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Priscilla Shirer: How Church Leaders Can Seek Mentorship and Accountability

Priscilla Shirer
Image courtesy of Priscilla Shirer

Priscilla Shirer is a co-founder with her husband, Jerry, of Going Beyond Ministries. She is the New York Times bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including, “Radiant: His Light, Your Life” and her latest, “I Surrender All.” Priscilla has also had featured roles in films including “War Room,” “I Can Only Imagine,” “Overcomer,” and “The Forge,” which will premiere in August 2024.

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Transcript of Interview With Priscilla Shirer

Priscilla Shirer on The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast.mp3: Audio automatically transcribed by Sonix

Priscilla Shirer on The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast.mp3: this mp3 audio file was automatically transcribed by Sonix with the best speech-to-text algorithms. This transcript may contain errors.

Voice Over:
Welcome to the Stetzer Church Leaders Podcast, conversations with today’s top ministry leaders to help you lead better every day. And now, here are your hosts, Ed Stetzer and Daniel Yang.

Daniel Yang:
Welcome to the Stetzer Church Leaders Podcast, where we’re helping Christian leaders navigate and lead through the cultural issues of our day. My name is Daniel Yang, national director of Churches of Welcome at World Relief. And today we’re talking to Priscilla shire. Priscilla and her husband, Jerry are the co-founders of Going Beyond Ministries. She’s the New York Times best selling author of more than two dozen books, including radiant, His Light Your Life and the forthcoming book I Surrender All. Priscilla is also had featured roles in films including War Room, I Can Only Imagine, overcomer, and The Forge, which will premiere in August of 2024. Now let’s go to our hosts, editor in chief of Outreach Magazine and the Dean of the Talbot School of Theology at Stetzer. Yeah.

Ed Stetzer:
So it’s so good to talk to Priscilla and talk about some of these issues that come forward. In her book, particularly I Surrender All. Of course, you know, I used to lead the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center. So we immediately start thinking of, you know, Bev Shea leading that song, I Surrender All. But it’s more than just about, uh, personal conversion and more all to him I freely give is a key part of that. And so in this case, you’re you’re sort of inviting people to surrender everything to Jesus, something I love, something also just transparently what have I been a pastor since I was 21 years of age? I got ordained by a local church that shouldn’t have ordained me too young, and sent me up to only 27 now. Yeah, well, there you go. Go with that. I think my shoes are 27. But anyway, uh, the, uh, and then sent me up to inner city Buffalo, New York to plant a church as this newly ordained pastor. But here’s what I learned. You know, I wrote about this like 20 years after I was or 30 years after I was a Christian, is that I’m still surrendering things to Jesus. And I’m still. And sometimes I would have thought that some of my struggles would have faded into the background. It seems I got new ones and more so. So talk to us a little bit about the whole idea of surrender, which again may be because of Billy Graham, which which I mean, I say that in the best sense of the word. We think of that as I’m coming to Christ during this song, but I surrender all talks about Christ, transform me, all parts of me. Talk to us about that.

Priscilla Shirer:
Yeah, it’s a lifestyle. It’s a choice that over the course of the seasons of my life, I am constantly releasing to his grasp. Or rather, I am positioning him in the position of Lord like over every aspect of my life. Like there’s no sacred part and secular part. It’s all sacred. So the political preferences that I have, the decisions that I’m making, the relationship choices I’m making, how I’m governing my money, how I’m building this business, how I’m navigating raising the children, my marriage that I’m trying to see. What is it that honors God? How can I surrender fully to him my entertainment choices? So for the Christian, this issue of discipleship is not only about issues of sin. Of course, those black and white issues, of course, we can point to clearly, but sometimes they’re just issues that are related more to what has more of a priority in your life other than Jesus? What was the strongest voice, the strongest influence? What has more of a hold on you? That, and you know this because when the Lord says, surrender it, let it go. Whether it’s an ambition or it’s a goal or it’s an expectation that you have. How willing are we? What’s the response time in us really being willing to surrender it to him and to trust him with the outcome? That’s what surrendering looks like. That’s what discipleship is about. It is about walking with Jesus through the rhythms of life and constantly repositioning him in the position of main authority and priority. The agenda setter for our lives body, mind, spirit, emotions, entertainment, choices. All of it lines up under the authority of Jesus Christ.

Ed Stetzer:
Yeah, and you start out pretty strong in the book, you know, all or nothing. We’ll talk about that in just a second. I guess. You know, for me, one of the things early on, I guess I was a pastor or church leader, and I’m trying to remember maybe it was Peter Lord or somebody influenced me on this topic and said something like, in the morning, you want to, you know, get and sit down and say that, that in this, you know, for all you know, I can’t like, impact everything. But in this little carpet, this little circle of carpet or whatever, uh, in this place, I surrender everything. Like everything I am. It’s all or nothing. I’m all in, and and I really found that helpful and challenging for the rest of my life. So, you know, pastors and church leaders, they’re thinking that, I mean, this is what they do every day. And it can easily become almost, though a job and not a place of surrender. You get strength in that place of surrender. So, I mean, what what do you mean by all or nothing? And then let’s talk some about what that maybe means for pastors and church leaders who might say, Priscilla, I’m working full time in ministry. I’ve surrendered it all. We think, yeah.

Priscilla Shirer:
Yeah, well, all or nothing. That phrase is, is, you know, sobering. Um, but the reality is that you can be a Christian and not be a disciple because salvation is free. But discipleship costs. There’s a cost to it. Jesus said in Luke chapter nine, anybody who wants to be my disciple is going to deny himself. There’s denial there. There’s self denial. Take up my cross. That means there’s death there. Something’s going to have to die and follow me. Which means you’re leaving things behind. So in the first century, the word disciple, when Jesus used it, their frame of reference would have been completely different than ours. Now, it was actually a secular term that he was using. It was used to describe the, you know, the Greek philosophers, Aristotle, Plato, these guys who were coming in and they were trying to infiltrate Jewish culture with Greek, thought they their two T’s were called disciples. And what that meant was that they would leave everything to follow these Greek teachers so that they could be completely absorbed in this new way of thinking, this new way of reacting, this new way of responding to people, this new way of raising children and formulating traditions in your family. They weren’t just teaching them for an hour and a half on a Sunday. They were saying, no, leave everything and actually attach your life to mine. So what? Discipleship means all or nothing. What that means is that when we are looking towards being disciples, we are deciding that every day of my life and every aspect of my life, I’m tethering myself to Jesus.

Priscilla Shirer:
And I’m asking myself, Lord, what are you asking me to leave behind? Not necessarily because it’s wrong. It just doesn’t line up completely with this whole new way of living, this new way of thinking, this new way of reacting to people, this new way of making choices about the way that I’m going to govern my life. When Jesus said to these first century disciples, this is what it means to be my disciple, they understood that it actually meant a huge letting go and a deep tethering from an entirely one entire lifestyle to choose another one. And so that’s what all or nothing is. Is this just like, you know, the Sunday morning part of your life or the, you know, read a verse a day to keep the devil away part of your life or, you know, the secular part of your life is over here, like you’re a teacher or you’re a lawyer, and you haven’t connected that at all to sacred purposes. Discipleship is the reminder that every element of your life your finances, your preferences, your entertainment choices, your relationships, all of it, you’re now bringing it back under the umbrella the authority of Jesus and saying, okay, how do I do these things that you have gifted me to do that you’ve given me passions to do? How do they I do them in a way that glorifies you and that builds your kingdom and your purposes.

Daniel Yang:
Yeah. I’m curious. I mean, obviously the call to discipleship is, uh, is an evergreen, uh, you know, basic principle of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. But I’m wondering, like, as you’re as this book is coming out, like in our cultural moment in 2024, um, and you started off, you know, uh, discipling Christians to think through everything from their political choices to, you know, their everyday lives, parenting. What is it about right now that you feel like the message of surrendering is so important for pastors and church leaders to put in, put forth in front of their. Their church members. Right now, what’s the urgency behind the idea of surrendering right now?

Priscilla Shirer:
Well, a couple of things come to my mind, and one of them is that we do live right now in a very, um, poignant hustle grind culture. It is self-focused. It is, um, and there’s nothing wrong with being ambitious and working towards goals, but there’s this undercurrent of I’m going to get mine and I’m going to run over whoever I’ve got to do to get it to be successful, to build a following, to build a platform. Me, me, me, me, me. And if we’re not careful, we will Christianize that. We will slap Jesus’s name on that and just continue to move forward in our own willpower. Just sheer willpower headed towards ambitions that look holy because they’ve got Jesus name on it. But they could be completely detached from what he is actually calling us to do. So surrender is this sobering reminder that we need to go back to the drawing board and say, Lord, what is your kingdom purpose here? Why have you entrusted this field or this industry to me? Why have you entrusted these people to me that are in my sphere of influence? I if my if my goals that I that I have for myself, if they line up with yours, great confirm that. But if in any way there are nuances of them, layers of them ways I’m going about them that are antithetical to what it is that you had planned for me, for the building of my character, for the shoring up of my faith, for the long game here with generational impact. If there’s anything that actually don’t line up that I haven’t realized it because my platform has been applauding me, and the people that are following me have been saying, I’m doing so great, would I just pause for a moment and say, Lord, I surrender, show me what’s not like you, and then give me the courage to step back and to do it your way.

