Chuck Lawless speaks from Psalm 19 in praise of God’s revelation of himself to the world, exhorting believers to be moved to missional evangelism by an overflow of thanksgiving.
8 Connections for Me Between Physical Exercise and Spiritual Disciplines
I start out today’s article, the second one in this series about taking care of ourselves spiritually and […]
Recommended Resource – Know Your Church Report
If you are interested in knowing your church’s perception of its own health, we recommend the “Know Your […]
13 Reasons Church Leaders Ought to Continue Their Education
I admit my bias here. I am a seminary dean and professor, and I believe in education. Regardless […]
Article Highlight: 10 Characteristics of the Best Preachers I’ve Known
This summer we are highlighting some of our favorite articles! We hope you enjoy this short read from […]
12 Signs that a Church is in Mission Drift
Many churches have long lost their focus on a clear mission that compels them forward. Here are some […]
10 Ways to Build Prayer into a Worship Service
Jesus strongly reminded us that God’s house is to be a house of prayer (Luke 19:45-46). Getting there […]
A Sermon Illustration that Has Often Saved Me from Error in Making Decisions
Years ago on a personal retreat, I read a book called The Will of God.[1] It was during a time […]
Leadership with Our Words
“Brother Jack” was my pastoral hero, yet I heard him preach no more than twenty times. I met […]
8 Reasons Pastorless Churches Should Consider an Interim Pastor
I admit my bias here. I’ve served as an interim pastor when my schedule has allowed, and I’ve […]
12 Things I Wish I’d Never Said When Preaching
To be frank, this post is embarrassing. I write it primarily to say to preachers, “Be careful what […]
7 Components of Effective Church Assimilation
Over the years, I’ve studied churches that have done a good job not only of reaching people, but […]
10 Places to Use Church Greeters, Especially During Easter
Many people who write about church growth recognize the importance of having trained greeters at the doors when […]
10 Ways to Prepare for Easter this Week
This coming Sunday, the world will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Here are some ways to get ready […]
12 Markers of Pastoral Bitterness
It happens. Pastors get smacked around in church work, and they often bear the scars of anger and […]
10 Steps to Reaching the Unchurched
When I first became a believer, evangelism meant “cold call,” door-to-door telling people about Jesus. That approach actually […]
7 Reasons I’m Not a Fan of Longer Sermons
Okay, I admit my subjectivity here. And, I realize some (if not many) readers will disagree with me. […]
10 Needed Commitments of Bible Study Leaders
I am surprised how little attention churches give to securing Bible study leaders and holding them accountable. Below […]
16 “Leadership Pauses” that Matter
Most leaders I know are go-getters. They establish goals and move forward, seldom slowing down or looking back. […]
6 Cautions about Church Growth
I start this post with a caveat: I believe in the historical understanding of Church Growth, marked by […]
10 Ways to Fight Becoming an Arrogant Leader
Previously, I’ve written about indicators that your pride might be getting out of hand. All of us wrestle with ego (and […]
Recommended Resource – The Christian in Complete Armour: Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare
Here’s a famous devotional book on spiritual warfare written by the Puritan William Gurnall that I (Chuck) often […]
10 Statistics/Figures Church Leaders Should Know
Below are ten statistics/figures I would want church leaders to know. See how many of them you know […]
7 Ways to Help a Young Preacher with Finances
I’m remembering my early years as a pastor. At this stage of my career, I’m especially grateful for […]
5 Indications Your Church May be More a Classroom than a Great Commission Church
I’m a theological educator, so classroom instruction matters to me. I’m convinced that many churches—if not most of […]
6 Reasons My Calling Still Matters to Me
I had just professed faith in Christ at the end of a service, and my pastor told me […]
10 Leadership Time Wasters
If you’re a leader, you know the importance of using time wisely. That doesn’t mean, though, that most […]
10 Reasons Deacons Have Been Some of My Best Friends in Ministry
To be honest, I’m almost embarrassed to write this post, as I’ve heard many horror stories of battles […]
10 Questions to Ask before Leaving a Ministry
Making the decision to leave a ministry is seldom easy. Even when the ministry has been difficult, departures […]
7 Steps to Move Members into Ministry
How do you move members into ministry? Here are some basic principles we learned in a study published […]
10 Benefits of Getting Up an Hour Earlier Monday-Friday of Each Week
I don’t sleep well in general, and I also work best at night. At the same time, though, […]
10 Questions for Leaders to Ask Each Week
At the seminary where I teach, we always do end-of-the-academic year faculty evaluations. Annual evaluations like these are helpful […]
8 Christmas Gifts I’d Love to Give to Church Pastoral Staffs
I’ve been blessed to work with several pastoral staffs, and I’ve enjoyed every one of them. In fact, […]
The Pastor’s Day Off: Monday? Friday? Another day?
