In Preaching Articles: "authentic ministry"

The Word Nobody Likes… Part 2

By Lance Witt on Dec 5, 2023

One of the reasons the word accountability gets a bad rap is because of the way some people have carried out accountability. Holding people accountable is not using your position as a club to embarrass, humiliate, mistreat, belittle or shame people. Our accountability of people should make those on our team better not bitter.

Scripture: Daniel 6:1

Tags: Humility, leadership, relationships, Accountability, Performance, Feedback, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Empowering Others, Effective Leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Pastor And Prophet

By Lance Witt on May 11, 2024

"When it comes to our preaching, we live in the constant tension between pastor and prophet. On one hand, as pastors we want to encourage and care for the sheep. So, in our preaching we want to be uplifting and hopeful. On the other hand, as prophets we must sometimes say the hard things that the sheep don’t want to hear."

Scripture: Jeremiah 5:30-31, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Galatians 1:10

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Pride, People pleasing, pastoral leadership, selfish ambition, Pastoral Ministry, Pulpit Ministry, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

One Hard Truth Of Leadership

By Ron Edmondson on Sep 3, 2022

There is one truth about leadership every leader must understand, but is difficult to receive by some leaders. The probability is good you won’t like this truth either.

Tags: leadership, church conflict, fear of man, People pleasing, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, good leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

3 Big Problems With Running A Church Like A Business

By Karl Vaters on Oct 4, 2022

"We’re always decrying the rise of the consumer culture within the church. But how should we expect people to act when pastors act like CEOs marketing Jesus as a product?"

Tags: Jesus is Lord, pastoral leadership, church and business, Pastoral Ministry, avoiding burnout, church ministry, Lord Of The Church, shallow church  (view more)  (view less)

4 Types Of Stress

By Full Strength on Feb 28, 2024

In this article we explore 4 common types of stress experienced by pastors and leaders.

Tags: Ministry, stress, Church, Leader, leadership, Stress, Anxiety, pastor, sermon, Pastor, Leadership, Sermon, ministry, church, leader, anxiety  (view more)  (view less)

Diagnosing Sheep

By Peter Mead on Apr 27, 2022

In pastoral ministry, there is a great need for the right diagnosis of sheep.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14, John 11:1-40

Tags: Prayer, Listen, Leadership Listening, Listening

Dealing With The Preacher-Eaters

By Joe Mckeever on Mar 21, 2020

Joe McKeever shares practical advice for dealing with the self-appointed church rulers who try to dominate your preaching and your ministry.

Scripture: 3 John 1:9-10

Tags: Ministry, leadership, Prayer, affliction, Confrontation, Church Practices  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Have A Reproducing Culture

By Ron Edmondson on May 7, 2021

You can’t recruit leaders – at least not effectively – if you never develop a culture to do so. Reproducing cultures reproduce leaders.

Tags: empower, church culture, ministry vision, church leadership

How To Recruit And Keep The Best Volunteers

By Josh Reich on Jan 26, 2022

The idea of recruiting volunteers is overwhelming and difficult at times. There never seems to be enough people, and the ones who are serving are often tired and feel like they are the only ones serving.

Tags: Communication, Lay Leadership, ministry vision, Recruiting, communication  (view more)  (view less)

The Light-Hearted Pastor Is An Oxymoron

By Joe Mckeever on Jan 27, 2022

To expect to carry the message without feeling the weight is asking a little much.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, 1 Corinthians 2:3, 2 Corinthians 11:28

Tags: pressure, Human Weakness, bearing burdens, Pastoral Ministry

Hidden In My Heart

By Megan Briggs on Apr 8, 2024

Have we lost sight of the need to memorize Scripture in our digital age?

Scripture: Psalm 119:11, Romans 12:2

Tags: memory, Disciplines Scripture, children's ministry, Memory Devices

A Word To The Small Town Pastor

By Ron Edmondson on Mar 8, 2022

Sometimes people don’t know how well they are doing.

Tags: Perspective, Pastors, Small Church, Pastoral Ministry, perspective  (view more)  (view less)

Freedom And Vision: Building A Collaborative Team Culture

By Glenn Packiam on Aug 21, 2023

Should I tell the team what I want them to do or should I let them create on their own?

Tags: Freedom, ministry vision, church leadership, Empowered churches

Live And Die By The Numbers

By Lance Witt on Apr 11, 2023

But numbers become a problem in the heart of a pastor when they move from being a point of celebration to becoming the driver of our motivation.

Scripture: Acts 2:47

Tags: motivation, Church Growth, success in ministry, intimacy with Christ

5 Things You Should Never Say To A Small Church Pastor

By Karl Vaters on Oct 24, 2023

Don’t just get the content right. Consider how it might feel to the hurting pastors who need your help the most.

Tags: leadership, advice, Small Church, Pastoral Ministry, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)