Blog
Personal Boundaries and Guardrails for Pastors
Who shall watch your heart? Someone is surely going to say that making rules or setting boundaries for yourself and all staff in your church is some kind of legalism. So are all the white lines on the side of the football field. And so are all the goals you have set on your smart watch or Fit-bit. We all need rules and guardrails. Yes,...
Pastoral Care Changes – Pastorpedia
Everyone should love everyone! That is quite true, of course, but it also truly does not happen. The church must provide loving pastoral care in many special needs. It is part of what we signed up for. A shepherd cannot say he wants to disown a sheep if it breaks its leg, or cannot function well, or goes astray. A shepherd shepherds....
Six Ways to Use Effective Illustrations in Teaching
The snow was beginning to melt. It took on a grey tint, forming into puddles at the edge of the road. I watched other students trying to jump and dodge as they filed toward the chapel building. But no one could avoid the slushy mess. When they reached the front door, students stomped their feet. One by one, they kicked their dirty boots...
How to Make Incremental Change in Your Church–Pastorpedia
He made too many quick changes, and they responded… …by changing his title to “former pastor.” So what is the point? People hate changes and surprises, so we have all been told. My favorite church coach, Lyle Schaller, taught many and me that “People hate changes and surprises.” And when I asked him why, he urged me to sit at a...
3 Simple Teaching Tips Every Youth Leader Can Implement This Weekend
I am sure, like me, you have all been there. You feel like what you have to say is literally from the Spirit of God. You have prepped all week; you carefully crafted your talk, studied the text, prayed through the text, and even created some of the greatest tweetable one-liners. You are convinced that your picture with a great quote is...
5 Simple Ways to Build Trust in Your Small Groups
Building strong student leaders has always been one of my favorite things to do in youth ministry. There is just something special about watching students grow into the person God created them to be, to connect with others using their gifts, lead others, and to be lead by Christ—but not without my fair share of immense challenges. I...
Feeding A Pastor’s Soul–Pastorpedia
Feeding your soul: It is not as easy as it sounds! I mean, there are driveways to shovel soon, and people to care about with actions such as hospital calls and listening to pain, and children to love, and sermons to have ready again. Whatever happened to those quiet times in the mornings in junior high? How shall we take care of our own...
5 Ways To Appreciate Your Pastor All Year Long
It's October, which means it's time to show your pastor some appreciation. For most, the ministry year is just getting started, but before you know it, it's going to be March, and your beloved pastors are going to be on the verge of a meltdown. They're going to be tired, drained, and in desperate need of a recharge. But here is what I...
How Shall We Determine What To Preach? – Pastorpedia
“God tells me what to preach” I did not argue with my new friend when he told me that, but neither did I believe him. Which of course is a subject for another day, about how God speaks to us. But most of us have to grapple, analyze, and pray for wisdom as we plan our preaching calendar, so here we tackle ways to do that. In a day when...
5 Things That Should Be on Your Fall To Do List
Fall ministry season is upon us. No doubt you have started training volunteer leaders, communicating with parents, deciding what to teach on this semester, and planning for this fall’s special events and retreats. Despite the fact that you have had all summer to prepare, it just never feels like you're ready. But in all the large scale...
