Does God love me? Have you ever asked yourself that question? I have. Some will find that odd because I have been speaking and serving in churches since I was seventeen. You would think that someone who has spent so much time in ministry would not struggle with believing God loves Him. But I have. …
How to Support Your Pastor and Your Staff in the Ministry You Lead
“How can I help you, Pastor?” The man served in our church as a ministry leader. He ran a large business with several employees. He was a busy man, and yet he wanted to know how he could help me! I invited him to pray for me. Immediately he stood up, walked next to where …
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How to Saturate the Ministry You Lead with Prayer
As a leader you can easily be overwhelmed by the demands of ministry. The good news is that you are not alone! Jesus never intended that you do ministry in your own strength, relying on your own ingenuity and resourcefulness. He taught disciples to maintain a vibrant, inner fellowship with Him, “because you can do …
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The Master “Group Plan” of Discipleship
“(Y’all) Go therefore and (y’all) make disciples of all the nations, (y’all) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (y’all) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you (i.e. y’all)…” ~ Matthew 28:19-20 PRV (Pucik Revised Version) In Greek and Hebrew and …
Those Flowers Aren’t For You
"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." ~ Psalm 34:1-3 A former church member shared …
Time Alone with God: Lessons I Learned at a Fence Post
Not long after I began to follow Jesus in the late 70s, I was invited to take a Sunday evening class at the church designed to help new believers grow. As I joined the group, they handed me a small study book focused entirely on “the devotional life.” I still carry it in my Bible …
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New Life 101
“Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” ~ Galatians 3:3 The foundation of the new life is this: Jesus has sent His Spirit to live inside the believer. In Galatians, Paul was arguing against teachers who instructed believers that the ability to “live right” …
The Way of Weakness
“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore …
Following Jesus Takes Guts
"...and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” ~ Philippians 1:14 Following Jesus takes guts. It is dangerous. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. We live in a war zone called earth. There are two kingdoms in conflict. You …
How Every Ministry in the Church Can Be a Gospel Sharing Ministry
She had never lived in the United States before moving to our town to teach at the high school. She was unfamiliar with our culture. She knew no one. But when someone told her about our church, she was immediately interested in the choir because of her love for singing. Choir members befriended her. They …
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