Pastors / Leadership

Hypocrisy has been listed as a leading reason young people are abandoning the Church or being turned off by the Christian faith. Here are 10 ways that we should respond when people say, “Christians are a bunch of hypocrites!”

Being a mentor and having a mentee is one of the most spiritually satisfying ways of serving God and His children. The primary goal is to build a trusting relationship between two people.

If you live in a community with active duty military families but have never been a part of the military yourself it can be difficult to know how to support them. You may want to meet their unique needs but don’t know where to begin. The military family makes unique sacrifices to defend the freedoms that we all enjoy and a little bit of effort to encourage and support them goes further than you may ever know. So what can you do? Here are ten ways, among many, to show your support to military families: Jeremy Stalnecker is the Director of Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs. He served as a USMC Infantry Officer in Operation Iraqi Freedom and then became a pastor when he returned to civilian life. Through Mighty Oaks, Jeremy has brought together his ministry experience and military background to serve and minister to many hurting veterans, service members and their families. Jeremy, his wife Susanne and their four children live in Central California. www.mightyoaksprograms.org

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In a time when less and less Christians are reading the Bible, how can we learn it well and pass on what we've learned to others? These tools aid biblical literacy in individual and church settings.

Dear Roger,I am so excited about going to heaven. I am ready for the rapture. I hope it comes right now! But I don’t know enough about heaven. Can you fill in some of the details for me?Sincerely,JulieDear Julie,There are ten common questions I hear all the time from people who are seeking to know more about heaven. I’ve collected them here, along with some biblical answers and practical application. I hope they’re helpful for you!Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/grakozy

It’s remarkable how the example of manliness in Jesus is so very different from the manly stereotype. Let’s explore three ways in which Jesus set an example of true manliness.

Thanks to continued exposure of the mental illness epidemic in our country—if not the world—and the promotion of mental health care, more people are coming to terms with this disease as being more common than not and expressing more positive views about it.Yet, sadly, there are still those who think negatively about those with a mental illness. According to the American Psychological Association’s 2019 poll, around 33% of those surveyed agreed with the statement, “People with mental health disorders scare me,” and 39% said, “they would view someone differently if they knew [they] had a mental health disorder.”Mental health is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life. But usually, when a person hears the term “mental health,” depression immediately comes to mind. And they aren’t wrong. Depression was the leading mental health disorder in America in 2021, with 57.8 million reported sufferers (one in every five persons). That’s up from 18.5% in 2019. Granted, the uptick is most likely attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.Regardless, mental health cases continue to rise in America, although our country ranks 29th in the international rating of depressive countries, with a suicide rate of 16.1 per 100,000 people. According to the World Health Organization, in 2019, one in every eight people in the world (970 million) lived with a mental disorder, with depression and anxiety being the most common.As someone who suffers from depression, I fall into that “one in every five persons” category, and, honestly, I can attest to the fact that I have been viewed differently by some once they find out. One can feel discriminated against, which is why I tend to disclose my diagnosis only when necessary. And for this article, it’s necessary, because it’s important that people—including believers—take mental illness seriously. Maybe even more so today than in any other time in our history.But how?Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Prostock-Studio

To many, Tim Keller was proof that you could be a Christian, an intellectual, and a redemptive presence in cities. What made him so iconic?

The battle is real. The Enemy is constantly on the prowl looking for ways to fill your mind with subtle lies in order to gain access at the table of fellowship God has prepared for you. It’s a table described famously in Psalm 23 intended only for the Lord and you to dine. But this table isn’t set in a beautiful, peaceful meadow. No, as verse five states, it’s a table placed in the presence of your enemies. They see you seated there with the King of the Universe, and they want a piece of the action. The Enemy will do anything to slide into a seat and begin to tell you lies that will make you doubt your rightful place at the table, or try to convince you that there are better options elsewhere. But, when the Devil is whispering lies in your ear, you need to know Jesus is there with you in the midst of the temptation and pressure. He’s there to rescue you when necessary, to protect you at all costs, and to fill your cups to over-flowing.With all of his conniving and deceiving, it can be hard to recognize the Enemy’s voice for what it is. It’s important to be able to spot the enemy’s lies—not so you can focus on the lies, but so you can avoid them and fix your gaze back toward the Good Shepherd. While there are seemingly countless lies the Enemy can tell you, I’ve found that most of them fall into five broader categories. And if you are able to spot them as they’re coming your direction, you can overcome them and win the battle for your mind with truth in Jesus’ name.