Ed Stetzer:
Yeah. And I’m really I’m intrigued by what that looks like for pastors and church leaders. And let me frame it in a way that’s probably negative. Um, I’ve, you know, I’ve seen a lot of blow ups and failures up close. You have you have as well. And there does seem to be a common factor is that somewhere along the way, there’s often. I’m trying to remember who talked to me about this. I think it was Nancy Beech, she said. There’s a there’s kind of a triangle she talked about is that first there’s loneliness, isolation, and then there’s entitlement because you’re lonely and isolated, and then there’s bad decisions that sort of flow from that. And I’m probably not articulating it well. But what seems to happen in all of those cases? There is a underlying root that somehow this leader has disconnected. I don’t know. I would say, you know, biblically disconnected from the vine where kind of got doing the work of the Lord and not focused on the Lord of the work. In other words, it too is a disciple making issue. And rather than surrendering all they kind of have found, I don’t know. We seem to find this this way to kind of surrender our vocational work to the Lord while our personal life is dry and withered and failing. And that’s where ultimately it seems the failure comes. So our audience, pastors and church leaders. So what cautions, because you’ve been I mean, you grew, you grew up in church. You’ve been around pastors and Christian leaders. You you’re you’re a globally known Christian leader and teacher yourself. What I’m sure you’ve had these conversations. What advice would you give to pastors and church leaders about surrendering, maybe those hidden places or those struggling places to the Lord?

Priscilla Shirer:
Several things. The first thing that came to my mind is you asked that question was that years ago, Nancy Leigh DeMoss said something to me that I’ll never forget. She said, Priscilla, I’ve been so grateful through all the years that the Lord has surrounded me with people. She was talking about people on her board and people that are mentors to her in her life. The Lord has surrounded me with people that care more about the state of my soul than they do the state of my ministry. Oh that’s good. I’ve never forgotten that. Yeah, that to me is one of the most key issues for church leadership today. That when we come into positions of prominence or in some sort of position of power or recognition within the construct of the church or the ministry that the Lord has entrusted to us, if we are not intentional and deliberate about making sure we have spiritual covering and authority to whom we are surrendered, mean they can get up in our business and we can ask hard questions. They’ll give us hard answers, and we’re surrendered to their authority.

Priscilla Shirer:
No matter what level or position of leadership we are in, we all need to be covered by someone who cares more about the state of our soul than they do our ministry. So they’re going to ask us about the hidden places. They’re going to require answers. And then if they give us a directive because we trust this person and we’ve kind of been this covenant relationship with them, if they give us a hard directive about needing that sabbatical, about needing to go tend to our wife or our husband or our children in a particular season and step away from what might be a more public applauded platform. We’re willing to surrender to that because this person has our best interest, the state of our soul in mind. I think that’s one one of been one of the biggest, um, hiccups for church leaders today is that we’re not all surrendered to some authority in our life who is discipling us and making sure that we’re okay not just in the public parts, but in the private parts of our life.

Ed Stetzer:
You know, all the all the Anglicans right now have an idea. And they, they, they they would say, get a bishop and that person can speak into you now because but in our case, most of us are not in I mean, just statistically, most of us are not in denominations where there’s somebody over us. Our mutual friend John Jenkins talks about, you know, I’ve spoken to his pastors that he covers and he speaks and he asks them the hard questions. So we’re going to have to search that. You’re. I didn’t know that. I didn’t know John Jenkins. Yeah.

Priscilla Shirer:
Jerry and I, Pastor John, you know, we’re not. Jerry and I aren’t pastors, so it’s a little bit different than the pastors that he covers. But Miss Trina, his wife of 40 years at this point. And Pastor John, they have been a spiritual covering to us for 20 years, and it is a covenant relationship we have with them. They can ask about our marriage, they can ask about our finances. They can ask about our communication. They can ask about intimacy. They can ask about anything in our life. We are covenanted to them to give them honest, responsive responses. And if he gives us a directive, we are covenanted to follow that directive. Come on, come on. We trust him.

Ed Stetzer:
Yeah. See, it’s a whole different thing. And, you know, just full transparency. That’s much more common in black church traditions and in Pentecostal church traditions than it is in my tradition. But I have I recently I was over in teaching in the UK and I was I went by The Eagle and The child, the famous pub where the inklings went, C.S. Lewis and Tolkien, and I did a little video saying, you need a squad because you need someone who can speak into your life. And in my case, I have a couple people who actually I have a pastor. So, you know, Eric Geiger is my pastor, so. And you, we’ve all been friends, you know. Eric. Eric. Yes. So, so having people who can speak into your life makes a difference, but you have to sort of seek that out in most places in evangelicalism. So what what would it look like? Let’s say you’ve had John for 20 years. Um, let’s say Daniel Yang needs somebody. What would Daniel do to start that conversation and really try to get someone to speak into your life so that you can have that that accountability towards full surrender. The Setzer Church Leaders Podcast is part of the Church Leaders Podcast Network, which is dedicated to resourcing church leaders in order to help them face the complexities of ministry. Today, the Church Leaders Podcast Network supports pastors and ministry leaders by challenging assumptions, by providing insights and offering practical advice and solutions and steps that will help church leaders navigate the variety of cultures and contexts that we’re serving and learn more at Church leaders.com/podcast network.

Priscilla Shirer:
We were alert to the fact that it was already happening, meaning the Jenkins. We met them probably 2 or 3 years before this sort of official conversation we had about this, but they were already there. They were already showing us an example of a healthy marriage, and they were raising these six kids. All the chaos of that, they let us in their home. So we saw the beautiful chaos of raising kids and different expectations that you have of what you hope for your children and walking through that as parents. And we saw them navigating the church and trying to do that with humility and integrity. I mean, you know, the Jenkins just humble and generous and kind, and they really love Jesus. So after you’re watching someone who is showing an example not of perfection, but of people who are authentically pursuing Jesus, and then you can see the way that works out in practical rhythms, like, Pastor John’s going to talk to us about finances, he’s going to talk to us about marriage. So in practical ways, you see, there’s actually insight here that they have to share, and they’re already making themselves in some way available to you. They’re willing to answer your questions. They’re willing to let you into their home. Basically, the discipleship is already happening anyway. And then we sat down with them one day when we were at dinner and we said, you know what? We would like to be in an official relationship with you where you cover us, our ministry in particular, but us as a couple, you kind of cover us that we know you, you got our back, but also that we’ve got yours, that we’re going to be students learning and absorbing and watching and coming to you when there’s an issue that a hurdle that we need to get over.

Priscilla Shirer:
And so it really was a literal conversation and a question where we intentionally asked for that. So that’s what I think is asking the Lord to open up your eyes first to see who is already around you. Church leader who’s already in your church that is ten years down the road from you, in marriage or in parenting or in ministry. They’ve already done the thing that you’re hoping to to achieve, whether that’s just faithfulness over the long haul or it’s a specific kind of project that you’re investing in, like writing a book or something, is there somebody right around you? Probably is. Who’ve already? They’ve already done the thing. They’re still walking it out, but they’ve got some consistency under their belt. Well, make it your business to be have an audience with them. And if you find that there’s already a rapport there and a willingness for them to share, and you find that there is an endearment one to the other, then I mean just point blank, ask them. Ask them for that privilege to be in their circle of influence.

Daniel Yang:
So good. Let me let me flip the question a little bit, uh, on your Priscilla, because your ministry is such a public ministry. And, um, I’m wondering how you would counsel those. You know, most of our listeners are church leaders and pastors, but there are those who have public ministries as well, uh, those emerging leaders that are coming into public, uh, ministry. So two things. What is it about, you know, in principle that you would coach and advise those coming into it to be aware of? And then what how has the landscape changed as we’re moving forward 2024?

Priscilla Shirer:
Let’s see. That’s that’s a layered question. One of the things that I’ve known in principle that I’ve sort of seen work worked out, I can’t think of the exact verse and you’re much smarter than me, so you’re going to remember this. But, you know, there’s a I think in Ecclesiastes it says something about arguments being vain, like the the overarching discussions going back and forth, the arguments being vain. Um, I wish I could think of the exact verse in this moment, but there is so much wisdom in staying high while everybody else goes low. There’s a lot of arguments, uh, that are derailing individuals because you’re totally consumed in these social media arguments about secondary issues of theology that not only derail you because now you’re so consumed and overrun with the comments coming back from people that you don’t even know, most of whom aren’t actually really interested in learning truth. They just are there for the argument’s sake. But then there’s a lot of disservice happening in the larger body of Christ because these these, um, the tearing down of each other happening in these public sectors.

Priscilla Shirer:
So I see and of course, that’s a principle, but I see it working itself out so clearly now with the full range of access that all of us have to social media, that you’re going to have to decide what hills has the Lord actually called me to die on? And if this ain’t my hill, I don’t need to die on this hill. I can’t die on every hill. Because then I won’t be available and ready for the one he’s actually given me as an assignment. But I really am watching church leaders or people in ministry die on a myriad of different hills. That’s not even a hill. And so just being prayerful before speaking into and engaging into arguments with everyone from everywhere, most of whom are not interested in actually getting to the truth anyway, is it really where the Lord is asking you to invest yourself, or should you reserve that for the local context where God has placed you and what it is he’s asking you to actually shepherd those people that he’s entrusted to you?

Ed Stetzer:
Come on, come on. You don’t have to show up for every argument you’re invited to, but that’s another story for another day. Okay, so I got to tell you, Priscilla, I, you know, I’ve written some books. None of them sold as much as yours. You’re kind of like famous. Famous? Famous? Not really. Like my daughters. Know how famous and awesome you are? My daughters roll their eyes at their dad. But for Priscilla Shirer, who, um. Hey, my.

Priscilla Shirer:
Sons roll their eyes at me. So we’re in the same camp.

Ed Stetzer:
So it must be the kid thing. Um, so, so. But I got to tell you, I don’t have books. Come out with movies. So what’s the deal? Like you’re a movie star. I still remember we were at LifeWay and you were in the movie. It’s so funny that you were a movie star, all that sort of stuff. But you got that all going on, so. So tell me, tell us. We’ve been talking about the book. Of course I surrender all and, and I think helpful resource for people and it’ll helps I think if church leaders though we should say that we want I mean your desire is this would be something that a catch hold in churches. But what’s the movie tell us about that.

