Have you ever seen someone playing the game called Whack-a-Mole? They stand before the game board with a padded hammer, just waiting for one of the little critters to pop its head up, and they try to whack it before it goes back in the hole. The longer they play, the faster and more erratic the moles are in popping up their heads. …read more
I believe I need to do some more end-time teaching than I have in the past. What are some of the approaches that other pastors take in teaching on such issues, and what are the basic things that pastors teach along these lines? I realize there are many different views when it comes to eschatology – how can I teach my people healthy, wholesome doctrine that avoids weirdness? What resources are recommended?
It looks like I will be doing my first funeral as a pastor in the very near future. I’d love to hear from some seasoned pastors about what they’ve learned from their experiences in conducting funerals? How can I most effectively minister to the family and those in attendance? Are there some do’s and don’ts I should be aware of in conducting funerals? I’d also be interested in hearing the experiences of pastors who’ve had to do “difficult” funerals. Thanks for the tips and advice.
Heaven has not had an appeal to many people simply because it seemed so “other worldly.” As I child I somehow picked up the idea that Heaven would be everyone in a big room in choir robes singing songs. What a bore! Who wants to spend eternity in a never-ending church service? …read more
The world is comparison crazy! People compare almost every physical quality or material possession. I wish I could tell you the church is exempt from this wicked worldly attribute but unfortunately I can’t. We compare preachers, programs, facilities, congregational size, and … read more
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” It is easy to preach against something, but it’s better to show people a way out, a way to something better. The idea for our “I Do” service came from a series I did called “Ask Anything.” The purpose … read more
I probably don’t need to explain the title since most people have heard the phrase, “Liar, liar, pants on fire,” but if that snippet was actually true, there would be a lot of people these days with serious injuries to the lower half of their bodies. …read more
As missionaries for over 25 years, my wife and I have experienced many kinds of worship styles in a variety of circumstances and situations, from the underground church of China, to Eskimo and Chukchi villages in Arctic Russia, to churches in modern cities in various parts of the world. …read more
Paul is acknowledging that they shared the same fundamental beliefs about Jesus Christ and His Word. He then begins to lay out instructions that will help Titus identify the more mature believers that can be trusted with positions of leadership. It appears that both Peter and Paul were concerned that people in positions of influence within the church should share The Fundamentals of the common faith, and be of like precious faith! …read more
God specifically tells us not to compare and rarely does it produce anything beneficial. Besides, God does not consider any of those things when evaluating our life. He does however, consider a few things when examining our life. What separates people in the eyes of God? What does He use to evaluate our life?
Those two words—multiplication and mobilization—have been strong on my heart in recent times. One of the verses that powerfully conveys the idea behind these two words is what we call “The 222 Principle” found in 2 Timothy 2:2, which reads, “And the things that you have heard from me… commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” …read more
I’m curious how other pastors develop their leaders, and how they delegate responsibilities to others. I’d like to increase my proficiency in these areas, and would love to get insights from other pastors.
What three skills help you the most in carrying out your pastoral ministry? How do they help you, and to what degree did you feel gifted in these three areas, and how much did you have to work to acquire and or develop them?
Virgil Stokes is a Pastor and Teacher, serving churches since 1980 in Oklahoma, New York, and Arizona. He and his wife, Judy, pioneered Faith Christian Fellowship of Tucson in 2004. […]
From 1980-1983, I was an assistant pastor on the staff of Dr. Dan Beller at Evangelistic Temple in Tulsa. Pastor Beller resigned in 2001 after 34 years of service, but has continued to live and serve vibrantly since that time. I asked him to share some of the decisions he made before retiring. While his remarks (at my request) are specifically targeted toward pastors, I believe the principles can apply to everyone. …read more
Resurrection: Past, Present, Future Tony Cooke No, I’m not confused about what month it is. I know that Easter is not until next month. I believe, though, it’s important that […]
No, I’m not confused about what month it is. I know that Easter is not until next month. I believe, though, it’s important that we not only think about resurrection when Easter comes around. I wonder how many believers appreciate all the ramifications of resurrection, and recognize its multi-dimensional influence in our lives. …read more
“If you’re ‘sweet sixteen and never been kissed,’ I’ll buy you a gold watch for your sixteenth birthday!” As a little girl, that frequent promise from my fabulous mom created a fairy-tale-princess impression in my mind. I imagined how wonderful life would be when I blew out that sixteenth candle on my traditional German chocolate birthday cake! …read more
Effective leaders are consumed with a vision about the future that is different from today. Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela were all incredibly dissatisfied with the reality that they saw. They all envisioned, articulated and helped lead towards a different ending to the story. …read more
We all have decisions to make, every single day. Whatever decision you’re facing, I have some good news: you can make the right decision every time when you have God’s help. And even better news: He wants to help you make every single decision – big and small. He knows exactly the right direction for you to take so that things turn out great for you. …read more
We live in a comparison-centered world. People compare: houses, cars, spouses, physical qualities, clothing, and professions. I remember being in high school and comparing who had the coolest tennis shoes. Of course, I fell into the trap and always tried to secure the coolest “kicks” as we called them. …read more
In spite of its great significance and importance, work is a word that many people do not want to hear when it comes to Christianity or spiritual things. Christians love words like, “grace,” “free gift,” and “rest.” Those are wonderful words—biblical words—and they all have a vital role in our Christian life. But work, in a positive sense, is also extremely biblical, and it also deserves our attention and study. …read more
I would love to hear a collection of statements from various pastors. What are the concise statements they have which communicate the vision and purpose of their churches? These would include vision statements, mission statements, listings of core values, etc. I would even like to know the slogans and mottos that churches use. In addition to statements that speak to the entire congregation, I would also like to see any statements or concise lists that churches have just for their leaders or staff, such as lists of expectations, priorities, key principles, etc.
Valley Family Church is excited to announce the launch of Kidamazoo Studios – a fun-packed, fast-moving, faith-based kids church curriculum that will revolutionize the way kids church is done! The […]
Every leader who has staff working for them has to deal with the issue of loyalty. They can put up with a lot of other things being less than perfect, but loyalty from the staff to the leader is absolutely vital for the success of the leadership and their organization. Cicero said it this way, “Nothing is more noble, more venerable, than loyalty.”1 …read more
