A Lifetime Campaign
Serving in Christian ministry is like engaging in a lifetime campaign for a political office. There is seldom a day when a person in ministry isn’t seeking to “affirm” someone that is challenging to affirm, “promote” something that people really are not all that interested in attending, or “endorse” someone’s idea for what the church […]
There is a Sermon Illustration Somewhere…
People in Christian ministry often have decades of preaching, teaching, testifying, and dialogue with people either seeking spiritual guidance, attending worship, taking training, or wanting a clear understanding of what the Bible is saying in ways that can be applied to daily life. One of the constant struggles in making so many different types of […]
Sacrifices and Service
All Christians are called to serve our Lord with their full heart, soul, mind, and strength. That is a foundational fact of obedience to God. Beyond that, people who feel called to serve in vocational Christian ministry not only serve from that same foundation, but the vast majority depend on that ministry to support their […]
Share Your Gratitude
The next time your family is gathered around a table for a meal, or you and your spouse, or you and some of your friends, brainstorm what you most appreciate about the minsters who serve among you. Make a list. Prioritize it. Then work on a plan to communicate with these ministers the top three […]
Volunteerism vs. Recruitment
Among the things that have changed over the decades about church life is how people volunteer. When church was the priority for families/households outside of typical work and home responsibilities, people would readily volunteer to do whatever they could to help their church be vital and vibrant. They saw it as their duty. As their […]
How Many Hats?
How many hats does your pastor and other ministers in your church wear? Probably a lot more than you think. Many of the things they are called on to do were never taught to them in seminary or other ministry preparation learning experiences. They either learned these things along the way as part of their […]
“I Appreciate You”
Do you remember that time a minister from your church came to the hospital during a critical surgery of a family member? Or, when a family member died and they visited in your home? Often ministers do not say a whole lot of complex and deep things during these occasions. They are just there as […]
Cutting Edge Ideas
If you are a youth group leader – volunteer or paid – or many other positions in a church, you may from time-to-time come up with a wild idea that your pastor (or Tommy Lee Jones as seen in this picture) thinks is the craziest idea they have ever heard. How does it feel when […]
What is an Awesome Minister?
“We serve an awesome God” is a phrase often heard around church worship services. Yes, we are in awe and praise of our Triune God. It is not fear, but it is a respect for God as holy and worthy of worship. So, what is an awesome minister? Such a minister is not God or […]
Ministry and Family
Ministers have families too. Not every member of every minister’s family is excited about their parent serving in a ministry role. This is especially true of their children. There are more church meetings to attend. They cannot leave early. Often they must arrive before the meeting to set up. Everyone is looking at them to […]