Priscilla Shirer:
Well, it’s.

Priscilla Shirer:
Called The Forge. And it’s like that forging of a sword, you know, where it goes through the fire and it’s molded because you kind of you kind.

Ed Stetzer:
Of have like a thing for swords. And so it’s.

Priscilla Shirer:
Yeah, I blame the Kendrick brothers. Uh, actually.

Priscilla Shirer:
Yeah. No, I.

Ed Stetzer:
Get that, I get.

Priscilla Shirer:
That, yeah.

Priscilla Shirer:
Um, but, you know, I appreciate these brothers so much. Shannon Stephen and Alex Kendrick, because they have so much doggone integrity and they really are preachers disguised as filmmakers. Like, they just want to edify the body of Christ with these films. Seriously, they’re serious about that. And they want to lift up the name of Jesus. And so when they first called me a decade ago and said, hey, will you be in this little.

Priscilla Shirer:
Movie.

Priscilla Shirer:
We’re writing called War Room? I said, no, Daniel. And I said no, because you know what? We have all seen a movie before. That could have been good, except there was that one person in it that thought they could act, and it was a disaster.

Ed Stetzer:
True. It’s true.

Priscilla Shirer:
Yes.

Priscilla Shirer:
So I watched it the first.

Ed Stetzer:
Time, and I wondered if you were going to be that person, but you were not.

Priscilla Shirer:
Oh, listen, you didn’t worry about it any more than I did, I assure you. Oh, man. But, um, the reason why I ended up doing it was because he said to me, and this has been true now of the the it’s this is the fourth time now surprising to me more than anyone that I have been in a film, The Forge, that’s coming out in August. But this is what the kicker was to me. Alex said, Priscilla, as you think about this, remember that if you spoke in a church or in a conference of some sort every weekend and it had a thousand people in it, and you did that every weekend for the rest of your life. You will not reach as many people as one film. Oh, it’s totally crazy.

Ed Stetzer:
Yeah.

Priscilla Shirer:
Oh, so right now, today, War Room has, uh, 200 million people have seen War Room.

Priscilla Shirer:
Wow.

Priscilla Shirer:
So there are people from different faiths, from different backgrounds who would never read a book I’d write, or that you might write or they’d never come to a conference we’re speaking at. They never come to a church, but they’ll go see a good movie. Yeah. So these films like The Forge, which really is about surrender, it’s about discipleship. It’s about one person giving the whole of themselves to the Lord what that looks like to walk with Jesus. But then it’s also about the other aspect of discipleship, what it looks like when a older, wiser believer comes alongside a young man. In this case, he’s 19 years old and another man who is not in vocational ministry. He’s just an excellent businessman. He uses his field of influence, his sphere of influence, to impact the employees that work for him. His eyes are always open to see. Who are the young men in particular, that God sends to me and entrust to me in this company? What can I do to challenge them about responsibility, about character, about how to organize their finances so that it’s balanced? So you see a businessman who loves the Lord taking seriously this aspect of discipleship. So that’s what drew me to the project, is that it’s another unapologetic Jesus film that points the body towards the importance of discipleship again, which, as you said, Daniel, is like a foundational message of our faith that we’ve kind of lost amongst the shuffle of other things. Um, but also, I think it is an entertainment option that draws in people to a message that might not otherwise have an opportunity to engage with it.

Daniel Yang:
And for for our listeners, I mean, The Forge is a spin off or a sequel of War Rooms. So if you if you liked War Room, then you’ll you’ll understand The Forge as well. Priscilla. I mean, as a, as a communicator and as someone who, whose primary ministry is ministry is expository preaching. What is it that you can do in a film that you’re not doing in an expository sermon, and then vice versa. What do you do in an expository sermon that you’re not necessarily being able to accomplish in a film? Because and the reason why I ask is that I know every preacher is always challenged by creativity. And what are you unleashing through filmmaking that actually helps you in your preaching?

Priscilla Shirer:
That is one of the best questions. Well, that’s.

Priscilla Shirer:
Why that’s why we.

Ed Stetzer:
Have Daniel on the podcast.

Priscilla Shirer:
He’s, uh, I don’t even know how to answer that.

Ed Stetzer:
Like, like, I’m sure there’ll be kits that people will have that relate to the film and all that sort of stuff. But you are in my top ten communicators series, you know for sure. So top ten.

Priscilla Shirer:
Thank you for having me.

Priscilla Shirer:
I remember that well.

Priscilla Shirer:
You’re an amazing communicator.

Ed Stetzer:
So so back to his question. So how does how does that frame in the difference between the communication that you might see as you’re teaching and preaching the Bible?

Priscilla Shirer:
Well, I will tell you just practically, it stretches me creatively, creatively and in communication because it’s entirely different. Just like somebody who’s in theater, the way they would act in that role would be completely different than if you’re on a set. It is a very personal, intimate. I’m having one on one conversation. The person with the set and the camera is a third, the a third participant. But I’m speaking in a normal voice and I’m having to disengage from that oratory skill. Right.

Priscilla Shirer:
You can’t you can’t use that.

Ed Stetzer:
Hello, I’m Priscilla Shirer, and I want you to know.

Priscilla Shirer:
Yeah, no.

Priscilla Shirer:
It’s the exact opposite. So it’s been kind of cool in that, you know, whenever you are tapped to do something that’s totally outside the norm of what you usually do, that you’re like a kid in a candy store again, because you’re watching all the nuances of it. Um, you know, most of the people who are on the sets when we do these, these are people in the film industry. So like one guy that was behind the camera, he just came off the Spider-Man set the the latest Spider-Man movie. Like, these people are in the industry of film. So I’m sitting there completely enraptured and engaged by all the people that are hanging from the ceiling with lights and the folks that are pushing carts and the people that are there for continuity. They’re taking down notes of exactly which way I set the water bottle down so that I can do it that way. And every take, there are 80 people working together to make one project work, and my responsibility to be as intimate as possible in this scene is it stretches me because it’s the exact opposite of what I would normally do. And then, of course, expository preaching. My goal is not to tell a story.

Priscilla Shirer:
My goal is to tell the story. So I am not going to the text to prove my point. I’m going to the text to find my point. What is my point? The book is going to tell me, and then I’m going to stick to what the point is that is here, instead of trying to bring my agenda to it, which there’s nothing wrong with that creatively, when you’re bringing a storyline to it and you’re telling a narrative, but with the text, while I’m going to use imagination and while I’m going to use creativity to provide an incubator for the principle that I am sharing, all it is is incubation. What I’m trying to get this audience to receive is exactly what it is that the text says. And if they walk away knowing the story, if they walk away remembering what it is imaginatively that I was able to help the construct, I was able to build in their mind. If they walk away knowing all that, but they don’t know the point of what the verse or verses is said. Then I have actually missed my entire assignment in that moment, as a as a communicator of God’s Word.

Ed Stetzer:
And I’m going to start playing, I surrender all so that pastors and preachers right now can surrender to that message that the text gives us. That’s so good. It’s so good. Okay. So, um, you know, you’re releasing this in summer 2024. You may you may have heard that maybe it’s news to you. I don’t know, um, Daniel, maybe, you know, it’s an election year, so it’s it’s an election year. So. And you’ve already mentioned sometimes this impact our election. So we could ask lots of, uh, pressing, pointed questions on that. But one of the things that I watched happen in 2016 and 2020 is that, uh, particularly 2020 is that our discipleship didn’t hold is a lot of Christians got caught up in ideological discipleship. They were discipled by their cable news choices more than they were by their local churches. They were spiritually shaped by their social media. And that’s on the left and the right, which is, you know, hard, you know, hard for people to to acknowledge that. We just saw Priscilla, you and I have friends that have moved so far theologically to the right and to the left. It’s like, what in the world happened? And that is they got discipled by something and someone else.

Ed Stetzer:
So my hope is one of the reasons I want to have you on. My hope is that 2024, we kind of have the discipleship that can hold. This is going to be a very contentious election depending on when people are listening. It’s not far away from us. So we want people to lean in to surrender all, including their electoral election choices or who they vote for. But at the same time, it’s almost like, how do we counter disciple to the discipleship that’s so overwhelming on people’s phones, the social media so overwhelming through cable news? How do we counter disciple? And I think that’s I mean, again, it’s a key part of what you’re talking about, I surrender all. I particularly found the it interesting. You’re like even on the table of contents, every, every sub point is I mean, you sort of begin with the topic, you know, everything. You are surrendering all everything you become surrendering all everything you want, surrendering all. So, so, man, we need this as people are being caught up in ideological rather than biblical discipleship. Talk to us. How do these pastors and church leaders are listening? How do we counter disciple to the narratives of the world of right and left?

Priscilla Shirer:
Yes.

Priscilla Shirer:
Well, it’s interesting that, as you mentioned, those, you know, particularly 2020, all of that chaos, as you know, was happening at a time when people stopped going to church because of the pandemic, because they couldn’t go to church. So you had people disconnected from the body. We haven’t had people come back to the body in that way where they are active, functioning members of a vibrant, healthy church. Part of the disconnect is that, and, um, if church leaders, people in ministry, if we are not, um, giving people a space that is a healthy body where where they come and when they make their commitment to come back into the house of God where they come is not a clear teaching of God’s Word. Where there’s more opinion, where there’s more personal ideas, where that becomes the platform to share those things as opposed to giving people, what is God saying in this hour from the scriptures that is supposed to practically impact the way we govern our lives? If they are not hearing it in healthy churches, they are not going to hear it at all. The church actually is the mechanism that God has given us, the body of Christ, to be the sounding board in a culture where we’ve got narratives that are being spewed left and right and everything in between about every issue, not just politics, but gender and morality and the redefinition of all sorts of things.