Over the years, I’ve talked with pastors about the importance of taking a day off (though I’m still […]
10 Suggestions for Telling the Christmas Story this Year
Any of us who teach and preach will likely have opportunities to tell the Christmas story over the […]
6 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Midst of Holiday Craziness
I didn’t always enjoy the Christmas season as a pastor. I loved telling the story of the Christ […]
12 Ways a Local Church Can Help a Missionary
I spend a lot of time with missionaries. Based on my conversations with them over the last several […]
9 Reminders about Being and Doing Church This Christmas
Christmas is always a busy, exciting time for churches. Most of us know these realities, but I’m convinced […]
15 Thoughts to Consider if Your Church is Having a Christmas Eve Service
Because questions about a Christmas Eve service come up every year, here are my thoughts to consider if […]
10 Things to Do When It’s Hard to be Thankful for Your Church
I wish I had no reason to write this post, but I know it fits somebody today. Sometimes, […]
10 Reasons Even this Professor of Evangelism Struggles Doing Evangelism
I’m a professor of evangelism, but that doesn’t mean I find evangelism easy to do. I know that […]
10 Ways to Start the Day Well for God
I’ll be honest – I’m faithful to read and pray each day, but I don’t have a set […]
5 Reasons I Need to Share My Burdens More with Other Believers
I am by nature a loner, and I tend not to share my burdens readily. Sometimes it just […]
10 Reasons Long-Term Pastorates Matter
Just this week, I had a conversation with an aspiring pastor asking about the importance of pastors staying […]
A Focused Way to Pray for One Week Beginning This Coming Sunday
Prayer is seldom easy, and sometimes we need guidance to get started. Here’s a way your small group […]
8 Experiences All Church Leaders Need
I believe in leadership training. In fact, I teach D.Min., EdD, and Ph.D. courses in Christian leadership at Southeastern […]
10 Things I Want to Say to My First Pastor
As I get older, I think often about people who have influenced my life. One of those influences […]
8 Things We Must Not Take for Granted as We Start a New Week
You, like I, probably already have your week planned. It’s likely to be busy, I suspect. In the […]
11 Obstacles to Effective Discipleship in the Church
Leading a church to be a discipling church—especially if that’s never been their focus—is not easy. You might, […]
10 Characteristics of the Best Second-Chair Leaders I’ve Known
It’s not always easy to be a second-chair leader, especially when you want to lead but aren’t in […]
10 Reasons You Should Not Do Ministry Alone
I know this post proposes a ministry lifestyle that is difficult to establish and maintain, but I state […]
10 Characteristics of Missions-Minded Churches
I love missions and missionaries—and I’m deeply grateful for churches that take the Great Commission seriously. Here are […]
10 Leadership Mistakes in Transitioning a Church
Some years ago, Thom Rainer and I co-wrote, Eating the Elephant: Leading an Established Church to Growth. In that […]
7 Reasons Preaching Energizes Me
Yesterday, I had the privilege of preaching three times at a local church. I was tired when the […]
7 Simple Ways to Strengthen the Discipleship Strategy in Your Church
My assessment is that many, if not most, churches have no intentional, strategic plan in place to disciple […]
10 Evangelistic Questions Pastors Ought to Ask of Themselves
If you read this blog regularly, you know I’ve never seen a strongly evangelistic church without a pastor […]
A Challenge to Pastors, Missionaries, and Laity Alike
Take a minute and read these texts from the scriptures, and then read my final challenges: “Now I […]
10 Things that Happen When a Pastor’s Heart Beats for Missions
I wish I could introduce every seminary student, rookie pastor, and even veteran pastor to shepherds I’ve known […]
10 Questions to Ask about Your Church Staff Meetings
Here’s the scenario I challenge you to consider today. You and your church staff are having your regular […]
9 Simple Steps to Preaching or Teaching More Powerfully this Weekend
Your preparation for a sermon for this weekend might be finished – or at least leaning in that […]
12 Characteristics of the Best Church Staff Members I’ve Known
Over the years, I’ve met some great church staff members. I’ve also met some problematic ones, but they’ve […]
