Most Americans pray, and many pray every day; but what do we pray about? Not surprisingly, according to Lifeway research, 74 percent of Americans pray for their own needs and difficulties. Predictably, most people pray for their own problems, since troubles and challenges are common to everyone.
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Let's face it: Pastoring would be a piece of cake if it weren't for... well, people. As pastors, we're often caught between the ideal of heavenly harmony and the reality of earthly entanglements. Staff squabbles, church member meltdowns, and that one deacon who always insists on singing solo—conflict is as much a part of ministry as potlucks and pews.
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In my 28 years as a pastor, one of my most harrowing and challenging, yet exhilarating, assignments was that of preaching the message of Christmas. How does one even remotely begin to do justice to the mysterious wonder and glorious majesty of God becoming flesh as a baby born in Bethlehem? Though it remains a staggering prospect, preaching strong, text-driven sermons during the Christmas season likely has never been more important than it is now.
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This article reflects on seven phases of the firing of a pastor. I have worked with countless pastors who shared their stories with me. These phases are common in many of them. Also, I will use a recent conversation to provide a real narrative of a real pastor in a real church. I made some slight adjustments to protect the identities of the pastor and the church.
In my second pastorate, I stayed at the church for just over eleven years. At the time, more than a decade at one church was almost unheard of. I’ve paid attention since then to pastors who stay at their church for at least ten years, and here are some traits I’ve seen in these pastors.
There are hundreds of thousands of orphans in the United States alone and millions around the world. A distinctive feature of Christianity has been caring for these orphans (Ja. 1:27), but this was always expected of God’s people (Isa. 1:17). In the Old Testament, the ethical imperative to care for orphans was grounded in God’s character. He is a Father to the fatherless (Ps. 68:5).
What if your church’s most pressing need isn’t another program but a team of deacons who embody servant leadership? What if deacons could significantly impact lives and support your pastoral vision?
God’s Word is forever young and has no shelf life. This is because his truth is eternal. There will never be a need to update the Bible because its truth never changes.
The holiday season is a perfect time for churches to connect with the congregation as well as potential first-time guests. With increased opportunities for engagement during this busy time, effective communication is crucial. Here are five do’s and five don’ts to make your holiday church communication effective.
I admit it: sometimes I allow the idol of worry to divert me from the answer to worry. Maybe you do, too.
Being a pastor is difficult. I remember my mentor in ministry telling me when I was in my early twenties that if I could do anything else, I should do that. He warned me there would be days that I wished I was working in any other sort of job. He was right. But I couldn’t do anything else–or rather—I couldn’t without feeling I was running from God, and he agreed that was a sign that God was calling me to be a pastor.
Leading with community isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a necessity. Here are four ways we can lean into community in various seasons of ministry.
A sense of belonging is one of the top needs in life. A study from Lifeway Research found around 1 in 5 churchgoers who left one church to find another say they did so because they felt out of place at their previous church (20%).
Many of us are impatient, yet God often tells us to “wait.” The tension that results is sometimes a faith challenge. If God has called you to wait, here are some things you can do in the meantime.
