by Jon Mullican – As HOPE Network Ministry Partners travel to churches across the country coaching them in various areas of ministry (leadership, vision work, governance, transition to new preaching minister), we have seen many different approaches to minister transitions. By their own admission, some churches have transitioned ministers poorly. Other churches have gained a reputation […]
Authors : Jon Mullican
by Amanda Box – Traditionally, in math class, the word problems are tougher to solve. I’d say that holds true everywhere, not just in math class. On Sunday mornings this summer I’m co-teaching a class called Difficult Conversations. We are using James 3 as our anchor passage. Last Sunday someone in class asked, “If I […]
Authors : Amanda Box
Tags : Conflict, Healthy Church
by Grady King – The church is the body of Christ (1 Cor 12.12.f). What could be more direct that the words of Paul—“Now, you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Cor 12.27). The Corinthian church was admonished to function as the body of Christ in sacrificial love, serving according to […]
Authors : Grady King
by Ted moves like an athlete and looks like one too. He is usually confident and assertive. But today, sitting in front of the counselor he seems different. Ted is a new Christian and the father of sons four and seven and he has hit a wall. “I don’t really know what a good father […]
Authors : Lynn Anderson
Tags : Mentoring
by Amanda Box – Steve sat down in my office and began to talk about his small group. He talked about the past year and shared one meeting in particular when the air was thick with tension as a result of some controversial church decisions. The tension had been building for weeks. The next meeting, […]
Authors : Amanda Box
Grady D. King – Last week I had breakfast with good, long term friend in ministry. He got me through a very difficult season in my young preaching life over thirty years ago. As we sat down at the restaurant I asked him, “How are you? One word, “Tired!” He asked the same of me. […]
Authors : Grady King
Tags : Leadership Encouragement
by I do believe God called me to be a minister, but it was only after years of wrestling with the gospel; walking in the valleys and experiencing the mountaintops of ministry that I am comfortable saying, “God called me.” The call of God is most assuredly through the gospel and belief in the truth […]
Authors : Grady King
Tags : Healthy Church
by Jon Mullican – Almost every church chooses leaders. Churches of Christ usually select “elders” to serve and lead congregations. Some churches also call them “shepherds.” Paul writes in Timothy 3 and in his letter to Titus (Titus 1:5-9) about the qualities a shepherd and his wife should possess. Most Churches of Christ use these […]
Authors : Jon Mullican
by Grady King – Love God and neighbor… A young manager of a coffee shop overhears a group of pastors at their weekly coffee time. They discuss how to reach people—evangelize and spread good news. They are full of ideas and energy abounds. They, however, have not taken the time to know the manager. They […]
Authors : Grady King
by Greg Anderson Ministry can be difficult and there are many reasons why. Sometimes ministers create difficulty by not being team players. At other times, church leaders’ formal expectations, those written in a job description, do not match tacit expectations, those written in their hearts. Sometimes, church member attitudes encourage ministers to scour the classifieds. […]
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