8 Ways Churches Miss It when Recruiting Volunteers
There’s no question churches have struggled securing volunteers coming out of COVID. Some of the issues related to […]
9 Ways Pastors Let Ministry Harm Their Marriage
Too many of us know a ministry couple that has divorced. I encourage pastors to be aware of […]
11 Reflections on Christian Leadership
I do not claim to be a great leader. I realize I still have much room for growth, […]
10 Reasons to Set Aside at Least One Hour of Silence and Solitude before Worship this Weekend
In my discipleship class at Southeastern Seminary, I require students each semester to complete a 1-2 hour silence […]
10 Reasons Pastors Need Another Pastor as a Prayer Partner
Pastor friend, I’m writing to challenge you to do something that might surprise you. In fact, it might […]
10 Factors That Help Long-Term Pastors Stay at Their Church
In my second pastorate, I stayed at the church for just over eleven years. At the time, more […]
10 Ways to Honor Church Staff Members
For most of my ministry, I have been a senior pastor, a seminary professor, or an interim pastor. […]
8 Reasons Spiritual Disciplines Matter
I know it sounds like a basic, simplistic matter in our Christian walk, but I’m writing this post […]
Why You Need a Mentor, and How to Find One
The question “How do I find a mentor?” is a primary one for young church leaders. A few […]
7 Reasons We Must be Patient with Church Members
I’ve heard pastors jokingly say that they would love ministry more if they didn’t have to deal with […]
7 Practical, Personal Ways to Follow Up After Easter
Easter is always a good time to invite folks to attend church, and many church members work more […]
An Easter Devotion: From the Cave
It was essentially a cave in the earth. A hewn-out space in the rock. Perhaps there were others […]
10 Places to Use Church Greeters, Especially During Easter
Many people who write about church growth recognize the importance of having trained greeters at the doors when […]
8 Ways to Break the Bondage of Worry
I admit it – I can be a worrier. That’s a problem, given Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6 […]
10 Signs that Your Church’s Burden for their City is Growing
Most churches, I’m afraid, are inwardly focused. Turning a church outward is not easy, but these signs are […]
10 Evangelistic Questions Pastors Ought to Ask of Themselves
If you read this blog regularly, you know I’ve never seen a strongly evangelistic church without a pastor […]
How to Deal with Criticism
I don’t like criticism. I don’t like it when someone negatively critiques my sermon, my blogs, my teaching, […]
9 Differences for Church Leaders When We’re Walking with God and When We Are Not
Recently, I spoke with a group of church leaders about walking with God. In that discussion, we talked […]
10 Ways to Bridge Generation Gaps in Churches
In many churches, generation gaps are still wide. I’ve learned, though, that generations often resist one another without […]
The Importance of the Pastor in the Pulpit
Though I don’t believe a plurality of leaders is the only New Testament model of church, I do […]
5 Reasons Pauses Matter in Preaching—and Why They’re So Hard to Do
My preaching professor in seminary challenged us to use pauses wisely in sermons—but doing that is not easy. […]
Remembering Pastors’ Center Senior Fellow Dr. Jim Shaddix
A few years ago, I wrote a blog post entitled, “10 Markers of the Best Spiritual Leaders I […]
10 Characteristics of Spiritually Weak Christian Leaders
I’m hesitant to write this post because I know I probably exhibit some of these characteristics. Nevertheless, here are some […]
7 Bible Stories/Passages That Help Me When My Faith Struggles
We live in a messed-up world that seems to get even crazier every day. I wish I could […]
10 Ways to Challenge and Stretch Your Faith
Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Still, many of us have a stagnant faith […]
7 Reasons We Preachers Need to Listen to Other Preaching
When I first started preaching decades ago, the primary ways to listen to other preachers were to visit […]
7 Reasons Why Ministry Can Contribute to Ego
Ego always lurks at the door of even the finest ministers of the gospel. In fact, my experience […]
A Christmas Wish for a Nonbelieving Friend
Hi, friend. You and I have had such good times together. We can be apart for months at […]
What Christmas Eve Means
