2014 was the hardest and darkest year in my life. Christmas 2013, I was diagnosed with burn-out. I had to stop work completely. This was incredibly difficult. I was so used to being busy, to having my head filled with stuff, to be carrying on. I have always done so much in my own strength, relying on my own insight. But this proved [...]
Pieter Messelink
What we need is a relentless appetite for the divine. We need a holy ravenousness. Our craving souls can turn and become enthralled by a goodness that is found in the presence of an all-glorious God. There is only one infinite source of satisfaction that can satisfy our bottomless cravings.
Jason Todd
Steve Gladen, pastor of small groups at Saddleback Church for more than a decade, gives brilliant advice to take your small group to the next level. What makes a group system thrive? Definitely, strong leadership, welcoming groups, small group guidelines. Saddleback’s success from small groups comes from its focus on health. He balances [...]
Paul Sohn
Leading from strength means progressively moving toward convergence with your “life message” and “life mission.” How confident are you in knowing your spiritual gifts and natural talents?
Tom Horn
God in His sovereignty will perfectly accomplish His eternal plan for all of creation. We can choose to enter into the grand fulfillment and culmination of that plan – the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
Jim Brenneman
The lie says, “I have failed. I am a failure.” This condemnation is always echoed by the devil’s voice internally and sometimes by the voices of other people around us. The truth, however, says, “I have failed. But I am in Christ and, by His grace, I will overcome!”
Malcolm Webber
People of the earth seem to be so lonely and so full of angst about whether or not there is anyone else “out there.” Why did God create humans with this God-sized hole in our hearts?
Jim Brenneman
Chronic worry is something you choose, but so is courage. Every day I am choosing to put my trust in the Almighty a little bit more. Make sure you are aiming at the right things, the things Jesus would want you running after.
Alan Briggs
Leaders might learn a thing or two from a silly goose. Geese develop remarkable synergy, allowing them to fly as far as 1,700 miles without stopping. Flying solo doesn’t hit the mark for geese; neither can leaders go it alone for their whole adventuresome journey.
David Goodman
People assume the surfer is in control, and he does control his body and the board, but clearly the ocean is in charge; the ocean can do what it wants with the surfer. The same is true in leadership. Most leaders live in a fascinating dilemma. Others see them as controlling everything, but they feel as though they are in control of [...]
Kevin Thompson
How can people who love God deeply and passionately and who know much Truth be so easily deceived? There are at least four reasons for this:
1. Christians Are Used to Believing Strange Things
2. Christians Expect to Be Rejected
3. A Low Level of Prophetic Revelation
4. An Entanglement with the World’s Political System
Malcolm Webber
What does Paul mean by the term, “life that is truly life”? What other life would we seek to “take hold of”? The implication is that any other form of life that is not founded on generosity and a desire to be rich in good deeds is counterfeit life. That is a powerful and disturbing teaching. Are we willing to take it seriously? If so, we [...]
Scott Rodin
The shocking events of recent weeks have highlighted our nation’s troubling history with slavery and systemic racism.
As a result, many Christians want to do something about racism. But what? What is the right response? What does the Bible really say about a Christian’s role in social change?
You may have heard that the Bible [...]
Malcolm Webber
Everything we do in life and leadership must flow out of being in relationship with God! Doing comes from being: Being in relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is above all, and it is out of this relationship that we do.
Doug Brown