We need to steer away from the temptation to make what we do about ourselves and to try to make God look better. We simply need to be faithful to our call to serve God.
All tagged leadership
Companions on the Journey: 7 Important Women from Church History
We need help and support, and that support can come from our brothers and sisters who are no longer living, by means of their writings and their example.
The Unhurried Work of Love
This book surfaces pastoral practices and echoes of the Fruit of the Spirit that can shape both our personal relationships and our ministerial lives.
Leadership Practices: Prayer
Such a path of discovery sits at odds with usual practice. Congregational leaders may be tempted to play out a hunch, try what some other church has done, or impose their own will on a congregation. Yet Paul’s prayer leads contemporary leaders to a different kind of practice.
When Power Replaces Pastors: Matthew 4:8-10
Somewhere along the way, some churches have confused being close to power with being close to God.
Growth and Delegation, Acts 6:1-7
The effectiveness of leadership can be measured by the willingness to delegate responsibilities to qualified men and women. Men and women “attested to by the community,” filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom, are the ones who should be leading the programs of the congregations.
Frozen Rivers & Fresh Bridges: Leading Towards Intergenerational Ministry
I thought about the wintery seasons of life. Times when things died or went dormant. Yet, those deaths often brought new life and new emotions. I still experienced pain and grief, but I eventually found hope and possibility. Sometimes what looked like a closure in my life actually created a new path.
Jesus and Politics
Jesus didn’t come to establish a political kingdom, nor did He come to destroy earthly government. He came to redeem hearts, not reform systems.
Becoming a Future-Ready Church
By empowering and encouraging rising generations of leaders, you have the opportunity to faithfully steward the responsibility of those whom God has entrusted to your care.
Living and Leading Together in Covenant
What if we could think this differently about our partners in life and leadership? What if, rather than holding them to an impossible ideal of relationship or partnership, in the hopes that we would never be wronged, we treat them with love and respect and care even though we know they will hurt us, wrong us, annoy us?
Cultivating Culture in Your Leadership Team
So how do you cultivate a healthy culture? In a few conversations I had this past week, the answer to the dilemma that each leadership team presented either found some significant connection to the healthy aspects of the culture or demonstrated a significant area of “cultural” work for the leadership team.
Leadership that is Authentic
Authenticity is not only seen in big, dramatic moments. More often, authenticity is found in the small, daily decisions that have earned your credibility. It is not about being liked; it is about being trusted because of your consistency and clear values.
Spirit of the Living God
Ministry can sometimes feel like sailing into the wind—navigating competing needs, weary congregations, complex situations, and quiet pressures. And in a world enamored with metrics, driven by measurable outcomes and focused on the correct formula for success, it is easy to forget that the kingdom of God does not advance in this way. It advances by the breath of the Holy Spirit.
Credibility: Your Secret Weapon Against Conflict
In ministry, conflict is inevitable—but it doesn’t always have to be combustible. One of the most effective ways to prevent misunderstandings from escalating is to build and maintain credibility. When people trust your character, believe in your competence, and know you’re consistent, they’re far more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt in tense moments.
Letting Go: Embracing New Beginnings in 2025
This year, as we embark on new endeavors and seek to build and foster relationships that align more closely with our purpose, let us remember that God is ever-present, guiding us through each change and loss. In moments of despair, we should recognize these opportunities for growth and be willing to step into the newness of life God offers us.
Be the Last to Speak
Ministers may think that they want honest input or feedback, but their actions speak otherwise. When a leader asks for input but then immediately shares their own opinion before receiving feedback, it can create several potential dynamics—sometimes positive, but mostly negative if it happens too often.
Humility in Leadership
Once you understand that your identity is grounded in God’s love, you are free to take risks, to grow and learn from your mistakes, and to try and fail because the outcome will not affect your identity in Him.
What Matters?
So if you are simply curious about how to improve your leadership, or if you find yourself in some degree of stress about leadership, I encourage you to trust in the truth that God is actively being God. All seven of these principles point to the One that matters.
Focus Ring: Tension Versus Safety
While we want to create safety, we honestly can’t—at least for the most part. Jesus certainly didn’t play it safe. His ministry was risky from day one.
Focus First on Leadership
A healthy leadership group creates a culture where people feel safe and supported, and this tends to produce positive results in the church as a whole.