Years ago, I found myself holding onto hard feelings against a key ministry leader in a church I served. This brother had the gift of criticism. I know he did because he exercised it each week when I finished preaching. My dislike for him had reached a point where I didn’t want to beContinue reading “Lord, I Don’t Like Him”
Tag Archives: learn
My Name is “Hard Times”
Years ago, I heard a pastor tell of a man who came to the church office in need of assistance. When the pastor asked his name, he said it was “Hard Times.” With a smile the pastor said, “No really, what is your name?” The man pulled out his I.D. and sure enough it wasContinue reading “My Name is “Hard Times””
Three Ways to Raise Up Church Workers
Ask any church in Kentucky, “What is your greatest leadership challenge?” and the answer will likely be, “We need more workers.” Gospel ministry opportunities abound, but finding the folks to lean into those opportunities can be a great leadership challenge for pastors. How can a church find the workers needed for its life-changing ministry? ConsiderContinue reading “Three Ways to Raise Up Church Workers”
Two ways to lead evangelistically
As a pastor, you probably won’t receive very much encouragement in your personal evangelism practices. I realize that is a little harsh, but true. Other more pressing ministry needs will likely pull you away from sharing Jesus with lost people. In fact, it is safe to say, you will have to personally prioritize personal evangelismContinue reading “Two ways to lead evangelistically”
How Door Knocking Can Change Eternity
Since becoming the executive director-treasurer for the Kentucky Baptist Convention in August 2019, I have had a long list of things to be accomplished. Given the challenges of our times, that list has changed some, but serving Kentucky Baptists remains the greatest joy of my ministry experience. One of my personal goals during my tenureContinue reading “How Door Knocking Can Change Eternity”
The empathetic leader
Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone; empathy seeks to understand them. Sympathy feels bad when you are in a dark deep hole, but empathy crawls down in the hole with you and may eventually help you out. My mother died when she was 54, so whenever I hear of someone losing their mother atContinue reading “The empathetic leader”
Learning From Failure
I remember the first time I heard the phrase “free to fail.” I was in a Bible study with Bob Warren, former west Kentucky pro basketball player who came to know Jesus in his late 20s and spent the remainder of his life teaching God’s Word. Warren was communicating to believers that we are lovedContinue reading “Learning From Failure”
Do It Now
I worked in sales when I was in my 20s, and the vice resident of our company bought me a little book to help me in professional development. The title of the book says it all, “Do It Now.” The book addressed a topic that impacts every leader: procrastination. Leaders procrastinate for a variety ofContinue reading “Do It Now”
Working “On” It, Not Just “At” It
I can remember stores and businesses that served our community and nearby town where I grew up that are no longer in existence today. There are many reasons why these businesses sadly did not make it. In some cases, they may have spent so much time working “at” their business that they forgot to workContinue reading “Working “On” It, Not Just “At” It”
5 Ways to Get Helpful Feedback
At a small leadership gathering, I heard Ed Stetzer tell of reaching a milestone birthday and requesting feedback from a few close friends. One thing he discovered was that his friends did not think he was a very good listener. Shocked by this revelation, he told his wife what they said. She looked at himContinue reading “5 Ways to Get Helpful Feedback”
Dr. Todd Gray 