Renowned pastor and author Tim Keller passed away on Friday, May 19, following a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Keller was 72.Born on September 23, 1950, Keller received his education from Westminster Theological Seminary,Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary andBucknell University. He was the chairman and co-founder of The Gospel Coalition and Redeemer City to City. He was also the Senior pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and the author of nearly three dozen books. Keller stepped down from his senior pastor role in 2017 to focus his attention on his non-profit organization, Redeemer City to City.Amid Keller’s passing, faith leaders are lauding him for his work in urban ministry and life as a man of God.

Moving out to Colorado at the age of 23, I was faced with a monumental task that I’ve never had to face before: church shopping on my own. My naïve, younger self thought it would be a breeze. I’d roll up to a new church, walk in and have a great first service, then maybe get connected with other young professionals and join a small group, before leaving to get lunch with my new best friend that I happened to sit next to. But man oh man, I was sorely mistaken. It took me over a year of intentional church shopping to find a church that both felt like home and challenged me spiritually, a church whose community I fit in, and one that I saw opportunities to serve within in the church and in the community. Through my many experiences as a guest, I’ve learned what some of the biggest turn-offs are for newcomers and now it’s my responsibility to share with you what the 10 worst experiences are for a guest. Photo credit: ©Thinkstock/Rawpixel

Tim is with Christ. We pray for Kathy and the family. We pray for Redeemer Church and the millions of people around the world who will be safe in the arms of Jesus as a result of Tim Keller’s simple, sound, and brilliant message: God’s grace is sufficient.

The late pastor and best-selling author Tim Keller passed away on Friday, May 19, three years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Keller had a long and influential ministerial career. During his time in the pastorate, he regularly highlighted the love and goodness of God. Here are 10 inspiring quotes about faith, Christianity and God’s goodness from Pastor Tim Keller.

So, all Christians are called to ministry, whether it be through the vocation of ministry or not.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers…. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people(Acts 2:42-47).When a church of 120 members set out to assimilate 3,000 new additions into the life of the congregation, they ranked “fellowship” toward the top of the list as a critical step in accomplishing the task.Fellowship is a nebulous term in our churches. No one seems to know exactly what it is.Koinonia is the Greek word. It refers to a sharing of life, or a partnership. Of course, that doesn’t tell us what it meant in the follow-up program in the early church. So, in the absence of anything definitive from Scripture on the precise meaning of the term, I submit for your consideration my own definition: Hanging out.The “fellowship” quotient of a church – whether the members love the Lord and one another – is one of the most telling features of a congregation, one of the most dependable indicators of the health of the church, and one of the best predictors of its future usefulness in the Kingdom.Here are 10 aspects of the fellowship of your church worth carving in stone, or better yet, engraving on the hearts of your leadership and membership.Photo Credit: Unsplash/Sincerely Media

There are at least five great reasons that churches should prioritize youth ministry: teaching God’s Word, providing fellowship, connecting generations, teaching service, and implementing spiritual disciplines.

Some things like appreciating, forgiving, or praising, can and should be done promptly. Others, like bad reviews, "getting something off your chest," or crossing a line—should not. Prayer will help you discern.

The Bible teaches that the Book of Life is the register of everyone who is going to heaven. Very simply, if your name is not in the Book of Life then you’re not going to heaven.

Modesty is a term usually associated with women, particularly when it comes to the Bible. But is the Bible talking only to women — or should men pursue modesty, too? Here are some thoughts to consider.

We’re talking about things no right-thinking godly pastor should attempt to do from the Lord’s sacred place of leadership in His church.