How To Revitalize Your Faith
In Revelation 3:2-3, Jesus speaks to the church in Sardis about this incredible gap between reputation and reality and He says here’s what you do. “Wake up! Strengthen what remains. Remember what you’ve received and heard. You obey it and repent. If you don’t wake up I'm going to come like a thief.”
How do you revitalize faith? How do you revitalize a relationship? How do you revitalize a sense of closeness with God? Jesus says here’s how you do it. And He walks them and us through it. He says, “Wake up.” (more…)
A Critique of T4T for Disciple Making
Most churches today are searching for the next magic pill, the next great program or the pastor who seems to make it look easy as a way to grow their congregations. What they seem to neglect is the power of the Word of God and the Spirit of God to make an impact. Why do churches struggle with making disciples that make disciples? It's not that hard. I want to introduce you to the beautifully simple method of making disciples that make disciples through a church planting movement that is happening around the world today in every continent on the planet. (more…)
Yesterday I wrote about what happens when we lose our passion and promised that today I would share some passion killers and how to get past them. You’ve fallen prey to one of the passion killers of life. I want you to use this as a checklist and ask, “Why have I got the blahs? Why have I lost my zest? Why am I not passionate like I used to be? Where have my expectations and enthusiasm gone for the Lord and everything else?” Chances are it’s one or more of these passion killers. (more…)
Using Technology In Church Planting
I am sure that most of you have seen the classic movie Napoleon Dynamite. At the end of the movie, Napoleon’s brother Kip sings an original song he wrote to his bride Lafawnduh titled, “Yes, I Love Technology.” If you haven't seen the movie, do yourself a favor and spend some time watching this movie that has a cult like following. Many of us love technology to do our jobs or make our lives earier. Technology is a tool to be used in church planting, whether it be a website, a blog or social media site that promotes what your church is about.
One word of wisdom – Don’t over do it or rely on technology to spread the word about your church, church plant, or ministry or to spread the Word.
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Core Competencies Of Leadership
I write about leadership quite often here on my blog, only because I believe there is a large, gaping hole in leadership in churches, non-profits, government, and corporations. If only we would have men and women step up and be leaders, things would be quite different in all the domains I listed above. Below I list some core competencies of leadership that you might not have thought of.
This past week I spent the day with leaders from over three hundred cities across North American and eight countries learning about movements in cities and what sparks and ignite such movements. Those movements could be movements of prayer, church planting or rapid discipleship reproduction. Movements seem to be one of the areas of interest among church and denominational leaders and I think that is because we are coming to grips with the fact that if we are going to make an impact with the gospel, it will have to be through movements. This is not about one church or one denomination, but about the kingdom. With statistics telling us the estimated number of non-believers in North America is 265 million and that there are over 3,500 different people groups around the world with no access to the gospel - we have to think and act kingdom, not church or denomination.
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Fifty-Two Things I've Learned in My Fifty-Two Years
This past week I turned 52. Seems like a few years ago I was only 19 and Julie and I were getting married, but the truth is that was over three decades ago. I began to wonder, "What have I learned over the past Fifty-Two years of my life?" I did what you are probably thinking should be done, I started writing down things I have learned that have stuck with me. They are not world changing or will not solve the world's problems, but they are things that have molded me and have made me who I am. They are not listed in order of importance and it is not all inclusive. Below is the list I came up with. What are things you have learned that you would like to share with others?
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When You Start Something, You're Asking For A Battle
Every time you start building for God, you're asking for a battle. If you start trying to build your marriage, you're asking for a battle. If you start trying to build up your own personal spiritual life you're asking for a battle. If you start trying to build a church, that's a battle. Everytime a church starts, there is a battle. Why? Because Satan doesn't want churches started. He gets people to oppose you.
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Real Faith Is Not Just Something You Feel
Our faith is not determined by what we do, it is demonstrated by what we do. In a very real sense that's what God says to you. Talk is cheap. Put your money where your mouth is. "I believe in Jesus!" Prove it. Our faith is demonstrated by our actions. Actions speak louder than words. Our behavior shows what we really believe.
It's more than emotions. A lot of people confuse emotions and sentiment with faith. You can be emotionally moved and never act on it. You can go to church and get a quiver in your liver, tingly toes, but it never makes any difference. (more…)
Love them or hate them, coaches have a purpose and they will do whatever it takes to get the best out of their players. They work hard, stay up late and are always coming up with new strategies to put the check mark in the W column. One week the fans love the coach and the next week they are calling for his head on a platter. If you think being a church planter is hard, you should try coaching a church planter. (more…)
