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.

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

Christian Standard

Preparing to Preach

By Bruce E. Shields Who is your ideal preacher? Think about a preacher who has had a positive impact on you. Can you recall a single sermon he preached? Was it the sermons or the character of the preacher that left the lasting impression? I often ask student preachers these questions, and invariably it is character they recall and not individual sermons. I hasten to add that this does not mean sermons have no lasting value, but rather that the sermons make up just one part of the overall impression that preachers leave. This means the preacher needs to pay

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 6, 2010

Christian Standard

Five Ingredients Sir Winston Churchill Used in Every Speech

By Max R. Hickerson A glance at The Sir Winston Method by James Humes gives us an insight into what made Churchill a compelling speaker. Churchill”s approach can help every Bible teacher and preacher. The following outline, borrowed from the book, shows us how. 1. A STRONG BEGINNING Refuse to start your message, “It is a pleasure to be here to speak.” Invent your own quotable line. Start with a quotation or a question that provokes thought: “What would you do for a million dollars?”; “What is your favorite adventure story?”; “Which is more important to you, 9/11 or 11/9?” “A

June 6, 2010

Christian Standard

What Is a Sermon? A Survey of Scripture . . .

By Mark Scott A preacher mounted the pulpit and began, “I have so much to say, where should I begin?” A young boy from the back said, “How about somewhere toward the end?” Most churchgoers like sermons, especially “toward the end.” Defining the Word What is a sermon? That depends on whom you ask. John Stott said it is a bridge from the biblical world to the modern world. Fred Craddock said it is a short interpretative story. Haddon Robinson said it is a big idea extrapolated from a text. Bryan Chapell said it is Christ addressing our fallen condition.

June 6, 2010

Christian Standard

What Is a Sermon? My Definition Has Changed Over the Years

By Jud White A wise and seasoned leader said to me once, “Jud, stop trying to preach great sermons. Preach good sermons and love your people, and they will love you for it.” That may sound like odd advice. He could tell I was trying so hard to preach well that it was suffocating my loving well. His advice freed me to be more concerned about caring for people and getting God”s truth out there week in and week out, rather than hitting a grand slam each weekend in my preaching. Ultimately, it freed me to make my preaching more about

June 6, 2010

Christian Standard

What Is a Sermon? Three Words Describe . . .

By Jeff Walling “Now that was a great sermon!” Every preacher wants to hear that comment when the service is over on a Sunday. But what really makes a great sermon? How should we measure the success of the minutes a congregation gives to hearing us open up God”s Word for them? I”ve often told the old, borrowed preacher”s story of speaking at a revival for a small rural church. Standing at the door after the morning services the preacher was greeted by member after member who praised the lesson. But then one gentleman shook his hand and said, “That sermon

June 2, 2010

Christian Standard

The Best Kind of Sermon

By Mark A. Taylor What sermons do you remember? I remember a sermon preached by Wayne Smith at a Talent Rally at Lincoln Christian College when I was just a teenager. God used that sermon to prod me toward vocational Christian service. I remember a sermon by Paul Jones preached at Cincinnati Bible College chapel that moved me and most who heard him to express appreciation to our parents. Another time in that same chapel building John Wilson preached about his daily prayer routine. And I”m still challenged to pray like he described. I”ve listened to sermons that have helped

June 2, 2010

Christian Standard

Interview with Mike Claypool

By Brad Dupray Mike Claypool was 30 years old when he and his wife, Cindy, attended “Summer in the Son” at Kentucky Christian College as youth sponsors. The preaching there convicted them to make the life-changing decision for Mike to leave the printing industry and attend Lincoln Christian College to pursue his passion to preach. Mike loved the teaching he received from mentors like Chuck Sackett at Lincoln, and has served as preaching minister at First Christian Church in Newburgh, Indiana, for 18 years. Mike and Cindy have celebrated 35 years of marriage and have two grown children, C.J. and

May 30, 2010

Christian Standard

Leading People Toward Redemption and Restoration (Part 3)

By Ken Swatman “People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.” “”Audrey Hepburn, American actress Everything about Jesus””his birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection””shouts redemption and restoration to a lost and broken world. Jesus” foundational purpose was, and still is, to seek and save the lost, to purchase back that which was bartered, sold, or stolen, and to reestablish and heal our relationship to his Father. As pastors and leaders, we are entrusted with the position and responsibility of helping people navigate the deep waters of sin, repentance, redemption, and

May 23, 2010

Christian Standard

Leading People Toward Redemption and Restoration (Part 2)

By Ken Swatman Read part 1 of this 3-part series “He that falls into sin is a man; that grieves at it, is a saint; that boasteth of it, is a devil.” “”Thomas Fuller, The Holy State and the Profane State On the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood before the thousands who had gathered and confronted them about two great truths: that Jesus was indeed the Son of God and that they had sinned against Jesus. When the people heard Peter”s confrontational words, they were “cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “˜Brothers, what shall we

May 16, 2010

Christian Standard

Leading People Toward Redemption and Restoration (Part 1)

By Ken Swatman As ministers and church leaders, we see sin every day in our communities, congregations, families, and in ourselves. We are called by God to recognize sin, confront it, and bring it into the light of Jesus. We are no more on the front line of sin”s personal battle than anyone else, but as servant-leaders in Christ”s body, we often must assume the roles of confrontational authority and navigator of the deep waters of redemption, repentance, and restoration. In this three-part series, I will look at some practical issues we face as we lead people down this path.

May 16, 2010

Christian Standard

The Credibility Factor

By Ken Swatman Read the main article, “Leading People Toward Redemption and Restoration (Part 1),” by Ken Swatman Although we may bristle at the idea, pastors are seen as leaders and given the positional authority of leadership in most local churches. We may attach “servant” or “visionary” to our pastoral titles to lessen the authoritative stigma and add an air of humility, but it doesn”t change the fact that, as pastors, we are biblically, socially, and spiritually in a position of leadership. As pastors, we are called by God and our congregations to shepherd, feed, and protect the flock, and

May 5, 2010

Christian Standard

Why Do Sons of Elders Become Elders Too?

By Mark A. Taylor How does a young person growing up in the home of a Christian leader decide also to become a leader? This week we suggest answers to that question as we let church leaders and the children of church leaders tell about their experiences with each other. Earlier this year, in our weekly e-newsletter* we asked elders whose sons or fathers are elders to add their insight to the mix. Their responses point up both the simplicity and the mystery of a process that may take a lifetime to complete. “I think my being asked to serve

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