I’ll never forget sitting behind my desk staring at the report in front of me. It was my first time to be a lead pastor. I had come to this church from a growing suburban church in Texas that had plenty of leaders and resources, and now I was leading an inner-city church in Oklahoma […]
Following Jesus and making disciples will cost you convenience. Toward the end of his life, the Apostle Paul sat down to write his final letter to Timothy, his young disciple. In this letter, he encouraged Timothy to keep making disciples and investing in people. “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is […]
You have a powerful story. Believe it or not, you already have a very effective tool that will help you point people to Jesus Christ. That tool is your personal story. Every believer has a story, and when you tell how Jesus encountered you and changed your life, it yields powerful results. Just think about […]
You were created to know God in a deep and personal way. That kind of relationship requires not only listening to God, but also talking to God through prayer. Maybe in the past you struggled with your prayer life. Maybe you are tired of rote, wooden, repetitive prayers that never really seem to go anywhere […]
Not long ago I was in the Apple store working on my iPhone. A young lady was helping me—she probably looked to be in her early twenties. While she was working on my phone I starting talking to her about her job. I asked, “Have you been working here long?” “No, not really. Just a […]
According to the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, “More Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in all previous centuries combined.” They estimate that currently, more than 200 million Christians are being persecuted worldwide, citing currents statistics from Nigeria, India and Iraq. Many believers live in very dark and […]
God uses crisis to bring people to Christ. Looking out over the 600,000 people living in the poorest part of Lima, Peru, you can almost feel the oppression. Many of these people came out of the jungles with absolutely nothing and settled in “squatter” shacks on the outskirts of the massive city of 7 million. […]
All week we have been talking about listening to God. And as important as that is, listening is not enough. God isn’t just looking for listeners; He’s looking for people who listen to His voice and act on what they hear. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow […]
“How Do You Make Disciples?”I love asking pastors that question. Not long ago, I sat around a conference table with several pastors, professors, and denominational leaders. We were all there to talk about discipleship. When the question was asked about how disciples are made, the thoughts were pretty vague and varied. Most said that getting […]
We grow through commitments. Think about it. When you make a commitment to something, it leads you to a new place of growth and maturity. Maybe you’ve made a commitment to complete your education. It’s a struggle. It’s hard. But you follow through with your commitment and you grow as a result. Marriage is a […]
