While wisdom and strength certainly are qualities of a good leader, there is something to be said about the importance of humility. Throughout the Bible, we see numerous examples of leaders blessed with all of the natural gifts and qualities of a strong leader but lost everything because of their pride. Their inflated sense of self-importance not just affected their circumstances but the circumstances of everyone around them. In this blog, Dr. Dennis Robinson continues his series on Leadership from the book of Proverbs explaining the importance of humility from a biblical perspective.
In our previous blog, we tackled the first question people tend to ask when they visit a church for the first time. In the 2nd installment of this 5-part series, Dr. Mike Clarensau shares the second question addressing the importance of trust and security for visitors. Church can and should be a vulnerable place, and as such, visitors must feel safe to be themselves and be vulnerable.
No matter what field you are in, you probably find yourself contemplating ideas to help improve your organization. These ideas may come from you or from others on your team. Regardless of whether it was yours or not, it is a great feeling to see something go from a concept or idea thrown out in a meeting to something you can see or experience – especially if the idea works!
Have you ever done something that was exhilarating, unique, or maybe a bit scary? Maybe an experience that changed your life? Perhaps you have skydived, eaten exotic food, swam with dolphins, rode a rollercoaster, or traveled to a dream destination. If you have done something like that and the only thing you could take home was a memory, then you have been part of the Experience Economy. In this article, Dr. Garland Owensby shows how Gen-Z is pursuing the Experience Economy and how the church can use this desire to reach them.
Fasting! For many non-liturgical Christians, the thought of fasting triggers strong emotions of disdain, as though the experience was overtly alien or unnatural. Memories of failed attempts to abstain from food for a given number of meals rekindles guilt. Yet Jesus was unmistakably clear about this painful topic: “ The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast ” (Matt. 9:15). This means that fasting is–or ought to be–part of the normal Christian life. Stated differently, normal Christians fast; only abnormal Christians seek to avoid it.
Preaching in the smartphone age can have its challenges. As advancements in technology, communications and instant connectivity continue, preachers will need to counter such distractions to relay the gospel message effectively. In light of diminished attention spans and the reality of the presence of smartphones in our sanctuaries, I would like to share seven practical strategies that preachers can utilize to maximize the effectiveness of their sermons in the smartphone age.
We have already seen the two steps a pastor must take to help the congregation get stronger – self-growth and build a team . But there are also two steps the people of the church must take to contribute to the same health journey. Many congregants know the frustration of a revolving door of pastors with their unique visions, ideas, and strategies. A frequent change in pastors can lead the congregation to forget that they, too, have some responsibility for what their church is becoming.