Category: Church Life

Christian Living, Church Life, Ministry

Will You Serve Even If You Aren’t Chosen To Lead?

Chris

Life in the church can be complicated. It is painfully obvious, even to the unchurched. It is perhaps one of the reasons so many will visit a church one Sunday morning and then never return.

The church can at times be most complicated to those who feel they have something to give. A woman buys leftover children’s ministry materials in a closeout sale. A young man feels gifted in music and wants to lead the congregation in worship. A businessman believes his savvy and experience should earn him a seat at the leadership table.

balancing apples

But what if the desired contributions and roles that these folks hope for never materialize? Or what if someone else’s contributions and gifts are chosen instead of theirs?

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Church Life, Ministry

Are You A Leader?

Chris

It is a topic we hear about almost incessantly. Churches are seeking, developing and empowering leaders. Your boss at work is looking for a leader on the team.

Many of us decide whether to read a book or an article, to download a podcast or to have our ears open at all based on whether we believe we are leaders. Our answer to the question, “Am I a/the leader?” is powerful. And it has more impact on our lives other than which section to browse through at the bookstore.

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Christian Living, Church Life

Sermon Series: The Next Level

Chris

This week we finished a series based on most of Mark 6, “The Next Level.”

In Mark 6 we see find the Disciples hearing and obeying Jesus’ call to the next level, and also an example of when they missed His call. Like us, the Disciples were not perfect. We can learn what kept them from embracing and seeking the next level in their lives, and examine how missing one vital lesson from Jesus affected the Disciples and the lives around them.

You can download all four MP3 files as a compressed .ZIP file by clicking on the Next Level image below.

Church Life, Ministry

Tested: Before You Serve Your Church

Chris

This post is made up of portions of a chapter in my current book writing project.
You can find out more about what I am working on here.

Many people are aware of their gifting and passions, as well as the needs of their church. Each week when they walk through the door, they wait. Not to be escorted to their seat by an usher, not to hear God’s Word spoken through the pastor, and not to surrender their heart in personal worship. They wait to be asked to do what they believe they should be doing.

Is this you? You know your gifting. You know the church can be blessed by your use of that gifting. You are even available to jump right up and be part of what you know you should be doing. So why haven’t you been asked to do it yet?

Maybe you are being tested. No, you don’t have to rush home and pull out an old textbook or sharpen half a dozen Number 2 pencils. You may not have a clue that you are being tested, but you probably are.

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Book Reviews, Church Life

Book Review: “Redeeming Church Conflicts”

Chris

RedeemingChurchConflictsGod, in all of His wisdom, gave the world His Church. We are one Body made up of many members, saved by the same faith, united by the Holy Spirit. He gave leaders and gifts to the Church to help it grow and minister to each other and the world. And yet there is one element of church life that can destroy all that God desires to accomplish through this Body: people.

I have often said that the church is made up of people, and where people are involved things get messy. Conflict is a part of church life. It doesn’t take twenty years of church membership to know this is true. Unfortunately, though we know conflict exists in the church, we usually go on without knowing how to deal with it, solve it, and move on in our walk with Christ together. Yet there is more to conflict than just “dealing it.” We have the ability to redeem conflict and come out of it healthier, closer to God and each other.

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Christian Living, Church Life, Ministry

How Will You Respond To Post-Convention Youth?

Chris

Today is Victoria Day here in Canada. In the Maritime District of our church fellowship, it is the first day after Youth Convention. For three days we worshiped, prayed, jumped and played. Now we’re home. Now we decide what to do with what God did in us this weekend.

But this post is not about youth convention. It is not about the honest words shared by our speakers. It goes beyond the uplifting worship and the breakthroughs around the altar. During our final service, and throughout the four hour drive home, I knew that I had a different message to share.

If you are a pastor, parent, long-time church member, Sunday school teacher, greeter, parking attendant, or any other warm body in a church that sent youth to Convention this year, and you were not with them, this message is for you. (If you were there, you can probably identify with what I’m going to say.)

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