Pastors

One of the effects of the past year is an unprecedented number of ministers saying they are considering quitting vocational ministry.

Effective preaching is more than just about what you say. It’s also about how you say it, and not every preach knows how to deliver a sermon.

I’ve been peppered in recent weeks with questions about summer church services and how to address the summer slump in attendance. Here are some ideas:

These tidbits ministers teach may have a sliver of truth in them, but a sliver of truth in a full slice of falsehood is really teaching something that is not reliable.

The fact is, most of the baloney in our lives is what we put there ourselves. Change must come from within.

A disapproving facial expression stirs up the flight-fight part of our brain and heightens anxiety, even more than an angry facial expression does. I’ve experienced those disapproving looks and have learnedabout coping with disapproval.

I watched Willow Creek move on without seeking true, redemptive healing. The story about Bill Hybels quieted, but emotions lurked and simmered at the surface always.

One wolf in a sheep pen can ravage the whole flock. The same is true in the church. One false teacher in the congregation can cause untold damage. An essential component of pastoral leadership is the call to protect the flock.