Some Christians want to dismiss the environment as a lesser issue compared with the weightiness of the Gospel. But if the Gospel is the story of how the life, death and resurrection of Christ redeems and renews believers and all creation with them, then the proper care of the earth becomes a Gospel implication. Good […]
Is debt dragging your household down? That’s where Cherie Lowe was not long ago, but she and her family got serious and paid off $127,000 of debt in just four years. A blogger (http://www.queenoffree.net/), Cherie offers tips for how you can “Slay the Debt Dragon” in your life. (Photo by Unorthodoxy, used by Creative Commons […]
To be a good steward you have to recognize your relationship to things that you have. The proper relationship to things is to understand that everything belongs to God and that you have been given them to manage on God’s behalf. Here are some tips to help you put that into practice in the real […]
The comparison between microwaves and Crock-Pots can teach us a lot about ministry and church growth. Specifically, do you want to have a “Microwave Ministry” or a “Crock-Pot Church”? Microwaves are good for a lot of things, chiefly convenience. If we are going to have churches that are healthy, growing, vital and reaching God’s people, we need to resist “microwave” solutions and aim for “crock-pot” solutions. (Photo by Alex Schultz, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Nancy Ortberg’s rare combination of tenacity and grace has enabled her to break through many of the barriers to female leadership in evangelicalism today. Nancy served eight years as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church, one of America’s largest congregations, and today, she is a consultant to businesses and non-profits, a sought after speaker, and author. In this interview, she shares her leadership secrets.
“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.” You’ve heard the dream speech, but now read King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech.
Many churches would love to have a vibrant program for stewardship, but just don’t know how to get started. This handy guide from the Presbyterian Church in Canada breaks down key ideas into distinct steps to form checklist. Very smart! (Illustration by AJ Cann, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
In his singleminded vision and uncompromising pursuit of justice and reconciliation, Nelson Mandela is revered as one of our age’s greatest leaders. In this article, Duke University’s Faith & Leadership magazine offers a compilation of essays it has published about Mandela over the years. (Photo by Ted Eytan, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Now there’s nothing wrong with setting goals that will lead to positive changes in our lives, but I’ve noticed how self-centered my resolutions over the years tended to be. I resolve mostly to do things that will enrich MY life, firm up MY finances, improve MY health and promote MY happiness. Narcissistic resolutions are perfect for people of our me-first age, but methinks not so much for followers Jesus. (Photo by Erephas, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Ministers are notoriously overburdened, but handling our load may be hampered by ingrained work habits that do not serve us well. In this article Michael Hyatt, Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers, explains how he gets more done in less time by following simple rules for work. (Photo by BinaryApe, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
