In a time when so many are drunk with rage, Christians—and leaders in particular—must be sober-minded. Don’t forget that we’ve got essential and eternal kingdom work to do.

Only Jesus’ model of leadership can keep our flocks intact. Until we lift Jesus higher than our differences and above our preferences, we will not reach further than our own reflections.

Alexander Campbell encouraged Christians to refrain from getting too involved with governmental affairs, but he also encouraged them to use their available political means to promote Christian values in society.

When we lead our local churches to see our local communities as our primary mission field, it gives Christians who are breathing the toxic fumes of expressive individualism a breath of fresh air. We are summoned outside of self to love something bigger than self . . . our God and neighbor.

In Christ, we are adopted into a lifespan, origin, and destiny literally out of this world. Blessed beyond measure. Chosen “before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Ephesians 1:4). Always and forever loved. From eternity to eternity!

Because we are kingdom stewards of what we have, if the ministry we lead is no longer viable (or at least viable in its present form), there should be a point at which there is a tension between using these resources to continue the ministry we lead and leaving them as a legacy.

At the end of the race, it won’t be the name Ozark or the name Lincoln that matters—only the name of Jesus. Our prayer is that God will use a little Missouri Bible college and seminary to make his name known among the nations.

The Restoration Movement isn’t bound together by an organization or authority structure, it is bound together by preaching.