The Key Factor in Someone Becoming a Leader
Part 1 of a fascinating interview by James K. A. Smith with Michael Lindsey about his new book, View From the Top: An Inside Look at How People in Power See and Shape the World (Wiley, 2014), who observes that “there is absolutely no statistically significant relationship between what you do before age twenty and your likelihood of assuming a very senior leadership role later on in life.” The key factor may surprise you.... Keep reading
8 Reasons God Wants You to Be You
Question: When I compare myself to others who are doing or have done great things for God, I feel inadequate … like I don’t belong and can never measure up. Honestly, I have a hard time relating to other people in ministry. Have you ever experienced this?
When I was a young leader, this “ministry comparing” really messed me up. I didn’t relate to anyone in ministry, which kept me from trusting myself to lead in the unique ways I was gifted and motivated to lead. In fact, for the first six years, I came very close to leaving ministry. In my heart, I knew I was called. But comparing myself to others really messed with my head. I couldn’t find anyone else in ministry who was young and thought like me. It kept me from being all that God created me to be. And, it will do the same to you. Keep reading
A Pastor & His Culture
This year our church is sending out five guys to plant churches in five cities in the United States. It’s an exciting year for our congregation! Each of these guys will have particular challenges as they labor in Philly, Boston, L.A., Buffalo and West Raleigh.
One challenge that every pastor must deal with is how to relate to the culture. While much could be said about this topic, and while I’m no cultural guru, I would like to highlight three convictions for ministering in today’s world. Keep reading
Why Playing it Safe as a Pastor Is the Riskiest Move You’ll Make
The call to ministry is a call to confrontation and controversy. It’s impossible to read the Bible and come to another conclusion. Moses, Jeremiah, Jesus, Peter, Paul, and John each faced their share of conflict from within the community of God’s people, and from without. From above, they cheer us on in our own races, and we must press on for the joy of whatever cross we have been called to carry, following in our Savior’s track.
With all the opposition we face in ministry, it’s tempting to play it safe. Evasive maneuvers often seem like the best course of action. Mitigate the risk, and live to minister another day.
The irony is that while avoiding church conflict buys you time now, long-term—as I hope to show you—it guarantees failure. And anything that guarantees failure is the opposite of safe. It’s the ultimate risk, because you’re betting you will be the one-in-a-million pastor whose church problems go away all by themselves.
If playing it safe isn’t safe in church anymore, then what is? Risk is. In ministry, risky is the new safe. Keep reading
3 Questions You Should Ask Before You Leave Your Church
The world is changing. It’s changing in many ways, but one of the things that shocks me most as I work with young pastors is the transitory nature of people, families, and jobs these days.
Only a few years ago, it would not be uncommon for a person to find a job with a company or church they loved and stay with that church or company for decades. These days, the average life of a pastor at his church lasts 8 years (and that statistic is for a senior pastor, not even the pastoral staff).
Things are changing; it’s much more likely a young pastor today will change churches and positions several times during their career. Keep reading
See also
How to Stay In One Church for 27 Years
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