Things Jesus Never Said has been a hit.In fact, this series has brought more people into my office for prayer and advice than any other series. That increase is behind Tuesday's post. This Sunday, the thing he never said is "store up for yourselves treasures on...
For years, Good Shepherd attempted to do small groups the conventional way.You get some leaders, get some groups going, and when new people express interest in getting in a group, you try and get leaders to contact and invite them. Or try to get them to contact...
For years, I preached conventional three- or four- point sermons. Those of you from Good Shepherd remember me saying "you can put that in your outline" several times during a given message.Then about two years ago, thanks to Andy Stanley's book Communicating For A...
One of my biggest struggles as a pastor is to distinguish between the important and the urgent. Things that are important have more of a long term value: strategic planning, creative brainstorming, sermon writing, staff development and mentoring. All those take time....
I have a nasty habit.I make snap judgments on people based on first impressions. Especially if they are "long talkers."Anyway, as part of our Russia Mission Trip last month, I met some folks from other churches in other states who joined our team.And you guessed it:...
Many of you who were at church on Sunday have asked for a copy of the pledge we used to close out the service.The pledge originally came from Saddleback Church in California; they used it as part of a worship service celebrating their 20th anniversary as a church....
I think the best thing about our trip to Russia was seeing the building that didn't get built.Yeah, the building that didn't get built.On our last day there, my daughter Taylor and I saw the sights of Moscow. The most memorable was the Cathedral of Christ Our Savior,...
If you're from Good Shepherd, you would have been so proud of Chris Macedo for what he did in Russia.On the second night of the English Exchange camp, just after a "mock" wedding ceremony (no lie), Chris put on an MTV Unplugged-style concert for the 35 American...
At church on Sunday, everyone asked me how the trip to Russia went. And the standard answer was: "Great."And I mean it.Eight of us from Good Shepherd travelled to Moscow on July 23. From Moscow, we then took a bus to a Soviet-era camp that is today used as a retreat...
Well, it's not the USSR anymore.It's just Russia.But I'm back. It was a mind-bending trip. I'll post about it in more detail next week. When I'm over jet lag.In the meantime, tomorrow's message continues Things Jesus Never Said: "I've Come To Bring Peace On Earth."...