Community
Articles in this category focus on rejoicing in the community of other believers, how to build and nurture community, and how to better reflect Jesus Christ to our brothers and sisters in the faith.
The Worship Wars Are Hurting the Church
Worship is not a concert. It’s not karaoke. Worship is not about us. It’s about God. How do we decide which style is right or best? Is it popular opinion? Does the pastor get to decide? How do we resolve this worship war?
Tyler Edwards
The Freedom of Not Being the People Fixer
There will be times when I share a verse with someone, but most of the time I’m supposed to wait for God to do the changing.
Stephen Altrogge
Driving Change by Appreciating Resistance
Leaders see it all the time ‒ employees responding poorly to change initiatives. Maybe a new approach is required ‒ one that acknowledges the resisting forces and, in understanding them, reduces their sway.
Corey Olynik
What Does A Healthy Team Look Like?
When team members have the courage to build trust and make themselves vulnerable, it lays a foundation for a team, and it changes everything else that comes from that team.
Russ Cline
Valuing Others
Simply by valuing others, we can open up lines of communication that we thought were closed.
Elaine Vitikainen
3 Warning Signs a Leader Is Growing Numb
How do you recognize numbness in your own leadership? Here are three warning signs.
Eric Geiger
Loosen the Ropes
Boss: "I wish my people would take more initiative, be more creative, get outside the box." Employee: "I wish my boss would turn me loose, untie my hands, let me show what I can do."
Corey Olynik
You Married an Ox
Sometimes it seems men generate mess as a byproduct of being men but thankfully we are worth more than the mess we create.
Jess MacCallum
Is the Church (God’s People) Thriving and the Programs Falling Short?
God, in everything, carries out the plan of His will. Can we trust Him as leaders?
Deborah Chupp
14 Key Reasons for the Breakdown of Church Unity
The church is in disunity for several reasons including gossip, self-serving leaders and lack of prayer. This breakdown of unity severely hinders our mission of reaching the lost and building the Kingdom of God.
Thom S. Rainer
Finding a Critical Friend
Leaders need people they can trust to give them honest feedback, however uncomfortable. Without such people, leaders will not see their blind spots. They will lose their humility. Their growth will be stunted.
Elaine Vitikainen
We Need to Learn Empathy!
Studies have linked empathy to greater patient satisfaction, better outcomes, decreased physician burnout, and a lower risk of malpractice suits and errors. Doctors need to understand people, not just science, and healthy leaders need to cultivate empathy in order to affect the lives of those around them.
Malcolm Webber
Why Are There Imperfections and Brokenness?
How often have we been challenged by the “problem of evil”? If there really is a “God,” then why is there so much suffering and evil in the world? In fact the existence of evil, and our distress over the unfairness of it – this angst over evil ‒ is a strong evidence that there is a powerful God who cares!
Jim Brenneman
The Meaning and Importance of Team Leadership
The work of creation involved the whole Godhead. No individual is inferior, yet team leadership doesn’t eliminate the value of a principal leader or director. The team together has all the gifts and capabilities necessary to lead effectively.
Raj Chelvaraj
6 Reasons You Should Say “Yes” When Asked to Lead in Your Church
As summer approaches, ministry leaders in many churches will spend time recruiting and training new leaders to serve in their church’s kids ministry, the youth ministry, and to lead groups and classes for adults. If you are approached and asked, here are six reasons you should say yes.
Eric Geiger
Footfall
When you next encounter someone who is proclaiming a false christ, or someone who announces their belief in no Christ at all, have the confidence of your convictions to ‒ instead of arguing or debating ‒ lead in prayer and in spiritual authority. Then, in a moment of faith, trust that the living, breathing, all-consuming Jesus Christ will emerge in the moment to lovingly confound every spirit of darkness.
Nick Franks
6 Gifts Kids Need From Their Fathers
I’m a dad. I’m also a son. And it occurred to me recently that there are certain things that kids need from their dad. In fact, as I pondered the whole idea of fatherhood, I recall several examples in the Bible of “dad gifts” that were passed on to children. I think any dad would benefit from considering these, and, if you didn’t get these from your dad, there’s a pleasant surprise for you at the end of this article.
Scott Turansky
Indirectness: Is It Good or Bad?
Is it time for us to go beyond “East vs. West” leadership charts?
Adrian Pei
Harmony Through Discord
Many leaders believe that good organizational culture means the absence of discord among their people. Their focus is on agreeing and getting along. But productivity remains elusive.
Corey Olynik