Transition is a natural part of the life cycle. Change from one life stage, position, sphere of influence or friendship to another begins at birth. Life transitions may bring joy or pain but all contribute to the formation of the person we become. Some we control while others just naturally come into our lives uninvited and unannounced. We must be…
Understanding your audience is one of the first rules of communication. Yet we have all endured off-topic sermons or lectures which missed their target audience by a decade or two. It is vital we be conscientious in the research and preparation of our content. However, understanding the people to whom we intend to deliver the content is imperative as well.…
I have always believed that evangelism was more about “multiplication” than “addition.” I have preached 2 Timothy 2:2 where faithful believers are challenged to make disciples as the greatest plan for world evangelization. Now my friend J.D. Greear has aptly established “subtraction” as a part of the equation. In his new book Gaining By Losing: Why the Future Belongs to…
I know it is against the law to give “Insider Investment Tips” but I just can’t restrain myself. I probably should not be so bold as to publish them on the internet but this information is critical and time sensitive. I don’t want you to miss the opportunity of this “Investment of a Lifetime” to make your “Investment in a Life.” I knew I had…
I was only fifteen when I made a decision that changed the course of my life! The decision was simple: I wanted to be like the pastor and leaders at my church. I wanted to be a “Pay it Forward Leader.” “Pay it Forward Leaders” are people who invest in the next generation of leadership. They do so graciously, intentionally…
I had a love-hate relationship with recess in elementary school. I could not wait to get out of the classroom: however, I dreaded the ritual of team-picking on the playground. A couple of self-appointed “cool” guys always declared themselves the Playground Team Captains. The games we played became all about being “Used” to help them win or look good. As…
Describing Gen Z as Plurals because of their pluralistic characteristics seemed as obvious as calling the previous generation Millennials. At least the marketers thought so when they selected Magid Generational Strategies (Marketing Corp) the winner at the Naming the Next Generation Conference in New York City. Let’s examine three commonly held values of Gen Z Plurals... Values-orientated but not traditional…
There are just some concepts that demand imminent action! Time is of the essence when facing crisis. The epidemic of secularization on society generally--but specifically on students--fits into the imminent action category. The consequences are sweeping for all of Christendom, but the long-term effects on Gen-Z could be devastating. I am not “Chicken Little” and do not believe “the sky…
There is a change occurring globally necessitating a shift in the youth ministry paradigm for Christendom. Many forward thinking ministries have been addressing this challenge, making adjustments and are in the advanced stages of strategic planning. However others find themselves in dire need of accelerated tutoring in order to catch the concepts. Youth Ministry is experiencing a major shift due…
Once upon a time there was ONE leader who simply wanted to make a difference in the world. He had no illusion that he could do it alone and wanted to build a team. Guided by biblical principles he practiced biblical discipleship as he ministered to men. He frequently experienced failure and frustration discovering not everyone was willing to “count…