Control or Growth?

In a recent article for Ministry Toolbox, Rick Warren writes: "To bring out the best in people, it is extremely important to give them control."

Preaching Tithing

In an article for ChurchLeaders.com, Dean Shriver notes that the Bible discusses different approaches to tithing, and he argues that only one is appropriate for Christian preaching: "Ultimately, tithing as worship isn't about percentage of income. It's about the overflow of one's heart.

Preaching Out of Dissatisfaction

In an article for Preaching Today, Dallas Willard writes: "Preachers who are not finding satisfaction in Christ are likely to demonstrate that with overexertion and overpreparation for speaking, and with no peace about what they do after they do it. If we have not come to the place of resting in God, we will go back and think, 'Oh, if I'd done this,' or 'Oh, I hadn't done that.' When you come to the place where you are drinking deeply from God and trusting Him to act with you, there is peace about what you have communicated."

Is the Marriage Debate Already Over

In the Feb. 28, 2004, issue of World magazine, Joel Belz sees the debate concerning homosexual marriage as a signal that the outcome may already be determined.

Barna Reports ‘Buster’ Pastors Are Creative, Conservative

In the report referred to in the introduction above, pollster George Barna reports that, "The number of Busters (ages 20-38) who serve as senior pastors has doubled in just two years from about 22,000 to more than 45,000 (out of 324,000 Protestant senior pastors). Even more significant is their courage and creativity in charting new courses for the churches they lead. They are experimenting with communication methods, ministry priorities, education and many other aspects of their church-based work."

Preaching Magazine’s Survey of 2010’s Best Books for Preachers

Books have been a central furnishing for the life of the minister from the time of the New Testament until now. Nevertheless, the transformation of the book into its current most popular form as a printed work between two covers is a story unto itself. We are now witnessing a third major transformation of the printed text-away from absolute dependence upon the codex and toward alternative formats such as the e-book.

Preaching in Living Color: How a Trip to Israel Will Add to Your Preaching

Capernaum. Bethlehem. Jerusalem. We know the names of these towns and cities and so many more because of the role they played in the biblical story. As Christians, we are particularly drawn to the places where Jesus and His disciples lived and ministered two millennia ago. We look at the maps and study the background as a way of better understanding the context in which those biblical events took place.

Preacher to Preacher: Selling the Ultimate Intangible

Jesus used the word life (Gk. psuche) in at least two ways. One was to refer to the human soul. This has caused some people mistakenly to conclude Jesus' use of psuche warns only about the loss of salvation. A second look at the Lord's use of psuche, however, forces us to realize that sometimes He also used this word when referring to human physical life.