Living to Encourage the Church and Make Disciples to the Glory of God Alone
So there we were — six of us seated around the table and enjoying each other’s company. Our distinct looking group began to elicit stares. Our group didn’t look like it should go together. At our table were a Lebanese/Brazilian pastor, a bearded pastor born without arms, a black theologian, a white church planter, a… Continue reading The Sin of Pursuing Sameness
Hope is the greatest need of man. A man can survive for a time without food or water, but man struggles to move forward without a sense of hope in their life. Man assumed that hope would be ushered in with a new year and a new administration leading American politics. Man was wrong. The… Continue reading Hope Amid a Landscape of Hurt
As we sit here on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we acknowledge the work of a man who did much in the way of bringing about justice for all in this country – regardless of the color of a man’s skin. The work of Dr. King, and so many others, has brought about a… Continue reading Three Challenges to Become a People Of Justice
This week we talk with Josh King, pastor of 2nd Baptist Conway, Arkansas. We talk about many aspects of guiding a ministry well: leadership, casting vision and navigating culture. Yet, my greatest takeaway from this interview was soaking in the fact that God loves us. Josh came to Christ, in part, because of a church… Continue reading Interview with Josh King
My heart – divided by worry, insecurity, uncertainty – was at a loss. It felt like I was emotionally and spiritually paralyzed. There was no means by which I was going to pull myself up by the bootstraps and get out of this one. This was beyond the scale and scope of my own strength and will to press on.
God has given you a specific set of gifts and abilities. While I may not have Matt Chandler's hand motions while I preach, that doesn't negate the gifts He has provided. Don't compare grace, celebrate it.
There's a lack of evangelism in the church - especially in the American church - these days. In a recent podcast interview (clip below) with Charlotte Awake, I talked about one of the root causes of this and the steps we can take to remedy this evangelism void.
Years ago I heard a phrase from JD Greear that has been one of the few quotes that have stuck with me for more than a few weeks: You replicate what you celebrate. Simple phrase but it is a profound reminder - what we make a big deal out of in our ministry will be… Continue reading Celebrate What You Want To Replicate
In the past 17 years I have had the opportunity to lead some amazing teams - both within the church as a student pastor and outside of the church in various para-church organizations. While I am certainly no expert with a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, I have learned quite a bit about leading people and… Continue reading Leadership Lessons – Clarity is the Key
