What are the results you're looking for in your ministry? In terms of measurable change, how do you want your church or ministry to be different one year from now than it is today? "I want my people to grow spiritually" is not a measurable goal. "I want to increase the number of tithing families … Continue reading What Are the Results?

You've met them, the coalition of the disaffected. They've been around for centuries, if I read 1 Corinthians 1-3 (and all of 2 Corinthians) correctly.  Marshall Shelley wrote a book about them back in the 1990's, entitled Well-Intentioned Dragons.  Well, at least partly about them. And if you've been in church leadership for any length … Continue reading The Disaffected

Yesterday & today are the Global Leadership Summit in Zagreb, with recorded main sessions from the big event this past summer. (That's the band, covering U2's "When Love Comes to Town".) I was not able to be here last night, but am enjoying the event today. Krish Kandiah's talk about people-centered visionary leadership was especially … Continue reading Global Leadership Summit

One of the features of modern Calvinism that has caused equal measures of relief and despair is their understanding of sovereignty.  R.C. Sproul once stated it like this: God is in absolute control of every molecule of the universe.  Therefore nothing happens that God does not choose, cause to happen, and render certain.  Anything less, … Continue reading Understanding Sovereignty (An Arminian Perspective)

Yesterday I noted how John says that "God is light" and then immediately describes the Christian life--walking in the light--as a life of confession, repentance, and honesty about one's failings. Upon that basis, has John told us what he means by saying that "God is light"? If "walking in the light" is a life of … Continue reading More Thoughts on “God Is Light”

1 Jn 1.5 Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth. 7 But if we … Continue reading Thoughts on “God Is Light” (1 Jn 1.5ff)

McKnight has a post on Andrew Bartlett's helpful book, Men and Women in Christ. Bartlett summarizes the six "pillars" of the arguments against women in church leadership and finds them wanting. You should certainly read McKnight's post, and check out the book. The summary is excellent & concise, as is McKnight's conclusion; "Silence proves nothing. … Continue reading Brief Review: Bartlett, Men and Women in Christ

Today is the 28th anniversary of the fall of Vukovar, one of the darkest chapters in the story of our region. Previous to the collapse of Yugoslavia, Vukovar was a prosperous city with a mixture of ethnic Croats and Serbs living there in relative harmony.  But Yugoslavia began to splinter after the death of Tito, … Continue reading The Battle of Vukovar

Following up on yesterday's post, "Church Planting and Church Health": One Croatian pastor recently described an attitude that he sees in the Croatian churches, a cultural characteristic that could affect how church planting is seen in the broader church community. His perception is that older Christians in Croatia are fearful of change, and younger Christians … Continue reading Church Culture & Church Planting