Every week church communities gather to worship. Worship includes singing; the vocalizing of praise and gratefulness, the words spoken to tune that can be declaration of rich theology and truth. People have varied emotions about singing but for the people of God singing has always been significant, powerful and formational. Songs can put words into our mouths that remind our hearts… Read more »
How we handle differences can reveal how we are maturing spiritually! Differences are a testing ground for how we respond to challenges, to opinions strongly stated, and to disagreements. Differences need not bring division, but they can. In fact, when those disagreeing begin to polarize, they may “reach” for other proofs or substantiations. That was happening in the church in… Read more »
Worship is a gift of God – a venue or opportunity for us to experience wonder and majesty. Most of us live “contained” lives; squeezed by limitations, rejections, disappointments. Worship is where the Lord opens the skies and reveals, reminds and re-energizes us. In worship, we enter the stories of God’s moving. In worship, we join in community to defy… Read more »
Colossians 1:18 “And He is head of the body, the church.” Wondering if that is a missing factor in our hectic, success driven world? Sure, we who are trained in scripture would affirm that truth, but how do we live it? What are the key factors, patterns, etc., that assure Christ is the head of the body you lead? For… Read more »
The scripture says the Lord owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Did you know He doesn’t eat beef? And He does’t need money! The only reason He has those cattle (yes it is an analogy but follow along) is for us! And as the perfect Father, He knows when to give to us and how to give to us…. Read more »
Holy leaders are a gift to the people. They are evidence of God’s love for us! Isn’t that striking? When we ponder how much the Lord loves us, one expression is the leaders He places over us! The sacrifice of a leader is an expression of our value! The willingness of a leader to lay down their life (which could… Read more »
Scott’s world had just ended. For a number of years he was a youth pastor in a vibrant church. A pastor! But then he was terminated. Ultimately he ends up selling doors and windows, anything to make a living. For all intents and purposes, it appeared his destiny was destroyed, lost. Eventually he is offered a pastor position in another… Read more »
Our calling is often revealed in a core story or stories. If the Lord has wired us for a specific calling, and if He has been overseeing that calling from the time we were in the womb (as in Jeremiah), then life events somehow can connect to and even identify that calling. At times the core stories are redemption stories,… Read more »
I have the privilege of leading. Leadership is always a privilege and a trust. In our staff we continuously review our values to discover where we are leading with our values, or not, and what might need an adjustment. We then determine anew what that looks like. Here’s our first value, “Relationships led by our belief in people.” That means we cannot dismiss any leader… Read more »
I’ve been around churches and church leaders for years. One statement often coming from those involved in the worship ministry of the church is this, “We need to teach our people to worship.” In my case, I have often encountered that as a disappointed response to how that particular church is expressing their worship. Things like hands raised, shouts, etc. are expressions of worship. That… Read more »