Our modern world forces us to do things in a rush. We want faster processors in our computers and smartphones, airplanes that get us to our destinations faster, conversations that get right to the point, fast food, instant coffee, etc. As a consequence, we are increasingly impatient. Nevertheless, rushing into things does not possess any intrinsic quality or virtue. And when it comes to the kingdom of God, rushing can be fatal.
We do not see people as the world does. We do not focus our eyes on race, nationality, or status. We see the people God made. People God loves. People for whom Jesus died.
Jesus was quick to keep questions on the forefront of the disciples’ minds. He allowed questions to create space for people to discover, collaborate, discern and commit themselves more to His Spirit and Truth so that they could know more about themselves and about God.
There is a moment that’s quiet and sacred—when you realize that God is giving you back what you lost. Only this time, it’s deeper. Stronger. Wiser. This is restoration.
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.
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.
You may have a different opinion, but I believe that a lead minister would be wise to touch on tough topics, not as a preacher with a prophetic voice but as a pastor with a compassionate heart. Don’t ignore the obvious.
Yes, the anxiety of speaking up is absolutely real, but you can feel anxiety and speak up at the same time. I promise, you can learn to speak up with skill. There is no magic to being a strong communicator. Communication is a learned physical skill.
The Twelve Minor Prophets remind us that today’s hot trends sometimes become tomorrow’s embarrassing discards, while seemingly obscure or insignificant things can assume great importance in the future.
Sabbath is some of the healthiest food that I can eat. Sabbath is woven into the inner fabric of my innermost longings. Sabbath demands me, even though it should be the other way around.
The main lesson of the past is not to overvalue the past. Distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, mercy and cruelty, hope and despair. Without that ability to see clearly the stakes and the stakeholders of the moment, we all perish. With it, we live.
The Ministry of Presence may be in break rooms, cafeterias, or even in the parking lot when walking to or from work. Military Chaplains ensure they are present by doing what soldiers, sailors, airmen, defenders, and marines do. This means going out for field training, airborne operations, physical training, and deployments.
So much of my ministry is about non-anxious listening without a rush to judgment, which can be incredibly difficult! And I often compare it to the ministry of pulling rocks out of soil rather than reaping the harvest, because so many come with a troubled history with Christianity and “organized religion.”
Throughout the narrative, the author pauses the plot to report on the progress and growth of the church, which becomes a proclamation of victory for the gospel of Christ. Despite the persecutions, false accusations and abuses suffered, the Christian movement was unstoppable.
Zechariah is probably not commenting on the literal immortality of one group of people or extinction of others. He means instead that the prophetic word and therefore the witness of the prophets’ lives continues to exert a powerful influence. They spoke in ways that others must reckon with.
You cannot lead people somewhere you are not. If Jesus does not have your heart, it will be difficult to share a hope that may not be a reality in your life.
Worship centers on God—God’s character as the source of all mercy and love and justice, God’s infinity, God’s majesty and mystery. In contemplating God, we see our own sin, our need for redemption and protection, as well as the possibilities of profound spiritual growth.
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?
We often think that we have to do something big for Christ. In fact, we sometimes even downplay or refer to our service as insignificant. We’ve got to realize that this type of thinking is not coming from the Bible but from the culture around us. We may not even realize how much of our culture has seeped into us.
Why should we listen to these prophets? We could start with the obvious: these texts were part of the Bible of Jesus and the apostles. Who would we be to reject the words our Lord took to heart?
