Which Team Is God On?

How many times have you caught yourself praying when your favorite team is down by two and has the ball with three seconds left? Maybe it’s just me, but I doubt it. When we get caught up in the excitement of the moment, we tend to forget that God has children who are fans of …

Are We Teaching Two Gods?

Christians around the world affirm the fact that there is one God and He never changes. Seems pretty straight-forward and basic doesn’t it? He is God, He doesn’t change. However, when Christians use phrases like, “In the Old Testament, God is full of wrath, and in the New Testament, He is full of grace,” we …

4 Tips for Welcoming Visitors to Your Group

When was the last time you were a visitor in a Sunday school class or Small group? For most, it has been a while. That’s why it is hard for “regulars” to see what might be glaring to visitors. The truth is that many groups and classes who believe that they are hospitable, warm, and …

Escaping Virtual Reality: The Deceit of Pride

I was in seventh grade. My mom and dad had taken me to the mall for an afternoon of shopping. As usual, we planned to go our separate ways and meet back at the front entrance at a particular time. As I wondered through the mall that day, I noticed a new storefront. It was …

Road Trip: Brister, Arkansas

Brister is a small community on the outskirts of Emerson, Arkansas (home of the annual Purple Hull Pea Festival and World Championship Tiller Races). Brister Baptist Church is the heart of the small community and draws people from neighboring areas. For over thirty years, pastor Eric Goble has led the church faithfully. I remember visiting …

5 Tips For Creating Effective PowerPoint Slides

Many churches spend thousands of dollars on projectors, screens, and equipment to project video, lyrics, scripture, and sermon points. But rarely does a church spend time learning to maximize the technology through quality design principles. In other words, why spend thousands on a projector if your slides look worthless (ie. People complain because they are …

Road Trip: Little Rock, North Little Rock, & Maumelle, AR

Recently I took a short road trip to visit with several central Arkansas pastors. As I visited with different leaders, I couldn’t help thinking about how beneficial their experiences could be to other congregations. Let me share a few examples:   Some of the most powerful works of God in Scripture have been born out …

Loving Contrasts

I recently saw a picture of a soldier returning from duty overseas. In the picture, the strong, tough, muscle-bound soldier is kneeling down to hug his young daughter. I was mesmerized by the contrast. One moment, the man was engaged in battle. The next moment, he was enjoying a tender moment with a child. Why …