November 5, 2024
Missouri Pastor Launches Apprenticeship-Style Ministry Training Program
A new ministry training program launched this fall aimed at giving aspiring pastors an apprenticeship-style ministry education at a low cost.
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.
October 31, 2024
Elders are Mission Servant-Leaders
There has been no finer servant leader than Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus called people to serve him then, and he calls people to serve him now.
October 17, 2024
Love for the Word Empowers Preaching
When it comes to preaching, our effort begins and ends with drawing near to God and his Word so he can speak through us with a message that is so much more than we could ever create on our own.
September 1, 2024
Character or Results … What Makes a Good Leader?
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.
September 1, 2024
Leading Like Jesus in a Cultural Quagmire
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.
A Listing of Restoration Movement Podcasts
Christian Standard created this listing of regularly produced podcasts loosely defined as “Restoration Movement” podcasts. The theme-driven podcasts in the top portion of this listing are produced by Christian churches and organizations. The podcasts at the bottom are individual churches’ weekly sermons/messages. . . .
‘Preaching with No Regrets’
Most every preacher will tell you they have a certain number of regrets in their life when it comes to ministry. I certainly do. But I don’t want to have any regrets when it comes to preaching. . . .
Future-Thinking Elders
Are we content with mediocrity and satisfied with the status quo? Do we ache to be more effective in our leadership efforts? . . .
Leading Through Preaching
Joshua was leading through preaching. He was wielding leadership influence through the proclamation of his words and the witness of his life. Let’s follow that example.
THROWBACK THURSDAY: Thistle’s ‘Seven Multisyllabic Mistakes in Preaching’ (1990)
In this "Epistle from Thistle," the columnist and correspondent describes (in his own unique way) "seven multisyllabic mistakes, or 'speaking faults,' preachers or, I suppose, any public speaker can make." . . .
Long-Tenured Pastors Say Love Is Key to Their Staying
What does it take to pastor a church for the long haul? Christian Standard posed this question to Bob Stevens who has served with Allensburg Church of Christ in Ohio for 40 years; Jerran Jackson, 44-year minister with Clarksburg (Indiana) Christian Church; and David Simpson, pastor with Lanier Christian Church in Georgia for 48 years. . . .
May 2, 2024
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘What Makes a Good Church Leader?’ (1968)
"God’s Word provides some rather explicit instruction concerning the basis for choosing church leaders," Sam E. Stone wrote in 1968. "Four basic principles are outlined in the opening verses of 1 Timothy 3." . . .
The State of Elder Teams in Independent Restoration Churches
An honest assessment of where we are as a movement when it comes to elders and their leadership. . . .
Leading Through Preaching
By Chris Philbeck I’m writing this at the beginning of a new year. For many people a new year marks the opportunity for new beginnings. It’s a time when many make resolutions like losing weight, getting out of debt, or ending a bad habit. The beginning of 2024 is significant for me because it marks an ending. I began full-time vocational ministry in May 1980, and I intend to retire from it on June 30, 2024. When I graduated from Bible college in 1980, all I wanted to do was be a preacher. Because I was young and inexperienced, I
April 19, 2024
Exponential Announces Partnership with Stetzer, CPLF
Exponential has announced a new strategic partnership with Ed Stetzer to operate and steward the Church Planting Leadership Fellowship (CPLF). This collaborative effort aims to amplify the network’s impact and extend its reach within the church-planting community, according to an announcement at Exponential’s website. . . .
The Best Sermon I Never Heard
"Can I tell you about the best sermon I never heard?" Matt Proctor asked the crowd at ICOM last November. "If I could time travel just once . . . I would go back to Luke 24. On that very first Easter Sunday . . . the resurrected Jesus is walking on the road to Emmaus, talking with two travelers. . . ."
March 12, 2024
Cincinnati Christian Education Developments in the Years Since CCU’s Closure
David Fincher describes efforts to continue Christian education opportunities in the Cincinnati area via the Russell School of Ministry, CCL Network, and Elliott Library since the closure of Cincinnati Christian University at the end of 2019. . . .
March 4, 2024
March 10 Application | ‘Lowercase Leaders’
Uppercase leaders demand attention; lowercase leaders quietly do God’s work. . . .
Preaching Changed My Life
A funeral sermon helped launch me on a path to ministry . . .
February 22, 2024
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘The Apostle Paul’s Top 21 Leadership Character Traits’ (2014)
For his "Best Practices" feature in 2014, former editor Mike Mack introduced a listicle by writing: "Acts 20 contains 21 character traits of the apostle Paul. Look over this list, and then take time to assess yourself as a leader." . . .