Priscilla Shirer:
The church is supposed to be the place where folks come and actually get to hear what does God say? And unfortunately, we have a whole lot of churches and ministries that are saying, what do I say? As opposed to what does God say? And I think that’s one of the main encouragements for church leaders to make sure that’s the point, not just of what you’re preaching on a Sunday, but that’s the point for your small group leaders. That’s the point for your youth pastor. That’s the point for the people. That is over the different aspects of ministry in your church, that you’re all in alignment, that together, we are here to make sure that these folks who are being discipled by everybody else on their social media feed, they know they can come here to hear a clear word from God on the matter.

Daniel Yang:
Amen. We’ve been talking to Priscilla Shirer. You can learn more about her at Going beyond.com. Be sure to check out her new book, I Surrender All and The Forge Movie, which will premiere in August of 2024. And thanks again for listening to the Sister Church Leaders podcast. You can find more interviews, as well as other great content from ministry leaders at church Leaders Compered Cast and through our new podcast network, Church Leaders Campus Network. And again, if you found our conversation today helpful, I’d love for you to take a few moments. Leave us a review that will help other ministry leaders find us and benefit from our content. Thanks for listening. We’ll see you in the next episode.

Voice Over:
You’ve been listening to the Stetzer Church Leaders podcast for more great interviews as well as articles, videos, and free resources, visit our website at Church leaders.com. Thanks for listening.

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Key Questions for Priscilla Shirer

-Why is it urgent that we surrender to God right now?

-What advice would you give to pastors and church leaders about surrendering their hidden struggles to the Lord?

-What first steps should pastors take if they are seeking someone to be accountable to? 

-Tell us about your new movie, “The Forge.” 

Key Quotes From Priscilla Shirer

“For the Christian, this issue of discipleship is not only about issues of sin, those black and white issues of course we can point to clearly, but sometimes they’re just issues that are related more to what has more of a priority in your life other than Jesus. What’s the strongest voice, the strongest influence?”

“That’s what surrendering looks like. That’s what discipleship is about. It is about walking with Jesus through the rhythms of life and constantly repositioning him in the position of main authority and priority.” 

“The reality is that you can be a Christian and not be a disciple because salvation is free, but discipleship costs.”

“When we are looking towards being disciples, we are deciding that every day of my life and every aspect of my life, I’m tethering myself to Jesus. And I’m asking myself, what are you asking me to leave behind? Not necessarily because it’s wrong—it just doesn’t line up completely with this whole new way of living.”

Message Prep and 3 Rhythms To Avoid the Agony of a Blank Page

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I recently read “Riding the Alligator: Strategies for a Career in Screenplay” by Pen Densham, who has written and produced “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” “The Outer Limits,” “The Twilight Zone,” and others. I have no intention of writing a screenplay, but I was curious to see the writing and creative process of someone who crafts stories that people engage with.

Obviously, preparing messages from God’s Word for the people I shepherd is profoundly different. Unlike screenwriters and filmmakers, pastors don’t create a story—they declare the greatest Story of all. Pastors should not be looking for something no one has ever said before; instead, we are teaching “the faith delivered once and for all to the saints.”

Ironically, Pen shared that there are only six to seven great themes in all storytelling, and people are looking for new ways to communicate those great themes. One of his disciplines that resonated with me: Do everything you can to avoid a blank page.

A blank page on a Monday, six to seven days before you must preach, is agony. At least for me. I do all I can to avoid it. Here are three things I do:

1. Once a Year: Study Break

Each July, I take four weeks off from my regular responsibilities and focus all my time on reading, praying, mapping out the sermon calendar, and spending time with my family.

The deliverable is an annual teaching plan that begins in January. The annual teaching plan is a two-page overview of each week of the year and a series brief for each teaching series within the year. The sermon has not been prepared, but the passage and the theme for each week has been set.

Every now and then, someone will hint that advanced message prep is not being “Spirit-led,” which I insist is a low view of our God who exists outside of time and can lead me in this moment for any moment.

2. Each Week: Half Prep-Time for a Future Week / Half Prep-Time for This Week

The amount of time I give to sermon prep each week is divided between “this week” and a future week. Typically, I am three to four weeks ahead on message prep, which (for me) gives me more time to pray through a text and to see all of my life through the lens of that text.

To stay ahead, I spend the first half of sermon-prep time in a week working on a future message. I meet with a team of pastors and staff to review the first manuscript of the message and then I file it away. The second half of my sermon-prep time, I pull out the manuscript from several weeks before and look at it again with fresh eyes. I beg God to burn every word he wants me to share into my soul and I don’t stop reviewing until I sense “this is the most important message I will ever preach.”

3. Continual: The Notes App on My Phone and Handwritten Notes in Back Covers

I was relieved reading Pen Densham essentially listing all the creative organization apps and websites and saying, “None have worked for me, but do what works for you.” I say “relieved” because I am a bit old school. I take handwritten notes in books I read (always physical copies) and go back to them often for messages. I keep notes on my phone about future teaching series. I have a journal near my Bible with notes in it from Scripture I read. Basically, I jot down a bunch in those places, and it is not the most organized, but I can find it.

All of that helps me rarely (close to never) wake up to the agony of a blank page. Which I believe is best for the message and ultimately for the people I am serving.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission. 

7 Things Your Kids Will Remember About You

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Do you truly know what your kids will remember about you?

This past summer, my family made an epic road trip covering 16 states in two weeks. Ashley and I loaded up our four sons (ages 12, 10, 5 and 2) into a smelly minivan and embarked on a cross-country trek that hit multiple National Parks and logged over 5,000 miles by the time we were finished.

As you can imagine, there was LOTS of complaining along the way, BUT there was a lot of laughter too. It was exhausting and stressful and AWESOME. We made a ton of memories that will last a lifetime, and the whole experience caused me to think a lot about my own childhood and the memories that will really endure for my own kids.

As parents, we tend to stress about things that don’t matter all that much. Our kids probably aren’t going to remember every detail of our home decor, or how perfect our landscaping looked or whether our refrigerator was stocked with name brands or generics. Let’s focus on what really matters. If you want to know what your kids will remember about you, here it is:

7 important things in life your kids will remember about you:

1. The times you gave them the courage to try something new.

kids will remember 1

Childhood is an endless cycle of stretching and breaking outside of a comfort zone. Each time you hold their hand and give them the courage to take a new step, it gives them new confidence and it also gives them a new memory that will last. Helping them play a sport for the first time, or stand on a stage to sing a song, or do anything that they once thought they could “never” do, isn’t just building their resume; it’s building their confidence and their memories.

#2 is one of the most important things in life, but we’ve all lost sight of it at times...

kids will remember 2

2. The times you taught by example and not just words.

Kids are always learning, but as parents, we don’t always realize that we’re always teaching them something. They won’t always remember what you say, but they’re paying VERY close attention to what you do. When your words line up with your actions, they’ll remember. When your words are inconsistent with your actions, your kids will remember. When you blow it (like we all do) and you apologize and use your own imperfections as a teaching moment, your kids will remember.

#3 is one of the most important things in life and involves the responsibilities of every parent

3. The times you made them feel safe (or the times you made them feel unsafe).

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There’s a vulnerability and a need for protection in the heart of every child. Your kids will remember those moments you chased the monsters from under their bed or held them after a nightmare, but they’ll also remember the times when your temper became the monster they feared. Our kids are probably going to see us angry sometimes, because that’s part of life, but make it your mission to make your children feel safe and secure at all times when they’re with you.

#4 is an important things in life reminder for me every day...

4. The times you made time for them.

 

kids will remember 6Your kids don’t need you to be perfect, but they need you to be present. Children measure love primarily by our attentiveness to them. They need our undivided attention. The times you stop what you’re doing to have a tea party or go outside to throw a ball or jump on a trampoline will be memories etched into their minds and hearts forever. Take the time to do the little things with your kids, because in the end, they’ll be the moments that matter most.

#5 is SO important and it could change your marriage and your family dynamics...

5. The way you interacted with your spouse.

Our kids are forming their views of love in large part by watching how we treat our husband or wife. Strive to have the kind of marriage that makes them excited to get married someday. Give them the security that comes from seeing their Mom and Dad in a committed, loving relationship with each other.

kids will remember 4

#6 has more power than most parents realize...

6. Your words of affirmation AND your words of criticism.

kids will remember

A child’s heart is like wet cement, and the impression made early in life will harden over time. They’ll base their sense of identity, capability and even self-worth largely upon the words you speak to them in those formative years. Part of our job as parents is to correct and discipline, but even in correction, let your words be full of love, encouragement and positive reinforcement.

#7 is one of the biggest legacies that could extend to your children’s future children...

7. Your family traditions.

Kids love spontaneity, but they also have a deep need for predictability. Your kids will remember with great fondness the “traditions” you establish, whether it’s a weekly family movie (or game) night, a place you regularly travel for family getaways, the way you celebrate birthdays and special events or any other special tradition. Be intentional about creating some traditions that they’ll want to pass onto their own children someday.

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For more tools to help you build a happy and healthy family, check out our new website at DaveAndAshleyWillis.com

This article originally appeared here.

5 Truths You Should Know Before Entering Ministry

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I’d like to share what I’ve learned from being on staff at NewSpring for the last 20 years. Here are five things I wish I could go back and tell 22-year-old me before entering ministry. I hope it’s an encouragement and challenge to you!

