NIV Application Commentaries on Sale for Just $4.99

The entire NIV Application Commentary series is on sale at $4.99 per volume! When preaching, after I turn to exegetical commentaries, I like to turn to commentaries that blend exegesis with clear application. Recently I have been using the “Story of God” commentary series edited by Scot McKnight, but one classic series that fits thisContinue reading “NIV Application Commentaries on Sale for Just $4.99”

The Gospel According to Levi’s (or Dockers)

Levis vs. Dockers. This is a tale of two pairs of pants. Or better yet two kinds of Christians who tend to wear two kinds of pants. In one corner you have the skinny jean wearing, tattoo flaunting, hipster eye-glassed, latte sipping Christians who think that “the Kingdom deeds good deeds done by good peopleContinue reading “The Gospel According to Levi’s (or Dockers)”

Get Your Story Straight!

We’ve all been in situations where somebody was obviously lying to you, and they couldn’t keep their story straight. Their sequence of events are all off, they can’t remember who was there, they can’t remember any details, etc. At that point you just want to look the person square in the eyes – and sayContinue reading “Get Your Story Straight!”

Citizens (Book Review)

Citizen: Your Role in the Alternative Kingdom begins with author Rob Peabody standing on a Balcony overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem. In that moment, life seemed to become so much clearer – he came to a breakthrough…. He realized that the Christian life he had been experiencing had been quite anemic, he realized thatContinue reading “Citizens (Book Review)”

Love the Local Church!

In a few weeks Scot McKnight’s new book, The Kingdom Conspiracy, will come out. I got my hands on it a bit early and I really want to recommend it to you. I really think it will speak loudly to a generation who is more enamored with doing “kingdom” work  than “church” work. Here isContinue reading “Love the Local Church!”

Preventing Suicide

You are a practical theologian. That is the premise that Preventing Suicide is built on. As a pastor, chaplain, or counselor its is important for you the reflect upon your own theology of suicide. Why? Well because what you belief affects what you do, because there isn’t one Christian position on suicide, and finally becauseContinue reading “Preventing Suicide”

Preventing Pastoral Burnout

Without at doubt anybody who is involved in any sort of pastoral ministry is liable to “burn out.” Pastors, chaplains, and pastoral counselors are all at risk for burning out. In fact some studies have shown that… “protestant clergy had the highest overall work-related stress and were next to the lowest in personal resources toContinue reading “Preventing Pastoral Burnout”

What Does a Successful College Ministry Look Like?

Many college ministers are about to enter into a brand new season. For those of us who are starting new things on local college campuses there will definitely be a ton of pressure to provide “results” to the people back home at our churches. “Recruit new students, get people to make decisions for Christ, putContinue reading “What Does a Successful College Ministry Look Like?”

Book Review – The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family by Kara Powell

Last year our church transitioned from having a “children’s ministry” department and a “student ministry” department to having a “family ministry” model. Instead of seeing these two stages of life as two-clear-distinct-separated stages we came to the realization that we can minister more holistically to parents and their children with the understanding that the developmentContinue reading “Book Review – The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family by Kara Powell”

What do Kids Really Want?

This last week I made my way through Kara Powell’s new book The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family – a book that contains a lot of research on creating sticky faith and even more practical tips on building lasting faith into kids. One chapter that really caught my attention was her chapter on “ServiceContinue reading “What do Kids Really Want?”