Local church communities can appear as retrograde curiosities in the age of increasing technology and globalisation. We may say as we drive by: ‘What does this throwback to the 1950s have to do with modern life?’
Meet the Gen-Z Pastor
In general, today’s young church leaders are unusually well-informed and excellent researchers, according to their mentors and teachers. But they also have fragmented attention and weaker reading and writing skills. They want the deep roots and accountability of denominations, but they’re also skeptical of authority. And while they’re eager to be influencers, they have less confidence than other generations did at their age.
How Do I Know If I'm Called to Serve as a Pastor?
One of the regular questions I receive is, “How do I know whether I’m called to the pastorate?” It would be one thing if God sent text messages from heaven with your name on it—discerning a call would be a whole lot easier. Did you get the text or not? But since this doesn’t happen, how can you answer this question? Historically, the church has distinguished a person’s call into internal and external categories.
Pastors Are Shepherds, Not Superheroes
Being a pastor is no easy calling. Behind the Sunday sermon and the church smiles are long hours, heavy expectations and spiritual battles few outside ministry could imagine. Here are a few of the primary challenges pastors face.
Top Seven Reasons a Pastor Chooses to Leave a Church
Jess and Thom share the top seven reasons pastors told us they felt led to leave a church.
Top Seven Traits of Pastors Who Stay at a Church for at Least 15 Years
Thom and Jess look at seven key traits of long-term pastors.
Is Personal Growth on Your Pastoral Calendar?
If your calendar is full but your soul feels undernourished, it may be time to ask an uncomfortable question: is personal growth actually on your pastoral calendar? Many pastors are faithful planners when it comes to sermon series, staff meetings, and ministry events, yet their own formation is often left to chance. Personal growth rarely happens by accident. Like everything else in ministry, it requires intention, time, and prayerful commitment.
20 Self-Evaluation Statements for Church Leaders at the Beginning of 2026
I believe it’s always good to do self-evaluation as a leader, especially at the beginning of the year. Whatever your leadership position is, I encourage you to use these statements as part of your quiet time this week. Using the following scale in analyzing the statements below, critique your personal walk with the Lord and your leadership efforts for your church.
Five Practical Tips for Pastors
In 2007, Casting Crowns released a song called “Slow Fade.” Small decisions and habits lead to increasingly entrenched sin. Rarely does it happen overnight. In a similar way, small decisions and habits can lead you not only away from distraction and exhaustion, but toward greater clarity and effectiveness in the operating rooms of people’s lives.
With this in view, here are five practical tips for pastors.
Digital Worship Fatigue: Why Online Church Can’t Replace the In-Person Gathering
Many are tired of online worship. What happened? When the pandemic forced churches online, digital worship seemed like the future. Congregations grew virtually, and pastors reached audiences they never imagined. But five years later, that momentum has faded. The church is discovering what technology can—and cannot—do for worship. On this episode, Thom and Sam explore why online engagement has declined and how churches can find balance between digital convenience and in-person community.
Understanding the Longings and Language of Gen Z
As I mentioned in the first article in this column, there are 10 key principles for reaching the next generation.
In this article, we will unpack two of them in order to understand the longings and language of Gen Z.
No comments:
Post a Comment