I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven … Continue reading The New Testament’s Warning about False Teachers
Theodore Beza’s Challenge to Contemporary Preaching
Beza's Approach to Training Pastors Theodore Beza may not be a household name for many contemporary evangelicals. One reason, out of many, is that he followed the ministry of John Calvin in Geneva, Switzerland. Even though Beza stands in the shadow of one of the greatest reformers of the Christian faith, it is my intention … Continue reading Theodore Beza’s Challenge to Contemporary Preaching
Learning the Art of Communicating with Tact
Equally Made; Functionally Different By God's grace, we are all created in his image, but also differently (cf. 1:27). We need to realize that our differences are a good quality of the human race. The Apostle Paul, for example, acknowledged and celebrated the variety of gifts present in his letter to the church in Corinth … Continue reading Learning the Art of Communicating with Tact
4 Ways to Remove Distractions and Become More Task Oriented
We live in a busy and connected society. By busy, I mean that our schedules are filled with activities from the moment we get out of bed to the moment we lay our heads down to sleep. The busyness we experience is further exacerbated by our connectedness. The daily number of emails, text messages, phone … Continue reading 4 Ways to Remove Distractions and Become More Task Oriented
It Is True! I Just Started the Marines to Ministry Podcast
Over the last several years, I have been asked by a few people to start my own podcast. Admittedly, I have zero experience with this type of medium other than listening to hosts like Dave Ramsey, Mike Cosper, Donald Miller, Albert Mohler, and Ben Bergeron. My primary dealings with podcasting is from a listener perspective. … Continue reading It Is True! I Just Started the Marines to Ministry Podcast
What is an Executive Pastor?
Essence Precedes Existence One of my favorite phrases is "essence precedes existence." This quote establishes that what something "is" must be understood before we determine what something "does." To reverse this ordering, creates issues. For example, some pro-abortion advocates view that babies are not human beings (is) who are protected in the womb because they … Continue reading What is an Executive Pastor?
Gaining Influence by Humble Means: 3 Ways to Think about Building Your Brand
Have you ever heard of Bruce A Little? Unless you are a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary or have engaged in philosophical thought at an academic level, you have probably never heard of him. He is by far one of the most challenging professors I have ever studied under, but also the person who … Continue reading Gaining Influence by Humble Means: 3 Ways to Think about Building Your Brand
The Growing Need for Church Consultants and Coaches
Thom Rainer observes that "over two thirds of American churches have a worship attendance under 100" (The New Very Large Church). In another post, Rainer shows that numbers indicate, "more pastors and staff will become bi-vocational and co-vocational" in 2023 (Ten Major Trends for Local Churches in America in 2023). The terms he uses in … Continue reading The Growing Need for Church Consultants and Coaches
Leadership Ambition: Morally Praiseworthy or Morally Problematic?
God calls us to be ambitious for the growth and expansion of his kingdom between the "already" of our conversions and the "not yet" of our home going. Paul David Tripp, Lead, p. 34 Tripp's quote attempts to relieve a bit of tension for those in ministry positions. Many Christian leaders seem to struggle with … Continue reading Leadership Ambition: Morally Praiseworthy or Morally Problematic?
Are You Hiring? The 4 C’s for Building Your Team
The Excitement and Unease of Hiring Hiring staff is an exciting time in the life of any church or organization. Building a team signifies that your organization or church is growing. Of course, the hiring process could also be filled with uncertainties and insecurities. Questions like: What if we hire the wrong person? What if … Continue reading Are You Hiring? The 4 C’s for Building Your Team
Be Imitators 