Before Entering Ministry:

1. YOU ARE NOT GOD’S GIFT TO THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH IS GOD’S GIFT TO YOU.

Early in ministry, I believed the lie that NewSpring should be so glad to have brilliant, talented me as its worship leader. What a joke! In the early years, that toxic belief inhibited my ability to be happy and healthy. I couldn’t see that Jesus was giving me the gift of ministry life in order to bless me and make me more like him. My work at NewSpring was and is not about my work in the church; it has always been about God’s work in me.

God told his people in Isaiah 43:10, “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.”

Bottom line: God gave you the gift of ministry so that you would know him. If you lean into that truth, you will find power, effectiveness, freedom and joy in your work that you never thought possible.

2. YOU MUST BUILD AND STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH.

Before entering ministry, you need to know that ministry is incredibly difficult. It is 24/7/365 work. And it takes big faith. The best thing you can do for your ministry career is build and strengthen your faith. Here’s how … it comes in two ways: the WORD and WORSHIP.

THE WORDIn Romans 10:17, Paul states that faith comes from hearing the words of Christ. All the words of the Bible are Jesus’ words. Do you want more faith? Put your eyes on every page, every line and every word. Every time you look at the Bible, your faith is growing.

WORSHIPIn Romans 4:20-21, Paul tells the story of Abraham and highlights the fact that “no unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” As I give glory to God in worship, I find my faith strengthened. Do you feel weak in your faith? Stop and worship and regain your strength.

The Arrogant Pastor — How NOT to Be One

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The arrogant pastor. Even writing an article on this almost guarantees comments about pots and kettles. And I get that. I’m as human as you are. And if we are all honest with ourselves, we would admit that it is a struggle for each of us in some way.

However, sometimes to personally admit to our own arrogance, we need prodding. Why? Because we often become blind to our own faults.

The reason it is so dangerous, especially for those of us in ministry positions, is that it can become a cancer to our ministry. I could, and I guess you could as well, name dozens of pastors whose arrogance and pride led them to a very public, very shameful, fall.

Arrogance stifles mission. It redirects the focus of our ministry to us instead of to a kingdom focus. And if left unchecked, our ministry will begin to exist for its purpose, not God’s purposes.

So what should we look for in our ministry as a sign that we could be headed down a very long, hard road? Here are five warning signs Jonathan Howe and I listed. You might have more, and I invite you to share them in the comments below.

How Not to Be an Arrogant Pastor

1. Elitist Mentality: Your church is the only one you know doing things the right way.

This arrogant pastor has seen some growth in the church because of a program or a new method. So the pastor tells everyone that the only way for their church to grow is to copy what they have done. And when they choose not to because it might not be what their church needs, they are written off as an ineffective church. Just because something works at one church doesn’t mean it automatically will at another.

Or … another arrogant pastor refuses to use anything the “big church” down the road is using. Even when members are leaving, the pastor refuses to change methods or adapt to the changing culture around the church.

There is nothing wrong with trying new things in your church. Especially if you are plateaued or declining. But doing what everyone else is doing is not always the answer either. Find what works for your people. Serve them well. And if you see success, don’t think you have cornered the market on what works in every other church.

2. Theologically Superior: You won’t read authors from outside of your own theological stream.

This arrogant pastor only reads recent heroes of the faith. The ones who think the same way, dress the same way, write the same way, talk the same way and blog the same way. The result is that the pastor becomes a theological clone; donning theological blinders and refusing to even consider or examine other perspectives on theology.

Fight this by reading a lot and reading people with whom you don’t always agree. And read authors who are dead. Contemporary authors are very helpful and have written some great works in recent years, but read the classics too. Read Lewis and Calvin and Wesley and Edwards and Augustine. Your theology might not change, but you will become much more informed about it as a result. Be a lifelong learner.

10 Harsh Realities of Leadership I Have Experienced

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I love leadership. I feel called to it. I realize the need for good leadership, but the fact is leadership is hard. In my last pastorate, I met regularly with some high-level, senior leaders to glean from them. We talked about our common challenges of the realities of leadership. One shared discovery we made in our time together was about the perception of people who haven’t served as a senior leader have about people in the role.

We also agreed it is the same perception we had before we were in senior leadership. Leading often looks easier—and maybe even more glamorous—from the outside than it is in reality.

As a student and blogger of leadership, I want to be realistic with people who desire to lead—and especially to be senior leaders.

10 Harsh Realities of Leadership

1. You will at times be unpopular.

Every leader is at some point. Change is hard and people will agree and disagree. You open emotional responses (even wounds) through change. I have learned some people will even resist changes you try to make, because of things happening in their own life.

2. You will have to make decisions no one else will make.

This is what leaders do. And it is actually what inspires people to follow. Leaders challenge the paradigms. They lead us to a discovery—and hopefully to a better reality than we have currently.

3. You have to be able to see farther than today.

I would even be bold enough to say if you can’t then maybe leadership is not your thing. Leaders can’t be stuck in today. They must leverage influence today for something better that may not be realized until “some” tomorrow.

4. You won’t be successful long by making excuses.

You’ll make mistakes, but you’ll be more likely to attract followers through your ownership of them. Humility is an admired leadership trait.

5. You can motivate, but you can’t mandate.

Attempting to control or bully people to produce more won’t work long-term. It isn’t a sustainable technique. People will either rebel, fail to live up to potential, or leave.

The 10 Commandments of Great Worship Team Members

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Sometimes I lead the worship band and sometimes I play in the band. Both are important roles and have specific responsibilities to do them well. As both a leader and a player/singer, here are my 10 most important rules for great worship team members.

The 10 Commandments of Great Worship Team Members

1. I will be available at least twice per month and answer worship department emails within 24 hours. 

  • I find that players need to play a minimum of twice per month to stay in the flow of the worship and maintain good relationships with the leader(s) and team members.
  • As someone who has scheduled worship teams for years, prompt replies by the team members is greatly appreciated. Also, it is a good habit to be prompt in all your communication. It is a form of discipline and respect.

2. I will listen to, practice and memorize the songs for Sunday.

  • Most musicians learn by listening. I always spend the $0.99 to $1.29 to download the songs on iTunes and make a playlist to listen in my house and car. Listening will teach you things that charts never will. I also use the PlanningCenter app and media player for my phone
  • I always take time to practice the new songs for the team and briefly review the older songs. I want to be excellent in my service to the Lord. Whether I get paid or not, I’m playing for the ‘King of kings.’ God rewards faithfulness and excellence.
  • I will try to play according to the style of the music that is driven by the church’s vision/mission instead of simply imposing my personal tastes into the music. 
  • I will work on memorizing the music. Memorizing songs allows me to get past the music and worship God freely. Most worship songs are not hard to memorize. Here is my post on helping you to memorize.

3. I will show up prepared and on time for rehearsal.

  • Leaders and other team members really appreciate when all the team has done their homework. When the drummer knows the grooves, tempos and breaks, it makes the rehearsal go so much smoother. When the lead guitar and keyboard players have learned the introductions and lead lines, it saves so much time for the rest of the group.
  • I will bring a pencil to highlight problem parts, changes and incorrect charts.
  • When team members all show up on time, it shows respect and value for the whole team. It promotes unity and makes the rehearsals go much smoother.

4. I will show respect and love for my fellow team members and leader.

  • The second greatest commandment is to ‘love your neighbour as yourself.’ When team members show love and respect for each other, rehearsals, worship and life in general is much better.
  • If team members get direction that they don’t like. It’s important that they don’t take it personally, agree to disagree and submit—just like professionals do in the studio.
  • Being a leader can be tough. When you give respect and are patient with your leader, God sees and rewards that attitude and heart.

5. I will not noodle on my instrument when the leader is speaking.

  • Having great rehearsal habits is important. The time to practice your individual part is when you are on your own.
  • You show respect for the leader and the rest of the team when you learn to listen at the appropriate times.

6. I will worship as I play my instrument and endeavor to be a great worshipper on and off the stage.

  • The purpose of a worship band is to worship God and lead the congregation to do the same. If you are just playing or singing then you are not fulfilling your responsibilities. Get past the music and worship God and lead by example.
  • A sign that you are an authentic worshipper is that you are the same on and off the stage. People see you on and off the stage. Be authentic!

7. I will attend church and give whether I am playing or not.

  • Great team worship team members know the importance of regular church attendance. We all need to be great congregational members before we can become great worship team members.
  • Supporting your local church means more than playing your instrument. Giving of your time and finances really shows where your heart is.

Back to School Encouragement for High School Students

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Back to school for high school students also means back to the mission field. Teenagers have no greater—or scarier—mission field than their own schools. But they can use advice and encouragement for this vital effort.

So help students be a light for the gospel this school year. Ramp up your efforts to train and equip them in areas where they might be nervous to live for Jesus. Start with the ideas and tips below.

Back to School Encouragement for High School Students

Christian high school students need to hear these three key reminders when heading back to school.

1. You have a mission to accomplish.

You’re not a student just because it’s important to go to school. As a Christian, school is your mission field. Every teenager-filled table in the cafeteria is a “field” waiting to be cared for and harvested. You have the good news that kids really need! Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19).

This cause applies to you as you seek to reach friends and acquaintances with the gospel. It applies as you make more friends with the hope of introducing them to your best friend, Jesus Christ.

2. You’re not alone.

As you walk through the school doors, remember God’s words to you. “‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

Don’t be afraid of bullies or critics. Why? The King of kings is with you! The one who gives the bullies breath has your back as you walk through the hallways. So enter your school with a holy, humble confidence that Jesus is with you—because he is!

‘God Has a Plan for You That Exceeds Anything You Could Ever Imagine’—Colton Dixon Discusses His Single ‘UP + UP’

Colton Dixon
(L) Image courtesy of Colton Dixon (R) Photo credit: ChurchLeaders

“American Idol” alum and Dove Award-winning artist Colton Dixon spoke with ChurchLeaders regarding his summer jam “UP + UP,” which was inspired by Jeremiah 29:11.

