Reading Time: 4 minutes
The words challenge and hope describe well the focus of this issue. Ministry can be hard. And discouraging. But we stick with it because of hope—hope in whom we serve, and hope in the work to which he has called us.
Columns
Walk a Little Farther
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Has your faith become complacent? Is your lifestyle a bit too predictable and comfortable? Is the Lord nudging you to do more, give more, or risk more? Don’t quit if the Lord wants you to walk a little farther.
When “Your All” Isn’t Enough
Reading Time: 4 minutes
One of the great dangers of the modern church is that we have come to rely on our thinking, strength, wit, and skill and believe we can strategize, market, and promote our way out of the place in which we and our churches find ourselves.
The Power of Repetition
Reading Time: 4 minutes
One of the most significant things I learned over the course of more than four decades of preaching in the local church is people don’t need to be taught something new as much as they need to be reminded of what they already know.
Solutions for Ministry Stress
Reading Time: 5 minutes
The fear of the Lord leads to a life of holiness and obedience, while the comfort of the Holy Spirit brings peace and strength amid trials. These two spiritual qualities enable us to be all God wants us to be as we seek to live out Jesus’ mission.
Is There a Leader?
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Our ability to grow is directly related to our ability to endure pain. Leaders are change agents that move their church in the direction of growth, helping them to overcome the pain of it.
Modern Israel and the Church
Reading Time: 6 minutes
A recent interview with New Testament scholar Jon Weatherly on how we should view modern Israel.
Dedication to a Change
Reading Time: 5 minutes
During the first few years of marriage, Faith and Abraham traveled to Southeast Asia several times, worked to prepare their sending churches, and gained further training. When they were prepared to live full time in Southeast Asia, God gave the couple an opportunity they had not expected in a city they had not visited.
From Conflict to Connection: Handing Over the Anger in Our Marriages
Reading Time: 4 minutes
How anger is handled can either damage or strengthen intimacy in marriage. Thoughtfully and prayerfully approaching anger leads us to deeper understanding, trust, and connection.