Last week I wrote about perfect storms in churches. In meteorology, a perfect storm is a rare event in which a combination of circumstances creates an unusually disastrous weather event. In ecclesiology (churches), a perfect storm occurs when one1 or more conflict scenarios occur, typically in the unhealthy atmosphere (culture or congregational system) of a […]
A “Perfect Storm” In A Local Church
Definition: “A perfect storm is a meteorological event aggravated by a rare combination of circumstances… [The term has become] an idiom for a situation where a rare combination of factors creates an unusually disastrous or powerful outcome.” Google search Most of us know the term because of The Perfect Storm movie, based on the 1997, […]
Give Your Pastor The Gift Of Reasonable Expectations
Pastor Appreciation Month is already behind us, but the “holiday season” is coming on fast. Many church members gave their pastors a gift in October, even if it was just their well-wishes. Others are thinking about what they might give their pastor for Christmas. If that’s you, this post is for you. If you’re a […]
Let’s Invite The Young Into The Greatest Movement Ever
“Son, that’s just the way it is. Some things will never change.” Bruce Hornsby, 1986 Since the assassination of Charlie Kirk there’s been a lot of great discussion about the movement he had begun and how attractive it was, and is – now more than ever – to young people. This has been a great […]
Why I’m Becoming A Togetherist
Okay. I know. You’ve never heard of a togetherist and it sounds bad. Please give me a chance to explain myself. Here’s what I don’t mean: (1) I don’t mean that we should despise the Bible’s commands to separate ourselves from false teachers and false teaching. Here’s a sample of what God’s Word says about […]
Eight Ways We Can Return To Discipleship WITH Disciple-Making
Last week I wrote a post called “Programs, paradigms and presuppositions: Why we’re struggling with disciple-making.” I began by rejoicing over the “new” disciple-making movement (DM) and how it is seeking to return the American Evangelical church to a version of Christian discipleship (the Christian life) that includes disciple-making as part of the paradigm. I […]
Programs, Paradigms And Presuppositions: Why We’re Struggling With Disciple-Making
Trends come and go. Some are good and some are…not so good. The disciple-making trend, which can legitimately be called a movement is one of the most encouraging trends I’ve seen for a long time. At its heart, the “new” disciple-making movement (or DM) is a shift back towards an understanding of the Christian life, […]
America’s Favorite Bible Verse: “Judge Not”
Last week I wrote a post about the mistaken idea that “all sins are created equal.” The phrase is all-too-often used by folks who defend their serious, destructive, sinful behaviors by putting them at the level of other people’s minor infractions. At the end of the post I said that “church leaders must deal with […]
Are All Sins Created Equal?
Some of you may be wondering why a guy who writes about church health issues would even be addressing this question. But it really is relevant to church health, which I’ll demonstrate just below and again, at the end of this post. Here’s how this question – which folks have put to me a number […]
Before You Say “WE Do” – Twenty-Five Questions Churches Should Ask Prospective Pastors
A few weeks ago I wrote a post for prospective pastors called, “Before You Say I Do,” inspired by a premarital counseling program that I used in the past. I gave prospective pastors twenty-four questions to get answered before accepting a call to a church. Today’s version is for church boards and/or pastoral search committees. […]
The Nitty-Gritty Of Spiritual Leadership In A Church
Last week I wrote about spiritual leadership in the context of the local church. I conceded that the term isn’t in the Bible, but I insisted that the reality is, and I described it by way of Scriptural citations. Let’s try this for a definition: Spiritual leadership is influencing others to join you in obeying […]
Spiritual Leadership: What It Looks Like In A Church
Spiritual leadership is one of those nice, amorphous, high sounding Christian terms. It’s rather like the weather: “everybody’s talking about it, but nobody’s doing anything about it.” I don’t think the term is in the Bible, so is there such a thing at all? And, if so, does it matter? Personally, I think that it […]
Before You Say “I Do” – 24 Questions The Prospective Pastor Needs To Have Answered
The original “Before You Say I Do” was a premarital counseling program that I used a number of times. It was very helpful. Today’s Before You Say “I Do” post is a little different. I’m writing about some of the questions that a prospective pastor needs to ask and get answers to before accepting a […]
“Our pastor’s gone; we got our church back!”
Television’s Art Linkletter used to say that “kids say the darndest things.” He was right of course, but the same could be said of church members who are being interviewed by interim pastors, denominational leaders or consultants: “Church members say the darndest things!” The first time I heard this phrase I was gob smacked. I […]
Pastors Who Don’t Deserve Churches
Last week I wrote about churches that don’t deserve to have pastors. I’m disheartened that such churches exist, and your responses lead me to think that there are more of these congregations out there than I realized. Sadly, there’s also such a thing as the veteran pastor – or the would-be pastor – who doesn’t […]
Some Churches Don’t Deserve To Have Pastors
According to Ephesians 4:7-16, the gifted church leaders whom we typically call “pastors” are gifts of the risen, glorified Jesus Christ to his churches. According to Ephesians 2:10, each of them is a custom-designed “masterpiece” and Acts 20:28 adds that each one has been appointed an overseer by the Holy Spirit himself. The great pastoral […]
How We Can Do Better With The Coming And Going Of Pastors
I mentioned last week (Six Reasons Why We Struggle With The Coming And Going Of Pastors) that: After twenty centuries of struggling with the coming and going of our pastoral leaders, we’re still not very good at pastoral transitions. The grieving which pastors and church members experience when a beloved pastor moves on is only […]
Six Reasons Why We Struggle With The Coming And Going Of Pastors
The recent home-going of Dr. John MacArthur, senior pastor of Grace Community Church of Sun Valley, California, has reminded us of a perennial challenge which I call the coming and going of pastors. After twenty centuries of struggling with the coming and going of our pastoral leaders, we’re still not very good at pastoral transitions. […]
The Last Temptation Of “Pastor Last”
Years ago, LEADERSHIP Magazine published a cartoon which depicted a grumpy looking pastor asking a colleague, “Ever have one of those days when you just HAVE TO rebuke someone?” Many pastors experience “one of those days” just after they’ve announced their resignation. They feel like they have to rebuke their church’s board, staff or maybe […]
Ten Temptations Of The Departing Pastor
I wish this post was a short one: “Two Temptations Of The Departing Pastor,” or something like that. In truth, departing pastors have all sorts of temptations. All sorts. I’m going to dive right into my subject, and you’ll see what I mean. These are not exclusive to pastors who are leaving in disgrace or […]
The Seventh Danger: Vision Frustration
It’s an awful picture isn’t it? The ancient, venerable leader Moses, who had been through so much and was so special to God and so needed by mankind, loses his temper and strikes the rock, a picture of Jesus Christ, with his precious shepherd’s rod, a symbol of both his God-given authority and his God-given […]
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