What I’ve Learned About What Attracts People to a Church

When I was a pastor, I cared very little for the church growth movement. I disdained most of what I read from Andy Stanley and guys like him. I believed that if I simply would faithfully exposit the Word and offer a Christ honoring worship service, then God would draw people to us to watch […]

Fulfill Your Calling

I was recently given an official recognized sabbatical from my church as a way of honoring my ordination and to keep a continuity between my pastorate and whatever my next ministry will be. I appreciate the gesture since most ex-pastors are usually left alone to figure out what they’re supposed to do after ministry. I […]

On the receiving end of preaching

I have always enjoyed listening to sermons. I really enjoyed listening to other preachers’ sermons when I was a pastor since I had to listen to myself week in and week out. Now I am back to listening to other preachers again since I have no pulpit of my own. I have learned quite a […]

Letting go of being Pastor-Savior

It dawned on me when I was listening to a sermon by Tim Keller, what one of my biggest problems was as a pastor. He asked the question what is it that makes you sad worried and angry? The answer to these questions will reveal what is going on in your heart. What I found was […]

Losing Your Story in His

I heard my pastor say something this past Sunday that he claimed may be a little controversial, but I don’t doubt its veracity. He said: “I am convinced that everyone who enters ministry does so with some ambition of gaining notoriety.” How can that be disputed? This is exactly what we see as the conversation between Jesus’ […]

Gentler is Better

Something I have learned after being out of the pastorate for a while is that I have appreciated a gentle approach to my mistakes and problems when being counseled or corrected by pastoral leadership. I think back at times when I handled someone in my congregation with too much of a heavy hand and I […]

Overvaluing Youth and Inexperience

I had just turned 30 when I first became a pastor. I thought that I had experienced enough of life having been to college and spent my 20s in the work force. However, looking back at my experience, I was not ready to be anyone’s pastor. I didn’t know what I was doing or where […]