Churches across America are experiencing decreasing numbers. Often external factors like cultural influences are blamed for the decline in church membership. Certainly, the times they are a-changing, but placing all the blame on others without looking at ourselves is not a way to move forward. In fact, in certain cases, we are the first to […]
Archive for the ‘Ministry’ Category
A Crisis of Leadership
August 15, 20195 Questions on Preaching
June 4, 20195 Questions on Grief Part 2
April 29, 20195 Questions on Ministry Burnout
April 23, 20195 Questions on Leadership and Ministry
April 9, 2019The Cost of Leadership
September 8, 2014When people are thrust into a leadership position, they are sometimes surprised by the expectations. Leaders are viewed differently than everyone else. This is evident each time there is a presidential election. The candidates are grilled. Their backgrounds are checked, rechecked, and checked again. Minor missteps are made front page news and dissected on 24 […]
When Hearing Fails
April 21, 2014It has happened to all of us. We spend hours preparing what we believe is a great sermon. We sacrifice time and energy. We wrestle with God’s word. We meditate on holy Scripture. We whittle down our thoughts until we think we have it. We cannot wait for Sunday morning to come. We get up […]
Relying on a Routine
January 13, 2014Preaching is a creative process. A preacher spends each week in the Biblical text and then creates a sermon based on and inspired by the text of Scripture. Good preachers are creative. They understand Scripture, but they also understand how to convey Scripture to people setting in the pews. They understand how to apply Scripture […]
Musings
December 6, 2013A Story of Faith and Hope For those of you who don’t know, my sister-in-law was born with a rare heart condition and has had multiple surgeries. She and my brother, who live in Oklahoma, have travelled as far as Cleveland, OH to have a surgery on her heart. They have both been an inspiration […]
Rethinking Leadership in Small Congregations
December 3, 2013Churches of Christ are unique in that every congregation is autonomous. Local churches do not report to an overseeing body. Not only is this an attempt to recapture the church governance of the early church, but it has also worked pretty well. Local churches make the decisions, and one church cannot bind their beliefs or […]
