If it were not tragic, it would be funny. That is this: often, the only thing elders ever hear from the congregation is complaining. If things are going well, we just assume the elders know we appreciate it. But let things start going downhill–even just a little bit–and we have no problem talking to our shepherds. Part of being in a position of leadership is understanding that you will hear complaints at times. It comes with the territory. But it really is tragic that too many elders only hear complaints, though they are striving to help people grow closer to the Lord and reach heaven. Elders are not perfect men, but…

The former U.S. President Calvin Coolidge once said, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Persistence is defined as, “the quality of continuing steadfastly in spite of obstacles.” Synonyms for persistence include endurance, perseverance, and adherence. In our walk with God, Satan is going to try to do everything he can to stop us.…

I remember visiting a man a number of years ago who was in the middle of a project at his house. He made his living laying bricks and various kinds of stones on a variety of projects.  This time he was laying some stones of various sizes on the front of his own house. While I’m sure he took care to make all of his work look good, I’m equally sure he wanted this project at his own house to look very good. I’m also confident that he intended for it to last a long time. I have no idea how stones of varying shapes and sizes can be laid in such a…

Yes, I’m getting ready to write about the election. No, I’m not going to tell you who to vote for. Instead, I’m going to try to share a perspective that I believe every Christian needs to have in mind in every election cycle. I would guess that at least half of my Facebook friends are members of the Lord’s Church. While I don’t spend a lot of time on Facebook, I do find myself scrolling through my news feed every so often. As I do, here are the types of headlines and shared articles that dominate what my eyes see: “Hillary Said ‘This’…There Goes Her Candidacy” “Trump’s Statement that Will…

I had an interesting conversation with a brother in Christ not long ago. As I understand it, his family has owned and operated a lumber yard for many years. I think he served as the second generation owner/operator of the business. In recent years, he has basically turned most of the responsibility over to the next generation. He refers to himself now as a buyer. This Christian brother is sort of a “cut to the chase” kind of guy. There is not a lot of “fluff” about him. I think that is reflected in the slogan of the lumber yard. That slogan just states that Wood is Good. I was told that, sometime after his first wife…

Source: The Way to Biblical Preaching by Donald G. Miller

I love deacons! Truth be told, I think deacons are some of the most underappreciated people in the church. Maybe that is because they “aren’t leaders” (which is a myth) or because they are often viewed as “junior elders” (which is another myth). For whatever reason, though, deacons are often marginalized in the structure of the congregation. However, when deacons are fulfilling their God-given role, the church flourishes. These special servants help free the elders up to properly oversee the work, shepherd the flock, and make certain that truth is being upheld. But often, deacons are frustrated because they are not sure what–if anything–they are to be doing. To that…

If I were walking along the beach and found a lamp and rubbed it and a genie popped out and gave me three wishes, I know for certain what one of them would be. Oh, how I wish that there were no denominations, varying doctrines, and differing baptisms within our current day religious world! I am always very excited when a person wants to discuss the plan of salvation. I would rather talk about this topic than anything else. As these opportunities arrive I often find that an individual’s exposure to inaccurate teachings has become a hindrance to their proper, Biblical view of baptism. But I should not feel discouraged,…

It is a question that is being asked by educators. It is being asked by politicians. The corporate world spends untold amounts of money trying to answer the question.  Religious leaders are also involved in this discussion. At least those who are really leading and not merely “keeping house” are asking the question. What’s the question? How do we connect? Educators wonder how to best connect with students.  Politicians want to connect with voters. Those who have a product to sell or a service to offer want to connect with consumers and those who would benefit from what they have to offer. What about those of us who preach and teach God’s Word? Increasingly, I…