5 Things I Learned from our Regathering

Last Sunday our local body of believers regathered. After nine weeks of virtual church, we were able to once again meet physically. Yep, live and in person.  Here are (at least) five things I learned from our first week back together.   COVID-19 fear is real. … Read More

Yes, Your Pastor Needs Pastored

One reason churches need elders is because there will be times when an elder needs elders. Or, to say it another way, one reason churches need pastors is because there will be times when a pastor needs pastors. For yours truly, one of those times … Read More

Where Does Compassion Come From?

A few years ago an attender of our church asked me, on the heels of our series opener from Jonah, “So how can I have a deeper compassion for people, especially those who are not like me?” To be quite honest, I didn’t know what … Read More

The Motive That Matters Most

Motives matter. And the highest motive—love—matters most. This isn’t news to most of us, but it is sometimes unintentionally forgotten in the world of busy ministry, constant comparison, self-promotion, and celebrity-focused church life. If you’ve ever wondered, specifically regarding ministry, what’s love got to do … Read More

Caring Beyond the Launch

When Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 16, 1969, the many staff in Houston knew the work wasn’t over. Though there were cheers and applause as the rocket left the pad, the job of seeing the crew land on the … Read More

What to Look For In a Church

A few years ago as I was teaching from Acts 2-4, I, almost in passing, threw out some observations about what people should look for in a church. Not that these qualities are unimportant; rather, it wasn’t the bulls-eye target of the text that day. But … Read More

We Were Multiplying (And I Didn’t Even Know It)

When I returned from my sabbatical in 2015, one theme from God’s Holy Spirit burned hot in my heart: Mobilize to multiply. God’s passion for the nations had never been more clear to me, and the most logical place to start doing that was with the … Read More

Why Pastors Should Utilize Live Q & A

When I was first exposed to Q & A in a church service, it was via Tim Keller explaining how he used his time after preaching to gather with those who had inquiries. If I remember correctly, he would meet in a designated place in … Read More