Spiritual Life
Articles in this category focus on issues related to leading from union with the Father and building our spiritual life to increase our effectiveness as Christian leaders.
There is No Such Thing as a Christian Organization
Jesus declared that His view of success and effectiveness was directly tied to His obedience to the Father, not to an organization. We often put too much faith, confidence, and belief in the organization as though the institution is what matters. We make the mistake of measuring our effectiveness, our success, by whether or not the [...]
Samuel Voorhies
Say Yes to Time with the Father
Let’s be careful that we don’t by-pass relationship with God to get on with the activity, and start worshiping at the altar of what we do For Him. Jesus was very careful to point out that what He did was through the authority God gave Him. He also worked at maintaining that close relationship with His Father.
Samuel Voorhies
Putting the Mask On First
That little yellow mask that drops down from the ceiling in an airplane gives life-saving oxygen in a depressurized cabin. Oxygen is something that we take for granted while our feet are firmly planted on the ground. Sam discusses how our relationship with God is as crucial to leadership life support as oxygen is to the physical body. He [...]
Samuel Voorhies
A Leader’s Heart: 5 Questions You Should Ask Yourself
The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), one of Jesus’ most famous stories, describes the power of true love. In this story, Jesus contrasts those with big heads (the priest and the Levite who had heads full of Bible knowledge) with one who had a big heart, the Samaritan. This story also offers clues about leaders with big [...]
Charles Stone
Leaders—Go Forth and Die
True leaders are servants who die to themselves so others may flourish. True leaders go forth not for themselves but for others. If the foundation of leadership is “go forth and die,” no one should outpace the Church in developing and deploying leaders. Here are two reasons that the Church should develop leaders who “go forth and die.” We have the ultimate example.
Eric Geiger
Time to Journal?
There is no right way to journal. Everyone needs to find their own rhythm. You don't have to journal every day or every week but a growing number find it very beneficial to journal regularly. Let me share some of the benefits that I have found in journaling in recent years.
Stephen Mayers
Regret Will Kill You Unless You Kill It with Promises
I’ll never be able to forget my past sins. From time to time they will come to mind. But when they do, I can choose to trust God at His Word, embrace the forgiveness I’ve been given through Christ, and find freedom from regret.
Matt Rogers
The Wonderful, Amazing Blessings of the Fear of the Lord
What is this wonderful gift from God, this incredible blessing? It is the fear of the Lord.
Mark Altrogge
Acknowledging God in Your Biblical Leadership
God doesn’t impose on any leader the need to acknowledge Him as the source of their leadership abilities or gratitude for placing them in that position.
James Bruyn
Are Your Goals Harmful to Your Health?
When we focus on our goals instead of our health, if we reach the goal, we have sacrificed an area of health (spiritual, emotional, physical, or relational). If we seek health before goals, we reach our goals healthily.
Matthew Fretwell
Does God Really Care About Our Suffering?
Our heavenly Father is filled with compassion for His blood-bought children. He has more sympathy than any human parent. Our God is not stoic and unaffected, but is touched by our afflictions. And we can come to our Father and unburden our hearts to Him. He longs for us to do this and He is eager to help.
Mark Altrogge
What Leaders Need from Their Intercessors
The mistake many leaders make is to solicit people to serve as their people of prayer. Here are three reasons we feel that’s unwise.
Dr. Alice Smith
The Essential Nature of Prayer
We all would agree that prayer is important, but for many of us it doesn’t hold an essential place in our minds. Let’s take a moment and go back to how Jesus built leaders.
Malcolm Webber
Faith Walk
Reflection can be tough. Even though I had a great year, there are challenges I face daily. I have to make daily decisions to overcome my fears of abandonment and broken trust.
Alex Anderson
The Three Works of the Holy Spirit: Discipline
In the final part of this series, we sift through the various aspects of a Spirit-filled, disciplined walk with God.
Malcolm Webber
The Three Works of the Holy Spirit: Dealings
In part two of this series, we explore what it means to accept the dealings of the Spirit in our lives, whether they are positive or negative.
Malcolm Webber
Have You Heard His Voice?
We may think we were searching for Jesus, but He was the one who sought us.
Mark Altrogge
The Three Works of the Holy Spirit: Dependency
In part one of this series, we dive into what it means to walk in the Spirit in utter dependence.
Malcolm Webber
5 Characteristics of Childlike Faith
Childish and childlike are similar words with vastly different meanings. The former encapsulates all the worst things about children – petulance, immaturity, obnoxiousness, selfishness, and so on. It is antithetical to faith. The latter, though, describes all the beautiful things about children – trust, joy, innocence, curiosity, wonder, forgiveness, and so much more. This word, childlike, is the flavor our faith in God ought to have. What follows are five characteristics of childlikeness that make faith robust, rich, and full of life. Like a child.
Barnabas Piper
Give a Cup of Water
Recently I have been talking with them about the challenges they face when sharing the love of Christ and the Gospel. How can we share the Good News if we have memories of failures? What if we are shy and hesitant to speak up, or to speak boldly?
Jim Brenneman