There is something so holy about being with a small group of friends who know me and who care enough to be supportive during such a drastic transition.
All in Discipleship
Does God Provide Miraculous Escapes?
Perhaps God’s miraculous rescues, when and if they happen, aren’t easily verifiable. Maybe they depend on faith to see these divine interventions.
What is Your Relationship with Fear?
The goal in effective leadership is not to eliminate fear but to make it a worthy partner. Fear is designed to be your friend until you make it your boss.
Control
“Come to me.” How gently he summons us to him. The tool, or yoke, is used to join two creatures for the purpose of working together or sharing a load.
Running from God
God is with you, God knows you, and God loves you. Don’t ever forget it. Because we are often hardest on ourselves. And if you are running from God, God isn’t far from you.
God’s Providence, Romans 8:28
How do I explain these seemingly unconnected events? Was I lucky? Was it a coincidence of various events? No. I believe it was God’s providence in action.
A Personal Philosophy of Grief
We can strengthen our ministry when we take the time to surface these perspectives so that we can refine and use them intentionally.
The Power of God’s Story and the Power of Community
It became clear our theme needed to embody the different ways that Jesus would challenge people through his use of parables — Woven Together: The Power of Biblical Narratives.
The Prophetic Imagination
The prophetic imagination reminds that hope is a gift when we decenter our own perspective, trust God, and take our place within the Christian community that stands before God and waits.
Six Suggestions to Help with Spiritual Depression
I believe depression is real. And it happens to Christians. It happened to a great prophet, Elijah. Read I Kings 19. He was so depressed he wanted to die.
Focus Ring: Tension Versus Safety
While we want to create safety, we honestly can’t—at least for the most part. Jesus certainly didn’t play it safe. His ministry was risky from day one.
Deborah: A Woman Who Lived Her Faith
Two women. One day. Changing the course of history. One woman with a fierce faith, called by God to lead, and the other woman fulfilled the prophecy that the Lord would use the hand of a woman to change history.
Noticing God in Your Midst
It wasn’t until Moses had to run into the desert and confront who he was and what he had done that he was able to notice the presence and movement of God.
What Sustains Your Ministry When Hard Times Hit?
But I’m not calling you to success; I’m calling you to faithfulness. Success in God’s eyes comes down to sticking with the mission.
Learning Styles and Spiritual Growth
Tapping into the way they learn can make the message come alive and ignite their imaginations. We need to spend time thinking about the process behind our teaching.
Standing Up For Jesus
What is a gift that you can offer the world in another way? What is a space that God is calling you to step into even if you are nervous about it?
The Restoration of All Things, Romans 8:18-23
The children of God have the firstfruits of the Spirit. The Spirit is the first delivery, it is the guarantee that there will be a full harvest.
Lightning Strikes
Life can stagger you like that sometimes. We live in a world of lightning strikes, both literal and relational, intentional and random.
Accepting God’s Will, Relinquishing My Own
I think what this boils down to is this question set: Can I be actually okay with not getting my way? Is it okay if the thing I desperately want just doesn’t happen?
Exit Ramps on the Road to Sin
If you are not where you should be, get there quickly. Go home. Go to church or worship. If you are where you should not be, leave.