plenty of respect for the solid LSU team. They figured out how to get it done on both sides of the ball and had a …
Marvelously Helped Until He Was Strong
The story in 2 Chronicles 26 is chilling. Uzziah is King in Judah who originally “set himself to seek God” (2 Ch. 26:5). It says that “God helped him” (2 Ch. 26:7) in many amazing tasks as king. And as “long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper” (2 Ch. 26:5). But there arose a problem. This next line …
10 Traits of Bad Staff Meetings
All of us have been present at bad staff meetings. Many of us have led bad staff meetings! Instead of accepting it as the norm, have you ever considered changing some things up to improve the time spent together? Whether your meetings happen at a company or church, poorly organized meetings can waste time and deplete morale. Your stressful meetings …
When a Church Changes Directions Too Often
My family and I were still learning our way around the church campus. It had been a few weeks into our new assignment, and we were heading back to the other side of the building to get in the truck and drive home. Somewhere along the way, I started quickening my pace to see if my kids could keep up. …
The Pastor as Missions Mobilizer
Churches with an effective mission strategy have pastors who not only cast vision but who are personally involved in the activities of the mission of the church. In this session, we will not share a specific model but rather biblical principles that any pastor of any church of any size can adapt to their context. Audio from Impact Conference 2019 …
Going the 2nd Mile in the Wrong Direction
My wife and I had just enjoyed a wonderful night of worship with some of the dearest people in our lives. The miles spent to the church out of town was well worth the time. As we all got back in the car for the ride home, our spirits were energized but our bodies were depleted. My wife wanted to …
Different Sizes of Plates
Have you ever found yourself comparing your workload with another’s? It’s natural to do. Someone tells you about the great stress regarding what he or she does and inwardly you are somewhat skeptical of how hard that job actually is. You might have even thought to yourself, “Your job sounds easy – you couldn’t handle what I do!” We often …
Leaving Laziness
I used to be so good at being last-minute that I was dangerous. I was dangerous because I knew that I could cram things in right before the deadline. Whether it was a school paper, a home responsibility, or a work project, I figured out where my limit was, and I kept trying to push it. The scary thing was …
When Leaders Lead
I have often watched frustrated leaders bemoan why people won’t follow them. While the reasons may vary, oftentimes, people don’t follow because they are unsure of the direction. If the leaders are unsure of the destination, it is unlikely that the followers will just arrive there on their own. In Judges 4, there is an interesting leadership lesson. Barak is …
When the Opportunity Is the Opposition
There is tension in how, when, and if someone should lead. On one side, we live in a culture that prioritizes education and experience being necessary for additional opportunities. On the other side, we love the one-in-a-million success story that an available opportunity provided for a go-getter. When it comes to ministry, I have oftentimes seen people fail at opportunities …
Pursuing Tozer
A. W. Tozer was a pastor, theologian, and author that defied typical categories. His example is one to be studied for all those desirous to pursuing God.