Editor’s Note: This week we welcome guest blogger, Emily Marks. Emily is an adult & community educator. She and her husband Sean live in Lancaster, PA, with their dog Corvus. Emily grew up as a pastor’s kid, and therefore she brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to this week’s passage. As youContinue reading “How to have radical love for your church leaders – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Part 3”
Tag Archives: leaders
How do you identify a good leader? – 1st Samuel 16, Preview
Are you racist? Of course not, right? (And why am I talking about racism? Isn’t this a post about picking good leaders? It is a post about picking good leaders, but stay with me. We’ll get there.) That’s how I would have answered about myself, “No way! I am NOT racist.” Then I took the ImplicitContinue reading “How do you identify a good leader? – 1st Samuel 16, Preview”
Preaching is like packing apples & Church competition can be brutal – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 3
In high school I worked at Hess Bros Fruit Company, packing bags of apples into boxes. Bags come down the conveyor, and I would gently place the bags in boxes, close the box lid, and send it down the line to the box-taping machine. Then I would do it again. And again. And again. ForContinue reading “Preaching is like packing apples & Church competition can be brutal – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 3”
How to overcome a false sense of security – Ezekiel 11, Part 3
Editor’s Note: Thanks to David Hundert who is our guest blogger this week, continuing our series through Ezekiel. In Ezekiel, the leaders are at it again! Thinking that God is slow in responding to their need, they are worshiping at the altar of their own idols. They have traded the true God for a godContinue reading “How to overcome a false sense of security – Ezekiel 11, Part 3”
When leaders turn their backs on God – Ezekiel 11, Part 2
Editor’s Note: Thanks to David Hundert who is our guest blogger this week, continuing our series through Ezekiel. Do you find it difficult to trust in God? If so, you’re not alone. People of all shapes and sizes can find it difficult to trust in God. Leaders struggle with this just as much as non-leaders.Continue reading “When leaders turn their backs on God – Ezekiel 11, Part 2”
Do you know these historical quotes? – Ezekiel 11, Part 1
Editor’s Note: This week we welcome David Hundert as guest blogger! Thanks David! Can you finish the following sentences? Let’s start with one that might be familiar: “Those who fail to learn from history,___________________________” Did you get it right? “Those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.” Do you know whoContinue reading “Do you know these historical quotes? – Ezekiel 11, Part 1”
How to discover the character of a leader (and why it matters) – Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:20
Does a leader’s character matter? Just about everyone would say, “Yes,” but what if their character is sketchy, and maybe their personality and tone really rubs you the wrong way, but you agree with their policies, or at least some of their policies? Is it okay, then, to overlook their character? These are difficult questionsContinue reading “How to discover the character of a leader (and why it matters) – Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:20”
Choose wise local leaders [God’s heart for good government, part 1]
The midterm elections were this week, the results are in, and now the politicians can get back to the business of governing. That is good news for us, not least of which because the political road signs are coming down. Postcards from candidates probably stopped arriving daily in the mail. The TV ads are finallyContinue reading “Choose wise local leaders [God’s heart for good government, part 1]”
Is it weird to preach a sermon about leadership that is mostly for those who aren’t leaders?
Have you ever been asked to lead something in the church and thought “What? Me? No way!!!” The thought of being a leader can raise a number of feelings. Here a few that I have heard: It’s too much responsibility. What if I make a bad decision? I don’t want to have to deal withContinue reading “Is it weird to preach a sermon about leadership that is mostly for those who aren’t leaders?”
How “majority rules” can be so good and so bad
Do you believe that “majority rules?” I am reminded of the game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, and their “Ask The Audience” tool. If a contestant doesn’t know the answer to a trivia question, they have the option, one-time only, to ask the audience which answer the audience would choose. Audience members thenContinue reading “How “majority rules” can be so good and so bad”
Engaging Scripture 