You really shouldn’t parent your children in only one way…

Here are Five Categories of How we Parent our Children: Management – sometimes children just need to be told what to do Nurturing – sometimes children simply need hope that there is a God who loves them and has provided everything they need Training – children need to learn how the gospel applies to the…

Failure to Forgive Could Cost Us Heaven

What can we learn from the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35? Forgiveness cancels a debt. The practice of canceling a debt serves as a metaphor for practicing forgiveness. Forgiveness presupposes that someone bear the cost of what is owed Forgiveness makes a three-fold promise: (1) I will not bring up this offense again or use…

Get to know Norman Leach

Okay, so the picture is not that flattering but what follows are some truths I wanted to share with you….that hopefully are encouraging! When Jesus called Philip and Nathanael in John 1:43-51 he states in verse 47, “…Behold, an Israelite, indeed in whom there is no deceit.”  When I think of Norman (who serves at…

A Brief Explanation of Emotional Intelligence from Dr. Thom Rainer

Here’s a brief word from Dr. Rainer on Emotional Intelligence (summarized from Daniel Golman’s book Emotional Intelligence). The implications of emotional intelligence within pastoral ministry or leadership in general, are very significant.  In fact, Dr. Rainer says that “ministry leaders who have a healthy emotional iq (intelligence quotient) are likely to have greater ministry benefit.” So what…

Just Give Me The Facts: A Brief Summary of 1 Peter for upcoming series at Oak Park Church

  Purpose: To offer encouragement to Christians who are undergoing suffering Author: Peter Audience: Jewish Christians who were driven out of Jerusalem and scattered throughout Asia Minor (think modern day Turkey) Date written: Around A.D. 62-63 Setting: Peter is probably in Rome and during this time Christians were being persecuted and undergoing suffering. This persecution…

The How of Transitioning to an Elder-Led model

In a previous post we discussed the “why” of making a transition to an elder-led model. In this post we’ll share some insights, as well as some principles and practices that are indespensable in how you are to make such a transition. We have served in several churches over the last twelve years all of which were in…