“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:22-23 Question: Is “complete unity” (or, as …
The Unfathomable, Knowable Love of God
A Note from Luminex: Throughout the Advent season, our Monday blogs are centered on the Advent theme of the week (Faith, Hope, Joy, Love, Christ), and about how the theme in some way informs our mission to multiply. Today’s post is on Love, and comes from Mike Gafa, Luminex Church Leadership Development Catalyst. “And I pray that you, being rooted …
Five Aspects of Vision
In my experience of working with churches, I have found that discerning and articulating a church’s vision oftentimes brings pronounced confusion and high frustration to pastors and leaders, with much of their angst stemming from misunderstanding what vision is – and isn’t. What follows are five aspects of vision that help pastors and leaders to understand, discern, articulate, and live …
Dismantling Towers
When a pastor, staff member, ministry/department, or governing board works against the grain of a church’s mission, vision, or values, they build a tower unto themselves. The principle comes from Genesis 11: “Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each …
Capital Campaign Considerations
Capital campaigns become necessary when a church’s vision far exceeds its present reality. Capital campaigns can spur marked spiritual growth, deeper unity in the body, widespread sacrificial giving, and stronger faith – if a church is steadfast in keeping their mission as priority one, and has discerned a clear, compelling Holy Spirit-inspired vision, and is honest about their readiness to …
Gospel and Culture
As pastors and leaders in Christ’s church, the Gospel must always be at the very center of all that we do, say, and think. We know this to be true, yet we also know that what we do with the Gospel – how we bring the Gospel to people – can be, at times, confounding. Because while the Gospel is …
Of Kings, Presidents, and Faith
“… give us a king …” 1 Samuel 8:7 In what has been for many the most vitriolic and distasteful primary election in memory, we now know that Donald Trump will be the Republican Party presidential nominee and, barring a complete collapse, Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic Party presidential nominee. For some, this is a welcome development. For others …
Introducing “Faith-Based: A Biblical, Practical Guide to Strategic Planning in the Church”
I am excited to introduce Faith-Based, a book that encapsulates much of what I have learned in over ten years of helping to lead churches through a variety of planning processes, and fifteen years of helping to lead teams in the corporate sector. Faith-Based is a comprehensive guide to strategic planning in the church, and serves to assist and equip churches, …