The Church in the United States is facing an epidemic. The experts say that somewhere between 3,500-4,000 churches close their doors every year. Plus, as many as 100,000 churches are showing signs of decline. That’s unacceptable. Church planting alone cannot keep up with this decline. We need more pastors to accept the challenge of revitalizing…
Why do we cling so tight to our sins? We know it is hurting us. We know it is slowly destroying us. We have been warned. The problem is not a lack of information. For some reason, we would rather die than change. Thom Rainer tells the following story of a man who refused to…
Unfair criticism. All pastors get it. It doesn’t matter who you are or what size your church is. Criticism is coming your way. So what should you do when you get that email or comment card (because the biggest critics rarely have the courage to speak to you face-to-face) and your blood begins to boil?…
We’ve all endured ugly sermons. The delivery was poor. The explanation of the text was lacking. The outline was difficult to follow. Maybe it was boring. The speaker was visibly nervous and obviously struggling. The pastor rambled and not even he seemed to know where he was going with the message. Whatever the situation, it…
I’m sitting on the patio of an old beach house overlooking the sea in a tiny coastal village in Mexico you’ve probably never heard of. The sun is bright, the sand is white, and the rhythm of waves meeting the shore is the only soundtrack I need while I write, and take an occasional break…
Early in his ministry, Martin Luther sarcastically described his “lazy” life of ministry in Wittenberg: “All day long I do nothing but write letters…. I preach at the monastery, I am a lector during mealtimes, I am asked daily to preach in the city church, I have to supervise the program of study… I lecture…
The average pastor spends 8-15 hours a week on sermon preparation. Great preaching requires this time at least. But did you know that after 24 hours, people only remember around 25% of what you say, and within a week they may remember only 10% or less? Most people in your church can’t even remember what…
It’s Sunday night. You sink into the couch. The adrenaline from the day’s activity at church has worn off. Your sermon is playing over again in your head. Did you say it the right way? Did it connect? Did Mrs. Mathers have a point in her critique, or is she just being negative like always….
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