Category: Ministry
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The Gift of Strong Women
Strong women aren’t a problem to be managed or eliminated. They are a gift to the church, especially its men.
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Interlude: Why I’m Writing About Women Now
If the Church keeps putting “women” in their “place,” we lose. Every single time. Why? Because Jesus never did. And that is where this all starts.
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How I Changed My Mind on Women’s Roles in Ministry
We must not only permit but encourage and champion the full participation of women in the life and leadership of the Church.
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The 3 Things You Need to Become a Servant Leader
Most of us just shared a Thanksgiving meal (safely, I hope!) with our loved ones. Close your eyes and paint the picture of that decadent day. Think back and ask, Who’s sitting waiting for the meal to arrive at the table? Who’s slaving and sweating so everyone else can sit and wait? Who’s washing dishes…
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How Should I Respond to My “Fact-Based” Friends?
It’s fairly common to talk with non-Christian friends who may, even in passing, say they struggle to believe any religion because they’re “fact-based” people (or something to that effect). Our friends may add that they “believe in” science or math because those disciplines are “fact-based.” It puts us in a tough spot. Maybe your friend…
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What if Paul Planted Churches Like We Do Today?
An updated version of Acts 14:19-23: But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposed that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day, he went on…
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The One Thing That Grows Trust
Trusting people is hard for me. What about you? It’s not mainly because I believe people are so sinful they aren’t worthy of being trusted. That’s can be true sometimes. No, it has more to do with me. I don’t want to trust them. Trust means I need to be close, vulnerable, intimate. It’s easier to keep…
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Three Brief Reflections on Reformation Day
Today is an important day. It’s Reformation Day, the day that sparked the Protestant Reformation in Europe. In fact, it’s the 500th anniversary of the day, October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenburg church, challenging several unbiblical doctrines and practices of the established Roman Catholic church…
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A Brief Message to Our Ministry Partners at Grace Chapel
Inspired by Philippians 4:10-20 Dear Ministry Partners at Grace Chapel, We have greatly rejoiced in the Lord because it’s very clear you are concerned for us. Indeed, you’ve always been concerned for our well-being. You’ve showed it in various ways. Yet you didn’t always have opportunity because our needs weren’t always tangible. Sometimes they weren’t even noticeable! Our need…
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We Don’t Just “Do Missions”
This has been a season of lasts for Carly and me. Tonight was our last congregational meeting on missions at Grace Chapel. We came so that I could serve as a pastor. We will be sent out as missionaries one month from today. To begin our meeting tonight, I set the context with three key biblical…