Train Church Leaders Practicum
Applying Biblical Truth about Church Leadership to Actual Leading
Though conflict may be inevitable, God has equipped the Church with power to resolve conflict and bring reconciliation rather than division. That power will flow through people with spiritual gifting needed for that moment. As leaders, we don’t have to handle all these issues on our own. We can pull on other people’s spiritual gifts to . . . Continue reading To Rise Above Conflict, Pull on People’s Spiritual Gifts
For organization to lead to life-giving effects, it must point people to the Head who is “the resurrection and the life” (Jn. 11:25). — “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is . . . Continue reading The Effects of Life-Giving Organizational Efforts
Far too often we equate organization in the Church with that which binds us and stifles true ministry. With Jesus as the Head of the Body, however, that shouldn’t be true, for He Himself is “the resurrection and the life” (Jn. 11:25). Comparing the Church to a body suggests . . . Continue reading Organizational Efforts with a Life-Giving Effect
As believers we “have been raised with Christ … where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). That’s metaphorically, or positionally, where we are now, present tense, but will one day be a literal reality. What we do, which begins with the decisions we make, should come from that raised position with Christ. . . . Continue reading Decisions Made from Our Raised Position
What’s going to push us to coordinate our ministries within the Church, to be concerned with the big picture, not just our little corner? And, once we do get on that trajectory, what’s going to keep us going? Consider the motivational effect of His name to coordination. . . . Continue reading Motivational Effect of His Name to Coordination
What do we do when we can’t agree with one another? What do we do when someone’s being antagonistic? What do we do with the hurt of someone’s betrayal or harsh words? What do we do with our disappointment or frustration over someone’s choices? — We could retaliate. We could engage in a heated debate or quarrel. We could pretend everything is okay while inwardly seething. Or, we could rise above conflict by relying on God’s grace. . . . Continue reading To Rise Above Conflict, Rely on God’s Grace
When we put our trust in Jesus, we’re considered buried with Him and raised with Him. We’re made alive with Christ having been forgiven of our sins and given new life to be lived in His righteousness (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12-14). We no longer have to be enslaved to sin but empowered to live in that new life made possible because Jesus was raised from the dead conquering sin and death. That newness starts in our hearts and comes out in what we do but also how we speak. Even our communication can be empowered to reflect His righteousness because of the resurrection. . . . Continue reading Empowered Communication Possible Because of the Resurrection
Sometimes the assessment process can be a stressful event. Anticipation of the results can be anxiety producing. The solution? Pray at every turn in the assessment process.
Turning to God in Prayer in the Assessment Process Makes a Difference . . . Continue reading Prayer in the Assessment Process
How do we know the direction our churches should go in the future? How do we make sure it aligns with who we are in Christ and doing God’s will? Vision and goals guided by the Holy Spirit will take us where we should go. … “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what . . . Continue reading Vision and Goals Guided by the Holy Spirit
We’ve established that busyness can negatively impact ministry. Time management that enables us to make an eternal difference won’t happen if we don’t get to the root of our need for, perhaps we could even say addiction to, being busy. Here we want to consider that perhaps it’s because we’ve fallen into one of Satan’s traps. If we’re tangled up in all we have to “do”, we won’t have time to . . . Continue reading Combatting the Lies about Busyness