Archive for the ‘Leadership’ Category
If you are anything like me, the details of most sermons you hear in life tend to fade away. I’ve gained great benefit from thousands of sermons throughout the years, but I can recall relatively few specifics. That’s why the following somewhat obscure section of Scripture always sticks out to […]
Read More...As a dad, I’ve occasionally had to tell my kids that the ache they were feeling in their legs was because of growing pains. And I remember being told the same thing by my parents when I was a kid. The thing about growing pains is that you never get […]
Read More...“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, […]
Read More...“…I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.” Acts 26:19 I’ve heard it said that good ideas are easier to find than sand on a beach. If you talk to a visionary, a leader, or a dreamer, it’s likely that you won’t be able to keep track of all […]
Read More...“You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. And they cannot prove to you the charges […]
Read More...“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” Acts 23:11 Paul found himself mired in a massive storm that was threatening to take him out. He had been rejected by the Jewish […]
Read More...“When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.” Acts 22:2 Do you want to get people to listen to your message? Learn to speak their heart language. Communicate in a way they can fully understand. Then, they’ll pay attention to you; at least for a […]
Read More...In Acts 21 there is a strange sequence of events that can make us wonder if Paul isn’t paying attention to the word of the Lord. He is repeatedly met with opposition from his friends who are prophesying (correctly) that he will find nothing but heartache and pain if he […]
Read More...Have you ever found yourself listening to someone talk on and on, and you just couldn’t keep your eyes open? This happened to a young man named Eutychus in Acts 20. Paul had a one-night layover in Troas and had much to say to the disciples, so he was talking past […]
Read More...“You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess.” Acts 19:37 Paul had obviously upset the order of things in Ephesus. He was proclaiming a message that caused people to turn from their twisted worship, and the ministry was so successful that many […]
Read More...“Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he […]
Read More...“Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for […]
Read More...Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about young pastors in their twenties—these leaders are in what demographers call the “Millennial generation“. This is the “baby-on-board” generation that has been frantically hauled around to various activities all their short lives. They are used to being busy, and they are used to […]
Read More...Last night I heard someone say that Jesus was often called the Good Shepherd, but never was called the Good Leader. Of course, He didn’t shy away from leadership. Jesus understood and made it clear that He was Master and Lord. But still, He primarily chose to call Himself a […]
Read More...In Numbers 20, God tells the leader Moses to take care of his thirsty, complaining congregation by speaking to a rock, which would in turn produce enough water for a couple million people—and all their animals, too. But instead Moses does this: “…(he) gathered the assembly together before the rock, and […]
Read More...