What I have learned about long-term ministry. This month marks the 20th year I’ve served the Crestview Church of Christ in Waco. Yesterday, I saw a picture of our family 20 years ago when we moved here. Since then, I have learned a lot. This post will list some of the lessons learned about congregational… Continue reading Ministry Inside.129
Tag: Ministry
Monday Start (Resources for the Week)
Porn “It eats you from the inside out.” Excellent article from The Christian Century regarding ministers and porn. Writing “Every Writer is a Mentor” by Jeff Goins. Good post! Questions Tim Keller’s five questions for the biblical text. When I agree or disagree with Keller, he makes me think! Books Top ten most read books in… Continue reading Monday Start (Resources for the Week)
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What is the #1 way many ministers sabotage their ministry? A loose and undisciplined mouth. Years ago, I was teaching a Wednesday evening class at our church. The class was about to begin. A woman was still talking as I attempted to start this class. I said something about her to the group, thinking it… Continue reading Ministry Inside.95
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I read a very good article in The Wall Street Journal entitled “The Peak Time for Everything.” Basically, the article explores the importance of matching the tasks you need to do with the energy level of your body. The author suggests times of the day that may be better suited for a particular task given where… Continue reading Ministry Inside.94
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So much of one’s effectiveness in ministry has to do with the matters that may appear small but in fact are very important. 1. Attitude. This is huge! A negative attitude, a cynical spirit, and a fault-finding disposition have a way of wearing out a congregation. The content of a minister’s teaching may be… Continue reading Ministry Inside.92
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“Do you feel appreciated in the congregation you serve?” It took this minister only seconds to answer his friend’s question. “No, I don’t feel appreciated. I feel taken for granted by my elders, my co-workers, and many people in our church.” He went on to say, “Now of course that is not true of everyone… Continue reading Ministry Inside.91
I Have Heard So Many Secrets
(I am away on a vacation/study break during the month of July. The posts that appear during the month are from the archives.) Through the years, as a minister, I have sat with person after person and listened to sad, difficult stories. I have heard so many secrets. The alcoholic father who told me of… Continue reading I Have Heard So Many Secrets
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Some ministers are perceived to be important. When I first began preaching and serving as a “full-time minister,” I soon realized that some preachers were considered to be important people. That struck me as interesting and even a bit odd. After all, I was a business major in college. It wasn’t until after I had… Continue reading Ministry Inside.85
“I Shouldn’t Say This, But . . .”
You’ve heard these before haven’t you? “This may not be right, but . . .” “I don’t want to gossip, but . . .” “Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but . . .” Why would we say something like this? Why would we acknowledge what is wrong and then proceed to do exactly what we… Continue reading “I Shouldn’t Say This, But . . .”
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Each Thursday, I write a post particularly for church leaders. The following is part of a list of habits for church leaders who want to grow and develop. You can find part 1 here and part 2 here. Habit #6. Adjust your expectations. When I first began preaching, my expectations of people were way too high!… Continue reading Ministry Inside.83