Dixon said the single came together more quickly than is normal for him and was “such a God thing.” The song centers on a Bible verse that Dixon has “always loved,” and which says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

“Trying to figure out what God’s plan is for our life, I feel like, has been a source of contention amongst a lot of people,” said Dixon. That’s why Dixon believes the Holy Spirit led him to open up his Bible to Jeremiah.

RELATED: ‘Heaven Gained One of the Best’—Colton Dixon, Danny Gokey, and Melinda Doolittle Celebrate Mandisa on ‘American Idol’

Dixon shared that although he was raised in the church, he wasn’t really taught that God’s plans are meant to “prosper us.” Instead, he was taught that “in order to be a Christian, you’ve got to be poor. It’s like a poverty mindset versus a prosperity mindset.”

“It’s pretty clear in God’s Word what he wants to do and what his plan is for us. To me, that communicates a glory-to-glory, up-and-up best case scenario,” he added.

Dixon said that during his “American Idol” journey, there were times when he thought this or that “looks pretty good.” But sometimes, he said, “we settle for pretty good when we could have had God’s best.”

“God has a plan for you that exceeds anything you could ever imagine, and he wants to get the best to you,” Dixon said. “That’s the kind of God that we serve!”

He continued, “If you don’t think that the God who sent his only Son to die on a cross for you and me so that we could spend eternity with him wants to get us some goodies along the way, you’re out of your mind. You’re crazy. That’s the kind of God that I serve.”

RELATED: ‘We Would Be a Fool Not To Trust’ God’s Plans Over Ours—Colton Dixon Discusses His No. 1 Hit Single, ‘Build a Boat’

Dixon shared that there have been “several times” in his life when he “settled for something that seemed good in the moment,” only to realize later that he “chose this before [he] talked it over” with God.

Satanist Accepts Prayer From Young Missionary and Influencer

Bryce Crawford
Screengrab from YouTube / @thebrycecrawford

When evangelist Bryce Crawford recently saw a man in unusual dress standing outside a Los Angeles library, God tugged on his heart. Crawford’s resulting encounter with “Chad,” an avowed satanist, has since gone viral.

Crawford, a 20-year-old full-time missionary, podcaster, and social media influencer, shared the gospel and prayed with Chad, who was dressed in black and wore heavy face makeup. Crawford, who’s associated with the missions organization EquipNet, said he plans to follow up with Chad and keep showing him the love of Jesus.

Before moving to L.A., Crawford got saved in a Waffle House in Georgia. He credits Jesus with freeing him from anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.

Bryce Crawford Converses With Satanist in LA

During his conversation with the satanist, Bryce Crawford learned that Chad worships the demon Cherubini—and that he’d been unhoused at one point but is now studying medicine at UCLA. Chad revealed he had given up worshiping Jesus “a long time ago,” citing the hypocrisy and judgmental attitudes of Christians.

When asked about his opinion of Jesus, Chad said he would have set him on fire, not crucified him, “because he’s a witch.”

Crawford challenged Chad’s claims that life has “been better” for him since he began worshiping Satan. “Yeah, I believe it, like in the physical. I believe that Satan would give me the things I want, you know, and there’s a lot of things that I want,” Crawford said. “And there’s been times that I’ve prayed to God and asked God for things that I wanted, but that’s not what I needed.”

The missionary continued: “As a Christian, when I ask Jesus for stuff when I pray, Jesus protects me from certain stuff because he knows what would harm me and steer me away from him.” After sharing that he’d once been “tormented by mental struggles,” Crawford said Jesus gave him the hope he needed.

Influencer Bryce Crawford Prays for a Satanist

Next, Crawford shared John 10:10, saying the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy, while Jesus offers abundant life. The evangelist told Chad that with Christianity, you “don’t have to work for Jesus”—as opposed to other religions that require ongoing efforts. “I remember growing up, trying to set myself free,” Crawford recalled.

“Have you heard the gospel?” he then asked Chad. “It’s the good news. Can I tell you?” Crawford explained humanity’s sin and need for a Savior. He ended their time together by asking if he could pray for Chad—who accepted the offer.

 

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Man Accused of Stealing Police Car With Officer Inside, Crashing Into a Church Building

Stacey Footman
Screengrab via WTNH

A Connecticut man is facing multiple charges after allegedly stealing a police car with an officer inside before crashing the vehicle into a church. Stacey Footman, 49, was caught on camera entering the driver’s side of the car and driving away. 

The charges against Footman include second degree larceny, second degree kidnapping, assault of a public safety personnel, second degree criminal trover, and interfering with an officer.

In security footage from Sunday night, Footman can be seen approaching the driver’s side vehicle, which was parked outside of a police substation on Congress Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut. 

Police say that an officer was seated in the passenger seat of the vehicle writing a police report while his partner was inside. The officer said that Footman was yelling at him to get out of the car. When the officer unlocked the car’s doors to get out and speak with Footman, Footman quickly opened the driver’s side door and entered the vehicle. 

RELATED: Woman Attempts To Steal Gas From Church Van; Church Responds by Giving Away Gas Cards in Community

The car can then be seen in the security footage driving away. The officer’s partner can be seen exiting the building and running after the vehicle. 

The officer in the cruiser said that he feared Footman might hit another car or pedestrian, so he pulled the vehicle’s steering wheel. The police cruiser then crashed into Deliverance Temple Pentecostal Church.

ChurchLeaders has reached out to Deliverance Temple Pentecostal Church for comment and will update this article in the event of a reply. 

Footman and the officer both sustained injuries during the crash. Footman is being held at a local hospital under police guard. His bond has been set at $500,000. 

The officer has been discharged from the hospital. 

RELATED: TN Man Attempts To Kidnap Toddler, Steal Car From Woman in Church Parking Lot

Police say that Footman had in his possession a small glass pipe. According to FOX61, police in the area are familiar with Footman, and Footman had previously been arrested for other offenses. 

5 Faith Facts About Harris Pick Tim Walz, a ‘Minnesota Lutheran’ Dad

Tim Walz
Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at a news conference at the Minnesota state Capitol in St. Paul, Aug. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski, File)

(RNS) — Frenzied speculation over who Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris would tap as her vice presidential running mate came to an end Tuesday (August 6), with the current vice president reportedly choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her successor should they win in November.

Walz’s profile has risen in the weeks since President Joe Biden announced he was bowing out of the presidential race. The midwesterner has appeared regularly on national television programs to make the case for Democrats, coining the now widely adopted “MAGA is weird” line of attack, and winning fans as he advocates for liberal policies with the same folksy charm that’s made him popular in his home state.

Some are calling his persona “Midwestern Dad” energy, but Minnesotans know Walz as something even more specific: a “Minnesota Lutheran” Dad.

Here are five faith facts about Walz:

Walz, like many Minnesotans, is Lutheran

Walz is Lutheran, as is more than 20% of the Minnesota population according to Pew Research Center, making it one of if not the most Lutheran state in the U.S. thanks to a wave of Scandinavian Lutherans who settled in the region in the 19th century.

Walz does not often discuss his personal faith publicly, but has posted about attending worship during Christmas and other services at various Lutheran churches. Walz refers to Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul — a congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a mainline denomination — as “my parish.”

Walz sometimes describes himself as a “Minnesota Lutheran,” an identity he frames as a sort of midwestern cultural subtype. He has referenced the idea during speeches, such as when he addressed the North America’s Building Trade Unions legislative conference in April.

“Because we’re good Minnesota Lutherans, we have a rule: if you do something good and talk about it, it no longer counts,” Walz said after he was introduced. “So what you have to do is to get someone else to talk about you.”

He made a similar joke while speaking at a conference hosted by the Center for American Progress last year, suggesting that, like Minnesota Lutherans, Democrats don’t talk enough about their accomplishments. When moderator and Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne asked aloud if that made Democrats political Lutherans, Walz responded, “I don’t know — maybe.”

In 2019, Walz appointed Jodi Harpstead, the former head of Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota and a self-described “Lutheran girl” herself, to run the state’s Department of Health and Human services.

If elected, he would be the second (and maybe first) Lutheran vice president

If elected, Walz would become only the second Lutheran Vice President, depending on how you count it.

There are multiple Lutheran denominations in the U.S., all of which trace their lineage back to Martin Luther, the famed German priest who is credited with ushering in the Protestant Reformation that begat all of Protestantism. Some Lutheran groups are affiliated with American evangelicalism, but the largest denomination — and the one associated with Walz’s own church — is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a mainline denomination on the more liberal end of the spectrum.

In Surprise Appointment, Bishop Henning To Replace Cardinal O’Malley in Boston

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, left, and bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, right, arrive at a news conference to face reporters, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named Henning, the current bishop of Providence, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

(RNS) — In a surprise announcement, Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Richard G. Henning of the Diocese of Providence as archbishop-elect of Boston. Henning, who has only been a bishop since 2018, will replace 80-year-old retiring Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, who has served as one of Francis’ closest advisers since the beginning of his papacy.

Asking for prayers at a press conference after the announcement Monday (Aug. 5), Henning said, “I am not worthy of this call. I was deeply shocked and surprised by this call, but I know the goodness of God suffices in all things. I will trust in him.”

“I’m humbled by the size and the history of this archdiocese, and I am very well aware that I have a lot to learn,” said Henning, who emphasized that he would lean on O’Malley as a “tutor.”

Henning, who has led the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, and its some 600,000 Catholics for just over a year, will now lead an archdiocese of more than 1.8 million Catholics in a region of the country where Catholicism, though declining, still remains a dominant religion. Before his appointment to Providence, Henning was an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York.

At the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Henning has served on the Committee on Doctrine and the Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America.

