Church Incident Report Form
If you have worked in a church, you are aware that ministry is messy. There are times where things happen that require a record for liability reasons. I've created this form and it have served as an adequate tool for capturing what needs to be captured for events of great enough magnitude to require it. I hope it is...
The Biblical Mandate and Procedure for Church Discipline
God has laid out a clear mandate and plan the universal church to call people to repentance because He cares for the souls of men and their reconciliation unto Himself. Many people over the years of church history have avoided the commands to discipline people for the sake of repentance. Some church congregations have made excuses as to why...
These 6 Lessons Will Help You be a Better Pastor
To be known is to be loved. All people have a deep need to belong; when we do not have a sense of belonging, we will look for it relentlessly. We long for this in our families and with our friends. In the relationships where we are known intimately yet still accepted, we count those as safe places to...
Who Has What Authority in the Church?
What is the relationship between congregational authority and the elders’ authority? When it comes to authority in the church, we must remember that the ultimate goal is to provide discipleship that leads people to greater maturity in Christ. Ephesians 4:11–13 describe the roles and gifts of leadership in the church as being for the sake of “equip the saints...
Why is Church Membership Important?
Why is carefully practicing church membership and discipline critical to the growth of the saints and the evangelism of the church? The aim of the Church is to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ by pursuing people to believe in Jesus and turn to Him for salvation. When a person believes in Jesus Christ and repents from their old way...
5 Essential Things to Consider When Planning Communion
Communion services are one of the most important services we have the opportunity to lead our churches in on a regular basis. Communion should never be something that becomes so routine that it loses it impact, it should also be something that is done regularly and with great intentionality. When planning a communion service, here are five things to keep...
The Secret to a Highly Productive Day
What side of the bed did you wake up on? Mornings are really important to me, so I guess you could say that even if I don’t wake up on the right side of the bed…I get there as soon as possible. I choose to start off the morning well because I have learned that it has a great impact...
Redefine Greatness: Living Out God’s Definition of Success
I came back from a long day of classes and meetings, just wanting to let my mind unwind. As I set my bag on my chair I notice that across the top of my desk someone had written in black ink, “REDEFINE GREATNESS.” At first I just wanted to know who had done it, and what kind of message...
4 Defining Moments in a Pastor’s Marriage
All marriages are marked by defining moments. Those moments where a realization, decision, or experience changes something fundamental in your life and marriage. Here are four defining moments common among pastors...
Finding God’s Will Isn’t Like Using a Magic 8 Ball
The act of casting lots or drawing straws is widely considered an antiquated way of making decisions. In the Old Testament, Jews and pagans used lots as a way of making decisions, but that practice was never used or prescribed after the Holy Spirit was given to believers in the New Testament. Elders and individuals should be careful not to...
How to know you are experiencing spiritual abuse
With the news of James MacDonald being fired and countless cases of sexual abuse reported in the Southern Baptist Convention last week, we are left to wonder — how does this kind of thing happen in Christ's church? Why can a place that is meant to build trust leave so many feeling like they have lost all trust? After I...
3 Questions To Ask at Every Meeting
Meetings have become a regular part of my life. I spend most of my day in meetings with other people. I spend a lot of time meeting with my staff or elders. I also meet with people in the church who have (1) concerns that they would like to share, (2) hopes that they would like to express, or (3)...