Wednesday, April 03, 2024

Wednesday's Catch: '7 Reasons Why Pastoral Leadership is So Critical to Producing an Evangelistic Church' And More


Chuck Lawless explains why he thinks pastoral leadership is so critical in this task.

7 Practical, Personal Ways to Follow Up After Easter
Easter is always a good time to invite folks to attend church, and many church members work more diligently at inviting others during this season than any other. What we usually don’t do, though, is strategize to follow up practically and personally after Easter services. Here are some ways to do that....

Share Jesus with Your Friends
The miracle story in Mark 2 is a powerful one. Jesus confounds his critics and confirms his divinity when he tells a paralyzed man to take his mat and walk home...the most stunning elem ent is the activity of the friends who carried the man to Jesus. D. Scott Hildreth thinks there are three evangelism principles we can learn from these brave, unnamed individuals.

The Episcopal Church announces four candidates for presiding bishop
The next presiding bishop will succeed Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, whose nine-year term concludes on Oct. 31.

I won’t buy his ‘truth’ or his Bible
One presidential candidate is now selling an American-flag-draped, Constitution-including Bible for $60! If certain American evangelicals, certain Republicans and perhaps all people who still intend to vote for him know their history — especially the history of the Reformation — then that news should raise red flags and sound loud alarms.

Why Is the Resurrection Good News?
If, come Easter morning, a preacher mounted the steps of the pulpit and proclaimed, “Hitler is risen!” I doubt that anyone would reply, “He is risen indeed!” In fact, if the proclamation were taken seriously, there would probably be screams of horror. The world as we know it would be turned upside down in the worst way possible. Why? Because it would not be good news if God raised Hitler from the dead.

A Scarecrow in a Melon Patch 
Church leaders face a serious temptation: letting ministry become an idol. Here’s how to resist.

5 Symptoms of False Humility
While humility is a virtue we should celebrate and encourage, it’s essential to recognize how we may be expressing false humility.

4 Systems Church Leaders Should Care About
Whichever comes first, systems and culture are deeply connected. At minimum, systems reveal culture in that they reveal what is really important to a group of people. Here are four systems church leaders should care are effective in their churches.

Understanding and Appreciating the Lord’s Supper
The Lord's Supper is a biblical and historical means of grace that forms and shapes the life of a church. How do we understand and appreciate its meaning?

A 3-Step Plan for Mobilizig Your Small Group Outreach
If you want your small group to be healthy, contribute to God’s mission in the world, and inspire your group members grow closer to Jesus and help others to do the same – then voice the need to reach others with the Gospel! Get your small group thinking about others and sharing their faith. If you don’t take the lead in cultivating an outward-orientation to your group life then it is unlikely somebody else in the group will.

Is the ‘Silent Treatment’ a Godly Approach to Conflict?
Though it may seem a lesser evil, this approach fails to align with the biblical requirement for resolving conflicts and nurturing a healthy marriage. A spouse who gives the silent treatment is likely to also engage in a broader cluster of similarly sinful behaviors—a pattern of behaviors first named during World War II.

What Ghosting Says About You
Ghosting is generally considered to be an unkind and passive-aggressive way of ending communication or a relationship as it can leave the other party confused, hurt, and questioning what went wrong. While there might be exceptional cases where safety concerns or extreme circumstances warrant cutting off contact abruptly, in most situations, it’s more respectful and considerate to communicate openly and honestly.

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