'Shipwrecked!'

Introduction

There’s a little acronym that’s become common in managerial circles—VUCA, which stands for “Volatility, Uncertainty, ...

The Glory of Fathers Who Stink

Introduction

As I come to talk about fathers, I'm mindful that it's a very difficult day for some people. For some people, whose every thought about their ...

Be Afraid of Not Fearing

Introduction

You need to look the other way, pastor. This is business. You're not cut out for this. My friend had been pastoring this church for a few ...

Joyful Service

Introduction

We are looking at John 13 and drawing out four themes—four pillars of a healthy community. The first week we looked at "Humble Leadership." ...

Lessons after 26 Years of Planting Seeds

Introduction

Today is my final message as the senior pastor at New Life Fellowship. You'll hear other messages from me but not as senior pastor. I've ...

How a Servant Thinks

Introduction

Today I want to talk about how a servant thinks. Let's read Luke 17:5-10:

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" And the Lord ...

Keep the Dust off the High Chairs

Introduction

A couple of months ago, a relative of mine passed away. The funeral service was at the church, and the burial service was at a cemetery next ...

Joseph Stowell Charge

Introduction

Leadership is not optional; it is essential. It is the one ingredient essential for the success of any institution. But leaders are quickly ...

Purpose

Introduction

What would you do if you suddenly won $34.5 million? It happened to a family from Hauppauge, New York, this week. Dad spent $5 on a winning ...

Older People: The Future of Our Church

Introduction

On October 29, 1998, the space shuttle Discovery launched with a seven-member crew. One of them, John Glenn, was 77 years old. John Glenn ...

Keep the Dust off the Highchairs

Text: Luke 2:52
Topic: Why the young people of a church are important

Introduction

I once attended the funeral of a relative of mine. The service was at ...

The Problem of Growth

Introduction

The map of global Christianity our grandparents knew has been turned upside down. At the beginning of the twentieth century, only 10 percent ...

Paying Your Dues

Introduction

How many of you would say, "The truth is, I really am more clued in than my boss"? Who would say, "My boss, my company, my manager, my supervisor, ...

Eliab's Story

Introduction

My name is Eliab. All my life I wanted to be famous. My ambition was to have my life engraved in the memory of my people. But you don't even ...

Letters from Dad

Introduction

I'd like to talk on this Father's Day to the men. There will be obvious relevance to women as well, but my express purpose today is to speak ...

My Favorite Heroes: Nehemiah

Introduction

The hero that we are going to look at today is a man named Nehemiah. I want to say just a couple of things as we get ready to walk into his ...

The Right Way to Handle Church Conflict

Introduction

I am by nature an idealist. I start almost everything in life by thinking about the best-case scenario. As a young man, I had a best-case ...

Whatever Happened to Zebedee?

Text: Mark 1:19–20
Topic: The importance of a father's spiritual leadership

Whatever happened to Zebedee?

I doubt that this is a question begging for ...

A Leader Tough and Tender

Introduction:

Today when we read this passage, we tend to think of how it applies to the pastor and the rest of the church staff. In fact, in several ...

A Leader's Work Is Never Done

Today our series on the book of Nehemiah comes to a close. When we began this series, Nehemiah was a slave to the king of Babylon. He became consumed ...

One Step Closer

Introduction:

In the last days of Jesus' life, after the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the religious leaders engaged him in a running battle of theology. ...

Gifts From Above

Every year at Christmas, on my birthday, or at other appropriate times, my family and friends give me gifts. Usually these gifts reflect my individual ...

The People Connection

Exodus 17:1-7

A former professional football player got a job working for an insurance company. During a sales meeting, the manager of the agency began ...

Six Things Every Leader Must Forget

Numbers 11:4-34

One of my favorite Old Testament characters is Moses. The reason I like him so much is because he was completely human—frail and ...

Level-Headed Leadership

Not long ago a friend told me one of his co-workers had been promoted above him. "You wouldn't believe this guy," he said. "Power has gone to his head ...

How to Influence Your Family

Imagine for a minute that a man is hired to manage a professional baseball team—the New York Yankees, let's say. But he doesn't go to all the games. ...

Who Are You Trying to Impress?

A friend dropped by my office a while back and saw on my desk a copy of John Maxwell's book Becoming a Person of Influence. He picked it up and said, ...

The Difference a Coach Can Make

It's amazing, the difference a coach can make.

Lou Holtz is one of my favorites. He has become a living legend among college football coaches, but to ...

You First

It's not breaking news when I tell you that marriage isn't easy. When Donald Trump was going through his divorce, he was quoted in the press as saying, ...

A Leaders Work Is Never Done

Today our series on the book of Nehemiah comes to a close. When we began this series, Nehemiah was a slave to the king of Babylon. He became consumed ...

High Pitch of Devotion

The story of David, the king of Israel, has ended. The ancient historian concludes it with one of David's psalms. It is fitting that he would do so. But ...

Lord, Give Us Leaders Who Can Lead Us to Justice

I believe that justice might just be God's only concern. Everything we know about God might have its roots in God's concern for justice. And if justice ...