Church Discipline: Covering Sin without Covering it up
September 16, 2022 Recently, we have seen a wave of exposures involving several high-profile leadership sin scandals (Bill Hybels, Gordon McDonald, Jerry Falwell Jr, Ravi Zacharias, Brian Houston, Carl Lentz, Matt Chandler etc.). There have also been countless other...
Important Reason We Never Give Up On What Jesus Is Building (His Church)
A very real conspiracy. We live in an incredibly hostile culture where conservatives and liberals not only disagree about things, they are at war, trying to eliminate the opposition. Both sides slant data and circulate conspiracy theories to exalt their side and sow...
How to Walk in God’s Designed Place for a Leaders’ Health and Calling, “AMONG THE FLOCK”
This past season we have seen a whole host of well-known celebrity leaders who have fallen. Then there have been countless other relatively unknown leaders in which hidden sins are coming to light (Southern Baptist Scandals). I don’t bring these examples up to...
Important Practices in Living a “Sent Life” as “Christ’s Ambassadors”
John 17:18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. John 20:21 Jesus said to them again… as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 2Corinthians 5:20 Then we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as God exhorting through us, we beseech...
How to Take Advantage of the Season in Everyday Missions
One important identity we carry as the church is to see our everyday life as a mission trip. There are unsaved people both at the ends of the earth and at the end of our block. We are a sent people (“As the Father sent Me, I also send you” John 17:18-21, 20:21,...
Three Questions That Help Us Evaluate The “Deconstruction” Movement
Deconstruction has become a growing trend in and around Christian circles. It has almost become a badge of honor, and an admired trait among (Ex) Christians. People like Kevin Max from DC Talk, Josh Harris, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” and author and influencer Jen...
Help to Enter Into God’s Bigger Purposes for Prayer
When the disciples observed Jesus' prayer life, they asked Him to teach them how to pray. As He taught them, He used the phrase “when you pray” over and over. Matthew 6:5-7 “When you pray...(6) “But you, when you pray…”And when you are praying.“ Luke 11:2 "He said to...
Equipping Thoughts for Leaders
All of God’s people go through hard times that test their faith. Leaders face it even more intensely because the enemy knows what God said, "Smite the shepherd and the sheep shall scatter" (Zech 13:7, Mt 26:31, Mk 14:27). Going...
Important Questions About Christ’s Lordship
I was recently meeting with a young leader who was planting a church. I was asking him about the vision God was giving them to pursue. Instead of the usual approach to the idea of vision we have seen from the business/church growth movements of the past 60 years (If...
Equipping Thoughts for Leaders: Five Questions to Ask About Vision in the New Year
It’s a new year and most people are thinking ahead and looking to the future. In God’s house, it is a time when church and ministry leaders are considering things like vision and mission statements, strategic planning, and goals for the coming season. Unfortunately,...
Recovering A Key That Facilitates Both Family and Mission
John 17:18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. John 20:21 Jesus said to them again… as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 2Corinthians 5:20 Then we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as God exhorting through us, we beseech...