We have all enjoyed watching children explore beautifully wrapped boxes under a Christmas tree. They look, touch, pick up, and even shake the packages, asking the same questions over and over: “Which one is mine?” and “What do you think it is?” I want Christ-followers to have this much enthusiasm when it comes to identifying …
We know that act of showing up at church on Sunday morning matters, but does how we show up matter? There are actually respectful ways men and women can submit to the leadership of the Lord each week at church, and I sincerely believe that living by a code of conduct creates stronger and healthier …
Have you ever wondered what makes a good church member? Does it even really matter as long as you’re showing up? Scripture does not teach that only pastors and deacons are to be committed to the health and wholeness of the church. This is why it is important to know how you can be of …
I believe most of us have an incomplete view of what it means for someone to be baptized. While you could say, “It means that person got saved,” it actually holds so much more meaning than that one sentence can convey. When we study the breadth of Scripture and look at the meanings wrapped up …
When I was a boy growing up in rural Alabama, my buddies and I never scheduled a camping trip. We just went camping on a neighbor’s land or down by a nearby river whenever we felt like it. We would pack a cooler full of sodas, grab a sleeping bag, a few fishing rods, something …
There is one thing I deeply desire that every Christ follower I pastor would do. One simple yet powerful discipline that, when placed in the life of a believer, unlocks an ocean of spiritual potential. What is it? Spending time with Jesus. I realize this may sound simplistic to some, but the seed of the …
When talking about wisdom, there are many different definitions and interpretations. Some people believe wisdom is based on their own experiences or the experiences of those around them. Without Christ, the idea of wisdom is based on and limited to these experiences and will change and fade. In the life of a follower of Christ, …
I vividly remember sitting in a pastoral counseling class over a decade ago when my professor said something I’ve never forgotten. He asked, “When do you become someone’s counselor?” After allowing a few seconds for us to think, he answered, “You become someone’s counselor when they walk up to you and say, ‘Hey, you got …
I try to avoid the predictable cycle. A black man’s life is lost. In this case, George Floyd’s. A white person in uniform took or played a role in taking it. Society erupts with commentary. Lines are drawn. Generalizations, while never entirely accurate, can serve a purpose. Allow me to be general. Progressives cry systemic …
The church I grew up in did not have a phone, administrative office, or a full-time employee. My father worked another full-time job and pastored our church. Everyone else volunteered. My faith was developed just fine. Yet my heart grows heavy for pastors who have been called by God to shepherd smaller congregations during times like we are facing now.