My work in the church has given me a new appreciation for the story of Jesus' healing the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19). As you remember, only one of the ten bothered to thank him. This passage often becomes the basis for sermons and lessons on the importance of gratitude. That's a true interpretation, of course, but it's not necessarily the whole story.

Those of us who are active in church ministry can ...

Topics:	Benevolence, Budget, Finances, Giving, Poor, Sacrifice, Service, Stewardship, Thankfulness
Filters:	Business administrator, Church board, Discipleship, Elder, Pastor
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Matthew 10:8, Matthew 10:16, Matthew 18, Luke 17:11-19
Date Added:	July 12, 2007

As you'll discover as you read through Rick Warren's, The Purpose Driven Life, worship through music is only a small portion of what true, biblical worship is all about.

Worship is the process of surrendering your entire life into God's hands. Everything you do can—and should—be an act of worship.

God designed us to worship Him with our whole lives, and there are actually spiritual habits ...

Topics:	Holy Spirit, Obedience, Prayer, Service, Spiritual disciplines, Thankfulness, Worship
Filters:	Discipleship, Pastor, Shepherd, Spiritual director, Worship, Worship leader
Purpose:	Worship
References:	Psalm 150, John 4:24, Revelation 5
Date Added:	July 12, 2007

I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
Philippians 4:13

As a new leader in ministry outside the local church, I was challenged, stretched, and often terrified. When a group of Pentecostal leaders from around the United States invited me to speak to them, I was both honored and nervous. To ease my jitters, I went in the night before I was due to speak, just to get ...

Topics:	Culture, Empowerment, Holy Spirit, Obedience, Prayer, Service, Thankfulness
Filters:	Christian education, Pastor, Prayer, Preaching, Shepherd, Spiritual director
Purpose:	Ministry
References:	Philippians 4:13
Date Added:	May 01, 2002

Shout for joy to the lord, all the earth.

Worship the lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through ...

Topics:	Discipleship, Fruit of the spirit, Thankfulness, Worship
Filters:	Discipleship, Pastor, Preaching, Stewardship, Worship, Worship leader
Purpose:	Worship
References:	Psalm 100
Date Added:	July 30, 2007

I gave you his house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah and stolen his wife. From this time on, the sword will be a constant threat to your family, because you have despised me by taking Uriah's wife to ...

Topics:	Repentance, Sin, Spiritual growth, Thankfulness
Filters:	Children's ministry, Discipleship, Men's ministry, Pastor, Shepherd, Small group leader, Volunteer, Women's ministry
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	2 Samuel 12:8-10
Date Added:	December 01, 2006

"Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God" (Ephesians 6:6, The Message).

The heart is the very seat of our soul, our emotions, and our passions. It is the very essence of our being and that ...

Topics:	Character, Health, Passion, Soul, Thankfulness
Filters:	Pastor, Spiritual director, Woman leader, Women's ministry
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Proverbs 4:23, Ezekiel 36:26, Luke 6:45
Date Added:	February 10, 2009