Pastors

We have sat with somber, heavy hearts after hearing the words of all Johnny Depp endured through his marriage to Amber Heard. The trial between him and Heard has been televised, which in many ways feels like a breach of privacy, but in other ways, has provided the wakeup call the world needs for those men who experience abuse as well.

The Bible teaches that the Book of Life is the register of everyone who is going to heaven. Very simply, if your name is not in the Book of Life then you’re not going to heaven.

Jesus did talk about the importance of church, that is, of gathering in His name and fanning out across the world to spread the Good News. When the apostles began to move throughout the region converting others to Christianity, they began gathering in groups that became called churches.

It’s often not the obvious sins but the subtle daily habits that quietly derail our spiritual growth without us even noticing.

The decline of church attendance today happens, in part, because we have chosen to believe the myth that the youth are our future. They are not. They are our present and as the church we have a responsibility to them.

Engaging in corporate worship seems boring compared to other entertainment or "fun" events. As with any part of walking with God, we must be intentional and disciplined about the things that are important. God acts with purpose from truth, and he leads us to do the same. We go to church not because it's fun in the immediate but because of the good it does us in the long term, both in this life and the next.

You can see how this topic creates many emotions. I hope you can also see how this topic reveals our self-focused nature. For some, Mother's Day is a day of joy; for others, it is a day of heartache. No church can possibly accommodate the feelings of every woman in the room and anticipate the reaction that this holiday might cause any given individual. Each of us must check our hearts on this matter and remember what this day is all about.

Needs abound today among the body of Christ and elsewhere. And because of that, everywhere we turn, people or organizations seem to be asking for our money. How can we know where we are supposed to give? And does it count as tithing if we don’t give directly to our church?

If you are in a season of struggle in your leadership, here are 10 verses to write down, pray over, and apply to the situation that you’re walking through.

Are You on the Edge of Burnout? Pastor and podcaster Carey Nieuwhof has been there. Here he shares 11 important warning signs to look out for before you go over the cliff.

While God does offer us many promises throughout His Word, there is absolutely no guarantee of a rich and blessed life free from strife if we merely pray enough, think it enough, or give enough financially. This is a dangerous and flawed way of interpreting God’s promises.

But Church, it is now past time for the Body of Christ to shake off their “lockdown” mentality, leave behind the bad habit of not gathering in person, shake off the bondage of fear, and get reconnected to their local congregation.

If you’re feeling weary and worn out from serving in ministry, here are five encouraging prayers for you:

Ideally, in your new position, you will have just enough difficulties to challenge your strengths without crushing you, and enough encouragement and prayer support to compensate for your weaknesses without making you self-satisfied or complacent. Here are 5 tips to make the most of your transition.

In what ways are we dropping the ball? How are we failing to encourage our people to love God’s Word and to live in it?

Of course, these seven points are just a few of many possible places to begin. The needs of each church, like each individual, are different. But it’s possible for these little gestures of inclusivity to permeate all we do. They will transform your community — and perhaps even yourself. After all, inclusivity isn’t just one ministry of many. It is the ministry to which we are all called; it is a pure and joyful form of Jesus’ love.

Here are ten things healthy churches do well– particularly when it comes to dealing with problems.

When I first heard the phrase “five-fold ministry” my mind immediately went to the “five-tool players” of baseball. Is this just a pastor who can do everything? What is a five-fold ministry? And do they still exist today?

False doctrine is a serious matter because it is a dangerous matter. It must be addressed for what it is so that Christians would stand against it. Here are three dangers of false doctrine, followed by an exhortation to return to the Scriptures. 

This is not an exhaustive list, but let us observe how some of the most well-known individuals in Scripture lived “in the world but not of it.”