One Sunday evening, Jim Edwards, our former minister to young adults, illustrated a sermon point with a story about a hitchhiker. Jim said that when he was a college student making a long drive back to school in the Northwest, he picked up a hobo. As they zoomed along the interstate, the hobo kept seeing things along the shoulder.

"Look!" he'd shout. "There's an old coat. Stop so I can pick it up." ...

Topics:	Assessment, Change, Focus, Goals, Growth, Leadership, Measuring ministry, Objectives, Planning, Strategy, Vision
Filters:	Church staff, Elder, Pastor, Pastoral care, Preaching, Shepherd
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Philippians 3:7-14
Date Added:	July 11, 2007

A lot has been written lately about the church and culture; most of it, however, refers to the culture around a church. Just as important is the culture within a church, the shared attitudes, values, and beliefs that define a church and shape its practices.

Fresh out of seminary, my husband and I began ministry at an established, 850-member church in a large city. During the interview process, we were ...

Topics:	Character, Church, Church health, Church life, Church staff, Core values, Culture, Mission statements
Filters:	Church board, Counseling, Elder, Management, Pastor, Service, Shepherd
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Acts 4:32-35, Philippians 3:12, Philippians 3:14
Date Added:	July 11, 2007

I felt like the "before" picture for effective ministry. You know, like the ones that demonstrate a spectacular new diet by showing how bad the person looked before. As a speaker described all that was wrong with the typical church—declining attendance, limited evangelism results, no visible spiritual growth—I realized he was describing my church.

I love the ministry, but after eleven years, not ...

Topics:	Burnout, Calling, Enthusiasm, Focus, Leadership, Motivation, Spiritual passion
Filters:	Church staff, Elder, Pastor, Pastoral care, Preaching, Volunteer coordinator, Worship
Purpose:	Ministry
References:	Philippians 3:12-14
Date Added:	July 11, 2007

When I was teaching an adult Sunday school class, one member, the CEO of a major firm, asked me to lunch. He started the conversation by saying, "I have a CPA to keep me liquid, a lawyer to keep me legal, and a doctor to keep me healthy. But I have no one to help assess my spiritual condition. Can you give me a 'spiritual audit'?"

I had never thought about such a thing. I thrashed around, trying to ...

Topics:	Character, Christlikeness, Discipleship, Growth, Mentoring, Pursuit of God, Renewal, Revivals, Spiritual formation, Spiritual growth, Transformation
Filters:	Church staff, Counseling, Discipleship, Elder, Mentoring, Pastor, Preaching
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Philippians 3:12-16
Date Added:	July 12, 2007

I once asked Don Shula, longtime coach of the Miami Dolphins, "What are your goals next year?"

He said, "I think goal-setting is overrated."

"What do you mean?"

"Everybody in professional football has a similar goal," he answered. "If they have halfway decent players, they want to win the playoffs. If they have good players, they want to win the Super Bowl. So I haven't won more games because I have ...

Topics:	Change, Goals, Leadership, Servanthood, Strategy, Vision
Filters:	Church board, Deacon, Management, Pastor, Pastoral care, Shepherd
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Philippians 3:12, Philippians 3:14
Date Added:	July 12, 2007