Tag «& Spirit»

Seven Things You Can Do to Become a Better Leader

Seven Things You Can Do to Become a Better Leader

If it hasn’t happened already, it won’t be long before a new generation of leaders are being tapped on the shoulder to step into service in their church or organization. In November 2022, the Federal Reserve shared an article titled “The Great Retirement Boom,” which details the rise in retirement during the era of the…

The post Seven Things You Can Do to Become a Better Leader appeared first on Church Answers.

How Pastors Should Answer the Hardest Leadership Question

How Pastors Should Answer the Hardest Leadership Question

It’s the most challenging leadership question to answer: Am I humble? Humility is the most difficult leadership trait to determine about ourselves. Pride is the most dangerous leadership trait. Arrogance is the root leadership problem. Our sinful nature propels us to an excessive and unhealthy focus on ourselves. It’s the quintessential leadership struggle. We stand…

The post How Pastors Should Answer the Hardest Leadership Question appeared first on Church Answers.

7 Things that Happen when Church Leaders Don’t Pray Much

7 Things that Happen when Church Leaders Don’t Pray Much

My personal experience and anecdotal studies have shown that prayer is the most difficult spiritual discipline for many believers. It assumes dependence on God, and we simply don’t default in that direction; we default into independence and self-dependence even when we don’t want to. Here are some things that happen, though, when we church leaders…

The post 7 Things that Happen when Church Leaders Don’t Pray Much appeared first on Church Answers.

10 Ways the Enemy Attacks Church Leaders

10 Ways the Enemy Attacks Church Leaders

For more than 25 years, I have studied the biblical reality of spiritual warfare. In no particular order, here are ten common strategies I’ve seen when the enemy attacks church leaders: 1. Encouraging leaders to live in self-reliance. Because most leaders can lead, they are always susceptible to leading in their own ingenuity and strength….

The post 10 Ways the Enemy Attacks Church Leaders appeared first on Church Answers.

Why Sermon Preparation is Not Devotional Time

Why Sermon Preparation is Not Devotional Time

Every Monday morning, I swivel in my desk chair—praying, pondering. Yellow legal pads fill with chicken scratch in a language only I understand. About fifty Mondays a year, around 3:00 p.m., I start to wonder if I’ll have anything worthwhile to say the following Sunday. The other two Mondays I’m on vacation. I know it’s…

The post Why Sermon Preparation is Not Devotional Time appeared first on Church Answers.

How Pastors Can Use Feelings of Restlessness in a Positive Way

How Pastors Can Use Feelings of Restlessness in a Positive Way

I have a tendency towards restlessness. Leading through a pandemic did not help. Feeling restlessness is a common phenomenon among pastors and church leaders right now. Maybe you can relate. Leadership restlessness is something most leaders feel—usually more often than not. It’s the nagging question that keeps you thinking . . . what’s next? In…

The post How Pastors Can Use Feelings of Restlessness in a Positive Way appeared first on Church Answers.

Confessions of a Cynical Pastor

Confessions of a Cynical Pastor

Note: We received the following story at Church Answers recently. The only changes I made were to protect the identity of the pastor. His self-awareness and prescriptions are very helpful. I spent the last week with my family at the beach on vacation. We really enjoyed ourselves. I wished we had another week! While there,…

The post Confessions of a Cynical Pastor appeared first on Church Answers.

11 Characteristics of Church Leaders I’d Like to Imitate

No matter how old I get, I have much room to grow as a leader. In fact, I watch other leaders who inspire and challenge me to lead better. Here are some leadership characteristics I’ve seen in these folks (who are, most often, local church pastors):  1. They strive to imitate Jesus. That’s the bottom…

The post 11 Characteristics of Church Leaders I’d Like to Imitate appeared first on Church Answers.