Introducing Henning, O’Malley emphasized his “heart of a pastor,” fluency in Spanish and extensive academic credentials. “The arrival of a new archbishop is always a time of renewal and hope,” O’Malley said.

San Jose, California, Bishop Oscar Cantú, who has served with Henning on the Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America, told Religion News Service in an email that he was “happy” for the Archdiocese of Boston because they will have a “loving, compassionate shepherd.”

Bishop Richard G. Henning. Courtesy photo

Bishop Richard G. Henning. Courtesy photo

Cantú said he had gotten to know Henning while both were studying in Rome. “I found him to be kind and pleasant, always listening before speaking,” wrote Cantú.

On the subcommittee, Henning “was always measured and thoughtful in his comments,” Cantú said, as well as “friendly, personal, and genuine.”

Echoing Francis’ famous words in an interview after he was elected as pope, Henning told reporters, “The first thing is simply to say that I am a sinner in need of grace and that I place my faith, my trust, my hope in the Lord Jesus who is bread for the world and the king of love.”

Henning recounted an ad limina visit when New York bishops met with Francis and the pope urged the bishops to practice closeness to the Lord, their people and other bishops. Henning said he told Francis that closeness to the pope should be added.

“On this day in particular, I feel very close to the Holy Father and again grateful for his shepherding of the universal church,” Henning told reporters.

In an interview with a Providence TV station, Henning emphasized that while he was grateful for the pope’s trust and dedicated to obedience, he had “mixed feelings” about leaving Rhode Island.

“I have loved Rhode Island so much, and so even as I will certainly throw myself into this new mission, I will always feel Rhode Island here,” said Henning, pointing at his heart.

Given his short time in Providence, Henning said at the press conference that he had felt “safe” and that when the apostolic nuncio called him, he thought it was about another matter and he answered the call “innocently.”

Henning’s appointment comes five years after O’Malley’s 75th birthday, the age when bishops are required to submit a retirement letter to the pope, who can choose to wait longer to accept it.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston and seven other bishops celebrate Mass on the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona to commemorate the deaths of migrants in the desert and to pray for immigration reform on April 1, 2014.

Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston and seven other bishops celebrate Mass on the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona to commemorate the deaths of migrants in the desert and to pray for immigration reform on April 1, 2014.

O’Malley became archbishop of Boston in 2003 as the archdiocese was still reeling from the Boston Globe’s revelations of extensive clergy sex abuse and coverups.

The Capuchin priest had served in Hispanic ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington before becoming coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands in 1984, then Bishop of Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1992, and then bishop of Palm Beach, Florida, in 2002.

After becoming archbishop, O’Malley was elevated to cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006, and he went on to become the only North American member of Francis’ council of cardinals. In the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, O’Malley served as the chair of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

Meet Cathy, the New AI Chatbot and Episcopal Church Expert

AI
Photo credit: BoliviaInteligente / Unsplash

(RNS) — First, there was Xian’er, the cartoon-like, mantra-chanting robot Buddhist monk that China introduced in 2015. Then there was the German “BlessU-2” robot that dispensed blessings using ATM parts, and Pepper, the Japanese robot priest that delivered funeral rites.

Now a new generation of religious AI is emerging with the advent of OpenAI’s ChatGPT — some with mixed success. The latest AI chatbot geared for spiritual seekers is AskCathy, co-launched in June by a research institute and ministry organization and aiming to roll out soon on Episcopal church websites. Cathy draws on the latest version of ChatGPT and is equipped to prioritize Episcopalian resources.

RELATED: The Episcopal Church Revises Clergy Misconduct Protocols for Fairness, Transparency

“This is not a substitute for a priest,” said the Rev. Tay Moss, director of one of Cathy’s architects, the Innovative Ministry Center, an organization based at the Toronto United Church Council that develops digital resources for communities of faith. “She comes alongside you in your search queries and helps you discover material. But she is not the end-all be-all of authority. She can’t tell you how to believe or what to believe.”

AskCathy.ai logo. Courtesy image

AskCathy.ai logo. Courtesy image

The Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija, the executive director of TryTank Research Institute at Virginia Theological Seminary and Cathy’s other principal developer, said all the institute’s projects attempt to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, and Cathy is no different. He told Religion News Service the idea for Cathy materialized after brainstorming how to address young people’s spiritual needs. What if a chatbot could meet people asking life’s biggest questions with care, insight and careful research?

“The goal is not that they will end up at their nearby Episcopal church on Sunday. The goal is that it will spark in them this knowledge that God is always with us, that God never leaves us,” Lebrija said. “This can be a tool that gives us a glimpse and little direction that we can then follow on our own.”

To do that, though, would require a chatbot designed to avoid the kinds of hallucinations and errors that have plagued other ChatGPT integrations. In May, the Catholic evangelization site Catholic Answers “defrocked” their AI avatar, Father Justin, designating him as a layperson after he reportedly claimed to be an ordained priest capable of taking confession and performing marriages.

Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija, chief innovation officer of Virginia Theological Seminary. Photo courteys of Lebrija

Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija, chief innovation officer of Virginia Theological Seminary. Photo courteys of Lebrija

Lebrija’s TryTank Institute teamed up with Moss’ Innovative Ministry Center to create a specific retrieval mechanism for Cathy tailored to the Episcopal Church. When asked a question, Cathy first searches her own library of resources for relevant information, then sends that context and the original question to ChatGPT before spouting off an answer. When possible, Cathy cites her sources. Her library, prioritized over the rest of ChatGPT’s resources, includes over 1,000 pages from the Episcopal Church’s website, The Book of Common Prayer and authorized publications from the Forward Movement, a ministry of the Episcopal Church.

Pauline Cheong, professor of human communication at Arizona State University who studies spiritual groups’ use of AI, told RNS via email it is “rather tenuous” to claim, as AskCathy’s FAQ does, that Cathy exhibits “remarkable accuracy,” given that religious chatbots powered by ChatGPT can provide “erroneous and outdated information with false references.”

Photo courtesy of Dr. Pauline Hope Cheong (Ph.D., USC), associate professor Hugh Downs School of Human Communication Arizona State University

Photo courtesy of Dr. Pauline Hope Cheong (Ph.D., USC), associate professor Hugh Downs School of Human Communication Arizona State University

“Religion and technology have a historically complex and contested relationship, so it is interesting how the presentation of Cathy appears to exhibit the optics of optimism and trust in AI technology,” she wrote.

However, Moss said Cathy incorporates “state of the art” technology as of spring 2024, and her capabilities aren’t comparable to previous religious AI chatbots.

As Cathy developed, Moss and Lebrija realized she could be useful in a range of scenarios: a lay minister leading a parish who is looking for TEC-specific liturgies, a church member parsing through the denomination’s complex bylaws, a priest looking to accelerate their service planning to spend more time with parishioners or a person curious about the denomination’s positions on controversial topics.

“She makes it possible to have a different kind of conversation, which is far lower stakes for people who want to talk about subjects that make them feel vulnerable or defensive,” Moss said. “For example, one of the questions that we’ve gotten quite a bit is about polyamory.”

Peter Levenstrong, an associate rector at an Episcopal church in San Francisco who blogs about AI and the church, told RNS he thinks Cathy could familiarize people with Episcopalianism.

“We have a PR issue,” Levenstrong said. “Most people don’t realize there is a denomination that is deeply rooted in tradition, and yet open and affirming, and theologically inclusive, and doing its best to strive toward a future without racial injustice, without ecocide, all these huge problems that we as a church take very seriously.”

What People Hear When a Leader Doesn’t Communicate

communicate
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Leader, do you realize what you communicate when you don’t communicate as a leader?

I was talking once with a staff member of a large church. She consistently feared the stability of her job, because she never knew what her pastor was thinking. She was considering looking for a new position, not because she didn’t like her work, but because she wasn’t sure about the future security of her job. She claimed that living with uncertainty was the standard when working on this church staff.

I’ve learned over the years that communication is one of the most important aspects of the field of leadership. In fact, it may be the thing that makes or breaks a leader’s success.

When a leader fails to communicate, it actually communicates a great deal to the organization. Unfortunately, it’s not always an encouraging message. The unknown invites people to create their own scenarios, which rarely turns out well for the leader, the team, or the organization.

What People Hear When a Leader Doesn’t Communicate:

You don’t care: You appear apathetic towards the emotional and practical needs of people on your team.

You don’t know: You may not be brave enough to admit it, but don’t worry, others are probably saying it for you.

You can’t decide: Your team thinks you’re incapable of making a decision, either because you’re afraid of people’s reactions or you’re not a strong enough leader to make a decision.

You are holding on to power: Information is power. When a leader controls it—or appears to—it communicates their power hunger. And it is never an attractive quality of a leader.

You don’t value others: Your silence produces perhaps the most dangerous scenario when people believe you don’t think they are worthy of knowing. Put yourself in their shoes and see how that one feels.

What should you do instead?

Communicate Through a Decision. Keep People Informed Along the Way.

You can never communicate too much, especially during seasons of change.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission. 

Your Checklist For Sharing the Gospel

sharing the gospel
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Sharing the Gospel is like flying an airplane. You don’t have to be afraid: You want to take off smoothly, have a solid flight plan, know how to deal with emergency situations and then, of course, land safely.

Your Checklist For Sharing the Gospel

#1: The Takeoff

One of the biggest challenges in sharing the Gospel effectively is starting the conversation to begin with. How do you begin? Do you say, “Boy, it’s hot in here. It’s hot in hell too! Let me tell you about it!

Please don’t!

To effectively take off you must learn how to ask good questions. Simple questions like, “How can I be praying for you?” or “Do you go to church anywhere?” can lead to great Gospel conversations.

