Church Leadership

Church Leadership equips pastors, elders, ministry staff, and volunteer leaders to lead with biblical conviction, humility, and wisdom. Explore practical, Scripture-shaped guidance on leading teams, developing leaders, casting vision, making decisions, and building a healthy ministry culture. You’ll also find help for navigating conflict, communication, accountability, and the spiritual formation of leaders—so leadership flows from character, not just competence. Whether you’re stepping into leadership for the first time or carrying long-term responsibility, these resources aim to strengthen your leadership for the good of the church and the mission of Jesus.

September 23, 2010

Christian Standard

2010 NACC: An Uncommon Leader

By Brad Dupray As a guest at this year”s North American Christian Convention, Tony Dungy shared principles that lead to success in football””and all of life. When the Indianapolis Colts won Super Bowl XLI in February 2007, the victory affirmed Tony Dungy as one of the all-time great coaches in the National Football League. That season marked the ninth consecutive year a Dungy-coached team made the playoffs, tying him with legendary coach Tom Landry”s all-time record. The next season, Dungy”s Colts reached the playoffs again. Speaking for about 20 minutes at the “Uncommon Leadership” luncheon and then in a one-on-one

September 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Answering the Challenge for Bible Materials in Spanish

By Jennifer Taylor Good Books When Jon and Kathy Underwood visited Colombian Christian Mission in 2005, missionary Dale Meade asked the couple to outline a course of study for general and graduate-level Bible training. Jon created a sequence including Bible surveys, history, and theology””and received another request from Dale. “The team really wanted more challenging materials and asked us to consider translating and publishing books into Spanish,” Kathy says. “We were concerned about a conflict of interest, since Jon works at Standard Publishing. But we explained the project and received their blessing to move forward.” In 2006 the Underwoods created

August 25, 2010

Christian Standard

Why Some Corporate Practices Should Have a Home in the Church

By J. Andrew Keith (with Chris Keith) Several years ago, popular Christian writer John Piper warned ministers about the dangers of professionalism1. On the first page of Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, Piper sounds a clarion call: “We pastors are being killed by the professionalizing of the pastoral ministry. The mentality of the professional is not the mentality of the prophet. It is not the mentality of the slave of Christ. Professionalism has nothing to do with the essence and heart of the Christian ministry.”2 Some of his final words in the opening chapter are a prayer that reads: “Banish professionalism

August 25, 2010

Christian Standard

Eight Ways to Be a More Positive Leader

By Victor M. Parachin While serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, Terence T. Griffiths”s assignment was battalion level retention. Part of his work involved visiting companies in his battalion to determine why soldiers were not reenlisting. He visited one company that had greater losses than others. During his visit, the company commander, a captain, was giving a briefing on an upcoming joint military exercise involving the Navy, Air Force, and Marines. At the briefing, the company commander stressed the importance of the upcoming operation. He told troops that, effective immediately, there would be no leaves granted and all preapproved leaves

August 18, 2010

Christian Standard

Prophetic Lessons for the 21st-Century Christian Leader (Part 2)

(This is part 2 of a 2-part article.) By Edward Sanders The calling of Christian leaders today is different and more general than Jeremiah”s prophetic call recorded in Jeremiah 1. But themes reflected in Jeremiah”s call should apply to commitments today”s Christian leaders make, because these commitments came from God. The first commitment asked of leaders appears in the first paragraph of the book of Jeremiah. This paragraph records a superscription, a biographical form of literature that often gives some historical, theological, and religious context for the prophet in reference. Jeremiah”s superscription is the longest of the writing prophets1 and

August 11, 2010

Christian Standard

The Pastoral Call of Corporate Leaders

BY J. ANDREW KEITH (WITH CHRIS KEITH) Tertullian once famously asked, “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?” By this, the early church father (ca. 160″“ca. 225 ad) was implying the church had no need for Greek philosophy. In these perilous economic times, it may be pertinent to ask, “What has Wall Street””or better, Main Street””to do with Jerusalem?” Unlike Tertullian, the implied answer of this question is much. Several recent situations in corporate America””some of which are unprecedented””have demonstrated the need and/or opportunity awaiting Christian leaders in this arena of service: “¢ Wall Street”s fall and the subprime mortgage

August 11, 2010

Christian Standard

Prophetic Lessons for the 21st-Century Christian Leader (Part 1)