It’s Christmas Eve. Scholars debate the actual date of Jesus’ birth, but the truth of this event is […]
A Christmas Devotion for This Weekend
They’ve been some of the most gripping moments of my life. I’ve watched silently around the world as: […]
A Christmas Preaching and Teaching Illustration I Pray Challenges and Encourages You
I remember well the Christmases of my childhood. Seldom did we sleep well on Christmas Eve. I doubt […]
12 Ways to Build Thanksgiving into Your Life
We have so much for which to be grateful today. I fear, though, that we too often limit […]
7 Things the Sin of Ingratitude Reveals about Us
It’s Thanksgiving season, when we spend time expressing our gratitude to God and each other. I fear, though, […]
Encouragements for New Leaders: Lessons I Wish I Knew as a Young Pastor
On April 1, 1981, I began my ministry as a full-time pastor. Here are some lessons I wish […]
7 Reasons Why Pastors Need Encouragement Today
I’m always grateful for “Pastor Appreciation Month” every time it comes around in October. It means a lot […]
12 Unique Gifts Believers Have Given Me as Their Pastor
It’s Pastor Appreciation Month. As I think about this month, I’m reminded of some of the unique gifts […]
One Time When I’m Most Pleased with My Preaching
I love to preach the Word of God, but I make no claims to be good at it. […]
8 Reasons Why Pastors Need to Serve in the Nursery or Preschool for a Sunday
I’ve served as a pastor, and I fully understand our desire to preach every Sunday. Few of us […]
A Quiz: Are You a Teachable Person?
I recognize that I’m not always teachable, so I hesitate to write this post. At the same time, […]
A Word to Pastors, Student Ministers, Student Leaders, and Churches
I was 13 years old, and I attended church for the first time in my life. Over the […]
Why Believers Must Avoid Immoral Joking
Several months ago, I wrote on why how we talk as believers matters. I’ve hesitated since then writing […]
10 Reasons Why Pastors Need to be Mentoring at Least One College Student
Few things excite me as much as the opportunities I have to invest in college students, even if […]
10 Characteristics of the Best Preachers I’ve Known
First, a caveat: determining what constitutes an effective preacher is subjective, so you and I might differ here […]
8 Reasons I Still Love Ministry
Today, here are some the reasons I still love ministry, even when it’s tough. For whatever reason, God […]
7 Things to Do When Church Work Just Hurts
It happens to all of us in ministry at some point. The work to which we know God […]
10 Things I Wished I’d Done as a Young Pastor
I’ve written previously about my lessons learned as a young pastor (here, here, and here), but I’m thinking […]
12 Questions Church Leaders Need to Ask Monthly
The Bible assumes believers will be striving to follow God, continually living in an ongoing state of evaluation, […]
11 Signs of Hope for a Declining Church
Many churches in North America are plateaued or declining. Given that reality, many church leaders need signs of […]
10 Questions Good Church Leaders Ask
I love good leaders in churches. I may read a lot of books on leadership, but I learn […]
13 Ways to Get Outside the Christian Bubble
Because I continually talk with believers who are cocooned in the church world, I’m updating and re-posting these […]
7 Evidences We Might Be Stuck in the Christian Bubble
It’s a problem for many of us. In fact, I contend that for most of us, the longer […]
10 “First Impressions” Done Well in Churches
We usually get only one shot to positively capture the attention of guests visiting our church. Here are […]
7 Things to Do When You’re Mad at a Church Member
It happens. Church members get angry with each other. When we do, though, here are some steps to […]
9 Ways A Pastor Might Prioritize Evangelism
I’ve said it before on this site: “I’ve never seen an evangelistic church without an evangelistic pastor.” If […]
7 Characteristics of Pastoral Leaders Who Don’t Give Up Easily
I spent a few minutes recently with a pastor who’s led his church for 25+ years. Seeing him […]
8 Characteristics of Disciple-Making Churches
I admit that the North American church has done a poor job of making disciples. Too often, we […]
7 Ways to Get More Members Involved
Most of us who lead churches have regular attenders who aren’t involved in the congregation. These folks sometimes […]
A Word to Pastors: Why We Must Develop Relationships with Missionaries
