In the Business of Boldness
“Oh, I’ll guard with my life what you’ve revealed to me, guard it now, guard it ever; And I’ll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth and your wisdom; Then I’ll tell the world what …
Is God speaking to you?
“Listening to the Spirit’s leading is our most unused faith muscle. We must learn to exercise it,” says Jessie Cruickshank, a nationally recognized expert in disciplemaking and the neuroscience of transformation, in her book Ordinary Discipleship. According to Jessie, God …
How to Be Ambitious About Living a Quiet Life
“Make it your ambition to live a quiet life,” Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV). That’s an unusual phrase, isn’t it? To be ambitious about living quietly? In my early church experiences, we’d sometimes have very energetic revival services when …
There is Nothing Broken that Needs to be Fixed. Here’s Why.
When we probe beneath the surface of relationships into our attitudes toward ourselves and others, we discover that we tend to think of people (ourselves included) as little more than “useful things” which sometimes get broken and need to be …
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Four Reasons that Jesus Had to Suffer and Die for Us
In my early years as a church planter, I once participated in a Q&A panel at a local university to interact with students’ questions about faith and spirituality. One student, sitting attentively in the back of the auditorium, wiping his …
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Experience the Freedom of “Good Enough”
One of the greatest blessings in my life has been working with refugees, most of whom have fled their homelands due to persecution or the constant threat of danger. I have grown close to some of the mothers in the …
How Can Obedience Help a Leader Flourish?
A leader must learn obedience in order to influence others toward obedience. An obedience check is a process item through which a leader learns to recognize, understand, and obey God’s voice. The leader encounters this early in his development and …
It’s Not Enough to Hear Jesus. We’re Called to Do This.
When you think of Jesus, what comes to mind? Merciful Savior? Humble King? Suffering Servant? What about Brilliant Teacher? Throughout the Gospels, people constantly referred to Jesus as “Teacher.” They marveled at his wisdom, his stories, his questions. His teachings …
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What Every Leader Needs to Know about Generosity
When we talk about becoming generous leaders, we need to broaden our imagination beyond dropping a tithe into an offering plate, scanning a QR code to support a charity of our choice, or financially investing in those we lead. Yes, …
Here is Why Christians Celebrate Easter
Christians and skeptics agree on this: Christianity stands or falls with the Resurrection. This is the cornerstone of all Christian belief and faith. It’s said that among the last words of historian Jaroslav Pelikan were these: “If Christ is risen, …
The Discipline of Irresponsibility Taught Me Something
One area in my life where I am hearing new truth reflects my sense of personal responsibility in all walks of life. Being overly responsible has been an issue for me for years. I thought I had resolved the problem …
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