By Edward Sanders He walked a familiar dusty road. He had traveled this way numerous times throughout his life. But this trip was different, for it would end with turmoil and trouble. The prophet Jeremiah was trying to remain faithful as a prophet of God in the seventh century bc. He had the arduous task of proclaiming warning and judgment to God”s unfaithful people in Judah. I wonder if Jeremiah walked to the temple more slowly than normal that day in 608 bc.1 Or did he take the longer route? Like a nervous young boy walking home from school carrying

August 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Interview with Derek Lauer

By Brad Dupray Pastoral ministry is sometimes daunting, sometimes exhilarating, but nearly always challenging. In his 30 years of ministry, Derek Lauer has seen the peaks and valleys and learned how to meet the challenges along the way. Derek served in youth ministries in California and Arizona, and has been a senior pastor for the past 17 years, first in Arizona, and now at Northeast Christian Church in Rockford, Illinois. He holds an undergraduate degree from Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and a master”s from Cincinnati (Ohio) Christian Seminary. What”s the hardest thing about being in the ministry? <laughs> Floyd

August 1, 2010

Christian Standard

When Ministers Cease to Exist

By Keith Wishum Why do ministers quit? Many do every year. And, reportedly, not enough others enter ministry to fill the vacancies. But why? The answers to that question are as varied as are the men who minister. Here, however, is one possible cause that may be universal to all discouraged ministers. Ministers quit when they cease to exist. They cease to exist as ministers after they cease to exist as individuals. Granted, that odd-sounding idea may take some explaining. It is a thought promp-ted by author Frederick Buechner in The Sacred Journey. Describing a typical child”s perspective on the

August 1, 2010

Christian Standard

I Was the Big, Dead Tree

By Tim Harlow When I was a youth pastor, one of my favorite stories to reenact at church camp was from 1 Kings 18 when Elijah and the priests of Baal had a god-duel. The trick was to have someone with a roll of toilet paper soaked in lighter fluid in a nearby tree. At the right moment, he would light the toilet paper and let it slide down a wire into the altar””it was a great effect! I”m sure the real thing was even better. I can”t imagine how great Elijah must have felt knowing he was on the

July 18, 2010

Christian Standard

They Trust Me, They Trust Me Not

By Dave Ping Richard had been on the staff of a rapidly growing church for six months, and things were going great. “Some of the small groups I”d started were thriving and some were just getting off the ground when suddenly we discovered that our perfect church wasn”t as perfect as we thought. Our senior pastor, a dynamic preacher who”d befriended me and mentored me in ministry, was caught having an affair with a female staff member. “Suddenly the church I loved was engulfed in a storm of hurt, betrayal, and distrust. And I was just as grieved and stunned

June 6, 2010

Bruce E. Shields

preacher preparation

Preparing to Preach

Preacher Preparation Begins with the Whole Person Bruce E. Shields reflects on the lasting influence of a preacher’s character and argues that sermon preparation must include personal and spiritual preparation. Drawing from Phillips Brooks and practical ministry experience, he encourages preachers to pray, hear the text personally, study deeply, and offer the sermon as worship. A preacher’s character often leaves a deeper lasting impression than any single sermon. Preachers should prepare both the message and the whole person who delivers it. Prayer, personal engagement with Scripture, scholarship, and worship are essential to faithful preaching. By Bruce E. Shields Who is

June 6, 2010

Christian Standard

The Priority of Preaching

By Wayne Shaw Preaching has always been important in the culture and curriculum of our Bible colleges and seminaries. Earl C. Hargrove championed a theme that has been echoed in the charters of schools across the brotherhood when he launched Lincoln (Illinois) Bible Institute in his inaugural sermon with the promise, “The Preachers Are Coming.” For 45 years I have taught preaching, mainly at what is now called Lincoln Christian University, but also in special courses throughout North America and around the world. I speak with the confidence of experience when I assert that preaching is in the DNA of

June 2, 2010

Mark A. Taylor

memorable sermons

The Best Kind of Sermon

Remembering Sermons That Shape Us Understanding the Impact of Memorable Sermons The influence of memorable sermons extends far beyond the walls of the church. They can impact our daily lives, shaping our values, decisions, and relationships. Consider how a sermon might inspire someone to volunteer in their community, embark on a new career path, or even reconcile with a loved one. These sermons often serve as catalysts for change, prompting us to reflect on our lives and take action. For instance, a sermon on forgiveness might inspire someone to reach out to a family member they haven’t spoken to in

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