Pastors, I’m asking for the personal privilege to speak directly to you with this post (and, Southern Baptist […]
Words of Advice for Young Pastors
I don’t claim to be a perfect pastor, but I’ve been doing ministry a long time. Here’s a […]
10 Ways to Renew (or Keep) Your Passion for Ministry
I’ve been there. You know God has called you to ministry, but your passion is waning, if not […]
10 Questions to Ask in Your Sermon Preparation This Week
Pastors, I know from experience that sermon preparation is seldom easy—and I don’t want to add any stress […]
8 Reasons I Believe in Denominationalism
I’m a Southern Baptist. We’re hardly a perfect denomination, but I’m honored to be part of our team. […]
7 Reasons All of Us Pastors Need Great Friends in Our Church
It almost seems strange to me to write this post, for my early professors and mentors cautioned me […]
10 Characteristics of Leaders Who Last
As a seminary professor, I work with young leaders. I have learned the most, though, from leaders who […]
12 Reasons I Affirm Bivocational Ministry
More and more pastors are beginning to embrace as their primary calling the role of bivocational minister. Some […]
7 Reasons Why Pastors Must Invest in A Few Young People – And How to Begin
I listened intensely today as I heard a great, mature preacher talk about the influence of his pastor […]
8 Things to Remember When It Feels Like The Devil’s Winning
Sometimes it just feels like Satan’s winning the game. No matter how hard we want to believe otherwise, […]
7 Prayers My Pastoral Hero Prays Every Day
Tom Elliff is the most prayerful man I know, and he’s one of my pastoral heroes. He’s served […]
6 More Leadership Tasks for this Easter
Here are six steps Christian leaders might take this week as we focus on the resurrection and live […]
7 Suggestions for Preaching the Resurrection Story This Weekend
Around the world, we will celebrate Resurrection Day this coming Sunday. Many people in many places will tell […]
10 Things the Resurrection Means for Christian Leaders
Even when it’s not Easter season, the glory of the resurrection is always present-tense and relevant. It’s more […]
8 Ways to Pray for Easter Weekend Events
I fear that many churches plan for weeks (or months) for Easter weekend, but then pray for only […]
9 Simple Ways to Begin Reaching Your Community For Christ
If you read this blog much, you know my heart for the nations that don’t know Christ. At […]
7 Words of Encouragement For Church Leaders For This Weekend
Today, I want to encourage church leaders as you prepare to lead worship services this weekend. Here are […]
6 Ways for Pastors to Raise Up the Next Generation of Pastors and Missionaries
I think most of us are missing it, pastors. My perception is that we give little attention to […]
11 Ways to Grow and Improve in Your Preaching
On the Pastor Matters podcast, I mentioned 11 ways to grow and improve in your preaching this year […]
5 Recommended Books on Preaching
On the latest episode of the Pastor Matters podcast, Growing and Improving in Preaching, I encouraged pastors to […]
7 Ways to Find Joy Today if Yesterday’s Ministry Was Hard
I’ve been involved in the local church as a pastor long enough to know that some Sundays are […]
9 Ways To Re-Ignite Your Preaching Ministry This Week
Even those of us who love to preach sometimes lose our passion for the work, even if it’s […]
10 Questions I Ask Before Preaching or Teaching
I’ve been preaching and teaching a long time, and I certainly don’t claim to be an expert. In […]
8 Reasons the Pastor Matters Most in a Church’s Evangelistic Efforts
In my decades of studying churches, I’ve never seen an evangelistic church not led by an evangelistic pastor. […]
8 Characteristics of Praying Churches
I’ve written this week about characteristics of evangelistic churches and equipping churches. Frankly, it’s easier to find these […]
8 Suggestions for Planning an Annual Preaching Schedule
If I’m honest, I did far too little regular planning of my sermons when I was a young […]
For Pastors: A Simple Step Toward Personal Renewal and Church Revitalization
Do you need renewal? Does your church need revitalization? Here’s my simple suggestion for moving toward personal renewal […]
A Christmas Preaching and Teaching Illustration I Pray Challenges and Encourages You
I remember well the Christmases of my childhood. Seldom did we sleep well on Christmas Eve. I doubt […]
