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Sandwiched in the middle of the fruit of the Spirit is the word “faithfulness.”  It’s not the most well-known fruit in the group.  Love, joy, and peace tend to steal most of the attention.  It’s not the flashiest fruit of the group either. If faithfulness were an actual fruit, I imagine it tasting more like…

God has already chosen a person to help you. I had not been at the church for long when I met the head coach of our local high school. He attended our church, and we struck up a great friendship. One day, he invited me to share a devotional thought with the team before the…

When we think of conflict for many negative thoughts or emotions arise. Followers of Jesus Christ are called to respond differently than the world, which can seem totally foreign to those around us. Conflict provides incredible opportunity to glorify God, serve other people, and grow to be more like Christ. We must change the way…

There are many pastors who refuse to set any kind of goal at all. “How can you put a goal on what God wants to do?” they will say. They may even get biblical and say something like, “Neither Jesus nor Paul ever set goals!” But I disagree. I think Jesus and Paul both set clear, huge, audacious goals….

We have been introducing the five myths that are stalling disciple-making movements. Week 1: The 5 Ministry Myths  Week 2: The Engagement Myth The EXPERTISE MYTH: Ministry Excellence = Excellent Ministry    Are your staff and key leaders exhausted? Does it feel like they are the only ones executing ministry while the congregation seems to be content…

What is the big need that motivates to make disciples? As I have reflected on what motivates me in ministry and more specifically in disciple making, I seem to be obsessively concerned with the lack of solid foundations in most self-professed believers in Christ. I have used two images for many years to capture this…

I have heard people say that the way you spell LOVE is T-I-M-E. Regardless of where anyone falls on the economic spectrum, we can all agree that time is a commodity. Whereas money seems to be the currency for which we strive in our day-to-day economies, in God’s economy, the currency of time is ultimately what…

As I talk to pastors I am constantly reminded that one of the greatest needs in the church is more and better leadership. More Pastors tell me they need more leaders more than they need money, buildings, and programs. They know leadership is important but rarely do they know how to get more leaders. If…

I made it home from a premarital session with a couple getting ready to begin their lives together in marriage. We had spent the last several weeks going over many different concepts, strategies, personality profiles, and anything else that will equip them for a successful marriage. One goal of these counseling sessions is to help…

In recent years many of us in church leadership have begun paying attention to what is happening in Disciple Making Movements (DMM).  If you are unfamiliar with DMM, let me give you the definition that Discipleship.org has developed.  A Disciple Making Movement may take a few years to be established, but once it, the following…

“God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 That could be a drop the mic statement. But that wouldn’t make much of a column. So, let’s spend some time digging into what it means, and doesn’t mean, for a disciple of Jesus to be humble. John Dickson, in his book, Humilitas, defines…

Did you know? That the color red does NOT make bulls angry. Bats aren’t blind. If you shave your hair, it doesn’t come back thicker. Dogs can see more than black and white. If you touch a baby bird with your bare hands, its mother won’t reject it. And cracking your knuckles won’t give you…