#2: The Flight Plan

Every pilot knows that to safely navigate the skies they must build and turn in their flight plan. This is their plan to get from point A to point B.

What’s your flight plan for the Gospel? An old Hillbilly pastor once told me, “Many people preach the Gospel like a Texas Steer . . . a point here (one horn of the steer) and a point there (the other horn of the steer) and a lot of bull in between.”

He’s right. We must have a plan to get from point A to point B when sharing the Gospel. At Dare 2 Share we use a GOSPEL acrostic that we developed 30 years ago:

God created us to be with him.

Our sins separate us from God.

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds.

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again.

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life.

Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever.

For a cooler explanation of this check out this video we produced with our old friend Propaganda a decade ago!

 

#3: Be ready for Emergencies

What do you do if...” is a question that every pilot faces.

What do you do if your engine goes out? What do you do if there’s a sudden loss of pressure? What do you do if you encounter a massive wind sheer?”

Every good pilot has to be ready for 1000+ scenarios like this. And so does every Christian when it comes to sharing the Gospel.

What do I do if I encounter an atheist? What do I do if someone is a Mormon who knows they Bible better than I do? What do I do if I want to share Jesus with a Muslim?

At Dare 2 Share we have a simple Emergency Action Plan that will help you navigate and aviate through these kinds of emergencies.

Key #4: Safe Landing

A great flight is a waste if we crash land. It is vitally important to know how to bring the conversation to a close and give the person you are sharing the Gospel with an opportunity to say “yes” to Jesus.

But we need to know how to do this in a way that doesn’t coerce or manipulate. The goal is not to just get them to say “Yes” with their mouths but to truly say “Yes” to Jesus in their hearts.

Too often, when sharing the Gospel we don’t go the whole way. We are right there, descending toward the landing strip and then, last minute, we pull up out of fear.

It’s time to put down that landing gear and bring them safely home, right into the arms of their loving Savior, Jesus Christ!

Happy flying!

 

This article on sharing the gospel originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

5 Ways the Enemy Tries To Keep Us Distracted From Worship

enemy
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Let me get right to the point: the enemy wants to hinder your worship of God this weekend, so he will work to distract and deceive you. Even before we get to worship this weekend, he wants us to be distracted from worship.

5 Ways the Enemy Tries to Keep Us Distracted From Worship

  1. Mess up in sin. If he can deceive us and then lead us to hide like Adam and Eve did (Gen. 3:8), he’s at least temporarily won. Sin harms our relationship with God, blocks our prayer, and robs us of joy. The enemy delights in the sinful secrets of our lives.
  2. Give up the fight. Perhaps you hear his voice today: “Why should you keep following a God who’s letting these things happen to you? Why not just give up?”  Job heard similar words from his own grieving wife when their world fell apart (Job 2:9), but still he worshiped God (Job 1:20, 2:10).
  3. Get puffed up with pride. This problem is at the core of the rest of these problems (Prov. 16:18). We make ourselves our own God, set our own rules, and walk our own path. Then, we also think we can handle our spiritual battles. All of these are nothing less than idolatry of the self.

Innovation and Change – Advancing God’s Kingdom

innovation and change
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Those of us over the age of 40 may remember the series well: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy—a funny, fictional account of Arthur Dent, a hapless Englishman who is the sole survivor after the Earth is destroyed. Author Douglas Adams was an early adopter of understanding the importance of innovation and technology, and in his The Salmon of Doubt, a posthumous collection of his works, he succinctly lays out the challenge of innovation and the ability (and willingness!) of humans to embrace it. He poignantly and amusingly described how people often “accept” innovation and change: 

(1) Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works; (2) Anything that’s invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it; (3) Anything invented after you’re thirty-five is against the natural order of things. 

As church leaders think about innovation and change today, many likely have more questions than answers: How do we know if we are relying on technology too much? What do we do with it? Are we compromising being together if we continue to stream our services? (Listen to this very insightful conversation between Carey Nieuwhof and Dave Adamson about churches and their digital usage as an example.)

COVID-19 forced churches to pivot quickly to online formats. But in our pivoting, did we actually embrace the changes we were being forced to make? Or did we just go through the motions, awaiting a time when we could go “back to normal?” 

It’s a question worth asking as we move toward an increasingly digital world. 

Today, there are no lack of buzzwords when it comes to technology, innovation and change. But before we talk technology, we must talk about human nature. Let me back up to the year 1455 and this new technology called the printing press

Innovation and Change – Advancing God’s Kingdom

It must have been an exciting time when the first Bible rolled off the press. This was a big moment—God’s Word would finally be available to the masses and the mundane task of transcribing would be eliminated, thus freeing up time for other kingdom work. But not all were happy. Some fretted that monks would become lazy; others feared the printing press would be a threat to the power structure of the Church. German Benedictine Johanne Trithemius even declared, “He who ceases from zeal for writing because of printing is no true lover of the Scriptures.”

We’ve come a long way in seeing the power of God’s Word distributed and read over the centuries. Church leaders do not wrestle with the printed Word today. But what we do wrestle with is our newest innovation: technology and how it’s used in our churches. 

Leadership expert Peter Drucker once wrote, “If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.” All of us serving churches—whether we are local church leaders or we are in supporting roles like I have at Gloo—want to see people come to faith and grow in their faith. And the reality is that we cannot do this without embracing technology on some level. 

The Colors of Redemption

the colors of redemption
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I want you to consider the colors of redemption. By that I mean faith makes you a canvas upon which the Redeemer can paint the beauty of his grace.

With the skill of a divine artist, Christ took his brush and painted, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).

What a stunning portrait of the entire narrative of redemption!

THE COLORS OF REDEMPTION

I’m a painter by avocation, and painters tend to have a color palette that they regularly work with. So, let’s consider the color palette of John 3:16 that Jesus used to paint the story of his redemptive work for all believers to see.

What are the primary colors of redemption? Four stand out:

1. The Color of Love

“For God so loved the world…”

These may be the most amazing words ever written. God looks on his fallen and broken world, populated by people rebelling against his authority, not with revulsion, but with love.

Without this love, there would be no redemption story. Without this love, humanity would have no hope. Without this love, there would be no incarnation, no crucifixion, no resurrection and no daily intercession on our behalf.

You and I have life because God’s response to us is colored with love.

Unique Biblical Boy Names: Faith-Based Baby Names for Parents

unique biblical boy names
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Looking for unique biblical boy names? Options abound, with common and not-so-common options. Great Bible names for boys are in both the Old Testament and New Testament, from A to Z.

For boys, baby names can come from Bible books (Samuel, Isaiah, Matthew, John) and Bible stories or people (Adam, David, Paul). They can also derive from scriptural concepts (Hiram, for example, means “exalted brother” in Hebrew).

Today’s Christian parents can choose from a variety of unique biblical boy names. The meanings of these monikers are important for parents—and for the child himself. As Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is more desirable than great riches. To be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”

So keep reading for insights about some classic and unique biblical boy names.

Unique Biblical Boy Names & Their Meanings

  1. Aaron: Teacher, son of Amram and elder brother of Moses.
  2. Asher: Happiness, one of Jacob’s sons.
  3. Darius: Richly or kingly, a historical figure.
  4. Ezra: Helper, a Jewish scribe and leader.
  5. Israel: One who struggles with God, a patriarch and ancestor of the twelve tribes of Israel.
  6. Joel: Jehovah is God, a minor prophet.
  7. Kenan: Born of the tribe of Judah, a descendant of Adam.
  8. Levi: Joined in harmony, a member of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
  9. Nathan: Given, a prophet and advisor to King David.
  10. Omar: Strong, a name associated with various historical figures.
  11. Phinehas: Firmness, a grandson of Aaron and a high priest.
  12. Ram: Exalted, a name associated with various historical figures.
  13. Seth: Appointed, a son of Adam and Eve.
  14. Stephan: Crown, a deacon and first martyr in Christianity.
  15. Timon: Honoring God, a name associated with various historical figures.
  16. Uriel: Fire of God, an angel mentioned in the Book of Enoch.
  17. Victor: Conqueror, a name associated with various historical figures.
  18. Xavier: New house, a name associated with various historical figures.
  19. Yehoshua: Salvation, a variant of Joshua.
  20. Zachary: Remembered by God, a father of John the Baptist.

Many of the best biblical boy names work well as either first or middle names. Different spellings are available too. So consider each name’s meaning and what sounds good with your last name.

Be sure to welcome each new baby to your congregation. After a baby arrives, the church nursery and children’s ministry program can play key roles. Print customized baby dedication or baptism certificates for each infant. Volunteers can create baptism banners or other keepsakes featuring the child’s name.

Lists of Unique Biblical Boy Names

For families playing the name game, God’s Word is a rich source. So check out all these unique Bible names for boys!

1. 200 Bible Names for Boys

Browse this alphabetical list, which contains Scripture references and definitions. (Did you know Ezra means “my helper”?)

2. Boy Names From the Bible

These biblical boy names are listed in order of current popularity on the website. Rather unique Bible names are mentioned too, such as Abiah, Azariah, Boaz, Lazarus, Lucius, Phineas, and Rufus.

3. Classical Boy Names From Scripture

Here you’ll find summaries of each Bible name or character. (Example: Levi means “joined in harmony.”)

4. Boys Names Derived From the Bible

Next up, this resource offers charts of Bible-based names. For example, the name of Gospel-writer Luke means “light-giving.”

5. Boy Names From Aaron to Zephaniah

Check out the language of origin of these biblical boy names. Stephen, from Greek, means “crown” or “crowned.”

6. Biblical & Spiritual Boy Names

Ethan, a popular boy’s name these days, has roots in the Bible. He served in King David’s court, wrote Psalm 89, and was known for his wisdom. The name Ethan means “strong” or “firm.”

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