There are some topics in Scripture mentioned more than others (i.e. salvation by grace through faith vs works). I always cringe a little when something I've already preached on, comes up yet again in the preaching calendar. I think "Won't our people be tired of hearing this yet again?" Well, I came across something so good recently that I want to share here that has set me free from the fear of preaching on a topic I've already preached on 2-3x. The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:1, … [Read more...]
Why Pastors Take Sabbaticals
Leading God’s people is a privilege, but also a burden. The burden became so great for Moses that one day he prayed to God "put me to death right now..." (Numbers 11:15) The burden became so great for Jeremiah that one day he exclaimed "Cursed be the day I was born!" (Jeremiah 20:14) The burden became so great for Jonah that one day he prayed "O Lord, take away my life..." (Jonah 4:3) The burden became so great for Elijah that he prayed "I have had enough, Lord...Take my life..." (1 … [Read more...]
Balancing Withdrawals with Deposits
It might be helpful to think of every request you make of a volunteer as withdrawing money from the bank. If all you ever do is withdraw, withdraw, withdraw, the account will become, all too quickly, overdrawn. How do you prevent your account from being overdrawn? You have to be sure to make deposits! And the deposits have to be greater than the withdrawals. How do you make deposits in the volunteer bank? Call them to ask if there's anything you can be praying for. Invite them out … [Read more...]
What I’m Learning from a Capital Campaign
I never in a million years dreamed I would be leading New Day Church in a capital campaign. I grew up hearing the horror stories of capital campaigns (i.e. the senior pastor was hospitalized during the process due to the stress, the church ran out of money in the middle of the project so construction had to stop, the church became completely focused on begging people for money, etc. etc. etc.). As a result of these horror stories, I had no interest in moving within 1,000 miles of a capital … [Read more...]
Answering Objections to Faith in God
Have you ever tried sharing your faith in Jesus with a friend or co-worker and had them respond something like this: After doing independent research, I'm mostly leaning towards the fact that God is nonexistent. The bible is constantly contradicting itself on many issues. Honestly looking at it from an unemotional and completely logical perspective, the God in the bible is a terrible entity and not someone I want to worship any longer. He allows suffering and disease and murders people … [Read more...]
Church Discipline
What happens when a "sheep" (a believer) in our "flock" (our church) finds himself or herself ensnared by sin, whether unintentionally or through willful disobedience? It's going to happen from time to time for as 1 Timothy 4:1-2 says, "...in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits..." And the question begs: What do we do when it happens? Well, the Bible is very clear that when this happens it is the duty of every believer within the sinning person's sphere of … [Read more...]
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