This past week I had the chance to give a lecture on leadership in the NT here at Southwest Baptist University. Of particular intrigue to me (and many) is why a plurality of elders fell out of favor among Baptists in the 20th century. Thankfully, Baptists today often have a plurality of elders leading their…
I believe this with all my heart: Christian leaders need close friends who can serve as “pain partners.” The phrase “pain partner” is from Samuel Chand’s book, “Leadership Pain: The Classroom for Growth” and one I highly recommend. Here is a quick 8-minute summary of the phrase pain partner that I recorded on our church’s…
Photo by Juliane Liebermann on Unsplash Deuteronomy, written by Moses, is a sermon he preached to a generation that had been born, grown up, and learned of the promises of God in the wilderness. This generation is about to transition into the Promised Land. Moses realizes he’ll go no further and they know he’ll go…
Photo by Omar Prestwich on Unsplash Grouchiness about other pastors’ churches? Their size? Their coolness? The number of conversions they see? Their creativity in programming, marketing, and sermons? Nope. Not me. Never. I promise. I’m always kingdom-minded and thankful for the work that God is doing in and through other churches. God tells us to…
Photo by Julio Rionaldo on Unsplash I don’t hate my sin like I know Jesus calls me to. I compare and contrast. I downplay. I fail to see at times the far-reaching effects of sin. I fail to see that just as God has created us as communal beings, my sin is also communal and has a negative…
One of my favorite leadership expressions says that if you think you’re leading people but no one is following, you’re not leading – you’re just taking a walk. A surefire way to get people to stop following is to be demanding and correct them constantly without offering profuse encouragement. As Mark Chanski says in his…
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash Trust is crucial for influence and credibility. Oren Harari in The Powell Principles: 24 Lessons from Colin Powell, a Legendary Leader shares a good word on establishing trust that’s essential for leaders to learn. People are inclined to trust those who… Are competent – individuals who have relevant knowledge and experience and…
Photo by Isabella and Zsa Fischer on Unsplash Consider these specific practices that can lessen your stress from Charles Stone in his book, “Every Pastor’s First 180 Days: How to Start and Stay Strong in a New Church.” Exercise. For decades, we’ve known how exercise benefits our body. But recent research26 has discovered that it benefits…
Photo by Isabella and Zsa Fischer on Unsplash Consider these specific practices that can lessen your stress from Charles Stone in his book, “Every Pastor’s First 180 Days: How to Start and Stay Strong in a New Church.” Exercise. For decades, we’ve known how exercise benefits our body. But recent research26 has discovered that it benefits…
Photo by Attentie Attentie on Unsplash TAKE A 9-COUNT Boxers train. A lot. We’ve all seen the movies. Movies of the underdog boxer incessantly training with motivational 80’s rock music playing in the background. The boxer who runs through the streets of his town in the rain and snow, morning, noon, and night. The sweat covered boxer doing…
Theology Along the Way 