Every pastor knows the feeling. You need to be at the hospital, in the study, and at home-at the same time. If I could just clone myself, we think. While that's not yet an option, it is possible to multiply our effectiveness by finding and equipping others to take on leadership roles that we currently shoulder alone.

As a pastor for twenty-six years, John Maxwell has felt the frustration and joy ...

Topics:	Character, Commitment, Development, Empowerment, Mentoring, Motivation, Shepherding, Spiritual leadership, Supervision, Team building
Filters:	Church staff, Discipleship, Elder, Pastor, Preaching, Shepherd
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 2:2
Date Added:	July 12, 2007

After serving on church boards for fifteen years, I've learned a few things:

• Flat roofs always leek—but never over the baptistery.
• Don't plan a "Seal the Parking Lot" workday on Saturday—unless you want a "Clean the Carpet" day on Monday.
• The furnace breaks down only on weekends.
• Agendas that look the shortest take the longest time.
• Committees choose beige.

But the greatest of these is:

• Church boards don't like surprises!

Topics:	Board, Commitment, Committees, Goals, Meetings, Objectives, Planning, Vision
Filters:	Church board, Church staff, Deacon, Discipleship, Elder, Pastor
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Acts 17
Date Added:	July 12, 2007

And the word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

He replied, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

"The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for ...

Topics:	Burnout, Commitment, Motivation, Presence of God, Restoration, Stress
Filters:	Management, Pastor, Pastoral care, Service, Shepherd
Purpose:	Ministry
References:	1 Kings 19:9, 1 Kings 19:15
Date Added:	July 30, 2007

The lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my ...

Topics:	Commitment, Priorities, Renewal, Spiritual care, Spiritual passion
Filters:	Discipleship, Pastor, Pastoral care, Spiritual director, Worship
Purpose:	Fellowship
References:	Psalm 23
Date Added:	July 30, 2007

"Now fear the lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the lord. But if serving the lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my ...

Topics:	Busyness, Christian life, Commitment, Priorities, Pursuit of God, Service, Spiritual direction
Filters:	Discipleship, Family ministry, Mentoring, Pastor, Service, Shepherd, Spiritual director
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Joshua 24:14-15, Joshua 24:23-24
Date Added:	July 30, 2007

This is what the lord says:

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the lord, who exercises kindness, Justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not ...

Topics:	Commitment, Pursuit of God, Spiritual passion, Spiritual warfare
Filters:	Church board, Discipleship, Management, Office administrator, Pastor, Preaching
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Jeremiah 9:23-24, 1 Corinthians 1:26-27
Date Added:	July 30, 2007

Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the LORD with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites-all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD. The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in ...

Topics:	Christian life, Commitment, Discipleship, Focus, Vision
Filters:	Church board, Discipleship, Pastor, Preaching, Volunteer
Purpose:	Ministry
References:	2 Chronicles 34:29-33
Date Added:	July 30, 2007

In his book Stop Dating the Church, Joshua Harris urges people to commit themselves to a church that

Discuss

1. What are the ways that our church promotes godly relationships?

2. Why would a person want to join a church that is willing to kick someone out?

3. Make a list of some of the strengths of your church that you would like potential members to know about when they come for a visit.

Topics:	Commitment, Congregational care, Education, Health, Members, Membership, Outreach
Filters:	Christian education, Church board, Deacon, Elder, Pastor
Purpose:	Fellowship
References:	Acts 2:42-47
Date Added:	July 31, 2007

Church membership is a sign of Christian discipleship and the means by which it grows. Ask a lot of your members; they are called, after all, to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and to love their neighbors as themselves. Rate yourself in each category as proficient, mediocre, or needing work.

Discuss

1. How can high standards for membership help someone fulfill their calling to love God ...

Topics:	Commitment, Congregational care, Education, Health, Members, Membership, Outreach
Filters:	Christian education, Church board, Deacon, Elder, Pastor
Purpose:	Fellowship
References:	Philippians 3:13-14
Date Added:	July 31, 2007