Bob Sjogren is a long time friend of mine who is well known in mission circles for his training on the Biblical Basis for Mission, or the Missionary Basis of the Bible. His book Unveiled at Last probably best capsulizes that particular training and I'll guarantee you won't regret getting and reading it. Additionally, his seminar,…

Phil Miglioratti recently stirred my reflective juices by asking for my perspective on how prayer, evangelism, and discipleship are related.

    It's a worthy question, especially for people who are so involved in any particular aspect of ministry that it becomes their primary, almost exclusive, frame of reference. Should prayer, discipleship, and evangelism be separate ministry silos? If so, what are the implications? If not, how would you describe their connection?



Here…

 Isn’t it exciting to have your precious grandchild come running into your arms with hugs and kisses? Your six-year-old granddaughter calling to tell you she lost her first tooth and the tooth fairy is coming to her house or your seven-year-old grandson thrilled to tell you how many goals he made in his soccer game. Last Saturday my two youngest granddaughters came over to visit and we enjoyed making cookies together. Just as you enjoy your…

I have often wondered why so many believers do not pray much, if at all. (Statistics show that more than 80% of western believers would say they have a poor prayer life.) Before I go any further I need to get right out front, that I am not a great man of prayer either. I have certainly improved greatly over the years, but I struggled for the first 30 or so years as a believer to pray almost anytime other than when a crisis was in my life (or the life of someone I cared about).

Prayer…

It’s been said that the family that prays together, stays together—but do you know just how true that really is? Seriously! A 1993 Gallup poll revealed that among married couples who attend church together regularly, the divorce rate is one out of two.  How sad. That’s the same statistic as for marriages anywhere. But…

The Big Impact of Small Churches

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Shawn McMullen 10/03/2011

© iStockphoto.com/ImagineGolf

4 Proven Insights for Thriving in a Small Church

What are you running these days?

It’s the question church leaders hear—and dread—usually at conferences or seminars, anywhere Type A personalities have gathered to talk about ministry and their churches. Unfortunately,…

Seek God for the City is designed to empower entire churches and even citywide movements to unite their prayers for a special 40-day season. Now the children’s companion guide is available—providing a way to equip children to pray along with each other and their families. The kids’ version of Seek God for the City 2012 is available as a free downloadable PDF file. You have permission to…

On a couple of occasions recently I've been called to lead a time of corporate prayer for ministries I'm involved in that face some real challenges. Of course I asked God how He wanted the prayer times to be led—and He gave me a picture. In my mind's eye, I saw Jesus, similar to how He is described in Revelation 1, walking among these ministries. He was talking to us, sometimes smiling, putting a hand warmly on a shoulder, sometimes looking serious and concerned.

Continuing my…

. . . 2013 begins right now.

I know, the new year of 2012 has just begun. We’re still paying for all those presents we gave away a few weeks ago at Christmas. Ninety percent of this year remains to unfold before we have to think about 2013; lots of living to be done before this year is complete; why think about the next one so soon?

Because the goals we set for 2012 will determine how much more prayer-capacity our teams and congregations will have…

Several days ago, I came across a really helpful interpretation of James 1:5-6, about asking God for wisdom, believing and not doubting.  This was in Chris Tiegreen's "One-year Walk With God" devotional (which I highly recommend, by the way).

James tells us to ask God for wisdom, but then warns that when we ask, we must believe and not doubt, because "he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind".  I've always thought that the belief referred to in…

Just a week ago, I spent a day at an interesting church. Rising out of the corn fields of central Iowa is the town of Newton. Hard hit by the recession, Newton’s main employer having gone out of business. On the edge of Newton stands a dynamic praying church of 800, Community Heights Alliance Church.

After preaching in the morning services and teaching in Sunday school, we were holding a concert of prayer that evening. The pastor was a little anxious about who would show up. It was…

I am looking for VBS lessons that teach prayer to children.  I have found some helpful material, but am looking for actual VBS lessons that teach prayer to our children.  My research has come up empty handed so far--with the exception of some supportive material that can help build a lesson.  The VBS director at my church has requested me to help, and wants 4 short lessons on prayer (5 minutes) then the prayer activity is for each child to place a prayer on a prayer wall for…

The last few months have been very busy and hectic for me, my life felt weighed down and cluttered. However, I have been focusing on getting my life, home, and grandparenting ministry in order.

We are often weighed down with clutter in our lives, focusing on the many petty tasks before us. However, Jesus asks us to rest in him forgetting the worries of the world and focus on Him. If we focus continually on Jesus throughout the day, His presence will bring order…

Finding Daily Renewal in the Lord Jesus Christ

Daniel Henderson 

We are all searching for happiness, a blessed life, but too many don't know where to look. Finding happiness is really no secret but it does require seeing life differently than how the world does. Of course, when you consider the state of the world and the fact that we don't find much happiness there who really wouldn't want to uncover the "Secrets to a Blessed Life."  

It's pretty simple really. The answer to our happiness is on our bookshelves or somewhere else tucked away…

A recent study of eleven major symphony orchestras revealed how orchestra members perceived each other. Percussionists were seen as insensitive, yet fun-loving. String players were perceived as arrogant and stuffy. Brass players were judged as loud.  Woodwind players were described as quiet, though a bit egotistical. With this diversity of feeling for each other, members of the orchestra arrive for the concert. Each tunes his or her own instrument, often oblivious to those around them. The…

In this post from National Network of Youth Ministries, Kristi DeVito shares how important it is to find time for silence in this loud world.

God loves having relationship with me! But I miss God’s attempts to capture my attention. My life is so busy and noisy that I hardly notice God’s constant presence.

Henri Nouwen said, “There was a time when silence…