MY TRADITION I grew up in the Assemblies of God. I attended an AG church, went to an AG Bible college, and originally planted New Day as an AG church. So naturally, much of what I believed about church and ministry came from the Assemblies of God. And in the Assemblies of God, the title Pastor is used very broadly. It applies to both men and women, and to those serving in all kinds of ministry roles. Do you work at a church? You’re a pastor! Do you perform weddings or funerals? … [Read more...]
Three Words, One Office
When we read the New Testament, we find three different words used for the men entrusted with the leadership of a local church. At first, that can make it sound like Scripture is describing three different positions. But when we look at how these words are actually used, we discover that they refer to the same office. Each word simply emphasizes a different aspect of who these men are and what they are responsible to do. 1. Elder — πρεσβύτερος (presbyteros) The first word is presbyteros, … [Read more...]
Development Requires Focus
As we continue rolling out our volunteer leadership pipeline, one question keeps coming up: How many places can one person serve, and how many places can they lead? Those are two different things. Serving in multiple areas can be healthy. It allows people to use their gifts, build relationships, and discover where they are strongest. But leadership requires greater focus. Serve Broadly. Lead Narrowly. One of the easiest things to do in ministry is to identify someone who is … [Read more...]
The Freedom to Work on What Matters Most
A while back, I was reading Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity when I came across a quote from Benjamin Franklin that stuck with me: “I am settling my old accounts and hope soon to be quite a master of my own time… I am in a fair way of having no other tasks than such as I should like to give myself and of enjoying what I look upon as a great happiness—leisure to read, study, make experiments and converse at large on such points as may produce something of common benefit to mankind—uninterrupted by … [Read more...]
The Power of Practicing Your Sermon
I’ve been reading Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, and I came across a fascinating observation he made about George Whitefield’s preaching. Franklin heard Whitefield preach often enough that he could tell the difference between a sermon Whitefield had recently written and one he had preached many times. The difference was refinement. Franklin observed that Whitefield’s frequently repeated sermons became so polished that “every accent, every emphasis, every modulation of voice” was … [Read more...]
A Leadership Discipline You Can’t Delegate: Alertness
Most of what matters most in leadership is easy to miss. Not because it is hidden, but because it is subtle. It shows up in a quieter-than-usual response in a meeting. A team member who used to engage but now just listens. A little more tension in conversations that used to feel easy. A decision that feels slightly off, but you cannot immediately explain why. None of these things are loud. None of them demand immediate attention. But together, they tell a story. And if we are not … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 30
- Next Page »