As a pastor, you simply aren’t allowed to have too many personal problems. While most folks realize that you’re human, just like they are, there will still be a great deal of pressure to keep your own struggles hidden. People feel insecure if they think their pastor isn’t doing okay himself. Pastors may be people too; it’s just that we can’t act like it.
Getting people involved in ministry is one of the great challenges every pastor faces. When surveyed, this part of the pastoral assignment always tops the list of greatest frustrations in local church ministry. So, desperate to get people involved, we can succumb to common mistakes–mistakes that will end up being more costly than we imagine. The old Human Resources adage is true–“You hire all your personnel problems.”
Adding a minor to your degree program can be a great way to customize your college experience. A combination many people don’t immediately think of is combining a business minor with a degree in ministry. To show the the benefits of such an academic pairing, I’d like to share with you eight reasons why I believe it is a wise decision for ministry majors to get a minor in business .
In my last video blog I discussed some examples of attention-getting introductions. In this video I want to offer some warnings about potential momentum stoppers, or as I call them “speed bumps” in the introduction. Speed bumps are meant to slow you down while driving through neighborhoods and parking lots. While we certainly want them in those places, you don’t want them in your sermon introductions.
In my work with dozens of churches over the past several years, I’ve come to conclude that there are five questions every congregation must ask if they will see the effectiveness of their church increase. These five questions can rescue the declining church and propel the strong church to greater heights. These five questions motivate the best of congregational actions and are virtually guaranteed to increase a congregation’s ability to achieve the Great Commission. Build good answers to these five questions, and it won’t be long before you’re reaching the full potential of your congregation.
What is worship? Worship is not something we do – worship is who we are. The lifestyle of a worshiper should be lived every day so that Christ can be seen in all we do and say. One of the clearest instances of worship in the New Testament is seen in the story of the sinful woman who anointed the feet of Jesus while He was a dinner guest at a Pharisee’s house. The account in Luke 7:36-50 gives us the characteristics of a true worshiper.