It has been a Great Escape

Over the past few days I have had the privilege of spending time with student ministers on the Great Escape Student Ministers’ Cruise. The conference/cruise is an event produced by DiscipleGuide, the ministry I have the privilege of leading. This year’s conference speaker has been Ed Stetzer, head of research for Lifeway. Here are a …

Balancing Great Commission Work

The Great Commission has at least three key points of emphasis: 1) A Discipleship emphasis (…make disciples…) 2) A Global emphasis (…of all nations…) 3) A Local Congregation emphasis (…baptizing them…) These three points of emphasis are not a checklist of tasks to be performed in order. It is not as if we are to …

It’s OK to Hide

My son can’t figure out how I can find always find him so quickly when we play hide and seek. One day it will occur to him that talking trash while he’s hiding isn’t such a good idea. Interestingly, the concept of hiding has been around at least as far back as Genesis chapter 3. …

Who Is Responsible For Revival?

Growing up, I remember the announcement every year in church: “Ladies, please sign up to bring food for next week’s revival services.” I loved that announcement. Why? Several reasons: Home-made fried chicken, sour dough bread, mashed potatoes, and CHOCOLATE PIE!!! Revival: The very word has different meanings for different people. For some, it means week-long …

Liberty from Pastoral Burnout

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Those words are quoted from the Emma Lazarus poem, New Colossus, inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty. While the original intent is to describe all who are welcomed by Lady Liberty, they may also sound like an apt description …

I’m Happy He’s Growing Up

Over the past couple of days, I was able to spend some time alone with my son on a short “get-away” trip. As we were having a major water-gun war, I realized something: My son is growing up. Don’t get my wrong, he’s not going to college next year –he’s only four. Okay, four-and-a-half (the …

Why Didn’t Jesus Baptize?

John 4:2 shares an interesting side note stating, “Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples.” Why didn’t Jesus perform the act of baptizing himself? Certainly he wasn’t too lazy. And honestly, I don’t’ think he had a major theological reason. In fact, I believe he could have don’t he baptizing himself, but chose …

Hidden Discipleship

Here’s a phrase you’ve never read in Scripture: “And Jesus called aside the apostles saying, ‘take up your discipleship workbooks and gather for the lesson.’” There is no doubt that Jesus was a disciple-maker and there is no doubt that He taught the apostles lessons. However, there is great doubt that he ever announced His …