There is an oceanic experience known as the doldrums, which refers to certain regions of the ocean marked by the absence of strong winds. Pastors and ministry leaders also experience what feels like ministry doldrums a season when the wind is not filling your sails and things feel flat. These can be discouraging times —Continue reading “The Ministry Doldrums “
Category Archives: Leadership
Vacations Can Be Resets
Vacations are not only a great time for rest, relaxation and investing in important relationships, but they can also be a time of reset. To reset something, according to Webster’s dictionary, is to set again or anew. In life we need to occasionally reset our routines and vacations can be a strategic time to doContinue reading “Vacations Can Be Resets “
Thinking About Retirement?
Just in case the reader is wondering – I am not thinking about retirement. I am like the old man who jokingly said, “I can’t retire! I’m going to have to work half a day on the day of my funeral.” When I think about retirement, it is only in the way a pastor musesContinue reading “Thinking About Retirement?”
Will You Please Listen?
Do you have trouble being a good listener? I recently polled a group of some of the most effective Christian servants and leaders that I know with a list of 10 tips asking which one of the 10 was a strength for them and which was a growth area. Being a better listener cameContinue reading “Will You Please Listen?”
What Happened at the SBC?
You may have heard from some media reports that messengers at Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis affirmed that women can serve as pastors. That is absolutely not the case. In fact, the messengers voted overwhelmingly that an historic Baptist church in Alexandria, Virginia, that does affirm women pastors is no longer in friendly cooperation withContinue reading “What Happened at the SBC?”
Will You Visit OBI This Summer?
When your church gives through the Cooperative Program, you are investing in gospel- advancing ministry not only to remote points of the globe, but also right here in Kentucky. Giving through CP allows your church, and you by way of your tithes and offerings, to fund the work of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College,Continue reading “Will You Visit OBI This Summer?”
The “Two-Question” Tool
As a pastor, it was my aim to disciple young men. I hold firmly to a biblical view of multiplication from 2 Timothy 2:2 and believe Jesus’ Great Commission is a mandate to not only baptize men and women converted to Christ, but also to make disciples of Jesus of those same converts. In fact,Continue reading “The “Two-Question” Tool “
Teach Me to Preach
When I first started preaching, I had no idea what to do. I had listened to sermons but had no concept of how to prepare one. So I prayed fervently and practiced reverse engineering to figure out biblical exegesis, sermonic structure, sermon content, illustrations, applications, introductions and conclusions. I remember hearing one preacher humorously sayContinue reading “Teach Me to Preach”
These Are Our Graduates
On May 10, 2024, I had the privilege of attending and reading Scripture for the 232nd commencement ceremony of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. This graduating class was one of the largest in the school’s history with 396 students receiving degrees. God blessed the day with beautiful weather and a large crowd ofContinue reading “These Are Our Graduates “
A Well-Placed Question
Jesus was known for asking questions. According to Bob Tiede of Biblical Leadership, the four gospels record 339 questions that Jesus asked. Others say the number is a little lower, but all agree that Jesus asked lots of questions. Tiede mentions, “He sometimes answered questions with questions of his own.” Jesus was the master of well-placed questions.Continue reading “A Well-Placed Question”
Dr. Todd Gray 