One of the top requests that churches in Illinois ask of our state convention is “Help us grow our church.” As a pastor myself, I want to offer some clarifying versions of that request. First, “Can you help us be the church in our context with the resources that we have?” Here in the metro […]
The value of staying put
It’s been 20 years since my wife and I, and two couples from our mother church launched Love Fellowship Baptist Church in Romeoville. As we recently celebrated the church’s anniversary, I’ve been thinking about the lessons I’ve learned simply from sticking around. Here are three. 1. Focus on “how often and how well” rather than […]
Encouraging words for frightening times
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…” The familiar words of Psalm 23 reveal important truths that can help us find comfort in fearful times. And to be sure, we’ve known fearful times recently. COVID-19, harsh reminders of racism, police […]
What kind of influence are you?
In the golden age of piracy, a pirate captain had power, authority, and a wide-brimmed hat that set him apart as commander of his ship. His crew agreed to follow their captain wherever the seas took them. While the captain had legitimate power to move the ship onward, the ship’s quartermaster had a different kind […]
How the Reformation shapes our preaching
Luther’s contributions to church’s thinking about the content, priority, and simplification of preaching still challenge us as modern-day pastors and worshipers. Read…