Whose Problem?

A minister took a guilt trip in a sermon: "I let the congregation really have it. Their stewardship was dismal, their participation was weak; and ...

Shortcomings in Lay Education

Our age is one of specialization, and yet, for the most part, lay education programs have taken a generalist direction. Programs designed with study guides ...

Make Heroes of Outreach Ministers

To have an outreach church, you have to make heroes of people who minister outside the church's programs.

Manipulation and Leadership

The difference between manipulation and leadership is motive.

Nothing Grows under the Banyan Tree

"Nothing grows under a banyan tree." This South Indian proverb speaks of leadership styles. The banyan is a great tree. It spreads its branches, ...

Playing with Dynamite

Power is a dangerous thing to handle, even in religion.

Doing What God Wants

Mama says everybody loved Uncle Ceph. Cephas Poe was Mama's daddy, but everybody called him Uncle Ceph.

Uncle Ceph pastored in a different world. First ...

Bridge-Building

Preaching is essentially a bridge-building exercise. It is the exacting task of relating God's Word to our world with an equal degree of faithfulness ...

Acid Test for a Sermon

Here is an acid test for a sermon: Will it hold up if you change the setting from a public to a person-to-person situation? Take away the pulpit, the ...

Where I Want to Die

I've heard pastors say, "I want to die in the pulpit." Well, as for me, I want to die in bed. I don't think it's any gift to the ...