“There is great joy leading others as you follow Jesus together, and you also bear the responsibility to lead others well. “ Here are 10 practical tips for Small Group leaders (in no particular order.) #1 Make preparation a priority. Remember two important things about leading a Small Group: There is great joy leading others as you follow Jesus together, and you also bear the responsibility to lead others well. With these in mind, get in the habit of setting aside enough time every week to be fully prepared. #2 Be ready. Before your guests arrive, have your lesson finished,…
Hero, Villain, or Just Like You: The Pastor
“Across the scale there are those who adore pastors to a fault (he’s a super-hero), and those who are hypercritical of them (he’s a villain), and everything in between. “ How many churches do you drive past each week? I would imagine that few of them are mega-churches – most are simply just smaller groups of believers gathering together for worship. Each of these churches has at least one pastor who is serving, leading, preaching, teaching, and counseling week after week after week. Consider these pastors for just a minute. If you have a pastor… A pastor is not…
Can you mess up God’s plans for your life?
“God is not caught off guard by your decisions. “ How did I end up here? Maybe I should have chosen a different path… Maybe I shouldn’t have taken this job… Maybe I shouldn’t have dated that person… Maybe I… There’s a sinking feeling when you start second guessing a decision you’ve made. Sometimes in life, your circumstances might seem like a mess created by choices you made weeks, months, or even years earlier. It’s natural to think… “Did I miss out on God’s plans for me? Did God have a great plan for my life, but I messed it…
Something More To Be Found In The Mess
“Before the fog had cleared… before the “happy ending” …before Job ever knew he would see a light at the end of the tunnel, he found something priceless. “ When you’ve been beaten to the ground, there is little comfort in hearing that you will be able to help others in the same situation someday. It is true that one of the greatest spiritual joys in life can be helping others out of the same difficulties you have faced in the past. (More on that here.) But let’s be honest… In the depths of the messiest moments of life, your first…