August 2007

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ . . . Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me’ ” (Matt. 26:36, 38, NIV).

Having three children and three churches means there is a lot for a pastor to manage.

The story of how a pastor and the congregation changed their church from having a lot of empty pews into one not knowing where everyone will sit.

A revealing and reassuring look at the financial operations of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Five reasons why it’s good to get away from your responsibilities—even if only for a short time.

Your district may not be as large as Moses’, and you may not pastor as long as he did. But his example is worth studying.

When does similarity not equal plagiary? The writer shares four reasons for consideration.

The bad news? There are three shut doors to preaching. The good news? There are three keys to unlock them.

Should you try making your church more like a tavern? Bruce Larson describes how the neighborhood bar becomes the substitute for the church in meeting the needs of unchurched individuals who are longing for friends: “It’s an imitation, dispensing liquor instead of grace, escape rather than reality, but it is a permissive, accepting, and inclusive fellowship. It is unshockable. It is democratic. You can tell people secrets and they usually don’t tell others or even want to. The bar flourishes, not because most people are alcoholics, but because God has put into the human heart the desire to know and be known, to love and be loved, and so many seek a counterfeit at the price of a few beers.”