10 Things I’d Do Differently as a Pastor During the Christmas Season
It’s December, and the Christmas season is upon us. As I look back on my years as a […]
10 Christmas Gifts I’d Love to Give to Young Pastors
It’s been a long time since I was a young pastor, but I still remember how exciting–-and sometimes […]
12 Recommended Books on Preaching
We at Southeastern Seminary have an incredible preaching faculty, including Danny Akin, Jim Shaddix, Scott Pace, Dwayne Milioni, […]
9 Reasons We Preachers Need to Say “Thank You” Today
It’s easy for we preachers to sometimes get focused on only the negatives of ministry. Church members can […]
8 Reasons I Most Appreciate Pastors
This month is Pastor Appreciation Month. I’m grateful for the pastor who taught me as a young believer, […]
10 Things to Say to Your Pastor This Weekend
Pastor Appreciation Month has only two more Sundays in it. This weekend, why not take a few minutes […]
Pastor to Pastor: 10 Reasons I Appreciate You
I admit my bias here. I’m a pastor. So, when I write about how much I appreciate pastors, […]
25 Ways to Show Gratitude to Your Pastor for Pastor Appreciation Month
I love pastors. Their ministries over the years have changed my life. Here are some ways to show […]
10 Questions to Ask Yourself if You’re a Leader in a Church that Needs Revitalization
If you’re leading a church in a tough revitalization effort, these questions are designed to help you evaluate your […]
15 Signs You Might Need a Day Off
Frankly, I’ve met a lot of church leaders who are just weary. If that’s where you are, here […]
9 Risks of Not Teaching about Spiritual Warfare
When I first started teaching about spiritual warfare more than 20 years ago, few evangelicals were tackling this […]
12 Questions to Evaluate Your Church’s Culture
Every church has a culture, whether it be positive or negative. The problem, though, is that too few […]
12 Stages of Pastoral Ministry
Everyone’s story is different, but I’ve worked with enough students and pastors now over two decades to see […]
10 Ways for Pastors to Express Their Love for Their Congregation
I know some churches are problem churches with difficult people, but I’ve not experienced that kind of church. […]
8 Important Ways to Prepare for Preaching This Weekend
It’s the middle of the week, but I trust you’re preparing to preach in several days. Apart from […]
8 Reasons Churches Talk More about the Great Commission than Do It
15 Reasons People Walk Away From the Church
Most, if not all, of us know someone who attended church but then simply walked away from God’s people. The pandemic, I believe, has only increased that number. Based on my work with churches and the unchurched, here are some of the reasons I’ve heard:
6 Reasons All of Us, No Matter How Old We Are, Need an Older Mentor
The older I get, the more I recognize that accomplishing what this title suggests is not easy. Eventually, we become one of the very old—and the number of faithful Christ-followers older than we are becomes increasingly hard to find. Nevertheless, I think we should try.
10 Ways the Church’s Christmas Season Will Be Different this Year
This year has been a stressful one. It seems nothing is normal, and we don’t even know if there will be a new normal. COVID has affected so much of what we do as a church—including our celebrating the Christmas season. Here are some ways I suspect church will be different this year:
10 Questions to Consider Before Regathering
The possibility of churches gathering again soon has raised several important questions, including: What date should we regather? How do we greet folks from a social distance? How do we take the offering? How will we accommodate our entire church family when we must deal with spacing? Here, though, are some more questions I think we need to ask:
6 Reasons the Coronavirus Threat Won’t Likely Turn Churches Outwardly—And What We Might Do About It
I read about the hope many of us have that this current global crisis will turn our churches toward the Great Commission, and I genuinely hope that’s the case. I’m convinced, though, that won’t happen apart from an undeniable move of God in our midst.
10 Evangelism Questions for Church Leaders to Ask
If you’re a church leader, you’re responsible for modeling evangelism for your congregation. Maybe asking these questions will challenge you to be more evangelistic.
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